The Brazilian Beat
Royce Gracie's future, Sakuraba back to Japan, New faces training at Chute Boxe, New shows coming up in Brazil, Minotauro awaiting winner, Wanderlei and the Rua brothers full of plans, and More.

The Brazilian Beat:
      After some weeks traveling through the most diverse landscapes and countries in Europe, this reporter is finally back, safe and sound, in Brazil, following the MMA scene in the country, as many subjects are constantly popping up, as always. In recent days many important things took place, mostly with Pride Bushido brining us the early, and not so early, stages of their Grand Prixes, new fights for the next Pride shaping up, many rumors about the New Year's eve Pride show, and of course, the traditional training news, and other shows rumors and facts. Needless to say, there's plenty to be told and it's better to jump ahead with the news and get updated with some of the latest from the land of Samba! As sometimes it isn't all good news, this writer would like to take a chance to leave his best wishes for the soul of one more warrior that left us. Although he wasn't a top MMA star, our young sport has been evolving and growing thanks to many pioneers, who ignore the odds and insist on brining fighting and martial arts to new grounds, so everybody can benefit in the long run, and God knows who big MMA can be in 20 years from now. Magnus Decio was one of those heroes, who didn't make money, didn't have many fans, but were brave enough to battle for their dreams, even as utopic as they could be, and break ground so others could establish in future years. When someone leaves us, mostly in dramatic fashion, it leaves us wondering if things are really worth it, but most definitely his effort was worth it, as a part of Brazil will always own him something for brining our sport to new places. May his soul rest in peace, and enjoy the news here at FCF...
  • MMA legend Royce Gracie will indeed fight in the K-1 New Year's eve show. Although rumors have been indicating that Royce could be negotiating with the UFC, this won't affect Gracie's appearance at the most important show of the year for the K-1 organization, where K-1 and Pride compete for TV ratings in their annual "New Year's eve battle". As of now no opponent was announced to be facing Royce, and it's not impossible that the three-time UFC Champion may return to the Octagon next year, as his manager and Zuffa seem to be having some talks. FCF will keep you posted.

  • After staying in Brazil training for little more than a month in the Chute Boxe headquarters, Pride superstar and Japanese idol Kazushi Sakuraba has returned to Japan. During his stay Sakuraba trained hard in daily basis, in disciplines such as Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, Muay Thai and of course, MMA. During his stay in Curitiba, all the Chute Boxe members were more than pleased to say that Saku was well liked by everybody, very friendly and making jokes most of time. The Japanese fighter said that he intends to come back to Brazil to train again in the future, and now it'll be interesting to see what kind of new weapons he may display in his next fight in Pride.

  • Still on the Chute Boxe subject, one new addition to the team that may happen soon, is Jungle Fight veteran and Muay Thai stylist Helio Dipp! Dipp has arrived a few days ago in Curitiba, and is training in the Chute Boxe academy, with the likes of Mauricio Shogun, Murilo Ninja, Wanderlei Silva and many others. Although Helio's style is already pretty simmilar to the Chute Boxe style, and him joining the team at this point would seem natural, it's still not clear or decided if he will stay with Chute Boxe or just train for a little while as part of the new interchange program going on in the world famous academy. Also training in Chute Boxe right now, are Jiu Jitsu players Rodrigo and Carina Damm! Both have been training in Curitiba for close to two weeks, and seem to be looking forward to stay in the team.

  • As it has been happening quite often in recent years, yet another new promotion is set to make its debut in the Brazilian MMA scene. The differences this time, are that the show will have international flavor, and will be hold in the Brazilian Northeastern region, following the footsteps of Heat FC. Nitro Fight is scheduled for next October 29th, in the city of Fortaleza, capital of the state of Ceara, another tourists spot, famous for its beaches and sunny skies. Promoters are announcing a good production value for the show, as well as the paticipation of fighters such as Din Thomas, Jeff Monson, Jadyson Costa, among others. FCF will keep an eye on the developments.

  • Speaking of MMA shows, initially scheduled for October 8th in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Showfight III was postponed a couple of weeks ago, with the new and final date being set for October 21st. Supposedly minor issues with the fighters involved in the show, such as weight agreements for the bouts and the likes, caused the postponement. However, being set for the Ibirapuera arena, the most important indoor sports arena in the city, with a capacity of more than 10.000 spectators, expectations runs high for the show that will feature Chute Boxe fighter, UFC and Pride veteran, Jorge Macaco Patino against Ryan Gracie student Gabriel Vella, in a grudge match that has Macaco with his eyes set on a match against Ryan in Pride, in case of a win against Vella. The card will also count with fighters such as Claudio Godoy, Alex Gaze, Vitor Viana and Eduardo Pamplona. FCF will keep you posted.

  • The biggest rivalry going on in today's MMA is, without much arguing, Brazilian Top Team versus Chute Boxe. Whenever this rivalry is brought to table in an MMA event, it's guarantee of excitement, and this time a new show will serve as stage for another chapter in this novel, as MMA slowly conquers the old continent! "Fight For Respect" will have it's first show in the capital of Lisbon, Portugal, featuring eight MMA matches, including a small "team competition" between BTT and Chute Boxe, in three fights that are headlining the card, to be taken place this coming October 15th. The undercard will have it's highlight with Marcelo Grillo, also from Brazilian Top Team, facing Heat FC veteran Dinarte Silva. However, the most important bouts of the night will be without a doubt the ones on the team tournament, with Shooto Brazil veteran Paulo Boiko facing Storm veteran Mauricio Veio, WEF veteran Alexandre Cacareco facing Julio Cesar Jamanta, and Deep veteran Roan "Jucao" Carnero facing Meca veteran Fabio Silva. Action promises to be fierce and FCF will keep following developments.

  • Speaking of MMA in the old continent, as Cage Rage continues to grow as Europe's biggest show, and UK's finest by far, another Pride veteran seems to be appearing soon in British soil to compete, as Chute Boxe Jiu Jitsu stand out Nino "Elvis" Schembri may be heading over to the UK cage in December! Schembri was on hand at the last Cage Rage, September 10th, cornering the Chute Boxe fighters at the show, and supposedly has come to a verbal agreement with the British promotion to perform in December, and a likely opponent could be UFC veteran Travis Lutter. As always, much can change and nothing is set in stone, but this is very likely to happen. Another Chute Boxe fighter that may appear in Cage Rage soon, is welterweight and Muay Thai stand out Mauricio Veio.

  • Speaking of the Chute Boxe team, Pride Middleweight Grand Prix stand outs Wanderlei Silva and Mauricio Shogun are back on their regular training schedule. The "Axe Murderer" took a small vacation in Europe with his wife after Pride, where he had the chance to minister some seminars in France and travel a bit to places such as Holland and Belgium. Back to Brazil, Wanderlei is training hard again and has been saying to the Brazilian press that he is eager to fight again in December, and to get back to his aggressive style, as he felt he wasn't himself in his last bout. A rematch against Ricardo Arona may be likely for December, as sources in BTT indicate. Crowned as the champion, his teammate Mauricio Shogun enjoyed his well-deserved vacation in Brazil, with his family and friends. As he and his brother built a new house for their parents, where Shogun still lives, and they just moved in, things were more than busy for the young fighter, but now he is back in training full-time and is also looking forward for a bout in the December Pride card. After that, he and his brother Murilo Ninja Rua are planning on going to the USA for their second ever seminar tour together in January!

  • By the way, Pride veteran Murilo Ninja Rua got back from Europe this past week, after another seminar tour, where he had the chance to go to Sweden, Denmark, England and Italy. Unfortunately, during the tour Ninja had to cancel his seminar in Belfast, Northern Ireland, due to conflicts going on in the city at the time. Murilo also had the chance to attend the last Cage Rage, and now he is back in Curitiba training hard at Chute Boxe for a likely appearance in the next Pride, October 23rd. As negotiations are going on, his bout may be announced at any time, and Ninja makes no secret he would also welcome a bout against BTT representative Paulo Filho in Pride's December card.

  • Things are also busy in the Brazilian Top Team headquarters, as it couldn't be any different. Back from Japan, Murilo Bustamante will have a very short period of vacation as he has to prepare for Dan Henderson in the Pride Bushido GP final bout, that will take place on December 31st. Also back from Japan, where he and Milton Vieira shot a Shampoo commercial for a Japanese brand, Mario Sperry is also on hold, as he may fight at anytime before the end of the year, since he still has one fight in his Pride contract. However, one likely name to appear on the next Pride card, October 23rd, is Rogerio Minotoro Nogueira, however no opponent or any definition regarding his participation is set as of now.

  • Recovered from his elbow surgery, and already training again, Pride Heavyweight contender Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira will be watching the match-up between Mirko Cro Cop and Josh Barnett with high interest, as he is very likely to be facing the winner of the bout in the Pride December 31st show, which seems to have potential for the best MMA card ever, if all the rumors comes through. On the meantime, Nogueira is also working on planning the next edition of Minotauro Fight, and doing TV appearances as a guest in Brazil.

  • On a sad note, Heat FC veteran and RN Vale Tudo 2 champion Magnus Decio has left our world on the Friday September 23rd. The Jiu Jitsu black belt was found dead in his house, after committing suicide, hanging himself with his own black belt, in a dramatic scene. Decio was one of the pioneers of Jiu Jitsu in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte, and one of the founders of the Kioto academy, in the city of Natal. His age was still not learned precisely until the writing of this column, but he was somewhere in his late 30's. He will surely be remembered by the MMA community in his city, and missed by many students. FCF hopes for the best for his family and loved ones, and may his soul rest in peace.