By Guilherme Cruz
Photo Marcelo Alonso

Ronaldo Jacaré physical coach Rafael Alejarra praised a lot his last performance at the first round of the DREAM middleweight GP, where he submitted just over three minutes the American Ian Murphy. “I have been with Jacaré for three months, since he started his preparation for DREAM. Jacaré is an exceptional athlete, what can I say more?”, said Alejarra that asked if he appoint Ronaldo Jacaré as the favorite for the GP, he didn’t have any doubts: “I would be better to ask: except him, who else has more chances to win the GP?” stated Alejarra, that after Wanderlei Silva’s bout at UFC 84, will physical train Gabriel Napão for his next commitment at the UFC.

Fourth place at the ADCC 2003, the American Eddie Bravo, who got famous after having submitted Royler Gracie in the semifinal of that tournament, is accusing the ADCC 2007 open weight champion, Robert Drysdale, of doing plagiarism of his institutional video, alleging in some American websites that the Brazilian was even imitating his "rubber guard". It would be funny if it wasn't tragic. "He claims he invented the omoplata, something that I have seen Nino (Schembri)doing since I was a white belt", said a revolted Drysdale who won the absolute title in 2007 submitting Marcelo Garcia and now is working as Grappling instructor of Xtreme Couture.

Now Drysdale is defending himself against the accusation: "What is more impressive is that there are many people in that truly believe this guy is a legend. What has he done in Grappling or Jiu-Jitsu world to believe that I would copy him? Until now he gathers the glory of that victory against Royler Gracie, something that he will never achieve again. If I had to copy somebody else, I would copy Leozinho (Vieira), who is my teacher, a Jiu-Jitsu encyclopedia and the guy who defeat him easily and won 2003 title in lightweight category", finishes Drysdale.

Courtesy of FEG

Check out the beset shots of the second edition of the DREAM, that was hold last 29^th April, at Saitama, . At this event occurred the fist round of the Middleweight GP, that had the international debut of Ronaldo Jacaré, now fighting for Xtreme Couture. Jacaré submitted his opponent, the American Ian Murphyat the first round. At another bout for the middleweight GP Kasushi Sakuraba submitted the Brazilian Andrews Nakahara. The two times Hero’s champion Gesias Cavalcante was surprised by the Japanese Shinya Aoki, been defeated at judge’s decision.Check out the beset shots HERE:

By Eduardo Ferreira
Photo Marcelo Alonso

After George St. Pierre crushed Matt Hughes and Matt Serra between the welterweights at the UFC, the Canadian hasn’t dismissed the possibility of put on weight. His target is the middleweight champion, Anderson Silva, that didn’t know about what St. Pierre intend to do. “I didn’t know about those Pierre ’s statements, you are giving me this information now. What can I say? I think what is most important is that I will be no unemployed (laughter). St. Pierre is a great fighter, but I would never put on weights to face the champion of the category. My weight is 98kg and I lose weight to fight at 83kg and I would never make that. But people talks what they want and if this fight really happen, I hope to make a good performance”, said Andeson that doesn’t know yet his next opponent.

“By now I am in fattening stage (laughter). I don’t have a bout scheduled and we are trying to make this fight against Roy Jones Jr.. This is a personal wish”, said the champion, that arrive at Rio de Janeiro this week to train at Nogueira’s brothers train benter and would like to train with his friend Paulo Filho. “Thanks to God Paulão is recovered. Once again he shows that he is a samurai and overcome everything with friends help. I already set with him to talk and we are going to train together too”, said “the Spider”.

By Eduardo Ferreira
Photo Marcelo Alonso

To depend on his cheering, Ronaldo Jacaré can already celebrate the middleweight DREAM GP title. After receive the support of the ex Pride champion Wanderlei Silva and from Randy Couture, the BJJ Mundial Champion has in his cheering the UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. “I cheer on Jacaré. There is a long time that he deserves a chance. He has been working a lot to a place and now it’s his time. He got all the chances to bring one more belt to Brazil and I am going to be on his cheering”, said Anderson, that will arrive at Rio de Janeiro next week to train at Nogueira’s brother train center.

By Eduardo Ferreira
Photo Kenny Escodijo

The current BJJ Pan-American open weight champion, André Galvão, is preparing himself for the BJJ Mundial that is schedule for June at . The Brasa black belt earn last Saturday (26), two thousand dollars after win the second Hong Kong Jiu-Jitsu Cup, which was hold at USA. To be the champion, Galvão defeated at the first fight Barbosinha student, the Japanese Makoto, submitting with a choke. At the semifinal against Brazilians Pedro Schmal, who is settle in London, England, Galvão scored an easily 21x2.

At the big final Wnaderlei Silva's BJJ coach, Galvão, faced his ex teacher Eduardo Telles, who defeated, to reach the final, the Renzo Gracie’s black belt, Thome, with a choke at the 100kg position and in the semifinal submitted, with an arm-lock, Alexandre Izidro, The BTT responsible in Hong Kong. The victory of Galvão on Telles came with a choke from the back. "He went mad, but it’s all at home (laugh)," kidded Galvão.

By Guilherme Cruz
Photo FEG Courtesy

The polemical fight between Gesias Cavalcanti and the Japanese fighter Shinya Aoki at DREAM’s lightweight GP seems to have no end. After Aoki’s complaining about an elbow blow at his back of the head and the organization define another date for the fight, it’s time to Gesias complain about some partiality at DREAM’s GP. The next fight will happen at the Saitama Super Arena at April 29^th, and the Brazilian fighter said that the organization is giving advantage for some athletes. “My fight was No Contest and the correct by the event rules was that I win, but now I’ll have to fight two times in two weeks”, said Gesias that complained about some advantages to other fighters.

“I’m not unsatisfied, but I think it’s a disrespect an event that is starting now with a 16 athlete tournament, but on the first stage only has 14. An athlete is on the second stage without passing trough the first fight, if I’m not wrong it’s Caol Uno, they didn’t announced that. I’m Hero’s champion and I’m asking for any privileges, I’m only asking for a fair game”, said the Gesias.

By Guilherme Cruz
Photo Josh Hedges

With a great BJJ work on the UFC octagon, the Brazilian fighter Demian Maia got his eight victory on his perfect card with only victories and appeared as another strong name on the middleweight category. This time, the victim of the strong triangle was the expert fighter Ed Herman, that tapped after 2 minutes of the second round. “Everything was just like I expected, but I think I did some thing wrong, wanted to beat a lot, but everything was right in the”, said Maia, that believes that needs to grow more on the UFC to fight for the belt. “I believe that it’s not time for the belt yet, I only have eight fights on MMA and the middleweight champion is the best of the world… This fight will come on the right time”, said the Brazilian athlete.

By Guilherme Cruz
Photo Marcelo Alonso

At the corner of the Brazilian fighters Vanessa Porto and Carina Damm on the Fatal Femmes Fighting at Los Angeles, United States, at April 3^rd, the three times BJJ world champion Xande Ribeiro gave total support to the athletes, that were well at the American octagon with a good fight of Vanessa Porto and a great exhibition of Carina Damm, that puts her as a big name for the title shot. “I loved to be at the corner of two of the biggest Brazilian fighters, I wanted to help with my best. I was screaming there like a crazy guy, Vanessa dominated the fight, put the opponent to the ground, but failed a little”, analyzed Xande, that commented about the new gym with his brother Saulo, at San Diego, California.

“The gym is great, we have an interesting proposal, fighting for the athlete’s profissionalization. It’s a great work, my brother and I have an open mind, Jacaré went there, Lovato too, we don’t have a ego competition, we’re there to learn”, told the BJJ world champion, that is training the UFC athlete Diego Sanchez and EliteXC’s and IFL’s Fabrício Morango.

By Eduardo Ferreira
Photo Marcelo Alonso

With only four days to the first round of the event, DREAM had officially announced that Frank Trigg is out of the card scheduled for next April 29^th. To replace Trigg, Ian Murphy, an amateur wrestler is confirmed. The other doubt is the participation of Kazushi Sakuraba, that confirmed his participation at DREAM 2, but did not assured that his fight against the Brazilian Andrews Nakahara is valid for the middleweight GP. Check out below the card of the event:

COMPLET CARD (may change):

Dream 2 – GP Middleweight
Saitama, Japan
Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

GP Middlewight:
- Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Andrews Nakahara;
- Denis Kang vs. Gegard Mousasi;
- Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Masakatsu Funaki;
- Ronaldo Jacaré vs. Ian Murphy;
- Magomed Sultanakhmadov vs. Zelg Galesic;
- Yoon Dong Sik vs. Shungo Oyama;
- Kin Taiei vs. Minowaman;

Lightweight GP:
- Shinya Aoki vs. Gesias Cavalcante.

By Guilherme Cruz
Photo Marcelo Alonso

When he started practicing  Kyokushin Karate, the Brazilian Andrews Nakahara could not imagine himself fighting at MMA rules in Japanese rings. The 25 years old black belt has many Karate titles and is going to make his MMA debut against the biggest Japanese MMA fighter in history, Kazushi Sakuraba, at the next middleweight DREAM GP. The first round is scheduled for April 29th. Andrews commented about his debut against the Japanese idol. “Sakuraba is a legend, it’s a honor to face him. It is a big opportunity to debut at MMA facing such an experienced athlete as Sakuraba”, said the Brazilian.

By Guilherme Cruz
Photo Marcelo Alonso

Not confirmed yet, the Boxing fight between Anderson Silva and Roy Jones Jr. is shaking the MMA World. As the UFC middleweight Champion Boxing coach, Josuel Distak said that he needs to change a lot his way of fighting to face Roy Jones, but he doesn’t discard the bout. “To a Boxing fight, we have to comeback to the beginning at the Boxing trains. I say that because he is focus at the MMA. It would be great a challenge like this, but not now”, said Distak, that prefers that Anderson keeps focus at MMA for while.

“Let him continue at the MMA, because he is very well, he is the best in the world and is not good change to another event, unless it is a fight at Boxing and another at MMA. Our Boxing is prepared for MMA, for Boxing we would have to do a long job, but we fight against him with great pleasure”, said Minotauro Team Boxing coach.

By Guilherme Cruz
Photo Josh Hedges

The great victory at UFC Fight Night 13, using his knees against Karo Parysian, let the brazilian Thiago Pitbull more excited to beome the UFC champion. The performance at his last fight, that in 35 seconds at the second round he defeated Parysian, is sufficient to give a destination to him at the biggest MMA event of the world. “I am one fight after jon Fitch, that is the next challenger after St. Pierre vs. Matt Serra. I could wait to make this fight, but I don’t want to, I came here to fight and I love to fight. So I will fight once more and then I will fight for the belt. I’m about two bouts of take this belt for my home”, said Pitbull, that lives at USA there is 5 years and is going to visit Brazil next week, after two years without come to his homeland.

By Guilherme Cruz
Photo Marcelo Alonso

With an impressive résumé at MMA, Thiago Silva is already appointed as one of the bests at his category at the UFC. After a easy win against Houston Alexandre, Thiago will face the also undefeatable Antônio Samuray, with 11 victories at his card. But first, Thiago commented his last fight. “ Houston is very strong. I trained a lot and I made an specific tactical train because he has strong punches. I impose my game because he won all his fights at the stand up game and nobody knew how was his ground game. So I made the right thing and finish the fight”, analyzed Thiago.

Thiago didn’t want to face a Brazilian but he state that he is professional. “Unfortunately I am going to face a Brazilian, but I am here to work. I don’t choose my opponents. Ultimate wants me to face him so I will. I know that he is a striker but nothing scare me. I saw some of him fights at the internet and apparently he had never face a international level athlete. He is having his opportunity and I am here. Theoretically I came from a much hardest fight”, said Thiago.

By Bernardo Seabra
Photo Marcelo Alonso

Although the confirmation by DREAM, that Ronaldo Jacaré vs. Frank Trigg was confirmed at the first round of the Middleweight GP of the event, the American says the opposite. "I haven't heard anything from DREAM in about a week and a half. We started talking about a month ago, but lately, there's been no communication. I really haven't even thought about it lately, said him to MMAJunkie.com.

The article says too that Trigg neither has a visa to go to Japan and that his wife can be one delay to DREAM plans. “My wife is very pregnant and can't fly. “She'd miss the whole tournament, and that's a big deal for to take a fight without her there by my side", said Frank Trigg.

By Guilherme Cruz
Photo Marcelo Alonso

Teammates at Xtreme Couture, Randy Couture’s team at Las Vegas , Wanderlei Silva bet at Ronaldo Jacaré at his debut at Japanese ring. Selected to face Frank Trigg at Dream middleweight GP schedule for April 29, Jacaré has the Mr. Pride confidence. “Jacaré is going as the underdog. As he don’t have many fights he is not well-known but training with him, I appoint his as the favorite”, said Wand that analyzed the best skills of Jacaré: “He has 1,75 tall and he is tall and strong for the category. I said to him to make his game, to make what he knows better. At the clinch, is very difficult to get out without suffer any damage. He is getting better each day and I think he is one of the favorites”.

By Guilherme Cruz
Photo Marcelo Alonso

Josuel Distak, Boxing coach of Minotauro Team and Vitor Belfort, is training Paulão Filho to his return to the octagon after personal problems that the fighter faced. Distak is very confident with his return. “Paulão get out of the depression we are searching for his best shape and he is 100%, now he is with common sense. Their friends are helping him and we are focusing at the training. For this time, we are not ask to stop the fight, we certainly are going to send the opponent to orthopedist”, said the coach.

By Guilherme Cruz
Photo Marcelo Alonso

Vitor Belfort Boxing coach, Josuel Distak, reveal to TATAME.com the new plans of the ex-UFC champion at MMA. Without fighting since September at Cage Rage 23, where he defeated James Zikic at judge’s decision and become the event champion, Vitor can face the American Kevin Randleman. “We are training hard and Belfort is close to a deal to face Kevin Randleman at Japan or at Pro Elite in June. He is waiting for the best offer to sign”, said Distak. Randleman don’t fight since his victory against Maurício Shogun in 2006 at Pride 32.

By Gabriel Cabral
Photo Eduardo Ferreira

Although the fight is not confirmed yet at Sengoku 2 card, that is schedule to May 18, at Tokyo, , Fabrício Monteiro is getting involved in return to Japanese rings. “I am expecting to fight in June, but if they give me the opportunity to fight in May, I will be prepared. Both of us, me and Antônio Braga Neto, pleased the audience and in my case, as the result of the fight was controversial, they want a return fight”, said Monteiro that, although the defeat to Nick Thompson, must not face the American in his next bout: “I don’t belive that his is my opponent this time. I think they are going to keep this fight to another more important event. If he continuous to win, maybe a belt dispute”.

By Gabriel Cabral
Photo Marcelo Alonso

Well-Known as the “Mcgaiver” of the physical train, Wanderlei Silva’s coach, Rafael Alejarra, that build a gym at Wanderlei house at Curitiba, with specials apparatus, arrived from Cuba with novelties at his suitcase. “This trip was very good. I learn a lot of very interesting new techniques, but I liked very much of the snorkel technique that Cubans make with their Wrestling and Boxing Olympic athletes and now I am making the same think with Wanderlei and Phill Baroni, that are improving a lot”, said him, that is living with Wanderlei at Las Vegas.