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UFC Fight Night 61
''UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Mir'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 61'') was a mixed martial arts event held on February 22, 2015, at the Ginásio Gigantinho in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Background The event was the first that the UFC has hosted in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. A light heavyweight bout between Rashad Evans and Glover Teixeira was expected to serve as the event headliner. However, on January 7, Teixeira was forced out of the bout as his knee, injured in his last fight, was slow to heal and he was unable to resume the proper training to prepare for the fight in that time frame. Evans is expected to be rebooked at a different event with possibly a new opponent. A heavyweight bout between Antônio Silva and former UFC Heavyweight champion Frank Mir, previously scheduled for UFC 184, a week later, headlined the event. A welterweight bout between Wendell Oliveira and TJ Waldburger, slated for the televised preliminary portion of the event, was cancelled on the day ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Frankie Saenz
Frankie Ozuna Saenz III (born August 12, 1980) is an American mixed martial artist in the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional since 2009, he made a name for himself fighting mostly in his native state, where he was King of the Cage Flyweight Champion (135 lb), World Fighting Federation Featherweight Champion and Coalition of Combat Featherweight Champion. Background The son of Frank and Debbie Saenz, Frankie is of Mexican descent. Frankie had four younger sisters, of whom one committed suicide in her teens. Frankie grew up in Maryvale, Phoenix playing football from the age of seven onward, picking up wrestling at his wrestling coach father's behest in the middle school. Frankie attended Marcos de Niza High School where he was undefeated state champion wrestler in 1998 and 1999 at 133-pound division receiving All American honors in his senior year. He lettered all four of his high school years in wrestling along with two letterman years ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Frankie Saenz
Frankie Ozuna Saenz III (born August 12, 1980) is an American mixed martial artist in the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional since 2009, he made a name for himself fighting mostly in his native state, where he was King of the Cage Flyweight Champion (135 lb), World Fighting Federation Featherweight Champion and Coalition of Combat Featherweight Champion. Background The son of Frank and Debbie Saenz, Frankie is of Mexican descent. Frankie had four younger sisters, of whom one committed suicide in her teens. Frankie grew up in Maryvale, Phoenix playing football from the age of seven onward, picking up wrestling at his wrestling coach father's behest in the middle school. Frankie attended Marcos de Niza High School where he was undefeated state champion wrestler in 1998 and 1999 at 133-pound division receiving All American honors in his senior year. He lettered all four of his high school years in wrestling along with two letterman years ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Iuri Alcântara
Iuri Alcântara (born 4 August 1980) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competed in the UFC bantamweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2003, Alcântara mostly fought in Brazil before signing with World Extreme Cagefighting to take part in their final event. He is the brother of fellow UFC fighter Ildemar Alcântara. Mixed martial arts career Background and early career Alcântara was born on the island of Marajó, Pará in Brazil. Incidentally, Alcântara takes his fighting nickname from the island and is billed as Iuri "Marajó" Alcântara. Alcântara trains at the "Striker Team" team and is managed by Wallid Ismail, the owner of the Jungle Fight promotion that Alcântara has competed in and won a championship. Alcântara's early career was spaced out considerably. His debut fight took place in March 2004 and he would not return until June 2005, where he won twice in the space of four months. Amongst Alcântara's wins was a grand prix tournament victory ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Marion Reneau
Marion Elizabeth Reneau-Perez (born June 20, 1977) is a retired American professional mixed martial artist who competed as a Bantamweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Mixed martial arts career Reneau began her professional mixed martial arts career in 2010. After winning several professional fights she attempted to try out for The Ultimate Fighter 18. However, she was allegedly told by UFC brass that she was too old to be a contestant on the show, but to keep pressing on and to win a couple of more fights. On the heels of her submission victory over Maureen Riordan in July 2014 at Resurrection Fighting Alliance 16, she was signed by the UFC. Ultimate Fighting Championship Reneau faced Alexis Dufresne on January 3, 2015 at UFC 182. Reneau won the fight via unanimous decision. At the post fight press conference, Dana White made a point to mention the ''TUF'' snub and publicly praised her performance. Reneau faced Jéssica Andrade on February 22, 2015 at UFC Fight ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sean Strickland
Sean Thomas Strickland (born February 27, 1991) is an American mixed martial artist who currently competes in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor since 2008, he is the former King of the Cage Middleweight Champion. As of July 4, 2022, he is #7 in the UFC middleweight rankings. Background Strickland grew up in Corona, California in a household with a physically and mentally abusive father. Angered by the circumstances at home, Strickland got kicked out of every school he attended. Strickland began training in mixed martial arts at the age of 14 and turned professional at the age of 16. Mixed martial arts career King of the Cage Strickland made his professional debut in 2008 for the King of the Cage promotion and compiled an undefeated record of 9–0 before facing Josh Bryant in a fight for the King of the Cage Middleweight Championship at KOTC: Unification on December 9, 2012. Strickland won via split decision, and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Santiago Ponzinibbio
Santiago Ponzinibbio (born September 26, 1986) is an Argentine mixed martial artist competing as a Welterweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Background He was born in Argentina to parents of Italian heritage, with paternal grandparents from Sicily. Ponzinibbio began training kickboxing when he was 13 years old growing up in Argentina. Ponzinibbio became interested in MMA, but there were too few local gyms in which he could pursue it. As a result, Ponzinibbio traveled to Florianópolis, Brazil, where he lived the first five months in a tent on a beach, doing some odd jobs to try make ends meet. Meanwhile, he trained at several nearby gyms. He turned professional in 2008 competing in regional promotions in South America. Mixed martial arts career Early career Ponzinibbio racked a record of 18–1 in the Latin America regional circuit before trying out for The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2. The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil In March 2013, it was revealed that Ponzinibbio wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Iuri Alcântara
Iuri Alcântara (born 4 August 1980) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competed in the UFC bantamweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2003, Alcântara mostly fought in Brazil before signing with World Extreme Cagefighting to take part in their final event. He is the brother of fellow UFC fighter Ildemar Alcântara. Mixed martial arts career Background and early career Alcântara was born on the island of Marajó, Pará in Brazil. Incidentally, Alcântara takes his fighting nickname from the island and is billed as Iuri "Marajó" Alcântara. Alcântara trains at the "Striker Team" team and is managed by Wallid Ismail, the owner of the Jungle Fight promotion that Alcântara has competed in and won a championship. Alcântara's early career was spaced out considerably. His debut fight took place in March 2004 and he would not return until June 2005, where he won twice in the space of four months. Amongst Alcântara's wins was a grand prix tournament victory ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rustam Khabilov
Rustam Khabilov (born 4 November 1986) is a Russian mixed martial artist, currently competing in the Lightweight division of Bellator MMA. He is a Combat Sambo World Champion and a former member of the Legion Sport Club fight team in Rostov-on-Don. Prior to signing with Bellator, Khabilov previously fought in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Background Rustam was born in Goksu-otar village in Dagestan, in a Kumyk family. He studied at the Makhachkala Automobile College, where his sports career began. He started his training under Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, soon becoming world and Russia champion in fight sambo discipline. Married, has two sons and a daughter. Mixed martial arts career ONE Fighting Championship In January 2012 it was announced that Khabilov had signed with ONE Fighting Championship. He made his debut at ONE Fighting Championship: Battle of Heroes at The BritAma Arena in Jakarta, Indonesia on 11 February 2012 against BJJ Wor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Adriano Martins
Adriano Soares Martins (born June 12, 1982) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division of Taura MMA. A professional competitor since 2004, he has competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Strikeforce and DREAM and Fight Nights Global. Background Originally from Manaus, Brazil, Martins began training in Judo in 1994, which he continued with until the year 2000, reaching the rank of brown belt. Due to his desire to learn submissions, Martins began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 1999. Martins went on to have an accomplished career in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, winning various titles. In 2004, needing to support his newly formed family, Martins began mixed martial arts. Mixed martial arts career Early career Martins made his professional mixed martial arts debut in 2004 and compiled a 23–6 record on the Brazilian circuit before being signed by Strikeforce. Strikeforce Martins was scheduled to make his Strikeforce debut against Isaa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cezar Ferreira
Cezar Jesus Ferreira (born February 15, 1985), better known in his home country Brazil as Cezar Mutante, is a mixed martial artist currently competing in the light heavyweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, he has competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Professional Fighters League. He was also the inaugural winner of Globo's The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil Background Ferreira was born in Catanduva, but grew up in Ibitinga, São Paulo. He began training capoeira at the age of six. Cezar grew up wrestling and practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu throughout his childhood and adolescence. Viewing tapes of UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie fighting caused his interest in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA to grow. However, after having a rough home life and having to leave at seventeen years old, Mutante found Vitor Belfort who took him in as his own son, helping to raise him and take care of him. Belfort began training Ferreira in MMA at his gym. Mixed martial arts c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sam Alvey
Samuel William Alvey (born May 6, 1986) is an American professional mixed martial artist, who competed in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional MMA competitor since 2008, Alvey has also formerly competed for Bellator, King of the Cage, the MFC, and was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter 16: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson. Background Originally from Waterford, Wisconsin, Alvey competed in football and wrestling at Waterford Union High School and was also a talented musician. Alvey played trumpet in the school's marching band and went on to Lakeland College to play the trumpet semi-professionally. In college, Alvey began competing in pankration before eventually transitioning into a career in mixed martial arts. Mixed martial arts career Early career Alvey began his amateur career in 2007, and was defeated via TKO in the second round of his first amateur bout. He rebounded to win his next two, before turning professional in July 2 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Edson Barboza
Edson Barboza Jr. (born January 21, 1986) is a Brazilian-American professional mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai kickboxer who competes in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and has formerly competed at lightweight. As of December 13, 2022, he is #14 in the UFC featherweight rankings. Mixed martial arts career Background Barboza comes from Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro. He was born prematurely at 28 weeks and given a 50/50 chance of surviving past infancy. At the age of 8, he began practicing and competing in Muay Thai. His professional Muay Thai record is 25–3, with 22 victories by knockout and 17 first-round finishes. Barboza moved to the United States in January 2009. Barboza's professional MMA career began in April 2009 in Tampa, Florida with a victory over Aaron Steadman via TKO in the first round. In his next fight, in the Renaissance MMA promotion, Barboza defeated Lee King via second-round KO, winning the lightweight title. Barboz ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
