RIO DE JANEIRO — Welcome to The Ultimate Fighter Brazil episode 2 recap. In episode one we saw 32 of Brazil’s top up-and-coming middleweights and featherweights battle it out for a spot in the house. The fights were highly entertaining and culminated with an unforgettable 185-pound war between Leonardo “Macarrao” Mafra Teixeira and Samuel Trindade that saw Teixeira win via unanimous decision.
Moving in the TUF Brazil House
Episode two begins with the 16 contestants arriving at the TUF house mansion for the first time. It’s gorgeous; spacious, modern and lavishly decorated. There are large windows and sliding glass doors. Outside there is a large pool and a pond, lots of trees and foliage.
As the fighters begin picking the bedrooms and beds they want to sleep in, Anistavio “Gasparzinho” Medeiros de Figueiredo (Gaspari) says he is from the countryside and would feel more comfortable sleeping somewhere a bit more modest. His solution? He pulls the mattress from the top bunk and moves it underneath a table in the living room downstairs.
Team Picks
Once the fellas are moved in and have a few beers, a van transports them to the UFC Training Center Brazil. They walk into the Octagon where TUF coaches Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort are waiting, along with UFC President Dana White.
White gives a modified version of the “Do you wanna be a [expletive] fighter speech” and informs the group $45,000 will be awarded at the end of the show to the fighters with the best knockout, best fight and best submission.
White flips a coin to decide which coach gets to make the first pick. The coach that wins the toss can pick either the first fighter for his team, or let the other coach pick the first fighter, and he will decide the match-up for the first fight.
Wanderlei won the coin toss and picked featherweight Rony “Jason” Mariano Bezerra as the first fighter for his team. Vitor picked next and selected Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira as the first middleweight for his team.
“Gasparzinho” was the last fighter to be picked and he was selected for Team Belfort. “Gasparzinho” was upset about being picked last but Vitor talked with him in front of the other team members and let him know that he liked his fight and wanted him on his team.
After all fighters were picked, here are how the teams look:
Team Wanderlei (assistant coaches Rafael Cordeiro, André Dida, Renato Babalú, and Fabricio Werdum)
- Rony Jason – 145
- Delson Pé-de-Chumbo – 185
- John Macap – 145
- Francisco Massarandub -185
- Marcus Vinicius Vina – 145
- Reneé Forte – 185
- Wagner Galeto – 145
- Leonardo Macarrão – 185
Team Vítor (assistant coaches Francisco Filho, Luiz Dórea, Rodrigo Artilheiro, and Gilberto Durinho)
- Cézar Mutante – 185
- Hugo Wolverine – 145
- Daniel Sarafian – 185
- Rodrigo Damm – 145
- Thiago Bodão – 185
- Godofredo Pepey – 145
- Sérgio Moraes -185
- Anistávio Gasparzinho -145
Notable Quotes:
Anistavio Gasparzinho: “This house is too fancy. I don’t like fancy things.”
Wanderlei Silva: “We’re all from the same place. We’re all from hood and we’ve all worked hard to get here.”
Meet the Assistant Coaches
We meet each of the assistant coaches for Team Wanderlei, which include Rafael Cordeiro for Muay Thai, Renato “Babalu” Sobral for wrestling, André Dida for boxing and Muay Thai and Fabricio Werdum for jiu-jitsu. The “Axe Murderer” says when people ask him who inspires him or who he most looked up to, it is Rafael Cordeiro.
We meet each of the assistant coaches for Team Vitor, which include Luiz Dorea for boxing, Francisco Filho for kickboxing, Rodrigo Artilheiro for wrestling and Gilberto Durinho for jiu-jitsu.
First Fight Announcement
Because Wanderlei selected to pick the first fighter, it means Vitor gets to select the first fight match-up. Both teams gather at the gym for the fight announcement. From Team Wanderlei, Vitor selects featherweight Wagner Galeto — and from Team Vitor, he selects Godofredo Pepey as his opponent.
Vitor said he picked Galeto because he felt he had the worst fight to get in the house and his confidence will be low. Wanderlei said regarding Pepey that he copied Brazilian soccer player Neymar‘s hair and is the main guy you want to see get beaten.
Prior to the fight UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo stops by to give both fighters some words of encouragement.
Featherweight Quarterfinal:
Wagner Galeto (Team Wanderlei) vs. Godofredo Pepey (Team Vitor)
Round 1 – Referee is Mario Yamasaki. Touch gloves. They start cautious. Galeto is bobbing and weaving and Pepey shoots in, stuffed, pushed to his back. He gets up and squares off with Galeto. Pepey shoots again, stuffed, gives Galeto a knee to the body and backs out. High kick from Pepey is blocked. They tie up and exchange knees to the body. Overhand right and left from Pepey as he rushes in. He jumps guard and has Galeto in his full guard. Body shots from Galeto, he stands up and out of guard and lets Pepey up. Pepey rushes in with punches, Galeto fires back, but nothing much lands for either fighter. They square up again. Leg kick from Pepey inside. Galeto misses with a combo. Pepey clips Galeto with a one two three and Galeto goes down. He follows Galeto to the ground with a couple shots to the body. Galeto ties up his leg looking for a foot. They scramble to the feet and Pepey jumps guard. Galeto attempts some ground and pound but Pepey defends. Pro MMA Now scores round 1 for Pepey 10-9.
Round 2 – Galeto lands a counter punch as Pepey misses coming in. Wild right misses from Pepey. He misses a right, lands a left. Big left to the body from Galeto and Pepey lands a kick to the groin and time is called. After a brief recovery they start again. Leg kick from Pepey. They swing big, Galeto lands a left. Pepey misses a leg kick as Galeto dodges. He blocks Pepey’s high kick. Right from Pepey and Galeto lands a left, Pepey then lands a knee to the groin and time is called once again. Ref warns next time he will take a point. Leg kick from Pepey as Galeto stalks. Leg kick from Galeto that buckles Pepey. Clinch, knee from Pepey to the body. Leg kick inside from Pepey. Again. Misses a head kick. Galeto misses a left hook, misses an overhand left. Inside leg kick from Pepey. Galeto checks the next one. Again. Galeto misses a left. Pepey throws a five punch combo, only a couple shots landing. Body shot from Galeto, Inside leg kick from Pepey. Knee to the body from Galeto, right from Pepey. Galeto with a combo and Pepey’s mouthguard flys out. With only a few seconds left they swing it out until the bell. Pro MMA Now scores the round 10-9 for Pepey.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Godofredo Pepey def. Wagner Galeto by decision Rd 2 (5:00)
Galeto took the loss very hard. His coaches thought with two low blows Pepey should have been deducted a point. Previews for next week show rivalries dividing the house and Gasparzinho’s pranks taking their toll on his housemates.