Brazilian Breakdown | UFC São Paulo

Division: Heavyweight

Birthplace: Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Professional Record: 19-2

Streak: Won last 14 bouts

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The Scoop: Although his rise in the UFC might seem sudden and meteoric, Almeida has been wreaking havoc inside the Octagon since 2012. None of his wins across heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight and even welterweight have ever needed the judges, and since winning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series back in 2021, he’s only made it to the second round one time in his five UFC fights. His three most recent bouts have all warranted Performance of the Night honors. UFC São Paulo will mark his second turn as a UFC headliner, as the man around whom this fight card is built (as Jon Anik might say) will meet veteran Derrick Lewis in front of an adoring, sold out Ginasio Do Ibirapuera. Fireworks await.

Division: Welterweight

Birthplace: Brasilia, Brazil

Professional Record: 15-0

Streak: Undefeated

Order UFC 295: Procházka vs Pereira

The Scoop: Gabriel won a contract the same night as his brother Ismael on the 2022 season of Dana White’s Contender Series, and in his two UFC bouts since, he has only needed a combined total of two minutes and two seconds in the Octagon to work his magic (both were guillotine submissions). Like his promotional debut at Rio’s UFC 283 last January, he'll join his brother on the same card, this time taking on a streaking Nicolas Dalby in the co-main event.

Division: Heavyweight

Birthplace: Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Professional Record: 10-1, 1 NC

Streak: Won his last two

Five Derrick Lewis Fights To Watch Before UFC São Paulo

The Scoop: It’s an interesting rematch of his UFC debut when “Zé Colméia” enters the Octagon on Saturday. Shortly after winning a contract on the 2019 season of Dana White’s Contender Series, Nascimento took on Don’Tale Mayes. He won that bout by submission, something he does regularly with his ace jiu-jitsu game that belies his imposing frame. Outside of an uncharacteristic KO loss to Chris Daukaus in 2020, Nascimento ends the night with his hand raised, something he’ll look to do against Mayes, who has gone 3-1-1 since they last met.

Division: Middleweight

Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Professional Record: 9-2

Streak: Won his last bout

UFC São Paulo Fighters On The Rise

The Scoop: Despite alternating wins and losses over the last couple years (the only two losses of his career), nobody is overlooking the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu prowess of “The Black Belt Hunter,” least of all Saturday’s opponent Armen Petrosyan. The five-time BJJ World Champion takes no prisoners when it comes to both MMA and grappling competitions, with a prime example being his most recent outing, an arm triangle choke of Cody Brundage in April.

Division: Lightweight

Birthplace: Brasilia, Brazil

Professional Record: 15-3

Streak: Lost last bout

UFC 295: The Focus of Jiří Procházka

The Scoop: The other half of the dynamic Bonfim brothers is coming off an uncharacteristic loss last July to the ascending Benoit Saint Denis. It was the first time the striking ace hadn’t gotten his hand raised in 13 fights dating back to 2014. Now back competing on the same card as brother Gabriel (see above), he’ll look to return to his winning ways and hopes to put on a performance that tops the epic flying knee KO he delivered in Rio last January.

Division: Lightweight

Birthplace: Maues, Amazonas, Brazil

Professional Record: 19-4

Streak: Won four straight

Order UFC 295: Procházka vs Pereira

The Scoop: A student of Diego Lima and a sparring partner of Charles Oliveira, Brener is one of the most interesting talents to enter the 155-lb ranks. Equally skilled at Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu, he’s a legitimate dual threat, as evidenced in his first two UFC wins. Original opponent Esteban Ribovics was forced to withdraw earlier this week due to injury, so now Brener will face newcomer Kaynan Kruschewsky on Saturday.

Division: Lightweight

Birthplace: Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Professional Record: 15-1, 1 NC

Streak: Won six straight

UFC São Paulo Fight By Fight Preview

The Scoop: Last seen submitting Dylan Mantello last month on Dana White’s Contender Series, Kayan Kruschewsky makes a tight turnaround for his UFC debut, stepping in on short notice to face countryman Elves Brener. His résumé suggests it won’t be a problem. A proven finisher, “Bahia” has rarely been to the scorecards over his 17 pro fights. Like Brener, he’s proficient in both Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu, which makes for a highly intriguing bout in which a Brazilian is certain to prevail .

Division: Welterweight

Birthplace: Francisco Beltrão, Parana, Brazil

Professional Record: 24-7

Streak: Won his last two

UFC Monthly Report, October 2023

The Scoop: A member of the UFC roster since 2015, “Capoeira” has put on some dazzling performances over the course of his 13 fights in the promotion, including three Fight of the Night honors and a spinning wheel kick KO of current middleweight champion Sean Strickland, back when he dabbled at welterweight. The winner of three of his last four, the 36-year-old veteran has shown a remarkable chin and the ability to hang around when things get ugly, and things just might on Saturday when he meets Russian phenom Rinat Fakhretdinov.

Division: Bantamweight

Birthplace: Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil

Professional Record: 24-4

Streak: Won 13 in a row

Order UFC 295: Procházka vs Pereira

The Scoop: Just days after winning a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, Victor has a chance to make the most memorable of all UFC debuts in his home country, stepping in on short notice to take on undefeated Peruvian prospect Daniel Marcos. The son of a professional kickboxer, Hugo has trained martial arts in one form or another since the age of five. 25 years later his dream is about to become a reality.

Division: Light Heavyweight

Birthplace: Santa Luzia, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Professional Record: 9-0

Streak: Undefeated

UFC 295 Main Event Spotlight

The Scoop: Another graduate of Dana White’s Contender Series, Petrino is a fearsome striker who has walked away with a win in every MMA bout he’s ever been in, including his first two in the UFC. Most recently, he subbed Marcin Prachnio via arm triangle, and he’ll try to keep his undefeated streak alive Saturday versus his toughest test to date: Modestas Bukauskas. Petrino has only gone this distance twice in his nine-fight career, and he’s aiming to keep it that way.

Division: Strawweight

Birthplace: Riachuelo, Sergipe, Brazil

Professional Record: 9-0

Streak: Undefeated

Order UFC 295: Procházka vs Pereira

The Scoop: One of the newest members of the UFC roster, Moura just punched her ticket last August when she subbed Janaina Silva on Dana White’s Contender Series. Submissions are the name of the game for the undefeated prospect, who specializes in wrestling and jiu-jitsu under the tutelage of Yuri Moura and Herrick Marinho. She counts Khabib Nurmagomedov and Ronda Rousey among the fighters she admires most, and answers to the nickname “Ronda.” Those are big shoes to fill, and she’ll look to start doing precisely that against Montserrat Ruiz Saturday.

Division: Lightweight

Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Professional Record: 8-1

Streak: Won his last two

UFC São Paulo Fight By Fight Preview

The Scoop: Fernandes faces a tall task in his UFC debut: taking on seasoned veteran Marc Diakiese to open the show on Saturday. His résumé says he’s up to the challenge. Aside from high-profile fights in LFA, the BJJ black belt is the former Shooto Brasil champion and trains under the esteemed André Pederneiras.