Fighters Only Magazine

12/10/09 - Filho says the UFC is conspiring against Brazilian fighters

Paulo Filho says the UFC’s apparent current policy of matching Brazilians with other Brazilians is designed to benefit American fighters in the organisation.

“The UFC is a great event, but the Americans do everything so that you cannot get the advantage. They [do] everything to get you down. American is American, they want to see Americans with the belt and so eliminate as many Brazilians as possible - but they will have to work a lot, because we are the best,” he told Portuguese-language website Tatame at the weekend.

He gave the answer in response to a question about how he thought he would fare if the joined the ranks of the UFC’s light-heavyweight division, which he described as “very difficult - the category is very tough”.

The next big Brazilian-on-Brazilian match will take place at UFC 104, where Mauricio ’Shogun’ Rua (who is definitely not American) will challenge Lyoto Machida for the light-heavyweight belt.  

“It is an uphill struggle for Shogun. Machida is very strategic, the Shogun is real, very brave. Both have star quality, but I would venture to say Lyoto [will win] by strategy. But a fight is fight and we will only know when it is over. It will be a fight all the way.”

Another high-profile match of Brazilians being lined up is reportedly Anderson Silva against Vitor Belfort, with Anderson defending his UFC middleweight title. Filho thinks the fight is too difficult to predict.

“Very difficult. Vitor is looking very good, Anderson has nothing more to prove. They are two great athletes, anyone can win. It depends on the spirit that each presents on the day of the fight. Whoever is most focused will take the lead,” he said.

Filho is currently campaigning for DREAM in Japan after losing his Zuffa contract in the wake of a troubled performance against Chael Sonnen at WEC 36. He is also said to be looking at a Strikeforce showdown with Gegard Mousasi, the new light-heavyweight champion of that organisation.

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Please note: While the original interview was conducted by Tatame, the translation was produced by Fighters Only Ltd and as such is subject to copyright. Media are asked to credit both Tatame as the original source and Fighters Only for any extract from this English translation that is used. Thank you.

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