Foto: gabe-gonzaga.com
Efter att ha förlorat två raka matcher mot Junior Dos Santos och Brendan Schaub hade den brasilianske tungviktaren Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga fått nog av MMA och han annonserade att han lägger handskarna på hyllan.
Men efter ett år uppehåll kom returen på Reality Fighting – Gonzaga vs. Porter. Efter att ha strypt ut sin motståndare i tredje ronden var det klart att suget att tävla kommit tillbaka, suget att vara bäst i världen hade åter igen hittat ett hem i Gonzaga.
”I believe in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, I accomplished everything I wanted. I won state, national and world-championship titles. In MMA, I had the opportunity to fight 12 times so far for the UFC. I fought for the UFC heavyweight title, and against some of the best fighters in the sport. I believe I was looking for some time to reset my goals. I enjoyed the chance to stay close to my students, and also the extra time I was able to spend with my family…[But] my students and my friends were asking to see me fight again. The UFC always treated me very well. I knew if I had some wins outside of the UFC, they would have me back. I was ready to take this opportunity to fight again in the UFC, and I jumped on it when my manager called me. It will prove to me that I belong there, and I can still compete with some of the best in the sport. I take one fight at a time. I just want to focus on this fight right now. I want to be a world champion…I want to be recognized as a guy that comes to fight win or lose, and puts on a good show for the fans.”, säger Gonzaga till Bleacher Report.
I helgen på UFC 142 gör Gonzaga sin returmatch i UFC och för motståndet står obesegrade landsmannen Edinaldo ”Lula” Oliviera som gör sin debut i UFC. Kommer veteranen ha vad som krävs för att stoppa den hungrige debutanten?
