Great addition to the 205 division
http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Top-Brazilian-Prospect-Marcos-Pezao-Signs-with-Strikeforce-33376
Top Brazilian Prospect Marcos ‘Pezao’ Signs with Strikeforce
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
by Mike Whitman (mwhitman@sherdog.com)
Undefeated Brazilian light heavyweight prospect Marcos Rogerio de Lima has inked a multi-fight deal with Strikeforce.
Sherdog.com confirmed the signing Tuesday with multiple sources close to the deal. According to those with knowledge of the situation, “Pezao” has neither a date nor an opponent for his Strikeforce debut, which will most likely occur this fall. September is said to the earliest that the 205-pounder could join the promotion.
Perfect through eight pro contests, the 6-foot-2 De Lima has fought actively since his debut two years ago. The fighter fought four times in 2009 and matched that total the following year. Representing Barbosa MMA, the native of Ribeirao Pires, Sao Paulo, has fought the majority of his career in his home country and has yet to compete in MMA on North American soil.
One of Brazil’s most outstanding kickboxers and a knockout specialist, “Pezao” has earned 75 percent of his career victories by KO and has only been to a decision once as a professional, receiving a unanimous nod in his most recent fight against former WEC middleweight king Paulo Filho in Sao Paulo this past October.
He's a beast. Very athletic for his size, good power, and kickboxing technique. I've never actually seen him wrestle, but he has a good base to keep the fight on the feet.
Zuffa is really stepping up the Brazilian talent infusion into their company lately with the additions of guys like Blanco, Erick Silva, Ronny Markes, Magno Almeida, and Pezao De Lima.
I think fight fans have the competition of Bellator to thank for that. They made a flurry of strong Brazilian prospect signings like Lima, Vianna, and Big Monster, causing Zuffa to stop slow playing these guys lest risk losing to Rebney. The UFC didn't have the luxury anymore to wait around until they went like 30-1 and stick with their same old guys who had established names in the company in the interim.
Although I'm not looking forward to these guys getting screwed and neutered due to the American/wrestling judging biases.
I was looking up what Pezao meant, since a lot of brazilian has that as a nickname, Antonio Silva, Vinicius Magalhaes and this guy. It turns out it means big foot.
I found some other pretty funny translation of fighter names:
Napao (Gabriel Gonzaga): Big nose
Babalu (Renato Sobral): The name of a brand of gum in Brazil
Cacareco (Alexandre Ferreira): Junk, or garbage
Toquinho (Rousimar Palhares): Treestump
http://thefightworkspodcast.com/2007/05/03/beginners-guide-to-brazilian-fighter-nicknames/
quick question for anyone in the know - how does an unknown fighter like Pezao actually get himself noticed and into SF? Do Zuffa or SF send scouts out or do these guys just have annoying ass managers who contact everyone under the sun for a year?
man strikeforce challengers is actually turning into legit prospects
great news
and props to smoogy for how many of these guys are getting signed
World MMA Light Heavyweight Scouting Report: #1 - Marcos Rogerio "Pezao" de Lima
www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/1/18/1941311/world-mma-light-heavyweight-scouting-report-1-marcos-rogerio-pezao-de
good stuff with the HL's Damn
rob, they also signed Eduardo Pamplona right?
another good prospect
DamnSevern -
rob, they also signed Eduardo Pamplona right?
another good prospect
Hmm, not sure, I remember when they signed Guto Inocente there was another good prospect they signed, can't remember the name though
odee said, "quick question for anyone in the know - how does an unknown fighter like Pezao actually get himself noticed and into SF? Do Zuffa or SF send scouts out or do these guys just have annoying ass managers who contact everyone under the sun for a year?"
De Lima was far from unknown for a while now.
He made his name, in part, off Paulo Filho, just like Markes.
He was featured in Sherdog's Top 10 Brazilians to Watch List. I think MMA Ranked has most of the top prospects evaluated before they sign w/ major organizations.
I'm sure the process with most guys is usually one of these major organizations has a contact who've they've developed trust w/ (maybe an agent, former fighter, teammate, etc.) informs them about a prospect, and then in the Internet age they search for his fights and evaluate him from that, or maybe go in person 1-2 fight afterward if that's not enough. Signing the top talents on their first "major" contracts all comes down to contacts, eye for talent, and who's willing to act first; so theoretically Bellator or anybody else who offered a raise could get top talents that way, but Zuffa has been trying to nip that momentum in the bud lately with Bellator on their grind and rumored to be moving to Spike.
FixedPartialArts - odee said, "quick question for anyone in the know - how does an unknown fighter like Pezao actually get himself noticed and into SF? Do Zuffa or SF send scouts out or do these guys just have annoying ass managers who contact everyone under the sun for a year?"
De Lima was far from unknown for a while now.
He made his name, in part, off Paulo Filho, just like Markes.
He was featured in Sherdog's Top 10 Brazilians to Watch List. I think MMA Ranked has most of the top prospects evaluated before they sign w/ major organizations.
I'm sure the process with most guys is usually one of these major organizations has a contact who've they've developed trust w/ (maybe an agent, former fighter, teammate, etc.) informs them about a prospect, and then in the Internet age they search for his fights and evaluate him from that, or maybe go in person 1-2 fight afterward if that's not enough. Signing the top talents on their first "major" contracts all comes down to contacts, eye for talent, and who's willing to act first; so theoretically Bellator or anybody else who offered a raise could get top talents that way, but Zuffa has been trying to nip that momentum in the bud lately with Bellator on their grind and rumored to be moving to Spike.
Thanks for that!
Ah good old Sherdog. It seems if you dont keep your sherdog fight record up to date you really dont stand a chance! The reason I was asking is that I know a young fighter who has an 11-2-0 record and have been trying to help him get discovered, so it appears its a matter of, more or less, having his fight videos land in the inbox of the correct person...
DamnSevern -Yes, he is scheduled to be on the prelims of this Friday's Challenger card.
rob, they also signed Eduardo Pamplona right?
another good prospect
I'm suprised that Zuffa allowed Strikeforce to pick up this prospect. I would have thought that the UFC would pick up the best new talent now that they own Strikeforce. I guess they want to see what this guy can do against stiffer competition before deciding that he's UFC calibre.
epwar -DamnSevern -Yes, he is scheduled to be on the prelims of this Friday's Challenger card.
rob, they also signed Eduardo Pamplona right?
another good prospect
you're right, he is fighting Jerron Peoples
OftheWay - I'm suprised that Zuffa allowed Strikeforce to pick up this prospect. I would have thought that the UFC would pick up the best new talent now that they own Strikeforce. I guess they want to see what this guy can do against stiffer competition before deciding that he's UFC calibre.
That's exactly it. They are in the opening stages of using Strikeforce as their new WEC. Secure prospects and veterans who've been in a slump lately under contracts until they prove they are amongst the better fighters in that class, then give them a shot to prove it at the highest level. It's a good tool to develop fighters and concentrate the talent in the UFC.
Id like to see a full list of prospect signings, there have been so many in the past month or so.
Groet - I was looking up what Pezao meant, since a lot of brazilian has that as a nickname, Antonio Silva, Vinicius Magalhaes and this guy. It turns out it means big foot.Cigano(JDS): gypsy, (brazillian nicknames tend to be pretty insulting)
I found some other pretty funny translation of fighter names:
Napao (Gabriel Gonzaga): Big nose
Babalu (Renato Sobral): The name of a brand of gum in Brazil
Cacareco (Alexandre Ferreira): Junk, or garbage
Toquinho (Rousimar Palhares): Treestump
http://thefightworkspodcast.com/2007/05/03/beginners-guide-to-brazilian-fighter-nicknames/