Photo: Taro Irei for Sherdog
The UFC now has its first ever Venezuelan fighter among its featherweight ranks as heavy-handed brawler, Maximo Blanco, has officially signed with the promotion and will face TUF 14 cast-member, Marcus Brimage at the recently-announced UFC 145 in Atlanta on April 21st. MMA Weekly reported the booking:
The bout was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com by sources close to the fight on Thursday with verbal agreements in place for the April bout.
After wreaking havoc on the lightweight division in Japan for Sengoku, Maxi finally made his stateside debut for Strikeforce in September, but he was absolutely dwarfed by veteran, Pat Healy, and after getting worn down and grinded out on the mat, Blanco succumbed to a rear naked choke in the second round. Realizing he was likely too small to successfully compete at 155 lbs, Blanco decided to make the drop down to 145 lbs., and the UFC quickly added the exciting Venezuelan to their burgeoning featherweight division.
Brimage, an Alabama native, will certainly give Blanco the stand-up fight he prefers, although the American's boxing is probably a bit more refined than Blanco's wild brawling, and Brimage also has the benefit of training at American Top Team, one of the premier camps in the sport. Althought he was submitted in the quarterfinals of the 14th season of The Ultimate Fighter by Bryan Caraway, Brimage returned at the season finale and took a clear-cut decision victory over Stephen Bass.
The Atlanta card has recently been renumbered as UFC 145, since that number originally belonged to a planned April event in Montreal which was later scrapped from the UFC's spring schedule. It's expected that many of the fights that were already booked for Montreal will be moved to this Atlanta card, but that hasn't been confirmed yetr.
Maximo "Maxi" Blanco (8-3)
L Pat Healy (submission) - Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov
W Won Sik Park (unam. decision) - Sengoku Soul of Fight
W Kiuma Kunioku (KO) - Sengoku 15
Marcus "The Bama Beast" Brimage (4-1)
W Stephen Bass (unam. decision) - TUF 14 Finale
W Kyle Bradley (TKO) - USA MMA 13
L Joey Camacho (submission) - Iron Ring
0 recs | 36 comments
Glad to see Maxi in the UFC
He’s got this.
MJB! - January 19, 2012
I'm looking forward to seeing Maxi in the UFC, too.
This should be a pretty decent fight.
@KatanaClothing - January 19, 2012
So much for Strikeforce fighters staying in Strikeforce.
Rob Young - January 19, 2012
So much for Marcus Brimage in general.
MicahtheCynic - January 19, 2012
Yep
He’ll spend that night in a hospital bed.
TheFilt - January 19, 2012
Who is Maxi supposed to fight at 145 in Strikeforce?
Nater3467 - January 19, 2012
no 145 division in Strikeforce.
Victor Rodriguez - January 19, 2012
what the fuck?
he lost to pat healy in his last fight. i always consider maxi as one of the best LW (now FW i guess) but he still lost his last fight in SF.
and i think dana once said that only fighters who are on winning streak will be invited to UFC.
I’m very glad to see him in UFC but this is not the right way to bring him. i think he shouldve fought couple of more times in SF then come to UFC
DK_Monster - January 19, 2012
He was clowning Healy
Until he gassed.
Which is understandable considering Healy was easily 25lbs bigger than him that night. Maxi could probably make BW.
Despite the loss, its obvious that Maxi is extremely skilled, athletic and exciting. Seeing as he is clearly way too small for LW, this makes perfect sense.
TheFilt - January 19, 2012
oh yea im not doubting his talents
but i think to be fair to other fighters, don’t bring maxi just beacuse hes known for his style. i know maxi is one of the most talented fighters (i mean hes a wrestler but hes got lightning fast hands) but he shouldve had some tune up fights before he comes in to UFC.
i know why they brought him and im glad they did but i just think its not right after dana said that only fighters who are on winning streak will be invited and now he brings a guy who just lost his last fight.
but what the hell, i was just whining and after i see his fight against brimage, i will forget all about this issue.
DK_Monster - January 19, 2012
They obviously brought him over because he wanted to drop to FW, which wasn’t available in SF. Don’t see a problem with that
Horselover Fat - January 19, 2012
Why not?
IMO, he’s got the best skill set to face Aldo with.
TheFilt - January 19, 2012
I don’t think he is anywhere near ready to be able to compete with Aldo, but maybe in a couple of years.
Horselover Fat - January 19, 2012
He's as close as anyone, IMO
He has as much, if not more, athleticism, wrestling and striking skill than any other current contender at 145. He just doesn’t have the submission game near Aldo’s level.
He also has the aggression to bring the fight to Aldo. And he won’t be looking for TD’s either. He’ll be throwing haymakers and head kicks.
Not to say Blanco would win. But I think we’d see an amazing(and probably short) fight. Jose would be forced to go all out to end it quickly, just because you never know what that little psycho might do.
TheFilt - January 19, 2012
Those are good points, and I would agree in general. I just think he’s a bit too raw in his skills still, to be able to really threaten someone as technical as Aldo. Would probably be a good fight though!
Horselover Fat - January 19, 2012
For sure
Maximo is like a viking, swinging an axe wildly.
Jose is like a samurai, slicing with precision.
TheFilt - January 19, 2012
Haha. That about sums it up yes. I would expect Blanco to run through most other FW’s though, hoping for some more crazy highlights.
Horselover Fat - January 19, 2012
good point
i forgot that SF doesn’t have FW division
Fair enough then.
DK_Monster - January 19, 2012
FUCK YUS
I’m calling it now, Blanco vs Aldo early 2013.
TheFilt - January 19, 2012
So does anybody know if they are going to
turn the old 145(march 24th) into fight night?? I cant imagine them going from ufc on FX2 (mar 3rd) all the way to ufc on FUEL 2(Apr 14th) without a card in between. Thats about 40 days, i mean this isnt 2004 & they were talking about doin 35 cards this year, thats about 3 ore month & only doing 1 in march would really set that back
JonBon Joey - January 19, 2012
I really like Brimage
But Maxi’s gonna kick his head off when he least expects it. I hope he makes it a fight, and that he survives the cut when he loses.
Charles Awad - January 19, 2012
To be fair
Most fighters don’t expect to be kicked while on the ground.
simpsycho - January 19, 2012
They should ;)
Good one though.
TheFilt - January 19, 2012
Haha
Charles Awad - January 19, 2012
Three days before the fight, while Marcus is taking a nap.
TheFilt - January 19, 2012
For anyone who hasn't seen this interview with Helwani, Brimage, and Rampage
http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/12/04/marcus-brimage-meets-hero-rampage-jackson-after-tuf-14-finale/
Hard not to like Brimage after that.
BROCKLESNAR!!!!! - January 19, 2012
I love when Brimage talks about fat chicks
And the next part of what he says is completely cut out.
discoandherpes - January 19, 2012
WAR BLANCO!
kreally - January 19, 2012
For those who haven't seen him
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/5/17/2176531/congratulations-strikeforce-you-just-got-yourself-an-instant-contender
TheFilt - January 19, 2012
Should be able to overwhelm Brimage, but if he comes out tentative Brimage will pick him apart.
alxn - January 19, 2012
Blanco should win this, but I could see him washing out of the UFC before 2013.
OmoPlata - January 19, 2012
Brimage is probably going to die.
discoandherpes - January 19, 2012
my thoughts exactly, Maxi by decapitation.
Ak.Death - January 19, 2012
the bama beast will be tamed
BIGNAT - January 19, 2012
There will be violence in this fight. Much violence.
OleksiyPecherovsHomeboy - January 19, 2012
Blanco actually did very well against Healy especially in the first round. The size factor though showed in the next round, and Healy was able to finish Blanco. I expect good things from Blanco in the UFC as he is very quick and is a very good wrestler as well.
chrisbboy82 - January 19, 2012
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