[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y85GU6DRmYg&w=560&h=315]
Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. Vaunted Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight
submission specialist Rodolfo
Vieira will not take any opponent lightly anymore. After being nominated for both
“Upset of the Year” and
“Submission of the Year” in 2021, each due to his submission
defeat to Anthony
Hernandez at UFC 258 in February, the five-time world Jiu-Jitsu
champion is starting 2022 anew. After submitting slick American
grappler Dustin
Stoltzfus in July, Vieira (8-1) is primed to take on a new,
challenging test. At UFC
270 on Jan. 20 in California, “The Black Belt Hunter” will face
fellow countryman Wellington
Turman (17-5) in his fifth Octagon appearance. Vieira spoke to
Sherdog ahead of his matchup next month, explaining that this camp
is unlike any in recent memory.
“I fought most of my previous fights without a striking coach,”
Vieira admitted. “The move of Mano Santana [karate coach of
Lyoto
Machida, Patricio
Freire and Patricky
Freire] to Florida was a turning point in my career. In my last
fight, he just trained me via video [using] Zoom and WhatsApp, and
I had an amazing performance. Last five months we have been
training personally almost every day, and karate timing has been
excellent to improve not only my striking but also my takedown
timing.”
Vieira found himself inspired by all-time great champ Georges St.
Pierre, acknowledging that the Canadian viewed by many as the
greatest of all time succeeded at least in part due to his karate
background.
“[St. Pierre’s] movement was all based on karate,” Vieira noted.
“Besides excellent striking, GSP had the best takedown rating of
UFC history, and his karate movement played an important role on
that.”
Rodolfo knows, however, that his opponent Turman is also being
trained by a great team, and he is not underestimating his
adversary.
“I don’t know him, but respect him a lot,” the Brazilian explained.
“Not only for training with the champions Glover
Teixeira and ‘Poatan’ [Alex
Pereira], but for everything he showed on his previous fight.
Definitely, Turman is a complete fighter, and I’m prepared for a
war in all areas. I believe it will be a great fight, and I have no
doubt he will be the most difficult challenge of my career.”
Not wanting to repeat the past by falling short to a less
accomplished grappler, Vieira fully remembers his failures against
Hernandez. Even though “Fluffy” tapped him out, Vieira is still
expecting a more difficult opponent in Turman.
“[It] is strange to say that, but I believe Turman is a worse
opponent [for me] than the guy who defeated me. But, no doubt, 11
months later, I’m a much improved Rodolfo than I was when I fought
Hernandez,” Vieira concluded.
