Cachoeira Coach: No Athlete Wants Corner to Throw in Towel During Fight

Credit: Joao Baptista Credit: Joao Baptista

Priscila Cachoeira’s coach has no regrets when it comes to his fighter’s bout against Valentina Shevchenko this past weekend.

Gilliard Alfredo Fagundes, the head trainer at Parana Vale Tudo, was in the corner as Cachoeira was overwhelmed by Shevchenko en route to a second-round submission defeat in the UFC Fight Night 125 co-main event in Belem, Brazil, on Saturday. In the lopsided flyweight bout, Shevchenko held a whopping 230-to-3 advantage in total strikes.

While referee Mario Yamasaki initially took the brunt of the criticism for failing to stop the fight sooner, Fagundes also took some heat because he didn’t throw in the towel to save his athlete.

As someone who has 18 professional bouts on his record, Fagundes didn’t see that as an option.

“I would never throw a towel, no way, I’m a fighter and I know that playing that is something that neither athlete wants,” the coach told Sherdog.com.

Fagundes was also present for the Octagon debut of Jessica Andrade, who was outlanded by 100 total strikes in a technical knockout loss to Liz Carmouche at UFC on Fox 8.

“This type of comment (criticism) is normal, when Jessica (Stake) lost her debut, [it was similar]. Anyone who saw ‘Pedrita’ fight knows she was not 100 percent because she was hurt in the first few seconds and was compromised,” Fagundes said.

Cachoeira recently came to her coach’s defense in a social media post. The flyweight also confirmed that she will need surgery for a torn ACL and meniscus in her knee.