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UFC Oklahoma City newcomer Levi Rodrigues Jr. confident he’ll become a 3-division champion

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UFC Oklahoma City newcomer Levi Rodrigues Jr. confident he’ll become a 3-division champion

Levi Rodrigues Jr. makes his octagon debut against fellow Brazilian light heavyweight Felipe Franco at UFC Oklahoma City, and believes that it will be the start of a historic career.

“Baby Monster†is undefeated as a professional MMA fighter with five finishes and one no-contest going into his three-round clash with Franco at the Paycom Center, having fought at both light heavyweight and heavyweight previously in his MMA career — plus middleweight bouts in muay Thai and kickboxing. After Alex Pereira came up short in his attempt to win a third belt this past June, losing to Ciryl Gane, Rodrigues Jr. says he will get to do that one day.

“‘Poatan' was the only one to try it, but still hasn't managed to win a third title,†Rodrigues Jr. told MMA Fighting. “Ever since I was 12 years old, my dream was to make it to the UFC. Today I have the opportunity to be in the UFC. In my very first interview, I said, in the name of the Lord Jesus, that if God gave me the opportunity, I will win the 205, 185, and heavyweight titles.â€

Rodrigues Jr. joins the UFC after a first-round knockout over Freddy Vidal on Dana White's Contender Series, a fight that was later overturned to no-contest after he failed a drug test for a metabolite of nandrolone. “Baby Monster†said he was given injections after almost being left paralyzed with an injury suffered in a jiu-jitsu match and spending six months in bed. The banned substance, which he claims he was unaware of, remained in his system for his DWCS bout.

After serving the suspension, and still given a contract with the UFC, Rodrigues Jr. fulfills a life-long dream of entering the UFC octagon for the first time.

“It's been my dream since I was a little kid,†Rodrigues Jr. said. “You can be sure that every one of my fights is going to be a war. No matter who the opponent is, who gets knocked out or who gets submitted, I'll be there to put on a great show and entertain the fans. The people who are coming to watch deserve a show, they don't deserve an ugly fight. I want to entertain and give the fans a great show.â€

Franco, his UFC Oklahoma City opponent, makes his return to the 205-pound division after losing a short-notice decision against heavyweight prospect Mario Pinto in his promotional debut this past March. The 25-year-old is a teammate of Jailton Almeida, and that's the type of fight Rodrigues Jr. expects to deal with Saturday.

“I don't think he's going to want to stand and trade with me,†Rodrigues Jr. said. “I think he'll try to take me down. I think he'll do that ‘Malhadinho' style and try to put me on the ground, but we're ready for everything. … I never underestimate my opponents. I'm not the kind of guy who talks trash about other fighters. I believe everyone who's in the UFC has talent and is trying to build a career and improve their family's life. I think he's a very capable fighter, and may the better man win.â€

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Morning Report | Paddy Pimblett: Movsar Evloev ‘quit’ in loss to Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 333

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Morning Report | Paddy Pimblett: Movsar Evloev ‘quit’ in loss to Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 333

Movsar Evloev, 20-0 no longer. But apparently, his UFC 333 loss to Alexander Volkanovski is deeper than that.

The top featherweight contender updated his Instagram bio following his disappointing knockout defeat at the hands of Volkanovski, but not to 20-1.

Instead, Evloev is now “0-1,” signaling a new beginning, perhaps? At 32, Evloev is not a young man in the 145-pound division, but perhaps there’s still room for him to grow and even if he can’t beat Volkanovski, can he hang around long enough for Volkanovski to exit and then step into his place as a future champion?

What do you all think of Evloev’s profile tweak?

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Aaron Pico admits he was fighting too out of control before UFC 333

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Aaron Pico admits he was fighting 'too out of control' before UFC 333
Aaron
Pico is learning to be more patient inside the Octagon.

Pico (14-5) is scheduled to face Losene
Keita (17-2) at
UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Ahead of the
matchup, the former Bellator
fighter said he wants to gain experience rather than rush to
finish.

Aaron Pico explains new fighting mentality ahead of Losene
Keita matchup at UFC 333

Pico was knocked out in his UFC debut last year before earning his
first promotional victory against Patricio
Freire. He said he has since adopted a “beginner
mentality.â€

Pico, who has finished 11 of his 14 professional victories, has
worked with coach Roberto Barreiro to develop a more measured
approach. Instead of trying to end fights as quickly as possible,
he now wants to settle into the action.

“When I say I needed to be humbled, it’s not in the fact that I
walked or carried myself… I needed to humble myself in the way that
I was fighting,†Pico said at the UFC 333 media day. “I was
fighting just too out of control. When I would go do a fight, the
mindset was to get this thing over. I just want to go in there, do
what I have to do, get the win and go home. I've really worked with
coach Roberto Barreiro a lot in Morocco to switch the mindset a
little bit. Now I want to enjoy and cook the fight.â€

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UFC fighter explains nose-picking moment before Dana White handshake

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UFC fighter explains nose-picking moment before Dana White handshake
Mandel
Nallo says his nose-picking gesture at the ceremonial weigh-ins
for the
Ultimate Fighting Championship's recent event in Edmonton,
Alberta, was a message to his children.

Nallo stopped Nate
Landwehr at
UFC Edmonton on Oct. 17. Before the bout, however, the Canadian
lightweight drew attention by conspicuously picking his nose
onstage. He has since explained the gesture.

Mandel Nallo says his sons inspired UFC Edmonton nose-picking
gesture before Dana White’s handshake offer

Nallo said his sons suggested the gesture as a way to acknowledge
them while they watched. That created an awkward moment when UFC
CEO Dana
White extended his hand before Nallo's faceoff with Landwehr.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani, Nallo explained that refusing the
handshake might have looked disrespectful.

“I have two boys; they’re 5 and 7… I wanted to notify them that I
knew they were watching,†Nallo said. “So I told them, ‘What’s
something I can do so that you guys can see that I know you’re
watching?' They told me, ‘Pick your nose.' I’m a committed nose
picker. I’m not gonna half-*ss it. I’m not gonna pretend. So, I
went up there and that was for them. I’m right-handed. I’m gonna go
up there with my right hand, and then [Dana White] extends his arm
out to you. You don’t have time to explain what just happened. So I
did a finger point so that there was no contact. There was no
disrespect. It was kind of like a ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm' moment. I
got this booger in my hand, but if I go, ‘I don’t want to shake
your hand,' then I look even worse. I just had to roll with
it.â€

Nallo also said his sons don't know what he does for a living.
Although they train jiu-jitsu, he said they are unaware of how
violent MMA can be.

Nallo (15-4, 1 NC) earned his UFC contract on
Dana White's Contender Series last year but lost his
promotional debut to Jai Herbert
by technical knockout earlier this year. The 37-year-old has never
had a professional fight decided by the judges.

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