At Gamebred Fighting Championship 7, held in Orlando, Florida, USA, the Brazilian finished former UFC fighter Alan Belcher by technical knockout at the 4:39 mark of the second round to become the organization’s first bare-knuckle MMA heavyweight champion.
By the time the fight, which lasted just over nine minutes, was stopped, the canvas was drenched in the blood of the title match participants, who each had their moments, but the former UFC champion had the last one.
The 40-year-old “Romani” remained excited about the fight, in a post-fight interview hinting at a bout against his former rival Roy Nelson, whom he defeated at UFC 117 in August 2010.
After leaving the UFC, the Brazilian heavyweight suffered a loss under the Eagle FC banner, losing by TKO due to injury to Jorgan De Castro, and then made a successful Gamebred Fighting Championship debut against Fabricio Werdum, defeating his compatriot by split decision.
Alan Belcher, 39, suffered his first fight loss in over a decade. The American last lost to Michael Bisping at UFC 159 in 2013.