Brave Combat Federation has announced that the Brazilian MMA Veteran and sparring partner to the UFC legend, Anderson Silva - Paulo "Bananada" Gonçalves Silva will be featured in the fifth edition of the promotion that will take place in Mumbai.
The veteran from Brazil was scheduled to headline the event in Brazil, however, due to an injury, the bout was cancelled. Paulo has a strong fanbase in India due to his recent visit to India and his active involvement in promoting MMA in the country. He will be competing for the first time on Indian soil.
The veteran from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has won 22 times out of his 33 appearances.
Training at the X-Gym camp alongside Anderson Silva, he had been an integral part of the camps for the UFC legend. Paulo won his last fight in January against Nilson Pereira at the German MMA Championships held at Inselparkhalle in Hamburg, Germany.
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Paulo will now face Alejandro Martinez from Tijuana, Mexico. Alejandro has been training at the Entram Gym in preparation for Brave 5: Go For Glory in Mumbai.
Paulo edges Alejandro in the ground game through his highly evolved Jiu Jitsu skills, however, both athletes are aggressive in their striking and love to finish the opponent in a stand-up fight.
Paulo was quoted as saying:
"To compete in India in front of my friends and students is a dream come true. I could not imagine this during my past visit to India that an MMA event or promotion of such size and investment will choose a venue in India.
It is the progress that the sport has achieved and the overall economic growth of the nation that is attracting such opportunities.
Indian fans are absolutely some of the most passionate in the world. I love to compete before them and I am waiting to win and celebrate with my friends in India, truly the Indian way.
I would like to dedicate this bout to the fighting city of Mumbai."
Brave Combat Federation has announced its debut in India with a star-studded fight card. The promotion released an eight-fight card, including athletes from over 8 nationalities and featuring Indian athletes. In the co-main event, Abdul Muneer will face Gurdarshan "St. Lion" Mangat.
The event will be held on Sunday, April 23rd at Mumbai, in the Dome Stadium of National Sports Club of India.
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