Paulo Filho

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Paulo Filho
Statistics
Nickname Paulão
Height 5'8" (173cm)
Weight 185lbs (84kg)
Nationality Brazilian
Born May 24, 1978 (1978-05-24) (age 30)
Town of birth Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Team/Association Team Link[1]/Black House
Fighting style Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo
Mixed martial arts record
Wins 16
  By knockout 2
  By submission 7
Losses 0
Draws 0
No contests 0

Paulo Fernando de Souza Leite Filho (born May 24, 1978) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter as well as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo practitioner, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Filho is the current WEC middleweight champion,[1], with a professional record of 16-0-0 as of December 12, 2007, and is considered by MMAWeekly.com to be the #2 best middleweight fighter in the world. Filho is often compared (in fighting style and appearance) to his former teammate Ricardo Arona. [2] He currently trains with Team Link, in Ludlow, Massachusetts, along with UFC heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga [3], and UFC light heavyweight, Thiago Silva

During his stint in PRIDE, Filho was the only undefeated entrant in the 2006 PRIDE Welterweight Grand Prix, but he did not win the tournament as an injury kept him from the tournament finals. In the semi-finals of the tournament on PRIDE Bushido 13, November 5, 2006, Filho defeated Kazuo Misaki by armbar. Unfortunately, Filho suffered a ruptured membrane in his knee during the fight, forcing him to withdraw from the Grand Prix finals match against Denis Kang, who also suffered injury with a torn bicep in the semi-finals.[2] Filho was replaced by Misaki, who went on to defeat an already injured Kang and claim the Grand Prix title.

So far, Filho's most notable wins include Kazuo Misaki, Amar Suloev and Yuki Kondo, as well as Murilo Rua and Ikuhisa Minowa.

He signed with the WEC and fought for the vacant middleweight title on August 5, 2007, at WEC 29. Filho defeated Canadian jiu-jitsu fighter Joe Doerksen via TKO (strikes) at 4:07 of the first round. His first title defense occurred at WEC 31, where he was awarded a controversial win over 2-time NCAA Wrestling Champion Chael Sonnen by armbar at 4:55 in the second round. Due to controversy stemming from the fight stoppage (Sonnen's screams of pain where taken as a verbal submission by the referee, despite his objections), a rematch has been announced to headline WEC 34. However on March 14th he pulled out of this bout due to the fact that he had checked into a substance abuse rehab facility.

Contents

[edit] MMA record

Date Result Opponent Event Method Round Time Notes
12/12/2007 Win Chael Sonnen WEC 31: Faber vs. Curran Technical Submission (Armbar) 2 4:55 Defended WEC Middleweight Championship
8/5/2007 Win Joe Doerksen WEC 29: Filho vs. Doerksen TKO (Strikes) 1 4:07 Won WEC Middleweight Championship
11/5/2006 Win Kazuo Misaki PRIDE Bushido 13 Submission (Armbar) 1 9:43
8/26/2006 Win Ryo Chonan PRIDE Bushido 12 Submission (Armbar) 1 2:30
6/4/2006 Win Gregory Bouchelaghem PRIDE Bushido Survival 2006 Decision (Unanimous) 2 5:00
4/2/2006 Win Murilo Rua PRIDE Bushido 10 Decision (Unanimous) 2 5:00
9/25/2005 Win Ryuta Sakurai PRIDE Bushido 9 Submission (Armbar) 1 3:49
4/3/2005 Win Amar Suloev PRIDE Bushido 6 Submission (Armbar) 1 4:22
7/19/2004 Win Akira Shoji PRIDE Bushido 4 Decision (Split) 1 8:05
6/27/2004 Win Daijiro Matsui Gladiator FC-Day 2 Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00
4/1/2004 Win Silmar Rodrigo BCN 3-Bitetti Combat Nordeste 3 Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00
9/29/2002 Win Akira Shoji PRIDE 22 - Beasts From The East 2 Submission (Armbar) 1 2:48
8/18/2001 Win Yuki Kondo DEEP: 2nd Impact Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00
3/31/2001 Win Ikuhisa Minowa Pancrase: Proof 2 Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00
1/8/2001 Win Keiichiro Yamamiya DEEP: DEEP 2001 KO (Punches) 1 0:29
7/24/2000 Win Luiz Claudio das Dores Heroes: Heroes 1 Submission (Punches) 2

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

[edit] Mixed Martial Arts

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Filho Strengthens Team Link. Sherdog.com (2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-13.
  2. ^ Filho Discusses PRIDE GP Injury and Future Plans - Sherdog.com, November 14, 2006
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