Chiquerim to make UFC debut. Photo: Carlos Ozório
Willamy Chiquerim told GRACIEMAG.com this week how he would seal a deal with a major worldwide event. The event in question is the UFC. This Friday, trainer and manager of team Nova União André Pederneiras confirmed the date and opponent for the Shooto lightweight champion’s debut in the promotion.
“He fights August 1 against Thiago Tavares,” says Dedé, who is pleased to have yet another athlete in the promotion.
Recently Amilcar Alves also signed with the UFC and will make his debut against Mike Pierce at UFC 118, also in August.
On June 12 Dedé will hold his next Shooto Brazil show, the very show that launched Chiquerim and Amilcar.
“It’s been four years since I took the reins at Shooto and we’ve exported a total of 24 fighters to international MMA. That’s proof of how I bank on my athletes. Chiquerim even lost his Shooto Brazil debut. I had faith in his quality as a fighter and he went on to become South American and World champion. Now he’s in the UFC, which proves Shooto’s real projection” he says in celebration.