With twenty-one knockouts and three submissions in twenty-five wins (only three losses), Maiquel Falcão will be making his UFC debut and is focused on knocking out his adversaries. A member of the traditional Chute Boxe – the academy that launched fighters like current champions Maurício Shogun and Anderson Silva into stardom – the fighter will set foot for the first time in the octagon against Gerald Harris on the main card at UFC 123, this Saturday in Detroit, Michigan.
“I started doing boxing because it was a way to release my energy. I had some personal problems and I found in boxing a way to maintain discipline and keep out of trouble.”
One of Falcão's many knockouts in Brazil. Photo: Carlos Ozório.
Before arriving at Chute Boxe and, later, the UFC, Falcão divided his time between training, fighting, and work. Now the fighters has set lofty goals for himself.
“Now I’m truly a professional: I’ll fight in the UFC, and that makes all the difference in the life of an athlete. When the right time comes, I’ll be ready to become champion. Chute Boxe has produced a number of champions, and I’ll be another one,” he guarantees.
First, he’ll need to get past a fighter who’s no joke. Gerald Harris has ten wins on his record, nine of which came by submission or knockout.
“I don’t see him as being superior because he has three fights in the UFC. Once we’re in the cage, it’s just me and him. People are talking about his wins (his string of knockouts), but come November 20 it’ll be my time to work, something I’ve done more than he has. My mission is to win the fight, my focus is to knock him out,” says the promotional first-timer in closing.
Check out the complete card:
UFC 123
Detroit, Michigan, USA
November 20, 2010
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Lyoto Machida
Matt Hughes vs. BJ Penn
Joe Lauzon vs. George Sotiropoulos
Tim Boetsch vs. Phil Davis
Maiquel Falcão vs. Gerald Harris
Matt Brown vs. Brian Foster
Mark Munoz vs. Aaron Simpson
Dennis Hallman vs. Karo Parisyan
Edson Barboza vs. Mike Lullo
Paul Kelly vs. T.J. O’Brien
Nik Lentz vs. Tyson Griffin