Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight Bruno Ferreira has learned that there’s value in giving of yourself.
Brazil’s Ferreira (12-1), fresh off his third win inside the Octagon – a spinning back elbow that knocked out Dustin Stoltzfus to earn a “Performance of the Night” bonus in addition to the show and prize money – told Sheldog he’s staying in Las Vegas for Wanderlei Silva’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony on June 27.
“Not only is he a friend and long-time training partner of my master Dida, [Andre Amado]”Wanderlei is an idol for all Brazilian fighters, so I couldn’t miss the opportunity to stay in Las Vegas for another two weeks and witness a key moment in his career,” said an excited Ferreira.
Ferreira’s team has already told the promotion that he is available to fill in if any middleweight bouts are cancelled in the coming weeks. There was one opportunity as the main event of UFC on ABC 6, but Ikram Aliskerov ended up filling in for Khamzat Chimaev against Robert Whittaker. Ferreira is ready to take the opportunity whenever it arises.
After challenging Bo Nickal in the Octagon and hinting that his next bout will be a judo-wrestling showdown, “Hulk” responded to comments made by his ATT coach, Marcos da Matta, on a Brazilian podcast last Monday, in which the coach suggested that Nickal already has a fight lined up for November against another Brazilian, possibly grappling ace Rodolfo Vieira.
“We are both national team level fighters in our own styles, and judo is [many] “I’m better at mixed martial arts than wrestling and I was going to prove that against him, but after the fight I found out 100% that he was going to face Rodolfo Vieira,” Ferreira explained.
Ferreira won’t be worried if Nickal doesn’t turn out to be an aggressive striker. Ferreira said he’d be happy to take a call if he has an opening in the next few weeks, as long as the UFC doesn’t schedule another fight in the future. For now, Ferreira will just have to wait.
“I already train every day. [the UFC Performance Institute
in Las Vegas]”If they need me next week, I’ll be here,” Ferreira concluded.
