Are MMA fighters now bigger heroes in Brazil...

probably

 

How are these Brazilians owning UFC anyways? jw... Better trainers?

 

Brazllian JuJitzu I'm guessing and they been practicing that for longer with better trainers.

 

In general MMA fighters have no punch resistance. None.

 

Seen those gloves?

 

Yes, without a doubt for me.

Anderson Silva is a national hero, Jose Aldo too.
Even fighters that are just beneath that elite level now (Vitor Belfort for example, though he used to be a phenom) get great support.

I was discussing on here a little while ago, with a Brazilian poster, that I can't really remember any great Brazilian fighter, I'm only 19 years old so I don't go as far back in terms of knowlege as most of you. I mean real class fighter, not someone who got a title shot, lost and vanished.

All I can think of is Kelson Pinto atsch

 

Eder Jofre

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MMA-UFC is the new trend here in brazil, is the second most popular sport for sure. in the other way round, people here doesn´t give a damn about boxing, Eder Jofre is almost a unknown.The only household name here was Acelino Popo Freitas.

 

Popo was certainly a national hero, but now not as popular as once he was.

 

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How far is the bridge in popularity between 'Soccer' (I'm British, it's hard for me not to call it football!) and MMA right now?

 

I would believe it's been that way for the past 20 years, if not longer.

 

I think there is a big difference right now, people here realy loves football-soccer, the tv "sport" shows is just about soccer anyway.MMA is growing very fast but i don´t think is possible a sport reach the same level of attention as soccer in brazil.

 

True !