Paulo Filho

MMAstatsbox


name = Paulo Filho
|nick = Paulão
height = 5'8" (173cm)
weight = 185lbs (84kg)
nationality=Brazilian
birthdate=birth date and age|year=1978|month=5|day=24
died =
hometown = Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
fightteam = Team Linkcite web
url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=9468
title= Filho Strengthens Team Link
year=2007
accessdate=2007-10-13
publisher=Sherdog.com] /Black House
fightstyle = Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo
wins = 16
losses = 0
draws = 0
nocontest = 0
ko = 2
submissions = 7

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, [http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4459&zoneid=13] , 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. [http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/topten.asp?articleid=14&zoneid=15] He currently trains with Team Link, in Ludlow, Massachusetts, along with UFC heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga [http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=9468] .

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 biceps in the semi-finals. [" [http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=6129 Filho Discusses PRIDE GP Injury and Future Plans] " - Sherdog.com, November 14, 2006] 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.

MMA record

MMArecordbox
wins=16
losses=0
ko-wins=2
ko-losses=0
sub-wins=7
sub-losses=0
dec-wins=7

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed Martial Arts

* WEC Middleweight Champion

External links

* [http://www.paulofilho.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.elevatedimpact.com/?tpl=fighters/profile.tpl&fighter_id=1314 Elevated profile]
* [http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=1535 Professional MMA record]

Notes