Wagnney Fabiano

nationality=flagicon|Brazil Brazilian
birthdate=birth date and age|year=1975|month=7|day=14
died=
fightingfrom=Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
hometown=Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
fightteam=Nova Uniao
fightstyle=Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
wins=10
losses=1
draws=0
nocontest=
ko=2
submissions=6
decisions(unanimous)=|

Wagnney Fabiano-Santos known as Wagnney Fabiano (born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. He currently fights for the WEC, which is owned by Zuffa who also owns the UFC. He used to fight for the Renzo Gracie Academy (formerly the New York Pitbulls) of the International Fight League and was the final IFL Featherweight Champion.

Bio

Wagnney’s mix of his strong striking ability and ground game is helping him grow into one of the most feared fighters in the IFL. Fabiano comes from a small family –just his brother and him—but the two are one in the same and he has always looked to his brother for motivation. Also a fighter, Fabaino and his brother have learned much from each other and he hopes to make his family proud as he proves his worth among the IFL elite. Wagnney has trained in Brazil with fellow teammates under Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. It has always been his belief that a strong team makes a strong fighter; as the newest member to Renzo Gracie’s Academy, Fabaino won the IFL featherweight crown in dominating fashion and will prove to be a menace in the Featherweight division for a long time. He is also known to have coached Georges St. Pierre in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Controversy

On October 14 of 2006, Wagnney Fabiano stepped in to face off against Jeff Curran. In a fight that was more like a grappling contest, both fighters looked rather tentative on the feet throughout the fight but Fabiano was able to score numerous takedowns throughout the fight. One problem for Fabiano was the fact that he constantly failed to improve his position on the canvas. Curran came out firing in the third as he landed some good shots before they hit the canvas again. Even with Curran's third round, it appeared as if Fabiano would emerge the victor. However, when the decision was announced, it was announced in the favor of Jeff Curran by split decision. Needless to say, it was a decision that left a lot of people scratching their heads.

International Fight League (IFL)

After losing that very close and very controversial split decision to Jeff Curran, Fabiano ventured into the International Fight League. In his career there, Wagnney Fabiano has laid waste to all challengers. Of his five fights, four have ended via first round stoppage. All five have ended due to Fabiano's superior Brazilian Jiu Jitsu skills. He recently defeated LC Davis to win the IFL Featherweight Championship. He did so by armbar with less than a half-minute to go in the very first round. This was after dropping down to 145-pounds after defeating John Gunderson at 155-pounds in his previous IFL World Grand Prix fight. The victory over Gunderson was supposed to set up Fabiano for a match with the previously unbeaten Chris Horodecki, but Fabiano dropped down to 145-pounds in order to fight for the Featherweight Championship.

Wagnney Fabiano's next bout was against Shad Lierley (2-1) at International Fight League: New Blood, New Battles 2 on April 4, 2008. The fight took place at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It was to be the classic match between a wrestler and a jiu-jitsu expert. The fight was also Fabiano's first defense of the Featherweight Championship.

In Wagnney's first title defense, it didn't take long for Fabiano to take care of business. After meeting in the middle of the ring to shake hands and show a sign of respect, it was on. They touched gloves and Lierley looked to start strong. Fabiano threw some haymakers that didn't land but coupled it with a nice inside leg kick that landed beautifully on Lierley's left leg. They danced around a little more before Fabiano faked a takedown attempt and hit Lierley in the body with a good left before connecting with a nice straight right that sent Lierley back. Then Fabiano unleashed another brutal inside leg kick that took out the left leg of Lierley, sending him crashing to the canvas but Lierley got back up quickly. Fabiano then missed with a high left leg kick. After a few seconds of nothing, Fabiano unleashed a vicious one-two that knocked out Lierley for good. It started off with a left jab that was partially blocked by Lierley but ended when Fabiano followed it up with a devastating right hook that sent Lierley down in a heap of wreckage. Lierley was knocked out cold. And Fabiano had defended his IFL Featherweight Championship successfully.

World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC)

On August 22 of 2008, the WEC announced that it had signed the last remaining champion from the International Fight League (IFL). Wagnney Fabiano had signed with the Zuffa owned company and is destined for stardom. His likely future bouts will be against Jeff Curran, Urijah Faber, and a host of others. Fabiano was quoted as saying, "“ [Urijah] Faber is the best of the world now. To beat him, I think you have to be in a good shape. He’s an expert fighter and he has good gas. It’s complicated to beat a guy like him. You have to set a good gameplan and be calm and watch the elbows, because if he hits you it can change the whole fight.”" A potential mega-fight between Fabiano and Faber would be monumental for the sport. And it seems inevitable. No word yet on Fabiano's first opponent in the WEC but it'll likely come soon.

MMA Record

MMArecordbox
wins=10
losses=1
ko-wins=2
ko-losses=0
sub-wins=6
sub-losses=0
dec-wins=2
dec-losses=1

Awards

*Third-Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Wendell Alexander and Andre Pederneiras.
*Has also trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Renzo Gracie and Carlos Gracie (Jr.).
*Member of 1997 BJJ World Champions team Nova Uniao.
*Won five (5) state titles.
*Three-time Brazilian National Champion.
*Brazilian National Teams Champion.
*Won Pan-Am '95.
*Third Place in the world in Mundials '98.
*2004 Arnold Gracie Worlds Pro Division 2nd Place.
*2005 ADCC Quarter Finalist.
*Won the NAGA, Grapplers Quest, and the Brazilian Abu Dhabi trials.

External links

*Sherdog|id=905|name=Wagnney Fabiano
* [http://ifl.tv/Team-Dragons-Wagnney-Fabiano.html Wagnney Fabiano] IFL Page
* [http://www.ifl.tv/ International Fight League]