2012 World MMA Bantamweight Scouting Report: #1

Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena

Photo by Gleidson Venga, Sherdog
Name:	Rony Mariano Bezerra
Nickname:	Jason
Age:	27
Height:	5’10”
Location:	Mossoro, Brazil

Many of the placements we made for the first nine picks on the 2012 World MMA Bantamweight Scouting Report were tough to lock down. Over the course of the last four months, results poured in on fighters who placed in our early drafts, and some failed to maintain their spot. From the first draft to the final edit, Team Nogueira’s Rony ‘Jason’ Mariano (10-3) stood out as a prospect who could have a major impact in the UFC immediately, and he held steady at the top of our list until our final rankings were compiled.

The 27-year-old has fought most of his career within the confines of the featherweight division, but he’s revealed that he will make the cut down to the 135 lb. weight class, possibly when he gets the call from the UFC. After losing to Bellator’s Genair da Silva (11-4) back in December of 2009, Mariano rattled off five straight wins, all coming by way of submission or technical knockout inside the first frame. That streak included a submission win over Ze Mario Team fighter Jurandir Sardinha (13-5) at WFE 8. He also holds a victory over newly-signed UFC fighter Felipe Arantes (13-4) from back in September of 2009, before his loss to ‘Junior PDQ’.

Mariano is as well-rounded as they come, possessing excellent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills coupled with a destructive Muay Thai striking game. He’s aggressive, brilliant in the scramble, and constantly attacking his opponent’s defenses. He’s fearless in his approach on the feet, and he’s a smothering force on the ground, leaving no room for error for his opponents. His signature triangle choke is particularly lethal.

After submitting Reginaldo Vieira (5-2) at Max Fight 10 in November to obtain the Max Fight featherweight crown, rumors began to circulate that Mariano was going to get an offer from the UFC. A signing has yet to materialize, but Mariano will undoubtedly have an immediate impact on the division.

It isn’t often we see a clear cut #1 prospect that is head and shoulders above the rest of the field like Mariano. He seems unaffected by the offense his opposition throws at him, and the quickness and ferocity in which he melts his adversaries makes him hard to dislike. He has an appealing style of fighting that any major mixed martial arts promotion should be salivating over. If you’re the UFC or Bellator, send the contract now.

Video footage of Rony ‘Jason’ Mariano after the jump…

Flyweight	Bantamweight	Featherweight	Lightweight
#1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 – #6 – #7 – #8 – #9 – #10 –	#1 – Rony Mariano #2 – Aljamain Sterling #3 – Chris Holdsworth #4 – Josh Hill #5 – Fabiano Fernandes #6 – Claudio Ledesma #7 – Sirwan Kakai #8 – Kyoji Horiguchi #9 – Leandro Hygo #10 – Pedro Munhoz	#1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 – #6 – #7 – #8 – #9 – #10 –	#1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 – #6 – #7 – #8 – #9 – #10 –

Welterweight	Middleweight	Light Heavyweight	Heavyweight
#1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 – #6 – #7 – #8 – #9 – #10 –	#1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 – #6 – #7 – #8 – #9 – #10 –	#1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 – #6 – #7 – #8 – #9 – #10 –	#1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 – #6 – #7 – #8 – #9 – #10 –