Only two lightweight fights are on tap for UFC 153, and one of them is an all-Brazilian affair between Gleison Tibau (25-8 MMA, 9-6 UFC) and Francisco Trinaldo (11-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC). Tibau was ranked #23 in the final edition of the SB Nation MMA Consensus Rankings before the switch to the new “top 10” format, while “Massaranduba” is unranked.
Trinaldo competed on TUF: Brazil as a middleweight but now he’s returning to 155 to face the biggest looking lightweight in the UFC. You can view this fight and three others live on FX at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT before the PPV broadcast commences at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT.
How do these two stack up?
Tibau: 29 years old | 5’10” | 71″ reach
Trinaldo: 34 years old | 5’8″ | 70.5″ reach
What have these two done recently?
Tibau: L – Khabib Nurmagomedov (UD) | W – Rafael Dos Anjos (SD) W – Rafaello Oliveira (SUB)
Trinaldo: W – Delson Heleno (TKO) | W – Adriano Martins (MD) | W – Derrick Burnsed (KO)
How did these two get here?
Gleison Tibau has had a long UFC career but has been unable to make his way into the top 10. He’s fought a who’s who of current and former top lightweights including Tyson Griffin, Joe Stevenson, Jim Miller, and Melvin Guillard but he’s come out on the losing end each time. He’s found a little more consistency in the last few years, going 5-2 with narrow wins over Rafael Dos Anjos and Kurt Pellegrino and an inhuman mauling against Caol Uno. He lost his last fight to unbeaten prospect Khabib Nurmagomedov. Tibau isn’t the most exciting fighter in the world but he relies heavily on his takedown game and sheer strength.
Trinaldo was on Team Wanderlei for the first season of TUF: Brazil, where he was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Thiago Bodao by 2nd round TKO. He fought on the preliminary card of UFC 147 against fellow quarterfinalist Delson Heleno, winning by 1st round TKO. Trinaldo entered TUF having last fought professionally at lightweight, so it’s no surprise he’s back at 155, where he was the Jungle Fights champion.
Why should you care?
It’s an ex-middleweight fighting at a more comfortable weight class of lightweight, against a lightweight who looks like a middleweight. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t blame you if you skipped a Tibau fight.
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 153:
UFC 153: Silva vs. Bonnar fight card – Mookie Alexander
UFC 153 betting lines – Tim Burke
UFC 153 Bloody Elbow staff picks and predictions – Tim Burke
Minotauro Nogueira vs. Dave Herman Dissection – Dallas Winston
Glover Teixeira vs. Fabio Maldonado Dissection – Dallas Winston
Jon Fitch vs. Erick Silva Dissection – Dallas Winston
Phil Davis vs. Wagner Prado Dissection – Dallas Winston
Demian Maia vs. Rick Story Dissection – Dallas Winston
FX prelim card previews – Fraser Coffeen
Video: UFC 153 weigh-in results
Silva vs. Bonnar through the Cobb vs. Holmes lens – Brent Brookhouse
Can Bonnar make his name against Silva? – Fraser Coffeen
Erick Silva discusses Jon Fitch – Tim Burke
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