WEC Middleweight champ, Paulo Filho is now an official member of Team Link. Team Link operates out of Ludlow, Massachusetts and is home to UFC Heavyweight, Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga. Filho made the announcement in an exclusive interview with Brazilian publication, Portal do Vale Tudo. Since leaving Brazilian Top Team, Fihlo’s team affiliation was in question; at one point Filho jokingly claimed he had started his own team, Paulo Filho’s Team, but now it is clear that he has settled with Team Link.
In the interview, Filho, a former PRIDE FC fighter himself, weighs in on the topic of PRIDE FC stars not doing so well in the UFC. In regards to Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic’s two consecutive upset losses, one to Cheick Kongo and the other to Filho’s very own teammate Gonzaga, Filho’s believes that Cro Cop’s present woes in the octagon boils down to forgetting his core skill, Muay Thai. When translated, Filho states,
“Cro Cop’s main strength is Muay Thai and as he progressed as a fighter he went on to strengthen other elements of his game, while forgetting to improve his Muay Thai. If Cro Cop goes back to the basics, to his roots, and focuses on his Muay Thai, he will return to his winning ways.”
Finally, coinciding with the announcement of Filho joining Team Link it has been rumored that Filho will return back to action December 12th. According to Brazilian website, Fight and Cia, Filho will take on Frank Trigg in a WEC cage. Already slated on the December 12th WEC card, is a Lightweight championship bout between WEC Lightweight title holder, Urijah Faber and Jeff Curran. Please check back with MMA Movement for more details.
In the interview, Filho, a former PRIDE FC fighter himself, weighs in on the topic of PRIDE FC stars not doing so well in the UFC. In regards to Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic’s two consecutive upset losses, one to Cheick Kongo and the other to Filho’s very own teammate Gonzaga, Filho’s believes that Cro Cop’s present woes in the octagon boils down to forgetting his core skill, Muay Thai. When translated, Filho states,
“Cro Cop’s main strength is Muay Thai and as he progressed as a fighter he went on to strengthen other elements of his game, while forgetting to improve his Muay Thai. If Cro Cop goes back to the basics, to his roots, and focuses on his Muay Thai, he will return to his winning ways.”
Finally, coinciding with the announcement of Filho joining Team Link it has been rumored that Filho will return back to action December 12th. According to Brazilian website, Fight and Cia, Filho will take on Frank Trigg in a WEC cage. Already slated on the December 12th WEC card, is a Lightweight championship bout between WEC Lightweight title holder, Urijah Faber and Jeff Curran. Please check back with MMA Movement for more details.