2012 World MMA Bantamweight Scouting Report: #5 - Fabiano Fernandes

by Bloody Elbow on Dec 21, 2011 8:00 AM EST in World MMA Scouting Report

Photo by Jungle Fight
Name:	Fabiano Fernandes
Nickname:	Soldado
Age:	< 30
Height:	5'9"
Location:	Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This is a guest post by Rory MacLeod (smoogy)

Fighting out of the Niteroi region of Rio de Janeiro, Fabiano Fernandes (4-0) is one of the young, emerging beneficiaries of a rapid explosion in interest for Brazilian MMA. Training under the colorful Muay Thai instructor Heggas Zulu, Soldado has quickly made a transition from conquering the local amateur kickboxing circuit in Niteroi to providing dominant performances in some of the biggest MMA events in Rio.

Fabiano's main mode of fighting is to post up at a distance and counter his opponent's offense with his orthodox power Muay Thai. As an experienced kickboxer with good conditioning, he has the composure and quickness to check incoming strikes, but it's his uncanny takedown defense and stifling top control that really impress.

A combination of strong hips and sound technique mean that most of his opponents' shots end up with Soldado on top, using his wide base to hold the position and pound his victims into submission. And if they do escape back to their feet, Soldado's high-paced barrage of punch-kick combinations forces them back to shooting for increasingly desperate takedowns. While it remains to be seen how he would fare against a great wrestler, Soldado's imposing skill set has seen all his fights end via TKO from mount.

With his effective style of MMA, Fabiano has toppled more experienced grapplers like Janailson Lima (23-13) and attracted the attention of Brazilian MMA luminary Wallid Ismail. The BJJ legend placed him on October's Jungle Fight 33 card held in the infamous City of God district of Rio, where Soldado recorded another dominant TKO victory. Such a performance surely deserves an encore? With Jungle Fight Bantamweight Champion John Lineker (19-5) rumoured to be vacating the title, an extended run in Brazil's biggest fight series seems like an ideal opportunity for an overachieving 135lb fighter like Fabiano. Considering how quickly he's established himself as a force on the Rio circuit, chances are it won't be long before Soldado is fighting for the title.

Video footage of Fabiano Fernandes in action after the jump.

Flyweight	Bantamweight	Featherweight	Lightweight
#1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 -	#1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #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 -

Fabiano Soldado vs. Atila Lourenco
Jungle Fight 33 - October 22, 2011

Fabiano Soldado vs. Janailson Kevin Pereira Lima
Fatality Arena - January 24, 2010 - Debut

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Comments

This is a really good call.

Guy’s a pretty big BW too.

"Hi. I don't know you." - me

"Cigano punch my face...all the time." - Anderson Silva

by POW on Dec 21, 2011 8:34 AM EST reply actions

I haven't seen any English-teachery nitpicking in a long time

And I miss it a little bit. So: if the point of the first sentence is that the young lion is benefiting from the surge of interest in MMA, I think you mean “beneficiary,” not “benefactor.”

That being said, I LOVE these pieces. Thanks for doing all the spadework, and keep ’em coming.

This comment is intended for entertainment purposes only. Any resemblence to the actual truth is entirely coincidental.

by JoshSBooks on Dec 21, 2011 9:15 AM EST reply actions

YEAH, smoogy! BENEFICIARY!

Staff Writer, BloodyElbow.com
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"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Dec 21, 2011 9:29 AM EST up reply actions

Age a bit hard to verify?

Is it because he doesn’t have a manager to get in contact with or is it something else?

by GreyedOut on Dec 21, 2011 9:49 AM EST via mobile reply actions

I can’t tell you how many people I reached out to. We know he’s under 30, that’s about it. I have a tons of contacts down there who don’t know his camp, so it’s hard to confirm. I’m still actively trying to see if anyone at Jungle Fight can confirm his age.

Staff Writer, BloodyElbow.com
Follow @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Dec 21, 2011 9:55 AM EST up reply actions

What is his name?

Is his name Fabiano Fernandes or is it Fabiano Soldado. His sherdog record is under Fabiano Soldado. It doesn’t really matter just a little confused.

by w49_boarding on Dec 21, 2011 11:03 AM EST reply actions

His name is Fabiano Fernandes. His nickname is Soldado, aka Soldier. In Brazil, most fighter go by a First Name Nickname convention when it comes to fighting, so he’s in the Fight Finder as Fabiano Soldado. That will eventually change.

Staff Writer, BloodyElbow.com
Follow @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Dec 21, 2011 11:05 AM EST up reply actions