2012 World MMA Lightweight Scouting Report: #2 - Alessandro Ferreira

by Bloody Elbow on Jan 2, 2012 10:48 PM EST in World MMA Scouting Report

Photo by Marcelo Alonso, Sherdog
Name:	Alessandro Ferreira
Nickname:	Zoio
Age:	25
Height:	5'9"
Location:	California

This is a guest post by Rory MacLeod (smoogy)

If you have ever tried to follow the Brazilian MMA circuit, you know it can be chaotic. The vast, disparate patchwork of professional events play host to a rogue's gallery of local toughs, fiery young UFC hopefuls and veterans who have achieved "grizzled" status in their 20's. Sao Paulo Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Alessandro Ferreira (10-1, 1 NC) is an eclectic mix of all three.

Beginning as a professional in 2006, "Zoio" won multiple one-night, eight-man tournaments early in his career before being called up in 2010 to televised promotions Jungle Fight and Predador Fighting Championship. His run to the top in those events was derailed, however, by another chaotic force in Brazil: the officiating. A routine guard slam against Johil de Oliveira at Jungle Fight 22 was somehow ruled an illegal spike worthy of declaring the fight a no-contest, much to the crowd's derision. If that weren't enough, Ferreira was robbed blind at Predador 16, dropping a decision to Team Nogueira prospect Roberto Amorim after appearing to win all three rounds comfortably.

Bad luck aside, Alessandro has been virtually unstoppable. His superlative submission skills can end a fight quicky, but Zoio is dangerous anywhere. Huge slams and buckling low kicks litter his highlight reel, and he has the savvy to string together dazzling combinations of technique. Most recently he shocked 2011's #1 lightweight selection Thiago Michel by chopping Michel's lead leg out with an inside low kick, then taking his back as he fell in one fluid motion. The pro-Michel crowd had no time to rally before their champion was tapping to a rear naked choke.

After years of splitting time between Showtime Jiu Jitsu in Sao Paulo and Chute Boxe in Curitiba, Zoio tired of the travel time and expense the arrangement entailed. He took a respite in early 2011 before making the move to the San Francisco Bay Area, setting up shop as an instructor for Team Cesar Gracie. He chose an ideal environment to work on his one noticable deficiency: boxing technique. The team is home to Richard Perez, boxing coach to Nick Diaz and Nate Diaz.

With one of the top pro camps in America backing him, Ferreira should finally get the opportunities he deserves in 2012. A December M-1 Challenge match with Bao Quach on Showtime would have been a good start, but an unspecified injury took Alessandro off the card. M-1 is rumoured to return to Showtime in 2012, so hopefully a make-up date for that bout can be set in the new year.

Check out video footage of Alessandro Ferreira 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 - Hacran Dias #2 - Joey Gambino #3 - Brandon Bender #4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers #6 - Anthony Gutierrez #7 - Max Holloway #8 - John Teixeira #9 - Cody Bollinger #10 - Bubba Jenkins	#1 - #2 - Alessandro Ferreira #3 - Adriano Martins #4 - Justin Salas #5 - Neilson Gomes #6 - Eduard Folayang #7 - Zorobabel Moreira #8 - Anton Kuivanen #9 - Jordan Rinaldi #10 - J.P. Vainikainen

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 -

Alessandro 'Zoio' Ferreira HL

Alessandro Ferreira vs Thiago Michel
Brazil Fight 3 - November 27, 2010

Alessandro Ferreira vs. Valmir Oliveira
Predador FC 15 - May 22, 2010

Alessandro Ferreira vs. Johil de Oliveira
Jungle Fight 22 - September 18, 2010

Alessandro Ferreira vs. Roberto 'Corvo' Amorim
Predador FC 16 - October 23, 2010

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Comments

Sounds like an exciting prospect.

You mention that slams and low-kicks are a big part of his offense, but that his boxing is his biggest weakness. How does this guy get it done? What’s his usual gameplan?

by Magaca on Jan 2, 2012 8:18 PM EST reply actions

Most often he seems to just blast people with low kicks, but he can throw a good punch too. It’s mainly his boxing guard/defense and technique that need work. You see this with a lot of Brazilian muay thai fighters that gravitate toward MMA, patiently working with their hands just isn’t part of the gameplan. That being said, Zoio can still trade punches with bigger opponents like he showed against Amorim. Unlike the Gurgels of the world though, if he sees a chance to go for a slam or a submission he’ll take it.

by smoogy2 on Jan 2, 2012 9:09 PM EST up reply actions

He sounds like a beast.

Hopefully we will see him duke it out with the Zuffa guys sometime this year. Great work smoogy!

by Magaca on Jan 2, 2012 10:02 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks. I think I’ve officially surpassed subo for the most posts published on SBN MMA sites by a contributor who was once banned. Suck it down, subo.

by smoogy2 on Jan 3, 2012 1:38 AM EST up reply actions

how’d you get banned?

by Robert V-U on Jan 3, 2012 1:39 AM EST up reply actions

Rule 4’s a bitch.

by smoogy2 on Jan 3, 2012 2:02 AM EST up reply actions

I should get around to finding these rules eventually

by Robert V-U on Jan 3, 2012 2:39 AM EST up reply actions

looks a little like Paul Harris. And pretty big for a LW

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by Our Bovine Public on Jan 2, 2012 8:50 PM EST reply actions

Must be tough to fight with a lazy eye.

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by Tim Burke on Jan 2, 2012 9:23 PM EST reply actions

Nah, he’s got more of the angles covered.

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by Ben Thapa on Jan 2, 2012 9:58 PM EST up reply actions

This guy is the bidness. Great pick. Can’t wait to see #1 and the review of 2011’s picks.

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by Ben Thapa on Jan 2, 2012 9:58 PM EST reply actions

Dem eyes.

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by Hendo_One-Shot on Jan 2, 2012 10:43 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

New nickname: Crazy eyes killah

by MS_Dos_Santos on Jan 2, 2012 11:00 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

The only guy I can see taking the number one spot is Yoislandy “Cuba” Izquierdo, but I can still see plenty of the guys already on the list giving him fits

by Robert V-U on Jan 2, 2012 11:21 PM EST reply actions

But also could be Johnny Cottrell, Fabricio de Assis Costa da Silva, or most likely Kurt Kinser

by Robert V-U on Jan 2, 2012 11:26 PM EST up reply actions

going with Kinser as my prediction, over Cuba

by Robert V-U on Jan 2, 2012 11:52 PM EST up reply actions

What about Takasuke Kume?

He’s looked good since moving down to 155, he’s young (26) and he trains with Hioki

by GBH713 on Jan 3, 2012 5:32 AM EST up reply actions

I have him listed, but I will have a better idea of what i think after his fight with Shane Nelson

by Robert V-U on Jan 3, 2012 1:16 PM EST up reply actions

Have you ever watched Izquierdo fight? He’d get lamped by every one of these guys IMO.

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by Leland Roling on Jan 3, 2012 12:53 AM EST up reply actions

The guy brings decent power,, awful takedown defense, and ridiculous submission defense. It may not be pretty, but he makes it work and brings some vicious instinct to the cage. He gets put in bad positions, but doesn’t take much damage, he’s just losing points.
His fights in the CFA tournament were crazy exciting. He has a hunger that most guys can’t come close to understanding, he’s got a rough hand in life, but damn he is tough.
I think Cuba could knock out numbers 10, 7, 6, and 5 on this list

But I think Kinser is number one now

by Robert V-U on Jan 3, 2012 1:39 AM EST up reply actions

I watched all of Izqueirdo’s fights, and I once again reiterate my previous statement. Cenoble is pretty bad too, exciting, but not very good. And the only chance on the entire list is against Vainikainen. You think Gomes would lose to Izqueirdo? LOL… stop it.

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by Leland Roling on Jan 3, 2012 8:22 AM EST up reply actions

And Kurt Kinser? Really? Jesus christ, man. Go watch some actual footage.

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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 Jan 3, 2012 8:23 AM EST up reply actions

Upside

Yeah, he looks like a guy that doesn’t train striking. Makes sense considering he only started training seriously this year. He’s 23, NCAA all-american, and has a win over Bailey. Upside man

by Robert V-U on Jan 3, 2012 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

Go research the win over Bailey.

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by Leland Roling on Jan 3, 2012 7:49 PM EST up reply actions

I understand the weight classes thing but homeboy needs to fight Karlos Vemola

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by Earl Montclair on Jan 2, 2012 11:22 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Or Steve Buscemi:

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by Unabomberman on Jan 3, 2012 12:06 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I have always wondered what Buscemi would be like in person

by Robert V-U on Jan 3, 2012 12:09 AM EST up reply actions

Or Perry Saturn

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by MicahtheCynic on Jan 3, 2012 1:12 AM EST up reply actions