Brendson Ribeiro wins by guillotine at UFC Vegas 122, asks for help finding missing brother
The Brazilian snapped a four-fight skid with a 1:49 submission and used his press conference to demand answers from the authorities
Brazilian light heavyweight Brendson Ribeiro got back in the win column on Saturday night and then turned his post-fight press conference into a plea for help. Ribeiro submitted Felipe Franco with a guillotine choke at 1:49 of the first round on the prelims of UFC Vegas 122 at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, snapping a four-fight losing streak. Speaking through an interpreter, he said his brother has been missing since April 27 in his hometown in northern Brazil, and he asked the authorities for answers.
A guillotine off the takedown
The fight lasted less than two minutes. Franco shot for a takedown and left his neck exposed, and Ribeiro locked up the guillotine right away. According to UFC Brasil, Franco lifted Ribeiro off the mat trying to escape, but the Brazilian held on, rolled with him and finished tightening the choke on the ground until Franco tapped.
It was a textbook finish for anyone who knows Jiu-Jitsu. When an opponent drops his head to attack the legs, his neck is right there for the man defending, and the guillotine is the classic punishment for a sloppy takedown entry.
Ribeiro took the fight on short notice. According to UFC Brasil’s official Instagram account, he had two weeks to prepare. At 30, he now has 18 professional MMA wins and trains at Chute Boxe Diego Lima.
“We don’t think that he’s alive anymore”
After the win, the tone changed. Ribeiro explained that the missing man is his half-brother on his father’s side and that, almost six months later, the family still has no official information. “He is my blood brother from my dad’s side. On April 27, in the township that I’m from, the authorities have not said anything,” he said.
He said he chose to speak out because of the exposure the UFC gives him. “As an athlete that has a platform right now I just want to get it out there for someone to help us,” he said.
The family is already bracing for the worst. “We don’t think that he’s alive anymore. We just want to understand,” Ribeiro said, before asking for closure: “Give us some closure on this. Help us.” According to Sherdog, his plea was aimed at the governor, the mayor and local authorities. He added that his father, his sister-in-law and his brothers are suffering. “My dad is suffering,” he said.
A message for the doubters
The win ends a rough stretch for Ribeiro, who had lost four straight in the UFC before Saturday. At the press conference, he had a message for anyone who had written him off. “The biggest mistake people make is to underestimate me and to count me out,” he said. Then he aimed high: “This is another guillotine for the belt.”
Ribeiro was one of two Brazilian winners on the night, along with Alice Pereira, who won in the first round and earned a Performance of the Night bonus. In the main event, Brendan Allen submitted Christian Leroy Duncan with a rear-naked choke in the fifth round.
UFC Vegas 122 full results
Main card
- Brendan Allen def. Christian Leroy Duncan by submission (rear-naked choke), 2:46 of Round 5
- Jai Herbert def. Matheus Camilo by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Loopy Godinez def. Ketlen Souza by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Andre Fili def. Kai Kamaka by KO (head kick), 0:22 of Round 2
- Otari Tanzilovi def. Malcolm Wellmaker by KO (head kick and ground strikes), 2:39 of Round 2
Prelims
- Julius Walker def. Gerald Meerschaert by TKO (ground strikes), 3:35 of Round 2
- Francisco Prado def. Ismael Bonfim by TKO (ground strikes), 4:23 of Round 1
- Niko Price def. Leon Shahbazyan by TKO (ground strikes), 1:58 of Round 1
- Brendson Ribeiro def. Felipe Franco by submission (guillotine choke), 1:49 of Round 1
- Allen Frye Jr. def. RJ Harris by KO, 2:59 of Round 1
- Alice Pereira def. Daria Zhelezniakova by TKO (doctor stoppage due to a cut), 5:00 of Round 1
- Ernesta Kareckaite and Melissa Gatto fought to a majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
The main event also ended in a submission. Read VF Comunica’s story on Brendan Allen’s rear-naked choke on Christian Leroy Duncan.
Was the guillotine on Felipe Franco the answer Brendson Ribeiro needed after four straight losses? Tell us what you think in the comments.
