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Template:MMAstatsbox Gabriel "Napão" Gonzaga (born May 18, 1979 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), is a professional mixed martial arts fighter currently competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Wander Braga, is a former member of the famous Chute Boxe Academy, and now fights out of Ludlow, Massachusetts as a part of Team Link. Gonzaga won by knockout over Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović on April 21, 2007, which earned him a UFC Heavyweight Title shot with Randy Couture. He won the Mundials (2004), which is considered to be the top BJJ competition in the world.

Mixed martial arts career

Gabriel "Napão" Gonzaga is a part of Team Link in Ludlow, Massachusetts. His coaches include Marco Alvan (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu), Elcio Machado and Atila Cebola (Muay Thai), and Clayton Roberson Jr. (boxing).[3]

Gonzaga's MMA record is currently 9-2-0. He made his MMA Debut on April 4th, 2003 in Santos, Brazil against Cicero Cicero. He won via submission from strikes in the first round. He has gone on to compete over the next two years winning three more bouts, losing only once to Fabricio Werdum.

He made his UFC debut at UFC 56 knocking out Kevin Jordan at 4:39 of the third round. Although the knockout was considered an excellent finish^{[citation needed]}, the fight was considered uneventful^[who?]. Gonzaga's poor performance may have been partly due to complications during his wife's pregnancy that resulted in her near death and the death of one of the twin girls she was carrying.[4] This occurred a few weeks before the match was scheduled to take place, Gonzaga was unable to properly train for the fight, since he was caring for his wife.[5]

Gabriel would later return at UFC 60 and win against Fabiano Scherner via TKO at the second round. At UFC 66 he would end Carmelo Marrero's undefeated winning streak in the first round from an armbar.

At UFC 70, in a shocking upset Gonzaga knocked out PRIDE FC 2006 Open Weight Grand Prix Champion Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović in the first round with a head kick. With the win, Gonzaga became the next contender for UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy "The Natural" Couture.

At UFC 74, Gonzaga lost to Randy Couture via ground and pound TKO in the third round. Gonzaga also suffered a broken nose from an accidental head clash, or possibly his own knee, during a take-down in the first round.^[1]

According to Team Link and UFC.com, Gonzaga will return to the octagon to face Fabricio Werdum at UFC 80.^[2]

Personal life

Gabriel and his wife Carolina were expecting twin girls, Leticia and Isabela, but Leticia passed away while Isabela survived.^[3] Currently, Gabriel and his wife are expecting a baby boy due in September.^[4] ^[5]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
11 matches	9 wins	2 losses
By knockout	4	2
By submission	5	0

Result	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Notes
Loss	Randy Couture	TKO (Strikes)	UFC 74: Respect	8/25/2007	3	1:37	Bout was for UFC heavyweight title
Win	Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović	KO (Head Kick)	UFC 70: Nations Collide	4/21/2007	1	4:51	Gained #1 contendership for Randy Couture's heavyweight title
Win	Carmelo Marrero	Submission (Armbar)	UFC 66: Liddell vs Ortiz II	12/30/2006	1	3:22
Win	Fabiano Scherner	TKO (Strikes)	UFC 60: Hughes vs Gracie	05/27/2006	2	0:24
Win	Kevin Jordan	KO (Punch)	UFC 56: Full Force	11/19/2005	3	4:39
Win	Walter Farias	Submission	Shooto Brazil: Never Shake	10/23/2004	2	N/A
Win	Charlie Brown	Submission (Exhaustion)	JF 2: Jungle Fight 2	05/15/2004	3	N/A
Loss	Fabricio Werdum	TKO (Punches)	JF 1: Jungle Fight 1	09/13/2003	3	2:11
Win	Branden Lee Hinkle	Submission (Triangle Choke)	Meca 9: Meca World Vale Tudo 9	08/01/2003	1	3:54
Win	Cicero Cicero	Submission (Strikes)	BG 2: Brazilian Gladiators 2	04/02/2003	1	N/A
Win	Mark Potvin	TKO (Punches)	K1: International Arena	01/01/2003	1	2:19

Notes

^ Gross, Josh (2007-08-26). "Couture defeats Gonzaga to retain heavyweight championship at UFC 74". ESPN. Retrieved 2007-08-26.
^ Leidecker, Tim (October 30, 2007). "Top Brazilian Heavyweights Battle in Newcastle". Sherdog. Retrieved 2007-10-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ [1]
^ [2]
^ Gonzaga said his life has changed completely -- from his humble beginnings in Brazil to now being at the top level of his profession, able to provide for his wife, 21-month-old daughter, and a son due in September. In his native Brazil he is also sometimes known as 'Jumpa Bernae' which translates to 'legs of steel'.

External links

[ESPN_UFC_74-1] Gross, Josh (2007-08-26). "Couture defeats Gonzaga to retain heavyweight championship at UFC 74". ESPN. Retrieved 2007-08-26.

[2] Leidecker, Tim (October 30, 2007). "Top Brazilian Heavyweights Battle in Newcastle". Sherdog. Retrieved 2007-10-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

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[5] Gonzaga said his life has changed completely -- from his humble beginnings in Brazil to now being at the top level of his profession, able to provide for his wife, 21-month-old daughter, and a son due in September. In his native Brazil he is also sometimes known as 'Jumpa Bernae' which translates to 'legs of steel'.

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 ==Personal life==
-Gabriel and his wife Carolina were expecting twin girls, Leticia and Isabela, but Leticia passed away while Isabela survived.<ref> [http://www.fightopinion.com/2007/04/22/monday-review-the-gabriel-gonzaga-show/]</ref> Currently, Gabriel and his wife are expecting a baby boy due in September.<ref>[http://www.masslive.com/republican/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-2/1177574901247590.xml&coll=1]</ref> <ref>[http://sports.bostonherald.com/ufc/view.bg?articleid=1011333&format=&page=2 Gonzaga said his life has changed completely -- from his humble beginnings in Brazil to now being at the top level of his profession, able to provide for his wife, 21-month-old daughter, and a son due in September.]</ref>
+Gabriel and his wife Carolina were expecting twin girls, Leticia and Isabela, but Leticia passed away while Isabela survived.<ref> [http://www.fightopinion.com/2007/04/22/monday-review-the-gabriel-gonzaga-show/]</ref> Currently, Gabriel and his wife are expecting a baby boy due in September.<ref>[http://www.masslive.com/republican/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-2/1177574901247590.xml&coll=1]</ref> <ref>[http://sports.bostonherald.com/ufc/view.bg?articleid=1011333&format=&page=2 Gonzaga said his life has changed completely -- from his humble beginnings in Brazil to now being at the top level of his profession, able to provide for his wife, 21-month-old daughter, and a son due in September. In his native Brazil he is also sometimes known as 'Jumpa Bernae' which translates to 'legs of steel'.]</ref>
 == Mixed martial arts record ==