Mangueirinho hosts the 1st edition of Fight Zone and the debut of the Combat Pit Arena in Brazil
Fight Zone brought together 44 athletes, distributed across 10 male matched fights, as well as 16 competitors in the male GP and eight athletes in the female GP
The Guilherme Paraense Arena, Mangueirinho, hosted the 1st edition of Fight Zone on Saturday night (29), an unprecedented event in Brazil, responsible for introducing for the first time in the country the Combat Pit Arena, a lowered structure surrounded by the audience, inspired by the great international fighting spectacles. The event was organized by the Paraense Federation of Fighting and Paradesports (FPLP) and received support from the Government of Pará.
With grappling as the main modality, Fight Zone gathered 44 athletes, distributed across 10 male matched fights, in addition to 16 competitors in the male GP and eight athletes in the female GP. Two belts were awarded, one in the main male card and another in the female, accompanied by prizes of R$ 5,000 for each champion. More than 500 people filled the stands, cheering for each fight.
Among those present were well-known names from the UFC, such as Michel Trator, Iliarde Santos, and Antônio Arroyo. The card also included former UFC athlete Ildemar “Marajó Queixinho,” who participated in the matched fights.
The highlight of the night was the Grand Prix, as to be champion, it was necessary to win four fights in just one night, which required endurance and strategy.
Valuing Brazilian athletes - The Secretary of State for Sports and Leisure, Cássio Andrade, highlighted the importance of the initiative and the partnership with the Federation. “The state government is proud to support events that strengthen Pará's sports. The FPLP did an impeccable job and brought an innovative format that puts our athletes in a position of national prominence. Fight Zone is here to stay,” assured the secretary.
The event's proposal follows a global trend that has been gaining strength in recent years, bringing the audience's experience closer to the great international stages. In addition to the competition, Fight Zone seeks to value Brazilian athletes, promote the modality, and provide a space that brings the audience closer to their favorite athletes in the fights.
Titles and emotion - At the end of the event, the GP champions celebrated their performance in the tournament's debut. The male champion, Alessandro Sobrinho, emphasized the importance of the achievement. “Very gratifying, because it is the first event we work with the Pit Arena. It is the first event in Brazil. I thank the Federation for inviting me to participate in this event. And it was written, God in front and everything went well. I have already marked my name in the history of the competition,” said the athlete.
The female GP champion, Vitória Gabriela, 22 years old, stated that she was “very happy with the result. It is a job that my team and I have been doing for a long time. And to be able to have the result, achieve the goal we wanted, to win, to take this money to invest in more championships, as the 2026 season is very close, and we did it, I thank God.”
Michel Trator emphasized the importance of holding the event at Mangueirinho to encourage more competitions for new martial arts talents. “It is a big event that has come to stay and open doors to the world. It is the first in Brazil, and at Mangueirinho. I can only thank the organizers. This novelty will contribute greatly to the growth of martial arts. We are here to encourage new talents because they always come to surpass the old guard,” said the former fighter.
Efficiency - Grappling is a fighting modality based on holds, control, and submissions, with roots in Greco-Roman wrestling and Japanese jiu-jitsu. Currently, it encompasses styles such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), sambo, and catch wrestling, being widely used in MMA due to its efficiency in dominating the opponent without traumatic strikes.
There are several styles of grappling, each with unique characteristics:
- Gi and No-Gi: The use of the Gi allows for grabbing the kimono, while No-Gi is based on more fluid movements and body holds.
· BJJ: Known for the strategic use of guard.
· Sambo: Originating from Russia, it integrates fighting techniques and submissions.
