Maiquel Falcão

Maiquel José Falcão Gonçalves (8 March 1981 – 23 January 2022) was a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Light Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2004, Falcão was perhaps best known for his stint in Bellator, winning the Season Six Middleweight Tournament; he also fought for the UFC, KSW, Fight Nights Global, and M-1 Global.

Maiquel Falcão
BornMaiquel José Falcão Gonçalves
(1981-03-08)8 March 1981
Pelotas, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil
Died23 January 2022(2022-01-23) (aged 40)
Pelotas, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil
Other namesBig Rig
NationalityBrazilian
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st)
DivisionHeavyweight
Light Heavyweight
Middleweight
Reach71.0 in (180 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofCuritiba, Brazil
TeamRenovação Fight Team (formerly)
Chute Boxe Academy
Rasthai Temple
RankBlack belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active2004–2022
Mixed martial arts record
Total61
Wins40
By knockout28
By submission5
By decision7
Losses20
By knockout14
By submission4
By decision2
No contests1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Last updated on: 22 November 2010

Mixed martial arts career edit

Early career edit

Falcão compiled a record of 25-3 (1) with 21 wins by knockout, fighting exclusively in his native Brazil. Two of his early losses came at the hands of former UFC Light Heavyweight Fábio Maldonado.

Ultimate Fighting Championship edit

On 20 November 2010, Falcão made his UFC debut at UFC 123, beating Gerald Harris by a controversial unanimous decision. The bout was controversial for multiple reasons. First, after dominating the opening round, Falcão sank in a rear-naked choke. However, the round buzzer went off at least five seconds early.[1] This was arguably costly for Falcão, as Dana White speculated that had the round expired at the correct time, Harris would have succumbed to the submission.[2] Falcão's initial momentum waned, with the third round seeing a virtual stop to his attacks.[3] After a strong crowd reaction, the bout ended with Falcão winning via unanimous decision (29-27, 29–28, 29–28).[4]

Following the fight (and criticism from Dana White), Falcão stated that the lack of action in the third round was because he was waiting for Harris to attack, however he later conceded that White's criticism was fair.[3] The bout's heavy criticism cost Harris his job shortly afterwards.[5] Falcão remarked on his opponent's behavior during the fight, stating "[h]e tapped out in three different occasions, hiding it. It was a new thing for me, it was the first time I got three wins on the same bout. On the first round, he tapped out the first time when he was on the four points position, then he tapped out again in the end of the first round, when I got him on the rear-naked choke with his body turned up, and on the third round he tapped out again on a rear-naked choke."[6]

Just days later, Falcão was arrested in Brazil for assaulting a woman outside a nightclub back in 2002. In 2002 Falcão had been sentenced to 24 months in prison, but following 8 months of the sentence he moved to house arrest on the assurance from his lawyer.[7]

Falcão was expected to return at UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann against Alessio Sakara.[8] However, in January 2011, he pulled out of the fight due to injury.[9]

Falcão was expected to face Tom Lawlor on 27 August 2011, at UFC 134.[10] However, the UFC abruptly released him on 11 May. According to one of Falcão's agents, the move came after fans and media bombarded the UFC with demands that he be removed from the UFC 134 card.[11] In 2013, UFC president Dana White confirmed that he'd cut Falcão two years earlier because the UFC has zero tolerance for assault on women. He said, "Sexual assault, hitting a woman or anything like that, you're gone from the roster. It doesn't matter if you're a winner or a champion or anything like that. You're gone. Keep your hands off women."[12]

Post-UFC edit

Falcão's first fight after his release was against fellow Brazilian Julio Cesar Bilik at Centurion MMA 2 on 9 July 2011. Falcão dropped Bilik early on with a clean punch then pouncing on him with a barrage of punches before the referee eventually stepped in to stop the fight giving Falcão the TKO win after just 27 seconds.[13] Falcão faced Dibir Zagirov at Oplot Challenge 100 on 15 February 2014. He won via guillotine choke.[14]

Bellator edit

In early 2012, Falcão joined the Bellator Season Six Middleweight Tournament. He faced Norman Paraisy in the opening round at Bellator 61 and dominated the fight by using his superior striking and scoring multiple takedowns, Falcão won via unanimous decision. In the semifinals round, Maiquel faced Vyacheslav Vasilevsky on 20 April at Bellator 66.[15] He won the fight via unanimous decision. Falcão then faced Andreas Spang in the finals at Bellator 69. After his win over Vasilevsky, Falcão was involved in a post-fight scuffle with Spang, who was brought into the cage to do a face-off with Falcão for the first time after Spang's fight. When they moved in close to each other, Spang immediately shoved Falcão. Startled by this, the much publicized temperament of Falcão rushed back at him with a knee to the ribcage and then lifted up his hand as if looking to throw a punch. Officials, Bellator commentator/former fighter Jimmy Smith and fight matchmaker Sam Caplan separated the two from one another.[16] After getting rocked in the first round, Falcão opted for a more conservative approach by using his wrestling to grind out Spang and he won via unanimous decision.

On 25 April 2012, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney announced that Falcão, the winner of the Season Six Middleweight Tournament, would face Alexander Shlemenko to crown the company's new Middleweight Champion.[17] The two men met at Bellator 88 on 7 February 2013, for the vacant title. After a back and forth fight, Shlemenko won via knockout in the second round.

On 25 July 2013, Bellator released Falcão due to ongoing legal battles in his home country of Brazil. The last straw was a violent brawl outside a gas station (see below).[18]

Post-Bellator edit

After a year away from the sport, Falcão returned and faced Dibir Zagirov at Oplot Challenge 100 on 15 February 2014. Falcão won via submission in the second round.[19]

Falcão then faced top Polish prospect Mamed Khalidov at KSW 27 on 17 May 2014. Falcão lost the bout via armbar submission in the later stages of round 1.[20]

In a rematch from their Bellator 66 bout, Falcão faced Vyacheslav Vasilevsky at Plotforma S-70 5 on 9 August 2014. Falcão would lose via TKO at 0:37 in the first round.

After two consecutive losses, Falcão rebounded in a three-fight win streak, with notable wins over Brett Cooper (Bellator veteran), Jesse Taylor (WSOF veteran) and Artur Guseinov (M-1 Global veteran).

Falcão faced M-1 Global Middleweight Champion Ramazan Emeev on 4 April 2016, at M-1 Grand Prix 2016.[21] He lost the fight via submission.

Fight Nights Global edit

In 2016 Falcão signed with Fight Nights Global.

Falcão defeated Vladimir Mineev on 9 December 2016, at Fight Nights Global 56.

Falcao dropped a rematch with Mineev on 21 April 2017, at Fight Nights Global 63 via first-round TKO.[22]

Falcao faced Ayub Gimbatov on 4 November 2017 at Fight Nights Global 78. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.

Falcao was scheduled to face fellow Bellator veteran Emiliano Sordi on 18 November 2017 for the Arena Tour Light Heavyweight Championship, but the bout was cancelled.

Gas station altercation edit

In July 2013, Falcão and a fellow MMA fighter Kauê Mena became involved in a struggle inside a gas station's convenience store in Balneário Camboriú after Falcão assaulted a female customer. Moments after striking the alleged assault victim, a relative of the victim came into the store and attempted to punch Falcão, missing, and Falcão knocked him to the ground.

As Falcão attempted to flee the scene, he and Mena were confronted outside the gas station and surrounded by three or four male relatives and friends of the assault victim. As one of the men punched Mena another hit Falcão with a piece of wood from the front, knocking him out. Falcão was then kicked backwards while receiving more strikes with the makeshift weapon. During this time Mena was punched and kicked while he was on the ground unconscious.

Mena was in serious condition at an intensive care unit and Falcão had only minor injuries.[23]

A few days after the struggle, Renovação Fight Team coach Marcelo Brigadeiro expelled Falcão and Mena from the team.[24][25] The fight also led to his release from Bellator.[18]

In an interview after the incident, Falcão claimed that the two fighters had come to the gas station from a bar to purchase more alcohol. While inside, Falcão admits to making sexual advances towards the young girl. He then admitted to striking the young girl because, he claims, she made racial slurs directed at him.

Falcão later apologized to Mena's family as well as the MMA community.[26]

Kauê Mena has all but retired from mixed martial arts as he is unable to even go outside without help.[27]

Personal life and death edit

Falcão married a Ukrainian woman named Nataliia Tandarina in Kiev on January 10, 2020. In the early hours of 23 January 2022, Falcão was stabbed outside of a bar in his hometown of Pelotas, Brazil. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead, at the age of 40.[28]

Accomplishments and championships edit

Mixed martial arts record edit

Professional record breakdown
61 matches40 wins20 losses
By knockout2814
By submission54
By decision72
No contests1
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss40–20 (1)Nemanja UvericTKO (punches)Serbian Battle Championship 3616 October 202112:30Zrenjanin, SerbiaCatchweight (198 lbs) bout.
Loss40–19 (1)Sergey RomanovSubmission (anaconda choke)Krepost Fighting Championship14 December 201913:10Sochi, RussiaMiddleweight bout.
Loss40–18 (1)Igor PokrajacTKO (elbows and punches)Serbian Battle Championship 257 December 201913:24Novi Sad, SerbiaLost the SBC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Loss40–17 (1)Evgeny ErokinTKO (punches)MFP: Parus Fight Championship3 November 201911:06Dubai, India
Loss40–16 (1)Muzaffar RadjabovTKO (punches)WTFKF: World Total Kombat Federation8 September 201920:33Bukhara, UzbekistanFor the WTKF Light Heavyweight Championship.
Win40–15 (1)Igor PokrajacTKO (punches)Serbian Battle Championship 214 May 201914:55Odžaci, SerbiaWon the vacant SBC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Loss39–15 (1)Wagner Silva GomesDecision (split)SFT: Standard Fighting Tournament 919 January 201935:00São Paulo, BrazilCatchweight (194 lbs) bout.
Loss39–14 (1)Marcus Vinicius Fialho de SilveiraKO (punches)Jorge Velho Team: JVT Championship 148 December 201821:46Caxias do Sul, BrazilFor the vacant JVT Light Heavyweight Championship.
Loss39–13 (1)Attila VéghDecision (unanimous)Oktagon 1017 November 201835:00Prague, Czech Republic
Win39–12 (1)Patrick QuadrosDecision (unanimous)TAURA MMA: 59 September 201822:55Viamão, BrazilReturn to Light Heavyweight.
Loss38–12 (1)Ayub GimbatovTKO (punches)Fight Nights Global 78: Tsarev vs. Guseinov4 November 201714:12Samara, RussiaMiddleweight bout.
Loss38–11 (1)Strahinja GavrilovicTKO (doctor stoppage)TKO 408 September 201725:00Montreal, Quebec, CanadaCatchweight (205 lbs) bout.
Win38–10 (1)Jose Rodrigo GuelkeDecision (unanimous)Aspera Fighting Championship 5512 August 201735:00Paraná, BrazilHeavyweight bout.
Loss37–10 (1)Vladimir MineevTKO (punches)Fight Nights Global 63: Alibekov vs. Khamitov21 April 201713:36Vladivostok, RussiaCatchweight (194 lbs) bout.
Win37–9 (1)Vladimir MineevDecision (majority)Fight Nights Global 56: Falcão vs. Mineev9 December 201635:00Vladivostok, Russia
Win36–9 (1)Tyago MoreiraSubmission (guillotine choke)Aspera Fighting Championship 4313 August 201614:08Paraná, Brazil
Loss35–9 (1)Ramazan EmeevSubmission (anaconda choke)M-1 Challenge 65: Emeev vs. Falcão8 April 201612:50St. Petersburg, RussiaFor the M-1 Global Middleweight Championship.
Loss35–8 (1)Aziz KaraogluTKO (punches)KSW 33: Khalidov vs. Materla28 November 201510:30Kraków, Poland
Win35–7 (1)Brett CooperKO (punch)KSW 32: Road to Wembley31 October 201510:59London, England
Win34–7 (1)Jesse TaylorSubmission (guillotine choke)Arena Tour 5: Falcao vs. Taylor18 April 201513:13Buenos Aires, Argentina
Win33–7 (1)Artur GuseinovSubmission (rear-naked choke)Battle of Stars 36 December 201421:49Kaspiysk, Russia
Loss32–7 (1)Vyacheslav VasilevskyTKO (punches)Plotforma S-70: 59 August 201410:37Sochi, Russia
Loss32–6 (1)Mamed KhalidovSubmission (armbar)KSW 27: Cage Time17 May 201414:52Gdańsk, Poland
Win32–5 (1)Dibir ZagirovSubmission (guillotine choke)Oplot Challenge 10015 February 201423:27Kharkiv, Ukraine
Loss31–5 (1)Alexander ShlemenkoKO (punches)Bellator 887 February 201322:18Duluth, United StatesFor the Bellator Middleweight Championship.
Win31–4 (1)Andreas SpangDecision (unanimous)Bellator 6918 May 201235:00Lake Charles, United States Bellator Season Six Middleweight Tournament Final.
Win30–4 (1)Vyacheslav VasilevskyDecision (unanimous)Bellator 6620 April 201235:00Cleveland, United States Bellator Season Six Middleweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win29–4 (1)Norman ParaisyDecision (unanimous)Bellator 6116 March 201235:00Bossier City, United States Bellator Season Six Middleweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Win28–4 (1)Douglas del RioTKO (punches)Apocalypse FC 18 October 201111:15Passo Fundo, Brazil
Loss27–4 (1)Antônio Braga NetoSubmission (kimura)Amazon Forest Combat 114 September 201124:26Manaus, Brazil
Win27–3 (1)Julio Cesar BilikTKO (punches)Centurion MMA 29 July 201110:28Itajaí, Brazil
Win26–3 (1)Gerald HarrisDecision (unanimous)UFC 12320 November 201035:00Auburn Hills, United States
Win25–3 (1)Wendres Carlos da SilvaTKO (punches)Arena Gold Fights 217 July 20101N/ACuritiba, Brazil
Win24–3 (1)Daniel LudtkeTKO (knee and punches)Match Point Sports Aquafit Fight Championship 29 October 200910:52Pelotas, Brazil
Win23–3 (1)Ricardo SilvaTKO (doctor stoppage)Blackout FC 35 September 200910:12Balneário Camboriú, Brazil
Win22–3 (1)Arimarcel SantosTKO (punches)WFC: Pozil Challenge1 August 200912:26Gramado, Brazil
Win21–3 (1)Eli RegerSubmission (rear-naked choke)Nitrix Show Fight 216 May 200912:29Joinville, Brazil
Win20–3 (1)Allan FroesTKO (punches)Golden Fighters 118 April 200912:15Novo Hamburgo, Brazil
Win19–3 (1)Nelson MartinsKO (punches)Floripa Fight 57 March 20091N/AFlorianópolis, Brazil
Loss18–3 (1)Daniel LudtkeTKO (punches)Clube da Luta 121 December 200811:12Novo Hamburgo, Brazil
Win18–2 (1)Romulo NascimentoKO (punches)Paranagua Fight 25 September 200812:10Paranaguá, Brazil
Win17–2 (1)Rodrigo FreitasTKO (punches)Predador FC 116 July 200822:24Brazil
Win16–2 (1)Edson FrancaSubmission (punches)Predador FC 10: Kamae26 April 20082N/ASão Paulo, Brazil
Win15–2 (1)Josue VerdeTKO (punches)Floripa Fight 429 March 200811:40Florianópolis, Brazil
Loss14–2 (1)Fábio MaldonadoTKO (punches)Predador FC 9: Welterweight Grand Prix15 March 200822:00São Paulo, Brazil
NC14–1 (1)Fabiano SchernerNo ContestDesafio: Fight Show8 December 20071N/ABrazil
Win14–1Reinaldo SamuraiKO (punch)Bage Open Fight10 November 200713:00Bage, Brazil
Win13–1Daniel BarbosaKO (knee and punches)Desafio: Fight Show8 September 200711:40Pelotas, Brazil
Win12–1Alex MouraTKO (punches)Full Fight: Open Vale Tudo11 August 200712:00Brazil
Win11–1Lucio AguiarKO (punches)Storm Samurai28 July 20071N/APelotas, Brazil
Win10–1Leandro GordoKO (punches)Desafio: Fight Show23 June 200710:15Florianópolis, Brazil
Win9–1Laerte Costa Silva de OliveiraTKO (submission to punches)G1: Open Fight 319 May 200714:30Curitiba, Brazil
Loss8–1Fábio MaldonadoTKO (punches)Mariliense MMA Circuit 118 May 200730:46São Paulo, Brazil
Win8–0Felipe MirandaKO (punches and elbows)Super Fight11 April 200712:00Pelotas, Brazil
Win7–0Silverio BuenoKO (punches)Paranaguá Fight 124 March 200710:42Paranaguá, Brazil
Win6–0Claudio MattosKO (punches)Tsunamy 47 October 200612:00Pelotas, Brazil
Win5–0Rogerio FariasKO (knees and punches)Coliseu Fight8 July 200614:00Pelotas, Brazil
Win4–0Anderson BritoKO (punch)Tsunamy 39 April 200514:00Pelotas, Brazil
Win3–0Josimar Lira RodriguesDecision (unanimous)Tsunamy 211 December 2004115:00Pelotas, Brazil
Win2–0Andre RochaTKO (punches)Camaqua Open Vale Tudo21 November 200414:00Camaquã, Brazil
Win1–0Guilherme FreitasKO (knees)Piratini Fight24 April 200413:30Piratini, Brazil

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "UFC 123s Gerald Harris discusses timekeeping issue; controversial choke". mmajunkie.com. 23 November 2010. Archived from the original on 27 November 2010.
  2. ^ "UFC in talks with Michigan regarding timekeeping issue, officials dismiss conspiracy". mmajunkie.com. 24 November 2010. Archived from the original on 27 November 2010.
  3. ^ a b "UFCs Falcao says White's criticism fair; fans pay to watch scraps, not strategy". mmajunkie.com. 25 November 2010. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010.
  4. ^ "UFC 123 main card recap: Shocked "Rampage" awarded split decision win". mmajunkie.com. 21 November 2010.
  5. ^ "Former UFC middleweight contender Gerald Harris: "I messed up"". mmajunkie.com. 29 November 2010. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010.
  6. ^ "Maiquel happy with three wins at UFC 123". tatame.com. 23 November 2010. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  7. ^ "UFCs Maiquel Falcao arrested in Brazil on years old charge; expects quick release". mmajunkie.com. 3 December 2010. Archived from the original on 6 December 2010.
  8. ^ "Alessio Sakara vs. Maiquel Falcao on tap for UFC on Versus 3 in March". mmajunkie.com. 9 December 2010. Archived from the original on 13 December 2010.
  9. ^ "Rafael "Sapo" Natal Replaces Injured Maiquel Falcao at UFC on Versus 3". mmaweekly.com. 14 January 2011.
  10. ^ "Maiquel Falcao vs. Tom Lawlor in the works for Brazil's UFC 134 event". MMAjunkie.com. 25 April 2011. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011.
  11. ^ "UFC releases Maiquel Falcao, pulls him from UFC 134 card". MMAjunkie.com. 11 May 2011.
  12. ^ "Dana White confirms Maiquel Falcao's 2011 UFC release due to assaulting woman". MMAjunkie.com. 11 May 2011.
  13. ^ "Falcao to Make Post-UFC Debut July 9 at Centurion MMA 2". Sherdog.com. 22 June 2011.
  14. ^ "OC - Oplot Challenge 100 Results". Sherdog. 15 February 2014.
  15. ^ "Bellator 66 adds Falcao-Vasilevsky middleweight-tourney semifinals". mmajunkie.com. 17 March 2012. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012.
  16. ^ "Post-fight scuffle mars Andreas Spang's Bellator 66 comeback, disciplinary action likely | MMAjunkie.com". Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  17. ^ MMAjunkie.com Staff (25 April 2012). "Rebney: Falcao vs. Spang winner meets Shlemenko for Bellator's vacant middleweight title". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2012.
  18. ^ a b Mike Chiappetta (25 July 2013). "Bellator unconditionally releases Paul Daley and Maiquel Falcão due to ongoing legal troubles". MMAfighting.com.
  19. ^ "Oplot Challenge 100 Official Results". mixedmartialarts.com. 15 February 2014.
  20. ^ "MAMED KHALIDOV WINS 9TH STRAIGHT, ARMBARS BELLATOR VET MAIQUEL FALCAO AT KSW 27". sherdog.com. 17 May 2014.
  21. ^ "Fastpanel".
  22. ^ Staff (21 April 2017). "UFC/Bellator vet Maiquel Falcao gets horrible beating in late stoppage at Fight Nights Global 63". mmaajunkie.com. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  23. ^ Zane Simon (8 July 2013). "Featherweight prospect Kauê Mena in critical condition following brawl involving Bellator fighter Maiquel Falcão". bloodyelbow.com.
  24. ^ Jesse Holland (10 July 2013). "Maiquel Falcão and Kauê Mena removed from Renovação Fight Team following gas station melee". mmamania.com.
  25. ^ "Maiquel Falcão e Kauê Mena são expulsos da RFT após briga em posto". sportv.globo.com (Portuguese language). 10 July 2013.
  26. ^ "Bellator's Maiquel Falcao explains his story of the infamous gas station beatdown". 17 July 2013.
  27. ^ "Um ano após agressão, Kauê Mena leva vida normal e quer voltar a treinar MMA - Notícias do Dia Online". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  28. ^ Jay Anderson (23 January 2022). "Former UFC, Bellator Fighter Maiquel Falcao Killed in Brazil". Cageside Press. Retrieved 23 January 2022.

External links edit