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

Early career

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

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

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

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

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

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

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, Santa Catarina 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

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

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
61 matches 40 wins 20 losses
By knockout 28 14
By submission 5 4
By decision 7 2
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 40–20 (1) Nemanja Uveric TKO (punches) Serbian Battle Championship 36 16 October 2021 1 2:30 Zrenjanin, Serbia Catchweight (198 lbs) bout.
Loss 40–19 (1) Sergey Romanov Submission (anaconda choke) Krepost Fighting Championship 14 December 2019 1 3:10 Sochi, Russia Middleweight bout.
Loss 40–18 (1) Igor Pokrajac TKO (elbows and punches) Serbian Battle Championship 25 7 December 2019 1 3:24 Novi Sad, Serbia Lost the SBC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Loss 40–17 (1) Evgeny Erokin TKO (punches) MFP: Parus Fight Championship 3 November 2019 1 1:06 Dubai, India
Loss 40-16 (1) Muzaffar Radjabov TKO (punches) WTFKF: World Total Kombat Federation 8 September 2019 2 0:33 Bukhara, Uzbekistan For the WTKF Light Heavyweight Championship.
Win 40–15 (1) Igor Pokrajac TKO (punches) Serbian Battle Championship 21 4 May 2019 1 4:55 Odžaci, Serbia Won the vacant SBC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Loss 39–15 (1) Wagner Silva Gomes Decision (split) SFT: Standard Fighting Tournament 9 19 January 2019 3 5:00 Sao Paulo, Brazil Catchweight (194 lbs) bout.
Loss 39–14 (1) Marcus Vinicius Fialho de Silveira KO (punches) Jorge Velho Team: JVT Championship 14 8 December 2018 2 1:46 Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil For the vacant JVT Light Heavyweight Championship.
Loss 39–13 (1) Attila Végh Decision (unanimous) Oktagon 10 17 November 2018 3 5:00 Prague, Czech Republic
Win 39–12 (1) Patrick Quadros Decision (unanimous) TAURA MMA: 5 9 September 2018 2 2:55 Viamão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Return to Light Heavyweight.
Loss 38–12 (1) Ayub Gimbatov TKO (punches) Fight Nights Global 78: Tsarev vs. Guseinov 4 November 2017 1 4:12 Samara, Russia Middleweight bout.
Loss 38–11 (1) Strahinja Gavrilovic TKO (doctor stoppage) TKO 40 8 September 2017 2 5:00 Montreal, Quebec, Canada Catchweight (205 lbs) bout.
Win 38–10 (1) Jose Rodrigo Guelke Decision (unanimous) Aspera Fighting Championship 55 12 August 2017 3 5:00 Paraná, Brazil Heavyweight bout.
Loss 37–10 (1) Vladimir Mineev TKO (punches) Fight Nights Global 63: Alibekov vs. Khamitov 21 April 2017 1 3:36 Vladivostok, Russia Catchweight (194 lbs) bout.
Win 37–9 (1) Vladimir Mineev Decision (majority) Fight Nights Global 56: Falcão vs. Mineev 9 December 2016 3 5:00 Vladivostok, Russia
Win 36–9 (1) Tyago Moreira Submission (guillotine choke) Aspera Fighting Championship 43 13 August 2016 1 4:08 Paraná, Brazil
Loss 35–9 (1) Ramazan Emeev Submission (anaconda choke) M-1 Challenge 65: Emeev vs. Falcão 8 April 2016 1 2:50 St. Petersburg, Russia For the M-1 Global Middleweight Championship.
Loss 35–8 (1) Aziz Karaoglu TKO (punches) KSW 33: Khalidov vs. Materla 28 November 2015 1 0:30 Krakow, Poland
Win 35–7 (1) Brett Cooper KO (punch) KSW 32: Road to Wembley 31 October 2015 1 0:59 London, England
Win 34–7 (1) Jesse Taylor Submission (guillotine choke) Arena Tour 5: Falcao vs. Taylor 18 April 2015 1 3:13 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Win 33–7 (1) Artur Guseinov Submission (rear-naked choke) Battle of Stars 3 6 December 2014 2 1:49 Kaspiysk, Dagestan Republic, Russia
Loss 32–7 (1) Vyacheslav Vasilevsky TKO (punches) Plotforma S-70: 5 9 August 2014 1 0:37 Sochi, Russia
Loss 32–6 (1) Mamed Khalidov Submission (armbar) KSW 27: Cage Time 17 May 2014 1 4:52 Gdańsk, Poland
Win 32–5 (1) Dibir Zagirov Submission (guillotine choke) Oplot Challenge 100 15 February 2014 2 3:27 Kharkov, Ukraine
Loss 31–5 (1) Alexander Shlemenko KO (punches) Bellator 88 7 February 2013 2 2:18 Duluth, Georgia, United States For Bellator Middleweight Championship.
Win 31–4 (1) Andreas Spang Decision (unanimous) Bellator 69 18 May 2012 3 5:00 Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States Bellator Season Six Middleweight Tournament Final.
Win 30–4 (1) Vyacheslav Vasilevsky Decision (unanimous) Bellator 66 20 April 2012 3 5:00 Cleveland, Ohio, United States Bellator Season Six Middleweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win 29–4 (1) Norman Paraisy Decision (unanimous) Bellator 61 16 March 2012 3 5:00 Bossier City, Louisiana, United States Bellator Season Six Middleweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Win 28–4 (1) Douglas del Rio TKO (punches) Apocalypse FC 1 8 October 2011 1 1:15 Passo Fundo, Brazil
Loss 27–4 (1) Antônio Braga Neto Submission (kimura) Amazon Forest Combat 1 14 September 2011 2 4:26 Manaus, Brazil
Win 27–3 (1) Julio Cesar Bilik TKO (punches) Centurion MMA 2 9 July 2011 1 0:28 Itajaí, Brazil
Win 26–3 (1) Gerald Harris Decision (unanimous) UFC 123 20 November 2010 3 5:00 Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States
Win 25–3 (1) Wendres Carlos da Silva TKO (punches) Arena Gold Fights 2 17 July 2010 1 N/A Curitiba, Brazil
Win 24–3 (1) Daniel Ludtke TKO (knee and punches) Match Point Sports Aquafit Fight Championship 2 9 October 2009 1 0:52 Pelotas, Brazil
Win 23–3 (1) Ricardo Silva TKO (doctor stoppage) Blackout FC 3 5 September 2009 1 0:12 Balneario Camboriu, Brazil
Win 22–3 (1) Arimarcel Santos TKO (punches) WFC: Pozil Challenge 1 August 2009 1 2:26 Gramado, Brazil
Win 21–3 (1) Eli Reger Submission (rear-naked choke) Nitrix Show Fight 2 16 May 2009 1 2:29 Joinville, Brazil
Win 20–3 (1) Allan Froes TKO (punches) Golden Fighters 1 18 April 2009 1 2:15 Novo Hamburgo, Brazil
Win 19–3 (1) Nelson Martins KO (punches) Floripa Fight 5 7 March 2009 1 N/A Florianópolis, Brazil
Loss 18–3 (1) Daniel Ludtke TKO (punches) Clube da Luta 1 21 December 2008 1 1:12 Novo Hamburgo, Brazil
Win 18–2 (1) Romulo Nascimento KO (punches) Paranagua Fight 2 5 September 2008 1 2:10 Paranaguá, Brazil
Win 17–2 (1) Rodrigo Freitas TKO (punches) Predador FC 11 6 July 2008 2 2:24 Brazil
Win 16–2 (1) Edson Franca Submission (punches) Predador FC 10: Kamae 26 April 2008 2 N/A São Paulo, Brazil
Win 15–2 (1) Josue Verde TKO (punches) Floripa Fight 4 29 March 2008 1 1:40 Florianópolis, Brazil
Loss 14–2 (1) Fábio Maldonado TKO (punches) Predador FC 9: Welterweight Grand Prix 15 March 2008 2 2:00 São Paulo, Brazil
NC 14–1 (1) Fabiano Scherner No Contest Desafio: Fight Show 8 December 2007 1 N/A Brazil
Win 14–1 Reinaldo Samurai KO (punch) Bage Open Fight 10 November 2007 1 3:00 Bage, Brazil
Win 13–1 Daniel Barbosa KO (knee and punches) Desafio: Fight Show 8 September 2007 1 1:40 Pelotas, Brazil
Win 12–1 Alex Moura TKO (punches) Full Fight: Open Vale Tudo 11 August 2007 1 2:00 Brazil
Win 11–1 Lucio Aguiar KO (punches) Storm Samurai 28 July 2007 1 N/A Pelotas, Brazil
Win 10–1 Leandro Gordo KO (punches) Desafio: Fight Show 23 June 2007 1 0:15 Florianópolis, Brazil
Win 9–1 Laerte Costa Silva de Oliveira TKO (submission to punches) G1: Open Fight 3 19 May 2007 1 4:30 Curitiba, Brazil
Loss 8–1 Fábio Maldonado TKO (punches) Mariliense MMA Circuit 1 18 May 2007 3 0:46 São Paulo, Brazil
Win 8–0 Felipe Miranda KO (punches and elbows) Super Fight 11 April 2007 1 2:00 Pelotas, Brazil
Win 7–0 Silverio Bueno KO (punches) Paranaguá Fight 1 24 March 2007 1 0:42 Paranaguá, Brazil
Win 6–0 Claudio Mattos KO (punches) Tsunamy 4 7 October 2006 1 2:00 Pelotas, Brazil
Win 5–0 Rogerio Farias KO (knees and punches) Coliseu Fight 8 July 2006 1 4:00 Pelotas, Brazil
Win 4–0 Anderson Brito KO (punch) Tsunamy 3 9 April 2005 1 4:00 Pelotas, Brazil
Win 3–0 Josimar Lira Rodrigues Decision (unanimous) Tsunamy 2 11 December 2004 1 15:00 Pelotas, Brazil
Win 2–0 Andre Rocha TKO (punches) Camaqua Open Vale Tudo 21 November 2004 1 4:00 Camaqua, Brazil
Win 1–0 Guilherme Freitas KO (knees) Piratini Fight 24 April 2004 1 3:30 Piratini, Brazil

See also

References

  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. "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. 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.
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