Paulo Thiago signs four fight deal with UFC
Brazilian mixed martial artist, Paulo Thiago has signed a new four-fight deal with Ultimate Fighting Championship. The new contract comes a little more than a week after Thiago lost to
Diego Sanchez via unanimous decision at UFC 121. Sanchez and Thiago each received a $70,000 bonus after their fight when they were awarded Fight of the Night.
The loss to Sanchez on 23 October was the second in a row for Thiago; his previous loss came in a June 2010 bout against Martin Kampmann. Thiago’s coach, Ataide Junior, sounded concerned
about his fighter's future after the Sanchez loss, saying, “What saved it was the Fight of the Night Award; I think the boy still has a good chance to come back.”
Thiago made his welterweight debut with the UFC in February of 2009 when he fought Josh Koscheck at UFC 95. Thiago made short work of Koscheck, knocking him out with an uppercut in the
first round. Thiago received the Knockout of the Night Award and was awarded a $40,000 bonus for his victory over Koscheck.
Prior to joining the UFC, Thiago was undefeated at 10-0. Before competing in London, England at UFC 95, Thiago fought exclusively in Brazil, where he is a member of the Battalion of Special
Operations of the police (BOPE). There has been speculation that his work with the BOPE does have an effect on his fight performance, as his job requires him to work a 24-hour shift before allowing him the next three days off to fight.
Thiago’s record in the UFC is 3-3, with wins coming over Koscheck, Jacob Volkmann and Mike Swick. The victory over Swick at UFC 109 earned Thiago a $60,000 bonus for submission of the
night when he submitted Swick via d’arce choke in the second round. In addition to the losses to Sanchez and Kampmann, Thiago lost to Jon Fitch by unanimous decision at UFC 100.
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