Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga is a mixed martial arts fighter currently fighting in the UFC heavyweight division. Although he is a native of Brazil, he is now fighting out of Ludlow, Massachusetts as a part of “Team Link”. When he was in Brazil he spent time training with the highly touted fight team “Chute Boxe”, which is home to some of the best fighters in MMA. Wanderlei Silva, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Murilo “Ninja” Rua are all members of Chute Boxe.
Gonzaga is a well rounded fighter with skills in BJJ, an art that he holds a black belt in, and a good arsenal of strikes. His current MMA record is 8 wins, 1 loss, and 0 draws. His only loss is at the hands of Fabricio Werdum during Jungle Fight 1 back in 2003. The biggest win out of the 8 he has racked up is surely his upset win over Mirko “Cro Cop”. A fight that saw him dish out to Cro Cop the same medicine that the Croatian fighter has given many opponents. Namely, a solid kick to the head that results in a knock out. That victory shot him into the position of #1 contender in the UFC heavyweight division. Now he is set to face the current champ Randy “The Natural” Couture for the title.
It is exciting seeing a fighter in the heavyweight class with both a well rounded fight game and the athleticism to back it up. I am sure that Gonzaga is going to be quite a force in that division for many years to come.
UFC 70 Gonzaga vs Cro Cop Preview
Gonzaga vs Carmelo Marrero – UFC 66
WOW how good is gonzaga gonna love wtchinim dominate the heavyweight devision. (untill i get there)
cant wait to see him fight again
to bad he lost to randy coutoure! he was definatly outclassed.