Luiz Firmino de Carvalho Júnior (born March 18, 1982), commonly known as Luiz Buscapé, is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, who fights at Lightweight. He has spent the majority of his career in Japan and has fought in Dream, Pride FC and Shooto. He now fights for the Blackzilians camp out of JACO HYbrid Training Center in Boca Raton, Florida.

Luiz Firmino
BornLuiz Firmino de Carvalho Júnior
(1982-03-18) March 18, 1982 (age 42)
Paraíba, Brazil
Other namesBuscapé
ResidenceBoca Raton, Florida
NationalityBrazilian
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight154 lb (70 kg; 11.0 st)
DivisionLightweight
Reach69.5 in (177 cm)[1]
StyleMMA, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Shooto
Fighting out ofBoca Raton, Florida
TeamCombat Club
RankBlack belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active2000–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total30
Wins20
By knockout2
By submission7
By decision11
Losses10
By knockout1
By submission2
By decision7
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Last updated on: March 13, 2012

Biography edit

Firmino began his career at the tenth edition of the World Vale Tudo Championship in Recife, Brazil when he was 18 years old. The tournament was held in one night and was fought under Vale Tudo-style rules. After defeating Reginaldo Santana and Sergei Bytchkov, he reached the final and faced Eli Soares. The fight lasted for thirty minutes with no breaks and Soares won by decision.

Firmino then returned two years later at the M-1 Global event MFC: Russia vs the World 3 in Saint Petersburg, Russia where he again beat Sergei Bytchkov, by technical knockout in the second round. At Russia vs the World 5 the following year, he defeated Musail Allaudinov via unanimous decision after one fifteen-minute round. After winning his next four bouts - three by submission - he was given a chance to compete in the Pride Fighting Championships.

Pride Fighting Championships edit

Firmino faced off against Hiroyuki Abe at his first Pride fight, Pride Bushido 4 in July 2004, and won by using an arm triangle choke in the first round. Firmino then returned against Masakazu Imanari three months later at Pride Bushido 5 at won by unanimous decision. After this early success, he lost his next two bouts (against countryman Luiz Azeredo and Tatsuya Kawajiri) by decision in 2005. In November 2006, Firmino took on Nobuhiro Obiya at Pride Bushido 13 and won the fight by yet another unanimous decision.

Dream edit

Pride FC then shut down, however, and Firmino soon signed with Dream. He made his debut with the organization at its first event, Dream 1, in March 2008 where he submitted Kazuyuki Miyata with a rear-naked choke seven minutes into the first round.[2] At Dream 3 two months later, he was given the opportunity to avenge his earlier loss to Tatsuya Kawajiri. He was unable to do this, however, and was beaten on a unanimous decision.[3]

Post-Japan edit

Firmino then left Dream after this, and won his first fight outside Japan in five years when he beat Ryan Healy in Miami, Florida at Shine Fights 2: ATT vs. The World in September 2009.

Firmino also returned to fight in his native Brazil for the first time in almost seven years when he faced Francisco Trinaldo at Bitetti Combat MMA 6, where he was submitted with a kneebar.[4]

Firmino competed at Superior Cage Combat 3, where he lost against UFC and Pride veteran, Canadian John Alessio via decision.[5]

Firmino defeated The Ultimate Fighter: Live alumni Johnavan Vistante by submission due to an arm-triangle choke in the first round at CFA 07: Never Give Up in Coral Gables, Florida on June 30, 2012.

Firmino defeated two-time Bellator Tournament finalist, and 2009 Submission of the year winner Toby Imada by unanimous decision at CFA 08 in Hollywood, Florida on October 6, 2012.

Firmino faced Bellator veteran Luis Palomino on January 19, 2013 for the CFA Lightweight Championship, Firmino dominated Palomino with his Wrestling and ground and pound to take home the CFA Lightweight Championship by unanimous decision. Firmino vacated the title in September 2013 when he signed with World Series of Fighting.

World Series of Fighting edit

Firmino made his WSOF debut against Jacob Volkmann at WSOF 6 on October 26, 2013.[6] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[7] He then faced UFC veteran Tyson Griffin at WSOF 10 on June 21, 2014.[8] He won the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision.[9]

After almost two years away from the promotion, Firmino returned in January 2016 to face Strikeforce and UFC veteran Caros Fodor at WSOF 27. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Firmino faced Brian Foster at WSOF 33 on October 7 in Kansas City, Missouri. He lost the fight by submission in the first round. [1]

Firmino stepped in for an injured João Zeferino to take on WSOF Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje at WSOF 34. After a back-and-forth three rounds, the bout was stopped by the doctor between rounds three and four due to Firmino's swollen right eye; the end result was a TKO loss for Firmino.

The Ultimate Fighter edit

Firmino was as a cast member for The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians representing Blackzilians[10] He defeated Uros Jurisic by unanimous decision to win 25 points for his team.

Championships and accomplishments edit

  • Championship Fighting Alliance
    • CFA Lightweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record edit

Professional record breakdown
30 matches 20 wins 10 losses
By knockout 2 1
By submission 7 2
By decision 11 7
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 20–10 Rashid Magomedov Decision (unanimous) PFL 5 August 2, 2018 3 5:00 Uniondale, New York, United States
Loss 20–9 Will Brooks Decision (unanimous) PFL 2 June 21, 2018 3 5:00 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 20–8 Eddy Ellis TKO (punches) PFL: Everett July 29, 2017 1 1:45 Everett, Washington, United States
Loss 19–8 Justin Gaethje TKO (doctor stoppage) WSOF 34 December 31, 2016 3 5:00 New York City, New York, United States For the WSOF Lightweight Championship.
Loss 19–7 Brian Foster Submission (triangle choke) WSOF 33 October 7, 2016 1 3:14 Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Win 19–6 Caros Fodor Decision (unanimous) WSOF 27 January 23, 2016 3 5:00 Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Win 18–6 Tyson Griffin Decision (unanimous) WSOF 10 June 21, 2014 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 17–6 Jacob Volkmann Decision (unanimous) WSOF 6 October 26, 2013 3 5:00 Coral Gables, Florida, United States WSOF debut.
Win 16–6 Luis Palomino Decision (unanimous) CFA 09: Night of Champions January 19, 2013 5 5:00 Coral Gables, Florida, United States Won the CFA Lightweight Championship.
Win 15–6 Toby Imada Decision (unanimous) CFA 08: Araujo vs. Bradley October 6, 2012 3 5:00 Hollywood, Florida, United States CFA Lightweight Championship eliminator.
Win 14–6 Johnavan Vistante Submission (arm-triangle choke) CFA 07: Never Give Up June 30, 2012 1 4:31 Coral Gables, Florida, United States
Loss 13–6 John Alessio Decision (unanimous) Superior Cage Combat 3 November 4, 2011 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 13–5 Francisco Trinaldo Submission (kneebar) Bitetti Combat MMA 6 February 25, 2010 1 2:03 Brasília, Brazil
Win 13–4 Ryan Healy Decision (unanimous) Shine Fights 2: ATT vs. The World September 4, 2009 3 5:00 Miami, Florida, United States
Loss 12–4 Tatsuya Kawajiri Decision (unanimous) Dream 3: Lightweight Grand Prix 2008 Second Round May 11, 2008 2 5:00 Saitama, Japan DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix quarterfinal.
Win 12–3 Kazuyuki Miyata Submission (rear-naked choke) Dream 1: Lightweight Grand Prix 2008 First Round March 15, 2008 1 7:37 Saitama, Japan DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix opening round.
Win 11–3 Nobuhiro Obiya Decision (unanimous) Pride - Bushido 13 November 5, 2006 2 5:00 Yokohama, Japan
Loss 10–3 Tatsuya Kawajiri Decision (unanimous) Pride Bushido 8 July 17, 2005 2 5:00 Nagoya, Japan, Japan
Loss 10–2 Luiz Azeredo Decision (split) Pride Bushido 6 April 3, 2005 2 5:00 Yokohama, Japan
Win 10–1 Masakazu Imanari Decision (unanimous) Pride Bushido 5 October 14, 2004 2 5:00 Osaka, Japan
Win 9–1 Hiroyuki Abe Submission (arm-triangle choke) Pride Bushido 4 July 19, 2004 1 2:56 Nagoya, Japan
Win 8–1 Rafles la Rose Submission (armbar) Shooto: Switzerland 1 February 26, 2004 1 0:36 Zürich, Switzerland Welterweight bout.
Win 7–1 Devanir Marques Submission (punches) Conquista Fight 1 December 20, 2003 1 1:10 Vitória da Conquista, Brazil
Win 6–1 Kohei Yasumi Decision (unanimous) Shooto - 9/5 in Korakuen Hall September 5, 2003 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 5–1 Tom Kirk Submission (armbar) Shooto: Midwest Fighting May 21, 2003 1 3:38 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 4–1 Musail Allaudinov Decision (unanimous) M-1 MFC - Russia vs. the World 5 April 6, 2003 1 15:00 St. Petersburg, Russia
Win 3–1 Sergei Bytchkov TKO (punches) M-1 MFC: Russia vs. the World 3 April 26, 2002 2 2:38 St. Petersburg, Russia Welterweight bout.
Loss 2–1 Eli Soares Decision WVC: World Vale Tudo Championship 10 May 27, 2000 1 30:00 Recife, Brazil WVC Welterweight Tournament finals.
Win 2–0 Sergei Bytchkov Decision (unanimous) WVC: World Vale Tudo Championship 10 May 27, 2000 2 14:00 Recife, Brazil WVC Welterweight Tournament semifinals.
Win 1–0 Reginaldo Santana Submission (verbal) WVC: World Vale Tudo Championship 10 May 27, 2000 1 3:29 Recife, Brazil WVC Welterweight Tournament quarterfinals.

References edit

  1. ^ "Luiz Firmino Profile". tapology.com. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  2. ^ Kazuyuki Miyata vs. Luis Buscape Video - Dream 1
  3. ^ "Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Luiz Firmino - DREAM 3". Archived from the original on 2014-05-20. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
  4. ^ Luiz Firmino vs Francisco Trinaldo - Bitetti Combat 6
  5. ^ "Superior Cage Combat". Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  6. ^ "Jacob Volkmann vs. Luiz Firmino headlines WSOF 6 prelims". mmafighting.com. September 25, 2013.
  7. ^ "WSOF 6 results: Steve Carl downs Josh Burkman in fourth to claim belt". mmajunkie.com. October 27, 2013.
  8. ^ "Main Card Finalized For WSOF 10". mmafrenzy.com. May 5, 2014.
  9. ^ "WSOF 10: Luiz Firmino vs. Tyson Griffin full fight video highlights". mmajunkie.com. June 22, 2014.
  10. ^ "TUF 21 ATT vs Blackzilians". Archived from the original on 2015-09-29. Retrieved 2014-01-28.

External links edit