Thiago, Tibau and Sarafian signed by Taura MMA
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Three more former UFC fighters were picked up by Taura MMA: Paulo Thiago, Gleison Tibau and Daniel Sarafian.
Brazilian MMA promotion Taura MMA continues to pick up former UFC talents, after closing deals with notable names in the past weeks, such as Renan Barao, Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva and Rousimar Palhares, among others. Now, Ag Fight reports the company’s latest signings are Paulo Thiago, Gleison Tibau and TUF Brazil 1 finalist Daniel Sarafian.
Away from the Octagon since 2014, Paulo Thiago (19-11) left the UFC with a 5-8 record, scoring wins over names such as Josh Koscheck, Mike Swick and Michel Prazeres. After his release, the 39-year-old found some success on the European and Brazilian circuits, picking up four wins while suffering only two losses from 2016 to 2019.
Long time UFC lightweight veteran Gleison Tibau (35-14) left the promotion with 16 wins under his belt. The 37-year-old picked up some notable wins during his Octagon tenure, including former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, former WEC champion Jamie Varner and fellow veteran Jeremy Stephens. In his most recent outing, the Brazilian tapped out ex-Bellator lightweight champion Will Brooks, in July 2019.
A finalist of TUF Brazil’s first season, Daniel Sarafian (11-6) never made it to the shows finale. He had to pull out with an injury and was replaced by Sergio Moraes. His UFC career was not as long as his fellow signees, earning only two wins and suffering four losses before his release in 2016. However, the 37-year-old is now on a two-fight winning streak, with a couple of unanimous decision wins in 2017 and 2018.
So far, it is unclear for how many fights the three athletes have signed with Taura MMA or when their debuts will be. The promotion’s next card is scheduled for October 23, but their first foreign event is expected to go down on October 30, in Kissimmee, Florida.
That card will mark the debuts of UFC vets Rousimar Palhares, Antonio Silva, William Macario and Guto Inocente. Furthermore, former The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 contender and current Taura MMA light heavyweight champion Richardson Moreira is scheduled to headline the card, against an opponent yet to be determined.