To die-hard fans of the M-1 Challenge, the name Lucio Linhares is one that is easily recognizable and associated as being one of the competition’s top fighters.
However, to casual MMA fans, Lucio Linahres is one of the best fighters you’ve never heard of. A renowned black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Linhares is 11-4 in his MMA career and 4-2 while competing for the M-1 Challenge. During his five-year pro MMA career, the light heavyweight-turned-middleweight holds notable victories over French phenom Karl Amoussou and former UFC light heavyweight competitor Sean Salmon.
In addition to being one of the M-1 Challenge’s best fighters, he also is one of its most intriguing. A native of Brazil, Linhares has made the unlikely transition to becoming a full-time resident and competitor for Team Finland.
Linhares will look to improve to 5-2 while competing for M-1 when he represents Finland this Friday in Kansas City, Kansas in the M-1 Challenge in a best-of-five series with USA East. M-1Global.com’s Michael Mazur was able to speak with Linhares just prior to his departure to the States.
Michael Mazur: You’re Brazilian, but you live in Finland and compete for Team Finland. For how long have you been living in Finland? How did you end up there?
Lucio Linhares: Well, (I’ve been conducting) seminars around Finland since 2001. Fabio Gurgel, who’s a very famous Brazilian fighter and a co-founder of the Alliance Team (the team I represent) together with one of my coaches, Leandro Borgo, gave me this opportunity because they believed in me and my work.
Michael Mazur: Do you like the possibilities of training and facilities in Finland and country overall? Do you yourself feel like a Finn, at least partly?
Lucio Linhares: Yes, I like to train here very much. There are many good fighters and the organization is very well structured which I haven’t seen anywhere else. Peteri Maunu, the head coach of the Finnish team, also runs the MMA Federation, where they have national tournaments on the annual basis. (I feel) a fighter ought to have competed in a number of amateur fights before they can become professional, that kind of experience makes a much more skilled fighter out of you when it’s time to step up.
I like the country, the nature and the people here very much. And yes, I definitely feel a bit Finn, matter of fact I’ve always been a bit different from my fellow country(men) when it concerns being on time for something for example, so that made it easier to adapt to living in Finland.
Michael Mazur: Do you live alone or with your family? Do you miss Brazil or have you settled down firmly in Finland?
Lucio Linhares: I live alone here and I travel around teaching BJJ. Almost every two weeks I am in a different city or gym. I have been almost everywhere. I miss Brazil of course, but I go there twice a year (and) each time I spend four-to-six weeks there. In Brazil I train with my coach, who in my opinion is the most incredible BJJ fighter, Eduardo Jamelao. I have conditioning coaches Gustavo Carvalho and Bruano that prepare me there and send me programs and schedules to follow when I am here and a great boxing coach called Robson Vidal. But for the rest I am pretty happy residing in Finland.
Michael Mazur: What shocked you the most you came here for the first time? And what do you like in Finland?
Lucio Linhares: I was shocked by the weather. it can be pretty cold up here. I like the summer and the fact that some days there is almost no darkness at night.
Michael Mazur: How well prepared do you feel before your upcoming bout on June 5 vs. Valdir Araujo of USA East? Have all the preparations gone exactly as planned?
Lucio Linhares: I feel very confident. I am in a great shape. I am finishing my preparation in Joensu with the local MMA team. (They are) great fighters that help me a lot. The good thing about traveling so much is that I get to spar with so many different fighters and this helps improve my game tremendously.
Michael Mazur: Who are you training partners in Finland?
Lucio Linhares: My MMA coach is Jarno Nurminen. He is responsible for the major improvements in my skills. Initially I used to be a pure BJJ-based fighter and people did not like that so much since I won a couple of bouts by decision. Jarno said to me that with punches involved the game changes, so we practiced endless hours working on ground and pound, improving positions and it worked out pretty well. Plus, he is a great Muay Thai fighter and coach so he helped me with my stand up as well. His coaching, my trainings with one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in Finland Mikko Suvanto, combined with the help of my friend and the best MMA strategist Sammi Harju, brought me to another level. Also, the support of my sponsors is very important to me: Hipko, Jusspek.fi and UFS support me all the way.
Michael Mazur: Now it seems like you’re a mental leader of Team Finland and one of the best fighters in M-1 Challenge. Do you personally feel it? If so, does it put extra pressure on you as opposed to one year ago?
Lucio Linhares: I don’t feel myself as the leader of the team. I think that the team has no leader and that’s good because we are very strong together. As far as being considered one the best fighters in M-1, it makes me very happy. I think that the competition is stacked with great fighters, many are much better than me. I am just happy to be a part of this. The M-1 Challenge is history making in progress, never before could you see such a competition. MMA will never be the same after the introduction of M-1 Challenge.
Michael Mazur: Which Finnish fighters in your opinion have bright future in MMA? Provide some names.
Lucio Linhares: It’s a hard question since there are so many of them and I don’t want to forget any name, just take the seven fighters who just won the last Finnish MMA amateur competitions and you already have great prospects: Petja Härkönen, Marko Kosonen, Jaakko Väyrynen, Lauri Väätäinen, O-P Heino, Reza Faezi, Tommi Haavisto Sankukai just to name a few. We are limited in time, otherwise I could go on and on (laughs).
Michael Mazur: M-1 Global provides up-and-coming fighters with an opportunity to reach the next level in their professional career. If you keep winning, sooner rather than later you could get an offer from a top organization — like say Affliction. Are you ready to accept the challenge like this?
Lucio Linhares: Are you kidding me! That would be a dream come true and I would not think twice.
Michael Mazur: How much do you know about your next opponent, Valdir Araujo? As far as I know, he trains in Miami with the Nogueiras. Now his record is only 1-0. How serious of an opponent is he in your opinion? Did you make some changes in your training preparing specially for this fight?
Lucio Linhares: I don’t know much aside from the fact that he comes from the same background as I do. Being from the Nogueira Team implies he is a serious competitor fighting for his space under the sun. I always take my opponents seriously. My game plan did not change in fact I don’t make too much plans. I need to feel my adversary in the ring to confront his style wisely.
Michael Mazur: Last year Team Finland was probably the biggest surprise of M-1 Challenge as not so many people would expect you to be the runners-up in your group. Now people name Team Finland as one of the favorites this year. What is your personal opinion about whether Finland has a chance to become the champions this year?
Lucio Linhares: We are definitely out there to give our best and prove something to the world. We surprised many people before and we are ready to keep surprising and hopefully bring this title home.
