Things got wacky down in Rio as Hype Brazil rolled into town for their hybrid grappling / bareknuckle card at the Farmasi Arena tonight, Wednesday March 11th.
Hype Brazil features grappling bouts between Arman Tsarukyan and Muhammad Mokaev, Jean Silva and Bryce Mitchell, plus Shara Magomedov and Edson Barboza. That’s half the troublemakers in the UFC, but it was Lev Sarkisyan and Joilton Lutterbach who turned things on their head during the event’s pre-fight press conference, kicking off a silly little
brawl that got everyone laughing.
Video from MMA Fighting captured the moment Lev Sarkisyan pulled the ol’ Nate Diaz and threw a water bottle at Joilton Lutterbach. Lutterbach responded by getting up, throwing a front kick, and ripping off his shirt. UFC welterweight contender Carlos Prates was in between them and quickly made his escape, hooting and laughing. Lutterbach jumped on a table, only to immediately fall off.
Jean Silva got in on the action — not to fight or stop the fight, but to floss dance.
This is perhaps the least serious brawl we’ve ever witnessed in MMA. The stage was packed with so many UFC killers completely desensitized to violence, and they all just laughed and laughed as things progressed. The charade ends with Sarkisyan and Lutterbach hugging it out and starting country chants with the crowd.
A lot of the promo for Hype Brazil has had a similar zany feel. Jean Silva and Bryce Mitchell engaged in one of the most over the top faceoffs we’ve ever seen, literally going head to head and pressing forward like a truck push at the county fair.
“I will choke you again,” Silva declared, referencing their UFC 314 fight that saw Jean tap Bryce in the second round.
“You need to brush your teeth,” Mitchell replied.
At the presser, Silva jokingly picked up a chair like he was about to throw it at Mitchell and jokingly kicked him. Mitchell responded by laughing and throwing a hug. Underneath all the machismo, these guys are bro-ing out hardcore. We’re at unheard of levels of hangin’ with the bois in Brazil.
Those lucky enough to be in Rio de Janeiro right now can get tickets to the event for 100 reals, or $20 U.S. dollars. Everyone else will have to pay $30 to watch the event on Triller TV.
