Meet Guilherme Uriel, an athlete who is appearing on the Contender Series in an attempt to silence his rival who insulted Brazil.

Brazilian representative for the 2025 Contender Series season, Guilherme Uriel, also known as 'Urso', is preparing for the most important fight of his career to date. Coming straight from Mairiporã (SP), the 120,2-year-old heavyweight (up to 28 kg) is looking to secure his eighth victory against Dana White and his allies. Scheduled for the event taking place this Tuesday (19), the fighter will have the opportunity to face Josh Hokit, an American who deliberately insulted Brazil and its customs.

Newly arrived in the sport, Guilherme, who has the flagship in jiu-jitsu, told exclusively to SUPER FIGHTS about his journey to achieving his dream opportunity to fight in the Contender Series.

See too

UFC Rio: Former champion, Deiveson Figueiredo has a fight confirmed at an event in the Marvelous City

Chimaev names first challenger to belt and receives response: 'I'll show you what dominance is'

Dricus du Plessis praises Khamzat Chimaev after losing his belt at UFC 319: 'It felt like a blanket'

“I always did jiu-jitsu, on the team of my masters Robert and Danny Abu, from Abu Brothers. Charles of the Bronx I trained with them during the Macaco Gold Team era, and I always wanted to fight MMA. My mother became very close friends with the masters at the time, and mom, you know how it is: 'I don't want my son to do that, he's too aggressive,' and they always pushed me towards jiu-jitsu.”

“I have eight world championships with the CBJJE, an Abu Dhabi Grand Slam that took place in Curitiba, South American, Brazilian, Pan American, but I always wanted to go into MMA”

Guilherme Urso at 22 years old in a jiu-jitsu competition. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @ursouriel_mma

PUBLICITY:

Arrival in MMA

Having made his professional debut in 2022, the Brazilian highlighted setbacks that ultimately led him to the new sport. Aggressive in his fights, Uriel acknowledged he was on the right track by claiming two victims in one night.

"The Abu brothers' team ended up moving. I'm from Mairiporã, which was already far away, and when they moved, it became even farther away. I ended up looking for another team and joined Master Barbosa's. That's where I had the opportunity to fight at Fight Club. It was an amateur fighting GP, and we won the first fight well. I ended up getting an armbar and broke the guy's arm. We qualified, and the final fight was going to be broadcast live on Band. The other athletes didn't want to fight; the organizer said to choose the last winner against the champion."

"We went from amateur to semi-pro, live on Band, all in the same day. The teacher asked what I was going to do, and I replied, 'You're in hell, hug the devil, let's go.' Two minutes in, a kick to the thigh, a hand sequence, and I won by TKO. Then the will was awakened, and here we are."

Guilherme Urso wins MMA. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @urielurso_mma

Complete fighter

Despite having taken his first steps based on jiu-jitsu, Guilherme assured that he also has great ability to perform in stand-up combat, using his boxing skills.

"Whenever the band plays, we're dancing. I really enjoy my grappling and jiu-jitsu; I'll always put jiu-jitsu first. But for the past few years, I've been really improving my handball. I fought in the National Boxing Council against the number two ranked fighter, and I won by unanimous decision. I was supposed to fight for the CNB belt, but I got the invite (to the Contender Series), so we ended up putting it aside."

Contender Series Opponent

About to face Josh Hokit, 'Urso' expects nothing more than the opportunity to teach his rival some manners. Annoyed by his opponent's gratuitous attack, which he used social media to provoke, the Brazilian promised an aggressive performance in the Apex octagon.

"To be where we're going, no one is foolish. He deserves his due. I respect him, something he hasn't been showing us. His Instagram performance wasn't great. But to get there, he did the job well, with his five wins, but now the big guy is coming, nothing like the opponents he's faced before. He's got to wait because he's going to put on a heavyweight show, and it will be different."

“He said that every Brazilian who likes football is gay, he called me nigga, said a lot. The Brazilians saw it, started sending him messages, bombarding him. We have to get there and show our boss a stellar performance, not just talk, just anyone can talk. Now I want to see inside. I just responded accordingly, saying that the bear is coming, that the bear isn't one to talk and act."

Josh Hokit (left) faces off with Guilherme Uriel (right) on the Contender Series. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

Tough walk to the top

Finally, Guilherme recalled his journey to the present moment and assured that he is willing to do everything necessary to achieve greater heights in his career as a professional fighter.

"My father didn't like what I did (fighting), so he told me if I wanted to do it, I should just fend for myself, go after it, doing the right thing, nothing wrong. I've worked as a caretaker, a gardener, everything in my life. Thank God there's no bad weather; whatever work there is, we face it. The person who says getting here was easy doesn't exist. There are always challenges, injuries. I fought with three torn ligaments. I could say no, but so what, what other chance would I have of fighting later? My father and mother said they didn't support us. And we went, we won, and after we won, my teacher showed the paperwork to me." Rafael Feijão, that we are there, committed and we are there”, he concluded.