Rivalries: Matheus Nicolau

The second time has been the charm for Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight contender Matheus Nicolau. A brief first stint in the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization ended with an abrupt release from the promotion in July 2018. Undeterred, he continued on his path, collecting two victories in Future Fighting Championships and two more in the Brave Combat Federation before signing with the UFC again.

In his return, Nicolau managed to compile four straight wins over formidable names before succumbing to a knockout loss against perennial threat Brandon Royval. A year later, he has his next assignment booked against Alex Perez in the UFC on ESPN 55 main event this Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It has been a long road for the 31-year-old—one that came with its fair share of scrapes and scratches, all absorbed at the highest level of the game. As Nicolau approaches his forthcoming battle with Perez, a look at some of the rivalries that have helped shape his career to this point:

Larry Passos Vargas

Rematches are always a recipe for excitement, particularly when the first competitive arrangement does not determine a conclusive outcome. In their first outing at Brasil Fight 5, the three-round contest was declared a draw, setting the stage for a rematch just over a year later at Brasil Fight 6. The bantamweight showcase on Sep. 21, 2012 at the Minas Tennis Club Arena in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, marked a decisive ending to the rivalry, as Nicloau secured a technical knockout victory at the 4:09 mark of Round 3.

Manel Kape

In his first fight during his second stint with the UFC, Kape was positioned as the rival to thwart the Brazilian’s attempt to make a resounding statement. Two minutes into the first round of their UFC Fight Night 187 showcase, Nicolau secured a takedown and scrambled for dominant position against the cage. On his way up, Kape was trapped in a guillotine choke but managed to survive the scare without any significant damage. However, Kape opened up with his striking more effectively in the second round, managing to hurt Nicolau with an uppercut while pushing his foe to the defensive brink. Recognizing that the bout was probably even on the scorecards leading up to the final round, Nicolau came out swinging, outworking Kape for a notable stretch. However, Kape would not go out without a fight, landing a couple of knees down the stretch that jarred Nicolau. In the end, Nicolau got his hand raised by split decision—a verdict that visibly aggravated Kape. They were scheduled for a rematch on two occasions, once at UFC Fight Night 234. Kape weighed three and a half pounds over the flyweight limit, which forced the bout to be canceled. Interestingly, the rivalry was set to be the marquee attraction for this weekend’s event before “Starboy” pulled out of the fight due to a rib injury.

Tim Elliott

At UFC Fight Night 194, Nicolau endured Elliott’s patent unorthodox offensive onslaught before finding his mark. The American stifled Nicolau with his awkward in-and-out movements, preventing the Brazilian from getting his rhythm. With careful evaluation, he managed to gauge Elliott’s trajectory and started connecting with crisp left-right combinations. He consistently kept digging into the body before going back up to the head and then circling away before Elliott could return fire. Elliott amplified the pressure in the final round, charging with punches that he hoped would eventually lead to a takedown. Nevertheless, it was Nicolau who managed to secure the takedown, peppering away with punches to the body and controlling his opponent on the ground for the better stretch of two minutes. The judges scored the bout 29-28 unanimously in his favor.