For the past seven years, MMA Fighting has taken a close look at the Brazilian circuit to scout talent that could make a splash on the international scene in the coming years. That work has discovered talents such as flyweight champions Deiveson Figueiredo and Juliana Velasquez, as well as Alex Oliveira, Alexandre Pantoja, Renato Moicano, Leandro Higo, Virna Jandiroba, Matheus Nicolau and 21 other future UFC or Bellator fighters.
The 12 months of 2020 were unique, however, since a global pandemic forced a halt in events around the world.