Flyweights Formiga, Santos Make Weight for Web-Streamed Fort MMA

World-ranked da Silva (Pictured; file photo) hit the scale at 125.66 pounds; his unbeaten opponent came in at 125.44. The event, which streams live and free of charge on FortMMA.com at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT, will take place at Natal’s Brazilian Industrial Social Services Gymnasium.

With the UFC this week announcing the addition of a flyweight class, both 26-year-olds seek to boost their reputations in the blossoming division and prove themselves ready for the big stage. Nova Uniao Kimura representative and Natal native da Silva will hunt for his third straight victory since having his No. 1 ranking taken by Ian McCall, while Belem’s Santos, in his toughest fight to date, looks to improve to 10-0.

Like the main event, the rest of the all-Brazilian card showcases fighters from the country’s Northeast, a region which has given MMA such talents as Patricio and Patricky Freire, Renan Barao and Gleison Tibau.

“There are several guys here with enough talent to beat even UFC caliber fighters,” Fort MMA founder Matheus Aquino tells Sherdog.com. “If they had gotten or get the necessary support to be able to dedicate themselves to this, the Rio Grande do Norte fighters could take the UFC. You can say I’m exaggerating. Maybe. Maybe not.”

Aquino is optimistic that his promotion could effect change within the area and heighten the awareness of Northeastern fighters.

“I wanted to make a change, to create a huge impact on the local scene that would open the doors to foreign lands. Hopefully, I will be able to create such a platform through Fort and you’ll know much more, not only about fighters from Rio Grande do Norte, but also all these unseen talents in the depths of Brazil.”

Jussier da Silva (125.66 pounds) vs. Rodrigo Santos (125.44)
Guilherme Mattos Rodrigues (156) vs. Anderson Salustino (152.34)
Valdines Silva (145.28) vs. Joao Paulo de Souza (146)
Ciro Rodrigues (160.72) vs. Anderson Diniz (160.02)
Wendres Carlos da Silva (182.98) vs. Renan Santos (181)
Ednaldo Mendes de Souza (143.08) vs. Marcio Andrade (146)
Juliano Silva (134.26) vs. Aloisio Paixao (134.26)
Arivaldo Batista (134.7) vs. Yccaro Marques (135.14)
Gleyson da Silva (145.73) vs. Tarcisio Figueiredo (145.5)