Falcao Inks 3-Fight Deal with Canadian Org, Debuts in September

Pasqualino Santoro, head of Canadian promotion Colloseo Championship Fighting, on Saturday confirmed to Sherdog.com that Goncalves has signed a three-fight deal with the Alberta-based organization and is expected to compete at an as-yet-unannounced September event.

Goncalves, 30, was released by the UFC in early May following a turbulent one-and-done run. The heavy-handed “Big Rig” made his Octagon debut with a November decision win over Gerald Harris at UFC 123, after which both fighters were criticized by UFC boss Dana White for their lack of aggression and Harris was dropped from the roster. Upon returning to his hometown of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, in December, Goncalves was taken into custody by local authorities on charges stemming from a 2002 assault conviction.

Nonetheless, Goncalves wrote on Twitter in April that he would face American Tom Lawlor on Aug. 27 as part of UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro. On May 11, however, the Brazilian’s management informed MMAJunkie.com that Goncalves had been handed his walking papers by the UFC.

Colloseo has promoted events in Alberta since 2007, but drew attention from the international MMA community in April when Santoro announced that the company’s July 23 event will make use of a rule set popularized by now-defunct Japanese promotion Pride Fighting Championships. Soccer kicks, stomps and knees to the head of a downed opponent will all be available for use by fighters on the card, scheduled to be headlined by a heavyweight tilt between Pride veteran Gilbert Yvel and former King of the Cage titleholder Tony Lopez.