Shooto Brazil 21 Set for Feb. 19; U.S. Show Planned for 2011

Hacran Dias (top) | Marcelo Alonso/Sherdog.com

Shooto South America President Andre Pederneiras on Monday confirmed the show’s seven-fight card to Sherdog.com. News of the event was first reported by Brazilian website Tatame.com.

Matchups of note include Nova Uniao lightweight prospect Hacran Dias taking on Ricardo “Pitbull” Pires, UFC veteran Antonio “Samuray” Mendes going up against Cleber Tavares and Shooto Brazil mainstay Giovani Diniz facing Anderson Nunes.

Proceeds from Shooto Brazil 21 will go toward helping those affected by the deadly floods and landslides which hit the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro in mid-January.

“I’m doing this show to help the victims of the rains in Petropolis, Teresopolis and Nova Friburgo,” Pederneiras told Sherdog.com on Monday. “I’ve always done Shooto to help the poor people. For me, it’s more important to help these people than to make money.”

Shooto Brazil 22 will take place in April, in the national capital of Brasilia, and will be followed by at least four more Brazilian shows this year. Pederneiras plans to stage up to 10 events in 2011, including possible trips to the United States and Argentina.

“The expectation is to bring Shooto to the United States this year and do at least one event there, since now I have a license to do shows all over America,” Pederneiras said in an interview with Tatame. “Since I have many students living there, I’m talking to some of them to see which city is best for us to hold the first Shooto event.”

Hacran Dias vs. Ricardo Pires
Antonio Mendes vs. Cleber Tavares
Giovani Diniz vs. Anderson Nunes
Aquiles Bestene Campos vs. Janailson Kevin Pereira Lima
Sandro Cardoso vs. Vitor Pereira
Eri Franco vs. Mauricio Reis
Diogo Osama vs. Alan Quirino