UFC on FX 8's Gleison Tibau lighter, leaner, more confident

It’s not a myth – Gleison Tibau is big for a lightweight. Real big. Opponents at 155 have been saying it for years.

Tibau’s opponent today knows it, too, to the point where the joke in John Cholish‘s training camp was basically why bother trying to be heavier for the guy?

Tibau (26-9 MMA, 11-7 UFC) and Cholish (8-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) fight on the preliminary card of UFC on FX 8 in Tibau’s home country of Brazil. UFC on FX 8 takes place at Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The event’s main card airs on FX following prelims on FUEL TV and Facebook.

But lately, even though Tibau has had a physical advantage over most of his opponents at lightweight, he’s been trying to make his own life a little bit easier leading up to his fights. Because believe it or not, looking like a 185- or 190-pounder on fight night after hitting the lightweight limit the day before takes a little bit out of him.

“On occasion I’ve had a difficult time in the sauna,” Tibau told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “But now I’m focused on my nutrition. I am much lighter, both walking around and in the cage. I feel more agile and athletic. I lost weight, but gained speed. Things are much better now. Starting with this fight, you’ll see a lighter, leaner, faster and more agile Tibau. I am confident my stamina will be much better as well.”

Ironically, it was Cholish who came in heavy on his first attempt on the scale on Friday, albeit by only two-tenths of a pound. He returned shortly after the weigh-in ceremony and was on target.

Tibau said a nutritionist is to be given credit for helping his weight cuts come along a little more naturally, rather than needing to do a ton at once in the sauna.

“Things have been much easier now,” he said. “Losing weight will no longer be a sacrifice.”

Tibau is in need of a win in a big way. He’s dropped two of his past three after putting togetern a solid three-fight win streak. In February, he dropped a split decision to Evan Dunham at UFC 156.

A win over Cholish doesn’t exactly put him in title contention in a heavily stacked lightweight division – not that Cholish isn’t a quality opponent. It’ll take a few more wins strung together to get Tibau in the conversation he was approaching before he dropped a decision to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 148.

But that’s what Tibau is going after. With the exception of one fight outside the promotion in 2007, Tibau has been a UFC company man for six and a half years. Now heading into his 19th fight with the promotion, he’s letting himself have big goals.

“After all these years in the UFC, I never had a chance to fight for the belt,” he said. “Now I’m putting every effort, mental and physical, into pursuing the belt. I’m sharpening every facet of the sport. I feel my hard work will pay off. For sure, when my chance comes, I’ll be ready to be the champion.”

Today, he hope the work pays off against Cholish, and at the same time he’ll be hoping to put on a show for his home fans in Brazil, where he’s fought just once since 2007 – a win over countryman Francisco Trinaldo at UFC 153.

“Last time around, the Brazilian crowd was divided,” he said. “‘Massaranduba’ was coming off ‘TUF,’ and he’s very charismatic. But now that I’m fighting in Brazil against an American, without a doubt, this will help me tremendously. I will be feeling very proud of my country and in the strength of the Brazilian fans.”

He knows Cholish will be a game opponent – though Tibau is more than a 2-to-1 favorite in the fight. But a renewed mental state seems to be what he believes is going to help push him over the top.

“I am very focused,” he said. “You’ll see a much improved Tibau. A learned a lot from my last fight. I am now looking forward to our fight and making the Brazilian crowd happy.”

For the latest on UFC on FX 8, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.