The UTMA organization continues to bolster its roster during the off-season—officially announcing an agreement with the highly experienced Brazilian fighter Rodrigo Ferreira Guilherme, better known by his nickname “Mineiro.”
The organization has secured an exclusive contract with Rodrigo, ensuring that for the foreseeable future, the fighter will compete exclusively within the UTMA ring while in Lithuania.
“UTMA is the premier organization in Lithuania. I am thrilled to become a part of it. I truly believe that right now, as a fighter, I am in the prime of my career,” Rodrigo stated.
Rodrigo is already a familiar face to Lithuanian combat sports fans. He has competed multiple times in the country’s largest arenas and across other Baltic capitals. Notably, the Brazilian has previously crossed paths with established UTMA stars, including Mindaugas Narauskas and Raimondas Krilavičius.
While Rodrigo built his reputation across various European circuits, the veteran has also showcased his elite skills on the world’s biggest stages, including top-tier organizations such as Enfusion and Glory.
Beyond his technical prowess, Rodrigo has made a name for himself through his vibrant personality and flair for showmanship outside the ring. “Mineiro” is a true wildcard, known for his unpredictable nature both during the build-up to a fight and inside the ropes.
Preparing to step back into the kickboxing ring, Rodrigo brings a unique arsenal of skills rarely seen in traditional competition.
“I’m going to surprise every single fan because I know exactly how elite I can be as a kickboxer. With me, you can expect the unexpected. I’m a fighter who thrives on the shock factor—I’ll surprise my opponent and the crowd alike. I’m going to show the fans things they’ve never seen before: capoeira, unorthodox Karate techniques, and massive knockouts. That is exactly what I’m here for,” said Rodrigo.
The Brazilian fighter has not yet set a debut date with the UTMA organization, but it is planned that Rodrigo will compete in kickboxing matches, and his weight class is expected to be in the 77-81 kg range.
“While doing our summer homework, we’re preparing and finalizing the roster. We want Lithuanians to have even more international challenges, and we want the organization to have the widest and most stable selection of fighters for future tournaments. Mineiro is certainly known in Lithuania as one of the better entertainers before a fight; we see that our views aligned here, and now he is among our fighters,” said UTMA Director Viktoras Gecas.
