Fighter Profile: Thales Leites

Overall Record: 14-1

UFC Record: 5-1

Hometown: Niteroi, Brazil

Height: 6’1” Weight: 185

Thales Leites is a mixed martial artist that is currently fighting for the UFC in the middleweight (185 lbs) division. Thales is a dangerous striker that is very well versed in every area of submissions as well. He trains for his fights at Nova Uniao in Brazil. Some of his training partners there include: current WEC fighters Jose Aldo and Marcus Galvao as well as K-1/Dream veteran and submission giant Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro.

Leites began fighting MMA at the age of 22 in a Shooto event that took place in Brazil. He dominated that fight and ended it with his first submission win when he slipped an arm triangle choke on Felipe Arinelli. That win was the first of a 9 fight win streak that featured 8 stoppages.

The fight that catapulted Leites into the world’s most productive MMA event was the last fight of his win streak when he was matched up against a Brazilian MMA legend. Leites was able to submit Jose “Pele” Landi-Jons with a 1st round arm triangle choke that instantly gave him credibility.

While his submission win over the Brazilian legend was definitely one of the proudest moments of his young career, his UFC “welcome match” didn’t go quite as planned. In November 2006 he was placed on the “TUF 4 Finale” card against dangerous Dutch striker Martin Kampann. Leites showed glimpses of brilliance in the fight but began to grow very tired as the fight got older. Kampmann was able to outlast Leites and earn the unanimous decision win, giving Leites his first career loss in his UFC debut.

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Since his UFC rookie bout, Leites has started yet another win streak, this time against world class competition every time he steps to the UFC octagon. He battled Pete Sell, winning by unanimous decision at UFC 69 in April 2007, and then submitted a couple of UFC newcomers in Floyd Sword and Ryan Jensen.

His UFC 85 fight last June almost put an end to his title run, but a couple of costly mistakes by his opponent, Nate Marquardt and a late flurry of strikes earned him his 4th UFC win instead. After the controversial win over Marquardt, Leites was paired up with another hard hitter at UFC 90, Drew McFedries. Leites wasted no time and submitted McFedries at 1:18 of the 1st round.

His 5-1 run has now brought him to this title shot at UFC 97 against the number one pound for pound best fighter and UFC Middleweight champion, Anderson Silva. The 27-year old Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist no doubt has a tough task ahead of him but goes into the fight with a legitimate chance to knock off the champ.

Thales Leites has taken gradual steps in his fight career. He started with a win streak in some small promotions and a big win over a legend. The win over the veteran took him to another level with the start of his UFC career. Now, he looks to take the most important step of all into the bright lights of his first main event. One thing is for certain, with a win over this legend he will take that step from contender to legitimate champion.

Recent Thales Leites MMA News:

• Defeated Dean Lister by Unanimous Decision at MFC 23 on December 4, 2009 - MFC 23 results

By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Staff Writer
Published April 2009