WGP 84: athletes face off at Morumbis and build anticipation for the final matchups in the Lightweight All-Star GP

The main stage for stand-up fighting in Latin America returns to São Paulo to close the season in style. This Friday, December 19, WGP Kickboxing reaches its 84th edition and turns the gym at Morumbis Stadium into the setting for the Lightweight All-Star GP final. The road for the qualifiers began in November, at WGP 82, when 16 athletes in the up to 60kg division kicked off the tournament in the round of 16. After electrifying matchups, only eight remain in contention: Cabelo Monteiro, Jhonatan Hora, Paulo Victor, Jackson Elitelmo, Edgar Boca, German Badallo, Francisco Mairon and Watson de Castro. 

Now, everyone returns to the ring for a decisive night, with quarterfinals, semifinals and the grand final on the same night. At stake are the GP trophy and the spot to challenge for the division title, unless the current champion, Cabelo Monteiro, wins. In addition to the tournament, the card also features a catchweight bout (up to 75kg), pitting Ravy Brunow against Mateus Machado. On Thursday afternoon, the day before the event, everyone stared each other down and visited the stadium field. The main card will be broadcast live on Canal Combate, starting at 9 p.m.

WGP 84 will once again be held in partnership with the City Hall and the Department of Sports and Leisure of the city of São Paulo, with support from councilman George Hato, a longtime ally in support of martial arts and athletes in the state with his slogan “More Sport, Less Medicine,” with the idea of encouraging sports practice in the fight against mental and physical health problems. Entry will be free, upon donation of 1kg of non-perishable food, which will be collected at the entrance and donated to a charity. 

Weigh-in at Morumbis confirms the presence of the eight athletes in the All-Star GP

The official WGP 84 weigh-in ceremony took place Thursday afternoon at Morumbis Stadium. The athletes, who had already weighed in in the morning, faced off at Teatro Cassiano Gabus Mendes and confirmed all the card’s matchups. After the ceremony, everyone went to the Morumbis field for another round of staredowns and official photos.

The Lightweight All-Star GP quarterfinals feature matchups that blend experience, youth and different styles. The opener pits Francisco Mairon, a multi-time Muay Thai champion with a solid record, against Watson de Castro, who entered the tournament at the last minute and drew attention by defeating favorite Teodoro Ruiz, showing personality and a hunger for victory. 

Next, the GP has its only international duel, in a classic Brazil vs. Argentina matchup. Edgar Boca, a former title challenger and one of the division’s best-known names, looks to get back on the path to big performances against Argentine German Badallo, a young fighter enjoying a strong run in the event and standing out for his high number of knockout wins.

Another quarterfinal pits two rising talents. On one side, Paulo Victor Madureira, just 20 years old, who has been impressing since his WGP debut and advanced in the GP with a crushing knockout. On the other, Jackson Elitelmo, a 21-year-old from Alagoas, who stood out for his tactical intelligence in overcoming one of the tournament favorites and arrives confident for another challenge.

Closing out the round, Lightweight champion Cabelo Monteiro steps in to defend his status as the division’s top name. With a dominant WGP record, he faces Jhonatan Hora, an experienced fighter with an extensive record, who is banking on his experience and confidence after a knockout in the round of 16 to try to spring a surprise and change the course of the GP.

The event also features five other confirmed fights. The highlight is the return of Ravy Brunow after a severe jaw injury suffered at WGP 74 in 2024. A former WGP champion, Ravy is one of the event’s record holders for fights and has a long history in the organization. This time he faces Mateus Machado, a fighter from Brasília and teammate of Cabelo Monteiro. Mateus has also been on the rise in the event after moving up a weight class, and the clash between the two promises plenty of excitement. Brazilian Thel Henrique and Argentine Valentin Fouine also face off in a Special Fight at welterweight (up to 71.8kg). The card also has two other confirmed bouts on the undercard.