Behind the Octagon

Covering martial arts since before the inception of the UFC, journalist Marcelo Alonso witnessed every stage of development of Vale-Tudo and its transformation into MMA. Whether as a photographer, reporter, editor, commentator, or documentary filmmaker, Alonso was an eyewitness to the emergence of the sport’s main idols from their very first fights.

In this book, the journalist presents a collection of his stories and remarkable accounts from over 33 years behind the scenes of the sport.

Wanderlei Silva: “Alonso was part of the career of practically every Brazilian MMA fighter. He fought alongside us to turn the sport around when it was still called Vale-Tudo and demonized by the mainstream press.”

Vitor Belfort: “His first piece on me was when I was 17 years old. He knows the ins and outs and behind the scenes of this sport like few others.”

Fabricio Werdum: “He was the pioneer in covering the sport. He is the greatest biographer of the evolution of Brazilian MMA.”