Shooto Brazil: Man-Versus-Woman Fight Not Real, Intended to Oppose Domestic Violence

---

A controversial fight between a man and a women was never actually expected to happen, according to Shooto Brazil.

The promotion Friday announced that Emerson Falcao’s announced bantamweight meeting with Juliana Velasquez will not take place tonight at Shooto Brazil 45. The fight announcement was only a stunt intended to bring attention to domestic violence in Brazil.

“The fight that caused controversy in the world served to draw attention to a very important topic: domestic violence. Do your part and report,” a statement on the Shooto Brazil Facebook page read. “This fight will not happen in the ring, but outside it, [domestic violence] is happening in thousands of homes.”

Shooto Brazil on Tuesday announced what first appeared to be a legitimate booking between Nova Uniao’s Falcao and Team Nogueira’s Velasquez, despite Falcao announcing on Facebook that an injury would prevent him from competing until next year.

Shooto Brazil 45 takes place at Miecimo da Silva Sports Complex in Rio de Janeiro and is headlined by a rematch between Lincoln de Sa and Alexandre Pantoja Passidomo.