RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Forrest Griffin knew things had changed when a group of school teachers came up to talk to him as he strolled along a Rio de Janeiro beach. Right there it became clear that the UFC had reached a different level in Brazil.
The American fighter says he's surprised people recognize him, adding "you can just tell the sport is much more popular now."
The UFC is returning home to Brazil for UFC 134 on Saturday. The Brazilians helped bring mixed martial arts to life in the early 1990s, and they remain some of the sport's top fighters.
Even retired Brazil soccer great Ronaldo has been involved in the sport, using his sports marketing company to manage the career of Brazilian fighter Anderson Silva, who will fight Yushin Okami in the main event.
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