Vitor Petrino is set to make his move towards the top of the UFC light heavyweight division when he takes on Anthony Smith at UFC 301 on May 4. The Brazilian is currently undefeated in the UFC and his overall MMA record stands at 11-0. His upcoming opponent, Smith, a former title challenger and long-time veteran of the sport will be aiming to hold on to his no.10 spot in the rankings against the surging Petrino.

In a statement on the UFC official website, Petrino stated, “I’m happy to fight someone who fought with big names. You can be sure I’ll do my best.” The fans have also been curious to know more about the Brazilian and the story behind his tattoos, as such, let’s take a look and learn more about ‘Icao’s body art!

‘Vale Tudo’ – meaning behind Vitor Petrino’s shoulder tattoo

Vitor Petrino punched his ticket to the UFC in 2022 with a win over Rodolfo Bellato during his appearance on the sixth season of Dana White’s Contender Series. The Brazilian has drawn a lot of eyes to himself since his UFC debut in 2023 due to his current win 4-fight win streak in the promotion. As such, many fans have been curious to know the meaning behind the ‘Vale Tudo’ tattoo that Petrino sports on his shoulder. The word ‘Vale Tudo’ means ‘everything goes’ or ‘everything allowed’ in Portuguese.

The term is also the name of the combat sport that later evolved into MMA, and while the term was a long-time synonym for MMA in Brazil, it has since fallen into disuse due to the evolution of the sport in modern times.

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Originally, ‘Vale Tudo’ was a ‘no holds barred’ rule set that was used to set up contests between fighters from different martial arts disciplines to compete against one another to find out which style reigns supreme. The Gracie Family, known for their innovations and popularization of BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu), gained fame in the early days due to taking on other martial artists to prove the superiority of their style under ‘Vale Tudo’ rules.

Long-time fans of MMA will recognize several prominent figures in ‘Vale Tudo’s history like Rickson Gracie, Wanderlei Silva, and Marco Ruas. As such, Petrino’s choice to tattoo ‘Vale Tudo’ echoes his respect for the sport’s Brazilian heritage that has led to the development of the sport of MMA as we know and love it in the modern era. Regardless, that is not the only tattoo he sports as the fighter has several other pieces adorning his body!

Other inks on the undefeated Brazilian fighter’s body

Vitor Petrino also sports a 1997 tattoo on his left arm, a reference to his birth year. However, one of the most intriguing pieces that he features is a grenade tattooed on the same arm, possibly referring to the devastating knockout power he has showcased in his fights.

In fact, in his clash against Modestas Bukauskas in 2023, he landed a thunderous left hook that floored his opponent in the second round of their fight and ended the contest. Simply put, the grenade tattoo is an apt representation of his skills and may also serve as a warning to his future opponents!

And so, to wrap things up, as Petrino prepares to face Anthony Smith at UFC 301, his tattoos serve as visual reminders of his journey, his heritage, and his formidable abilities as a fighter. And with each piece of ink telling a story, Petrino carries his past victories and future aspirations with him into the Octagon, ready to leave his mark on the UFC light heavyweight division and on the fans watching!