UFC officials and fighters cautiously enthused by Brazil's soccer sponsorships

While Brazil may indeed be the spiritual birthplace of mixed martial arts, the combat sport is hardly the national pastime.

That honor belongs to soccer, a sport in which Brazil has won more world championships (five) than any other nation.

But while Brazilians specialize in playing a version of soccer known as "the beautiful game," off-pitch clashes between fans can sometimes turn violent. So with many of the nation's soccer clubs now supporting UFC athletes, is the promotion asking for trouble?

"It's very delicate for us to talk about a sport in which there have been several deaths in the crowds," Belfort said through an interpreter at Thursday's UFC 142 pre-event press conference. "This is serious."

Domestically, the Brazilian Football Confederation boasts more than 400 registered teams at various skill levels, and Rio de Janeiro

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