Vinny Magalhaes (photo via UFC)

By Michael Hatamoto

BJJ specialist Vinny Magalhaes will return to the UFC octagon later this year when he fights Igor Pokrajac at UFC 152 in September.

Anticipating his role in the UFC light heavyweight division, Magalhaes expects to compete at the highest level.

Here is what Magalhaes recently said when speaking to Tatame:

“On the ground, I believe I can submit everyone on my division in the UFC, including Jon Jones, but it’s too soon to speculate about that. I didn’t even debut yet. And more, having only a good Jiu-Jitsu won’t make anyone a UFC champion. To beat the champion, I’d need to get better in other areas too, unless he starts the fight on my guard.”

Magalhaes previously fought in the UFC in 2008 and 2009, where he lost to Ryan Bader in the TUF Finale and to Eliot Marshall four months later.  Since then, he has gone 7-1 while also winning and defending the M-1 Global light heavyweight championship.

I know Magalhaes is a top-notch BJJ practitioner – and good training partner and instructor – but I’m curious about his overall MMA skills in the cage.

Is his wrestling good enough to take people down?  Will his striking allow him to get inside and work for takedowns?  People are skeptical, and it’ll be up to Magalhaes to try and prove people wrong.