Behind the Octagon: The untold story of MMA collected by one of its pioneering journalists

By Marcelo Alonso

Covering martial arts since before the inception of the UFC, journalist Marcelo Alonso witnessed every stage of development of Vale-Tudo and its transformation into MMA. Whether as a photographer, reporter, editor, commentator, or documentary filmmaker, Alonso was an eyewitness to the emergence of the sport's main idols from their very first fights.

In this book, the journalist presents a collection of his stories and remarkable accounts from over 33 years behind the scenes of the sport.

Wanderlei Silva: "Alonso was part of the career of practically every Brazilian MMA fighter. He fought alongside us to turn the sport around when it was still called Vale-Tudo and demonized by the mainstream press."

Vitor Belfort: "His first piece on me was when I was 17 years old. He knows the ins and outs and behind the scenes of this sport like few others."

Fabricio Werdum: "He was the pioneer in covering the sport. He is the greatest biographer of the evolution of Brazilian MMA."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FFGQVPJ2
• ISBN13: 9798288965524
• Release Date: June 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"