It's a little publicized fact that Nova Uniao is one of the most storied gyms in UFC history. Starting with Rafael Carino, back at UFC 9, Nova Uniao has steadily created UFC level talent, including a several champions in B.J. Penn, Renan Barao, and Jose Aldo, as well as several title challengers in Thales Leites, Pedro Rizzo, and even Junior Dos Santos recently. If there are a select handful of truly great camps in MMA, Nova Uniao is one of them. They're also notorious for their weight cutting practices, with many of their fighters being notable for their ability to fight a division lower than they perhaps, normally would.

At the helm of this camp is Andre Pederneiras, and while Renan Barao may be one of his most famous fighters, Pederneiras isn't cutting him any slack after Barao's failure to make weight prompted a last second card change by the UFC. Pederneiras recently spoke to Sherdog.com about whether he felt it was fair for Barao to not get paid any of his show money:

Yes. I have to think it was fair once you have a contract that says that you are paid to make weight and fight. If the fighter couldn't make weight and fight, he broke the contract. I don't see why he should get paid if he broke the contract. I can't say it´s wrong, because if it happens in my event, Shooto, I would do the same. It was pretty clear once Renan didn't cover the contract. That´s what I say to everybody: My biggest concern when one of my fighters will fight is making weight. That´s my only obligation when we sign a contract. Win or lose, nobody is obligated by contract. This weekend I completed the 864th fight involving my athletes. If you analyze why Ronny Markes didn't made weight once it was because he decided to do it his way and now Barao. In 864 fights it hapened twice. It´s important to say that we have a weight loss program. And we have been using it more than eight years. The program is being tested by UFRJ (Rio de Janeiro Federal University), one of the most renowed in Brazil. Next week we are going to have all the numbers analyzed.

He also spoke about TUF Brazil winner Leonardo Santos' grueling weight cut, which he blames, in part, for Santos' less than stellar performance against Efrain Escudero at Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Arlovski, as well as the general weight cutting practices of his gym and how they are looking to improve them. Check the whole thing out, here.