Atos Jiu-Jitsu’s Gilbert “Durinho” Burns will be offering a jiu-jitsu seminar from 11am to 1pm. He won the bronze medal at the 2010 BJJ World Championships just a few weeks ago in Long Beach, California.

Cost: $60

East Coast Fighter
1809 Associates Lane Suite A
Charlotte, NC 28217
MAP

For more information contact the official site.

Moments before Barral had to signal his injury to the referee. All photos courtesy cohost Dan.

It was shaping up to be another excellent year for Gracie Barra’s Romulo Barral. Barral was the gold medalist of the medium heavyweight black belt division and silver medalist in the absolute division in 2009, and he was on track to repeat in 2010. Going in to the final day of the 2010 Brazilian Jiu-jitsu World Championship, Romulo was set to face Tarsis Humphreys in a rematch of last year’s final at the medium heavyweight division, and had another rematch in the finals of the absolute division later that day lined up against fellow Gracie Barra athlete, the indestructable Roger Gracie. But it was not meant to be.

Romulo Barral is attended to by paramedics at the 2010 BJJ World Championship in Long Beach.

During Barral’s match against Humphreys, he sustained a knee injury that ended the match. Humphreys, who has been incorporating more leg attacks since 2008, torqued Barral’s knee in an unusual leg lock just under the six and a half minute mark in a scoreless match. Barral was done for the day.

The FightWorks Podcast caught up with Romulo Barral yesterday to learn how his knee is doing. Barral visited a doctor last week who referred him for an MRI. The MRI results have come back and reveal that Barral has an MCL that is mostly torn, and a partially torn ACL. He is now wearing a “big brace”, and has been told to return in 30 days for another MRI to determine how well his body recovers on its own, or whether surgery will be required.

At this point “it’s 50-50″ said Barral, who was not referring to the 50-50 guard but the chances he will indeed need surgery. Barral is hoping to know sooner rather than later so he can begin recovery and get in gear for the 2011 Pan-Ams and Mundials.

JT Torres celebrates a victory at last year’s BJJ Mundials, when he was a brown belt.

JT Torres has one thing on his mind at the 2010 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship this weekend in Long Beach, California: helping Team Lloyd Irvin earn a team tropy by earning a gold medal in the black belt lightweight division. Torres knows that the road to the podium will not be easy. Also vying for the gold are monsters like Lucas Lepri (Alliance) and Bruno Amorim (Gracie Barra). Among other titles, Lepri won the IBJJF’s 2009 New York Open, and Amorim defeated Torres last year at the 2009 BJJ World Championships to earn the gold medal in the brown belt lightweight division.

But Torres has his sights set on two other competitors above all: Gilbert Burns (Atos) and Michael Langhi (Alliance). In a conversation this week with the FightWorks Podcast, Torres said:

Those are the two rematches I really want. They are THE guys. They are going to be number 1 and 2 seeds. I’ve fought them both. I lost to both of them by two advantages. This is my time to shine. I want to show that I am on their level. I can beat them or better than them. When I win the Worlds I want it to be because I beat the best.

Torres and the rest of Team Lloyd Irvin have been working hard to get ready for the World Championship. Torres shared that they’ve been training 3 times per day Monday through Thursday. When you include the work they do every day except Sunday, there is over 8 hours of just drilling per week. Leading them every day is Lloyd Irvin himself.

If Torres’ recent performances are any indicator, he has a good shot at reaching the podium this weekend. In 2010 alone, he’s won:

• third place at the European BJJ Championship
• NY Open lightweight and absolute divisions
• second place at the Brazilian National BJJ Championship

Torres’ first match on Saturday will be against the winner of the match between Peter Sutton (Stable Jiu-Jitsu) and Paulo Guillobel (Gracie Humaita). Be sure to watch the action live on BudoVideos.com/online, and tune in to the live blogging we will be doing right here on TheFightWorksPodcast.com!

Okay so among very important questions about the 2010 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship like, “Who will be the next black belt champion in the middle weight division?”, or “Which BJJ team will win the team trophy?” are important questions like, “How can I follow the action without being there?”

So here’s a real quick rundown of how you can stay informed.

Live Video of the Event

Just like the 2010 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship a couple of months ago, Budo Video will be streaming the action to your computer for free in real time. All you have to do is register for an account at budovideos.com/online if you do not have one already. While there is no reason to expect any problems, I recommend registering in advance just in case there are any hiccups on the server that day.

Budo Videos will be streaming the action on Saturday and Sunday, focusing on the black belt action. Sunday is when the finals take place in each of those divisions, and as we mentioned the other day, the plan is for there to be a quick live interview with the winner after each finals match. I will be participating in the live video on Sunday as a commentator, working for Budo Video alongside Shawn Williams.

Here on The FightWorks Podcast

FightWorks Podcast cohost Dan and I will be arriving at the event Saturday, where we will be furiously working to bring you as much information as possible right there from the Long Beach Pyramid. I will be live blogging the action all day Saturday. I know that people will watch the live video on their computer and in a separate browser window they’ll have my live blogging open. This is because often times I will offer tidbits and details that you cannot get from the live video feed, simply because the online video will focus on one or two of the great jiu-jitsu matches at a time and I can offer an observation from more than one at a time.

Dan will be roaming the arena, getting photos, audio and maybe even video that we will use soon here on our site. As always, we will have another episode of our humble weekly BJJ radio show ready for you on Sunday!

The 2010 BJJ World Championship is this coming weekend! It’s going to be very busy, with our live blog of Saturday and our appearance on Sunday’s free video stream of the action. But one thing we love about these events is the opportunity to get face to face with the Mighty 600,000.

Here’s the deal: stop in and grab a coffee with us from 8 to 8:45am at the Starbucks Cafe & Lobby Lounge inside the Long Beach Marriott at 4700 Airport Plaza Drive in Long Beach. This is the hotel that the IBJJF had hooked up with a special rate for BJJ Mundial competitors, and it’s just down the street from the 2010 Jiu-Jitsu World Championship so I hope it’s pretty convenient for people.

Please stop in and say hello. It’s really rewarding to put faces to the Mighty 600,000.

Don’t worry, we won’t be there long enough for you to miss any of the black belt action that day, which begins at 10am. But this way we get to connect with the Family a bit, generate some content for our next show, and caffeinate before another long day of BJJ reporting! See you there!

Carlos Gracie Junior

This week’s episode of the FightWorks Podcast is really two episodes in one. Each of the two interviews we present here would normally be a week’s worth of content but we are feeling especially generous with the 2010 BJJ World Championships on the way this coming weekend!

The first feature interview is with Carlos Gracie Jr.. Many of the Gracie family are key characters in how jiu-jitsu became what it is today Carlos Junior is no exception. He is the head of all Gracie Barra schools, the president of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, and the publisher of GracieMag. Influential indeed!

The second of our interviewees is none other than Jean Jacques Machado. One of the five Machado brothers (and a cousin to Carlos Gracie Jr.), Jean Jacques won his weight class in the 2001 ADCC Submission Grappling Championship and is highly regarded for his teaching skills. Another terrific interview brought to us by FightWorks Podcast contributor Christian Simamora.

Of course we will also review some listener email, voicemail, and go over the plans to cover the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship coming up this weekend at the Long Beach Pyramid in Los Angeles!

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (recommended)
[mp3] Download the show

Thiago Alves (top) defends Marcelo Garcia and his X-guard at the 2009 BJJ World Championships.

The 2010 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship was not only the platform for some of the world’s best jiu-jitsu athletes to compete, but it was the first time that the event was made available online using streaming video. The 2010 BJJ World Championship will be streamed live online for free as well by Budo Videos. All you have to do to watch is sign up at budovideos.com/online. (Full disclosure: The FightWorks Podcast will be compensated for its participation in the live broadcast on Sunday.)

But here’s an improvement over the Pan Jiu-Jitsu broadcast from April: after every final match that takes place on Sunday, there will be an interview right there in the center of the mats with the gold medal winner before the next match starts. These interviews will:

• be broadcast live online via the live stream
• appear on the big screen at the Long Beach Pyramid
• and the audio will be heard through the public address system in the building

And yes, this goes for the mens and womens’ divisions!

So the event will be a little more like the combat sports coverage we’re used to with a post fight interview after the matches. Should be fun!

Adults – $50 Pre Registration until Wednesday May 5, 2010 at Midnight. $65 Late Registration After Wednesday May 5, 2010. (Please note add $15 for Additional Divisions.)

Kids 5-17 – $45 Pre Registration until Wednesday May 5, 2010 at Midnight. $60 Late Registration After Wednesday May 5, 2010. (Please note add $15 for Additional Divisions.)

Spectator Tickets: $10 Adults $5 Kids

Long Beach Poly Technical High School
1600 Atlantic Ave.
Long Beach, CA 90813
MAP

More information on the official site.

New York, NY, March 1, 2010 – The 11th season of Spike TV’s most popular original series ever, “The Ultimate Fighter,” for the first time will feature 28 of the best up and coming mixed martial artists in the world competing for 14 spots in “The Ultimate Fighter” house.   

The series boasts a new format, which will be introduced to viewers in the show’s premiere episode.  The smash hit will also feature two coaches who need no introduction to mixed martial arts fans, UFC legends Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell and Tito “The Huntington Beach Bad boy” Ortiz. 

The new season premieres Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 10:00 PM ET/PT featuring the following cast members:

RICH ATTONITO
Fighting out of: Deerfield Beach, FL / American Top Team       
Record: 7-3
Age: 32
 
A 2001 graduate of Hofstra University in Long Island, Rich Attonito wrestled several different weight classes as a member of the Pride wrestling team including the 167lb. and 197lb. divisions.  Attonito has been training with American Top Team since he moved to Florida in 2006.  He is the strength and conditioning coach for UFC veteran Luigi Fioravanti.
 
SETH BACZYNSKI
Fighting out of: Canyon, AZ / Apex MMA
Record: 11-5
Age: 28
 
Training partner to TUF alums Santino DeFranco (season 9) and Efrain Escudero (season at Apex MMA in Arizona, Seth Baczynski is a full-time water inspector at Liberty Water.
 
CHARLES BLANCHARD
Fighting out of: Coconut Creek, FL / American Top Team
Record: 7-2
Age: 24
 
A 2-time All State wrester in high school, this single father is a jiu-jitsu brown belt and a published poet.   
 
JOSH BRYANT
Fighting out of: Tulsa, OK / Absolute Combat Alliance
Record: 10-0
Age: 29
 
A member of the Absolute Combat Alliance camp in Tulsa, OK, Josh Bryant sports a perfect 10-0 professional mixed martial arts record.  When not training, Bryant works as a manager for Mazzio’s Italian Eatery in Oklahoma.
 
CHRIS CAMOZZI
Fighting out of: Denver, CO / Gumm MMA
Record: 11-3   
Age: 22
 
Camozzi is a freestyle fighter from Denver that works as a bouncer in his spare time.  Two of his three losses are to TUF alums Jesse Forbes (season 3) and Jesse Taylor (season 7).
 
BRENT COOPER
Fighting out of: Long Beach, CA / Team Oyama
Record: 5-1
Age: 31
 
Of Sioux Indian descent, Cooper is a pipeliner by day for Shell Oil, and a devastating striker by night, with four of his five wins coming via TKO.
 
JACEN FLYNN
Fighting out of: Meridian, ID / No camp
Record: 8-2
Age: 31
 
Jacen Flynn possesses an 8-2 mixed martial arts record that includes wins over Dennis Kang and Dean Lister.  Away from the Octagon™, he is a social worker.
 
JAMES HAMMORTREE
Fighting out of: Ocala, FL / USA Martial Arts
Record: 4-0
Age: 23
 
Following one season at Weber International, where he starred on the football team as a linebacker and on special teams, Hammortree left the program in order to become a full-time firefighter in Ocala, FL.  The former high school wrestler owns a 4-0 professional record with all four of those bouts taking place in 2009.
 
JOSEPH HENLE
Fighting out of: Thousand Oaks, CA / Big John McCarthy’s MMA
Record: 3-0
Age: 26
 
Joseph Henle splits time training at Big John McCarthy’s MMA and working as a substitute teacher and wrestling coach in Thousand Oaks, CA. Henle earned his MBA in Financial Planning from California Lutheran University in ’06.  He speaks fluent Japanese.    
 
CHARLEY LYNCH
Fighting out of: Mound, MN / Northway MMA
Record: 6-0
Age: 25
 
The self-proclaimed baddest man in Minnesota, Charley Lynch owns a 6-0 professional record with zero of his bouts going to decision.
 
KRIS MCCRAY
Fighting out of: Dumfries, VA / Chute BoxeRecord: 5-0
Age: 28
 
Son of a military father, Kris McCray was raised in Germany, where he excelled on the soccer pitch and garnered All-Europe honors in high school.  In 1999, McCray moved permanently to the United States, where he has served parts of 8 years (6 active, 2 inactive) as a member of the US Army Reserve, while also finding time to earn his Associates Degree in Social Studies from Northern Virginia Community College.
 
COURT MCGEE
Fighting out of:  Orem, UT / Throwdown Elite Fight TeamRecord: 9-1
Age: 24
 
A Brazilian jiu-jitsu artist out of Orem, UT, Court McGee beat “The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom” runner-up DaMarques Johnson in 2007 by submission
 
CLAYTON MCKINNEY
Fighting out of: Orlando, FL / Jungle MMA      
Record: 4-2
Age: 27
 
A teammate of TUF (season alum Tom Lawlor at Jungle MMA, Clayton McKinney is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu blackbelt that supplements his training by working security at a local bar in Orlando.
 
KYLE NOKE
Fighting out of: Albuquerque, NM / Jackson’s MMA
Record: 16-4-1
Age: 29
 
Kyle Noke, from Mooloolaba, Australia, is the former bodyguard of “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin.  Currently training with Jackson’s MMA in New Mexico, Noke defeated TUF (season 6) alum George Sotiropoulos in June 2005 and current castmate Kyacey Uscola this past September.
 
VICTOR O’DONNELL
Fighting out of: Milford, OH / Vision MMA
Record: 8-1
Age: 27
 
Hailing from Milford, OH, O’Donnell suffered his first professional loss this past September against cast mate Costantinos Philippou. Before that, he had won eight contests, seven of which by submission. 
 
NORMAN PARAISY
Fighting out of: Coconut Creek, FL / American Top Team
Record: 5-1
Age: 23
 
Norman Paraisy was born and raised Paris, France.  The 5-1 Brazilian jiu-jitsu artist left France in order to pursue MMA in the states and is now a member of the American Top Team.
 
COSTANTINOS PHILIPPOU
Fighting out of: Merrick, NY / Serra-Longo
Record: 5-1
Age: 30
 
Costantinos Philippou is a former boxer with 3 professional and over 80 amateur fights on his record.  The 30-year-old server from Merrick, NY was born and raised in Greece.  He currently trains out of the Serra-Longo camp.
 
GREG REBELLO
Fighting out of: Buzzards Bay, MA / Sityodtong USA
Record: 9-2
Age: 27
 
Greg Rebello trains full-time at Sityodtong USA in Massachusetts under the watchful eye of Mark DellaGrotte.  Currently in peak physical condition, Rebello at one time weighed in over 300lbs before dedicating himself to fitness at the age of 18.
 
NICK RING
Fighting out of: Calgary, Canada / B.D.P. Martial Arts
Record: 10-0
Age: 30
 
Nick Ring returned to MMA in May 2009 following a three year stint away from the sport after suffering a devastating knee injury.  In that time, Ring boxed professionally to the tune of a 4-1 record with 3 knockouts.
 
JORDAN SMITH
Fighting out of: Clearfield, UT / Throwdown Elite Fight Team
Record: 10-0
Age: 24
 
A 7th grade teacher by day, Jordan Smith is a former professional boxer that trains with fellow cast member Court McGee at Throwdown Elite Fight Team.
 
BEN STARK
Fighting out of: Tamarac, FL / American Top Team
Record: 3-1
Age: 27
 
Born and raised a practitioner of the Orthodox Jewish religion until the age of 6, Ben Stark began training with American Top Team in Florida as a sophomore in college. When not at the gym, Stark picks up shifts at “The Original Fat Cats,” and also finds time to breed snakes.   
 
LYLE STEFFENS
Fighting out of: Tucson, AZ / Apex MMA
Record: 5-2
Age: 26
 
Lyle Steffens is a firefighter and an EMT in Tucson, AZ.  He trains with fellow cast member Seth Baczynski at Apex MMA. 
 
BRAD TAVARES
Fighting out of: Las Vegas, NV / TapouT
Record: 4-0
Age: 21
 
At 21, Brad Tavares is the youngest of this season’s cast members.  Originally from Hilo, HI, Tavares recently relocated to Las Vegas and trains full-time with TapouT
 
WARREN THOMPSON
Fighting out of: Marietta, GA / Team Khunpon / Roberto Traven BJJ
Record: 5-0
Age: 23
 
Warren Thompson, aka “The Kool-Aid Man,” is a muay-thai fighter from Marietta, GA.  The volunteer firefighter splits his training in Atlanta between Team Khunpon and Roberto Traven BJJ.
 
KYACEY USCOLA
Fighting out of: Sacramento, CA / Team Alpha Male
Record: 18-15
Age: 28
 
Kyacey Uscola joins the cast with 33 professional MMA fights on his record.  He trains with Team Alpha Male and Urijah Faber out of Sacramento.
 
CLEBURN WALKER
Fighting out of: Keller, TX / Team Lutter
Record: 9-3
Age: 26
 
Born and raised in Texas, Cleburn Walker is a full-time fighter and instructor at Team Lutter.  He suffered a recent loss via submission to TUF (season 3) alum Jesse Forbes this past June.
 
WOODY WEATHERBY
Fighting out of: Hudson, NH / Renzo Gracie / Mickey Wards Boxing Gym & Xtreme MMA
Record: 7-3
Age: 27
 
The former US Navy officer currently works full-time as a corrections officer for the Hillsborough County jail in Manchester, NH.  Weatherby rotates his training between 2 gyms: Renzo Gracie Academy in Derry, NH, and Mickey Wards Boxing Gym & Xtreme MMA. 
 
JAMIE YAGER
Fighting out of: Los Angeles, CA / Kings MMA
Record: 2-1
Age: 25
 
A standout varsity letterman in baseball and football, Yager was the 2001 Athlete of the Year at South Pasadena High School in California.  He picked up training MMA as a hobby, and went straight from training to the professional ranks in February 2008 as part of BET’s Iron Ring, where he defeated his opponent by TKO.
 
During the six-week taping of “The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz,” the competitors endured a grueling regimen of jiu-jitsu, judo, Muay Thai, karate, boxing and wrestling.  The intense competition among the fighters continues after they leave the gym – at the Ultimate Fighter House.  These warriors must live together, knowing that any day they might be forced to fight each other in the famed UFC Octagon™. 
 
The two finalists will square off in a live finale on Spike TV, where the winner will be declared “The Ultimate Fighter” and net the six-figure contract and a cash prize.  UFC President Dana White will once again serve as host of the series.
 
After each show, Spike.com users will get exclusive extended footage from each episode and an exclusive video leak of the upcoming episode. 
 
Craig Piligian of Pilgrim Films and Television, Frank Fertitta III, Lorenzo Fertitta, Dana White of Zuffa, LLC, and Kevin Kay of Spike TV are the show’s executive producers.   Brian J. Diamond, senior vice president, sports & specials, Spike TV is co-executive producer and Christopher Martello is executive in charge of production for Spike TV.  
 
Spike TV is available in 98.6 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks.  A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press.

CHICAGO, Ill. (February 24, 2010) – Bellator Fighting Championships put the final pieces in place for its much-anticipated Season 2 welterweight tournament today with the signings of knockout artist Brett Cooper (12-5) and UFC veteran Ryan “The Tank Engine” Thomas (10-3).

Cooper and Thomas are the seventh and eighth confirmed participants in Bellator’s eight-man 170 lbs. tournament, joining Ben Askren, Dan Hornbuckle, “Judo” Jim Wallhead, Jacob McClintock, Steve Carl and Sean Pierson. Overall, the group boasts a combined winning percentage of .816 (89 wins, 20 losses).

First-round matchups will be announced next week.

Thomas could be the comeback story of Bellator Season 2. As a top prospect out of Central Illinois, he received a contract from the UFC in 2008, but was released after back-to-back losses to top-ranked opponents Ben Saunders and Matt Brown. After a nine-month hiatus from the cage, Thomas returned to MMA in dramatic fashion this past August with a triangle choke submission of Ryan Stout just 1:39 into Round 1. He is looking to regain his status as one of the world’s top 170 lbs. prospects during Bellator Season 2.

Cooper, meanwhile, is looking to build on his fast-growing reputation as a knock-out specialist and giant killer. The Long Beach, Calif., native enters Bellator’s welterweight tournament with seven victories over the course of his last eight fights. Six of those seven wins have come by KO or TKO with the other coming via anaconda choke. He is perhaps best known, however, for his December 2007 win over the heavily favored Rory Markham (a top UFC stalwart) during the IFL Grand Prix Finals – a feat made all the more impressive by the fact that Cooper took the fight as a last-minute replacement on just two weeks’ notice.

“Cooper and Thomas are two great additions to our world-class welterweight tournament,” said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Cooper’s power presents big problems for anyone he fights and Thomas has the potential to upset anyone in our 170 division.”

Thomas said he welcomes the challenge, adding that he’s learned a lot from his experiences in the UFC and has “been training like a mad man to get ready and show all of the Bellator fans what I’ve got.”

“There’s no easy fight in this tournament,” he said. “Everyone’s a stud and whoever wins is going to be really proud of what they accomplish. As I look at it now, though, I see myself standing there at the end of the road.”

Cooper has similar expectations, saying that Bellator’s tournament format “really suits a guy like me who has some good experience and a well-rounded skill set but is still looking to make a name for himself.”

He’s also excited to fight on national TV thanks to Bellator’s landmark broadcast alliance with FOX Sports Net, NBC and Telemundo.

“It’s super exciting,” he said. “To fight in front of millions of MMA fans and all of my friends and family—words can’t really explain it.”

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at Facebook.com/Bellator.