Rafael Sapo, who picked up his fifth win in six fights with a knockout of Travis Lutter at the recent Moosin MMA event in Massachusetts, has signed a four-fight deal with the UFC.
Renzo Gracie announced the middleweight fighter's signing via his official website.
Natal is an instructor ("professor") at Gracie's New York City-based academy.
Bruno Malfacine received by his Alliance teammates after his victory over Caio Terra for the 2010 rooster weight gold medal. All images courtesy Cohost Dan.
by Philippe Balmant
I traveled from New York City with the (mG)inaction team to Long Beach California for the 4 day Mundials event for my first time ever. I found myself in a feeling of Jiu-Jitsu Nirvana. When first arriving at the Walter Pyramid I was blown away. This looks like something out of the movie Stargate. I said to myself, “What a perfect venue to host the Mundials.” Once inside the electricity is running through my body. I felt a great festive atmosphere inside the Pyramid. This event marks my first time linking up with the entire Alliance team. Meeting Mestre Jacare and the General Fabio Gurgel to me was worth the trip alone. Watching the white/blue belts competing in 8 rings at the same time kept me looking everywhere.
The acai stand was my source of a much needed refreshing energy boost when one was needed. I limited myself to two acai bowls per day. One thing was obvious from jump street, that this energy I felt was only going to go up, till the black belt finals on Sunday exploded in full effect! From Friday through Saturday the matches were coming and going non stop. One thing I found hard was when there were 3 or 4 world champions fighting in different rings all at the same time, now that was crazy. When Sunday June 6th arrived, where there were 8 rings are now only two.
There is a connection at the Mundials, like to the BJJ life source we all share, within your own team, between academies from fighters to supporters. It’s a high dose of Jiu-Jitsu on its biggest platform with a sprinkle of a carnival type atmosphere. I fell in love with it. My best experience was meeting Rickson. My favorite moment was when my professor Marcelo Garcia won his 4th black belt Mundial title, even though the last 8 seconds had me on Skype with God. Yes!!!!
Great matches, great victories, gracious defeats, quick submissions, a back and forth war, by 1 point, by 1 advantage, or by judges decision, with BJJ history being made. Mega props to Roger Gracie. The 2010 Mundials had it all. By the end I had pretty much lost my voice, was running around on pure adrenaline and hollering at Caleb and Dan from The Fightworks Podcast. Podium, medals, pictures. That’s all folks. Except for the voice of Tony Torres still in my head saying, “You have now been DQ’d………” Nobody says it better than that guy.
A few hours later with a celebratory dinner for team Alliance, the General gives us our first toast in which he brings to light that today June 6th 2010 marks 28 years since the legendary Mestre Rolls Gracie passed away. With Alliance winning its 5th World title, and Mestre Jacare receiving his red & black belt, our entire Alliance team ended this amazing night with joy, laughter and happiness.
Philippe Balmant is a BJJ purple belt under Marcos Santos/Rigan Machado. He is currently a student of Marcelo Garcia, training in New York City.
This is an installment in our Tournament Review Tuesdays column, where FightWorks Podcast listeners submit reports about Brazilian jiu-jitsu and grappling competitions that happened the weekend prior. The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of The FightWorks Podcast. Through the rest of 2010, if you submit a Tournament Review Tuesday piece, you might win an Isami gi!
“The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (33-10-1) is preparing to meet Japanese star Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-1) on the main card of UFC 116 on July 3rd.
It will be an important fight for both men when they step into the octagon, one that Wanderlei won’t be taking lightly.
“It’ll be the professor Rafael (Cordeiro) who will deal with it and guide the sparring to do it the way it must be done. Akiyama is really tough, a good guy, who was an athlete for all his life through. He has a good ground game, Akiyama is really strong”, compliments the former Pride champion.
“It’ll be an interesting fight, it’s a good fight for me because he goes forward and goes with the flow, he doesn’t run off. I believe the fight will be busy, a big show”, promises, adapting to the new division. “I want to keep on fighting for the next six years, at least until I’m forty. This division change was good, I had to change my diet and I’m feeling just fine”, Silva concluded.
May 11th, 2010 | Author: iCompete
This article was originally published at iCompete. Copyright: iCompete.
It’s that time of year again and MJJ is gearing up for our 7th Annual Maui Jiu-Jitsu Open Tournament. Professor Luis Heredia has been hosting this statewide tournament for 7 years now and going strong. There will be GI and NO-GI division for Kids, Women, Men, Adult and Master Divisions. There will also be prize money for Brown & Black Belt divisions along with participation medals for all kids. Registration is $30 for kids under 14 and $60 for Adults for one or both divisions and includes free T-Shirt.
Alliance’s brown belt Gabi Garcia at the Abu Dhabi Pro this year. Image courtesy Gabi Garcia.
Gabrielle Garcia has been a force on the international women’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu scene since her appearance at the 2007 World BJJ Championship. At the 2009 Pan-Ams she appeared carrying a new flag, that of Alliance Jiu-Jitsu, for whom she has been a reliable source of new competition medals. Most recently she won the 2010 Pan-Ams women’s heavyweight brown/black belt division, and the 2010 Abu Dhabi Pro +63kg division. The FightWorks Podcast brings this conversation with Garcia, who is preparing to continue her streak for some time.
The FightWorks Podcast: How long have you been training jiu-jitsu, and why did you begin?
Gabi Garcia: I have trained for 14 years. I began to train by way of my uncle, who trained jiu-jitsu and because I was looking to pick up a sport after having tried all the others like volleyball, basketball, and hockey. I began to compete in jiu-jitsu and since then I never stopped. My uncle stopped but I have kept going. Tournaments offer the adrenaline of competition and because of them I can not stop jiu-jitsu. Competition is in my blood.
The FightWorks Podcast: Talk a little bit about your transition to Alliance. Why did you change teams?
Gabi Garcia: Going to Alliance was very smooth. I trained in Brazil with the crew from the Gold Team, but my professor moved to the United States and I was left without a competition training environment and without a solid team. Tarsis Humphreys had already invited me a few times to go train with Fabio Gurgel and Alliance.
I lived a bit in the United States, and when I returned to Brazil I decided to get to know Alliance. I had a conversation with Luanna Alzuguir and we went together. Alliance is more than a jiu-jitsu team. We are a family that fights for the same ideals. They say that we have one chance in life and mine was to go to Alliance.
The FightWorks Podcast: How has training with Alliance changed your jiu-jitsu?
Gabi Garcia: Alliance changed all of my jiu-jitsu. Fabio refined all my technique. He taught me that technique overcomes force and that a champion does not live off of championship victories alone, and that jiu-jitsu is more than this.
People thought that I won tournaments by using force, and after coming to Alliance I was able to show the opposite. People are praising me more and respecting me more. This is my big victory, not just winning the championship but being recognized for my jiu-jitsu. Today I have achieved a more complete jiu-jitsu. It’s diversified. I did not think I was going to like working from the guard but I learned to with Alliance. We have the best training in the world and also the best instructor. It’s impossible to not learn.
The FightWorks Podcast: Do you feel a difference in the crowd when you compete in Brazil and the United States?
Gabi Garcia: The public in Brazil is warmer because of the Brazilian culture. I love to fight in Brazil. But the American public already understands jiu-jitsu and brings the family to the gymnasium. I was well received by everyone and I feel like I’m fighting at home. The American public fills the gym and makes a big celebration of the sport.
The FightWorks Podcast: Who are your heroes (men and women) in jiu-jitsu?
Gabi Garcia: I hesitate to say it because on top of everything he is my professor, but without any doubt it’s Fabio Gurgel. On top of being a spectacular athlete he is a good instructor, a general. Everyone there wants to be like him. He is a great example of our sport.
Among the women I admire is Hanette Quadros. Her jiu-jitsu is impeccable and on top of that, she’s a very humble person that deserves all those victories. She is an example for all the girls.
The FightWorks Podcast: You have competed against some of the toughest opponents in the world. Talk about your favorite moment in competition so far, and your worst.
Gabi Garcia: I want to fight the toughest in the world. I always want challenges. I don’t want my victories to come easily. I train a lot for this, to make myself better every day.
I fought against Lana Stefanac who is 90kg in the gi and never beaten. I was the first to beat her. I trained a lot for that, but I was not just thinking about her. I don’t chose my opponents. If you want to be the best you can’t chose who to fight. You have to be ready for any fight.
In my category there is Luzia Fernandes, a judoka who is very strong. She has already won some world championships and the absolute division of the Brazilian championship. She was well trained and did everything well. That year I only faced really tough opponents, but I enjoyed it.
My weight class these days is one of the toughest in the world, but I would say it motivates me to train more and more, to be the best of the best.
The best moment by far was when I beat Lana in the Abu Dhabi Pro. I was able to win the event. The worst was when I lost to her last year in the BJJ World Championship.
The FightWorks Podcast: What do you like to do when you are not training?
Gabi Garcia: I train all day. When I’m not training jiu-jitsu I am working on judo or in the gym. But when I have free time I like to stay at home with my family, my dog, my father’s grill, and with my friends. But this isn’t really happening much. All my days are spent in the academy, but that’s what I like to do.
The FightWorks Podcast: Where can people go online to find out more about you?
Gabi Garcia: If anyone would like to know a little more they can follow me on twitter at twitter.com/gabijiu or on my facebook (“GABI LEMOS”). If anyone would like to get in touch they can reach me at gabijiu@gmail.com.
The FightWorks Podcast: Anything more you would like to say to our audience?
Gabi Garcia: Thank you guys on the site here for showing a little more about women’s jiu-jitsu. I would like to thank the Alliance family for all of the support, to my master Fabio Gurgel, whom I don’t have the words to express my gratitude. I want to thank my family, who are my biggest fans. I’d like to send a message to all the girls out there that want to be champions – that they train hard and dedicate themselves, as it’s always harder for the women, but despite having the harder road there’s always a reward.
“The happiness is in the fight, in the attempt, in the suffering involved. Not in the victory itself.”
Abu Dhabi PRO Jiu-Jitsu and ADCC Submission Fighting Held Together for the First Time
APRIL 14, 2010 – TORONTO – Mixed Martial Arts Expo, Inc., the company behind MMA Expo – The Original MMA Expo (since 2005) – announced today that its upcoming June 12-13 event in Toronto will play host to two of the most prestigious grappling tournaments in the world. This will mark the first time ever that the ADCC Submission Fighting and the Abu Dhabi Pro Jiu-Jitsu Series will be held on the same weekend at the same venue. The result is an outstanding opportunity for North American competitors interested in competing in both types of tournaments.
“Mixed Martial Arts Expo has a track record of delivering a unique combative sports weekend that fans and competitors really enjoy and we are delighted to play host to these two world-class events”, stated Gerald Chopik, President of MMA Expo. “When it comes to holding the best submission tournaments on the planet most will agree that over the past decade the two Abu Dhabi tournaments have set the standard that others aim to achieve in terms of organization and quality of competition. In the submission grappling world, a division-win at either of their World Championships is equivalent to taking home Olympic Gold.”
Canada is becoming well-known for a growing and highly-talented pool of submission grappling and Jiu Jitsu competitors. “We would have been proud to host either of the Abu Dhabi tournaments at MMA Expo. To have both of these major events on the show floor on the same weekend is very exciting for grappling competitors, and especially those that want to compete in both tournaments. This new series of Canadian Regional Championships for both Gi and No-Gi competitors gives fighters a real opportunity to compete on the world stage and we are proud that MMA Expo can play a role in helping this happen.”
Reached in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Marko Leisten, president of the ADCC Federation, was keen on having secured Mixed Martial Arts Expo as the venue to showcase the ADCC Submission Fighting tournament. “This is something that we have been trying to put together for some time and I am very happy that we have finally secured the opportunity to feature ADCC events together with MMA Expo. I am looking forward to coming to Canada with ADCC Head Referee, Peter Ivanov. We foresee a high-level tournament with competitors from Canada and the USA.”
The Abu Dhabi Pro Jiu Jitsu Canadian Open Championships on Saturday, June 12, is produced by Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Professor Fabio Holanda of Montreal. Among the prizes is an all expense paid trip to compete at the Abu Dhabi Pro Jiu Jitsu World Cup in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in 2011. The ADCC Submission Fighting Championships on Sunday, June 13, is produced by ADCC North American East Coast Regional Tournament Director, Emilio Novoa.
Hamilton-based retailer and e-tailer, Fight Planet, is the official sponsor of both tournaments. “When it comes to knowing what’s happening in the submission grappling community across North America few people are more aware than Fight Planet owner Riccardo Ammendolia”, said Chopik. “Fight Planet has been a premiere exhibitor at MMA Expo since day one and Riccardo played a key role in bringing MMA Expo and the Abu Dhabi tournaments together. While many combative sport businesses have come and gone over the past five years it’s been exciting to watch Riccardo build Fight Planet to the point where it is now the Official Sponsor of these two prestigious events.”
Individuals interested in competing in either tournament at MMA Expo TORONTO June 12-13 will find more information at www.MixedMartialArtsExpo.com.
About The Abu Dhabi Championships
The Abu Dhabi Combat Club and the ADCC Submission Fighting Championships were the creation of a UAE national Sheik Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the son of then U.A.E. leader Sheik Zayed. ADCC Champions and top competitors are highly sought after by the leading MMA fight promotions like the UFC®, DREAM and Strikeforce. The expansion of Submission Fighting, led by the huge success of ADCC, has spawned amateur leagues around the world. With each year, the number of competitors in these and other similar events has grown tremendously. ADCC Championships is and has always been considered the pinnacle of the sport. The creation of one visionary, ADCC, now in its 9th edition in 2009 has become the beacon of a new generation and a new sport that is gaining world-wide popularity.
All requests for more information about the tournaments themselves should be directed to:
- Abu Dhabi Pro Jiu-Jitsu (Gi) – fabio_holanda@hotmail.com; www.fabioholanda.com
About MMA Expo
Mixed Martial Arts Expo ~ the original MMA Fan Expo launched in 2005 ~ is a unique, high-energy, interactive consumer show for people who love martial arts and the full contact sport of mixed martial arts, the fastest growing sport in the world. The unique interactive model includes martial arts tournaments and demonstrations, martial arts and business development seminars and a show floor filled with apparel, gear, fitness and nutrition-based exhibitors.
MMA Expo also gives combative sports fans and martial arts competitors the unique opportunity to meet personally with some of the top professional fighters and MMA celebrities in the sport for autographs and pictures. Approximately 10,000 fans, 300 exhibitors and 30 MMA celebrities have attended MMA Expo Toronto events to date.
For exhibitor and tournament sponsorship information contact: Gerald Chopik, President, MMA Expo ~ gchopik@MixedMartialArtsExpo.com
We got this idea for a poll from one of the Mighty 600,000 in Southern California. He writes:
[Where I train] we do 8 months till you get your blue belt, 2 years as a blue belt till you get your purple belt year and half for till you get your brown and year and half till you get your black, how do others schools work with their promotion. I have been seen some blue belts at some tournaments that were blue belts when i was a white white belt and i am getting ready to be a purple in 2 months and i see the same blue belts lol… What do you think??? Should the IBJJF regulate a school or professor to make it known that this guy got his belt at this time.
Currently the IBJJF does offer some pretty strict guidelines about when certain belt promotions are possible, but they do not mandate a promotion after a specified time frame. This would certainly prohibit perceived sand bagging at tournaments, and remove instructors’ discretion about when a student is ready to be given a new jiu-jitsu belt ranking.
What do you think? Should the IBJJF adopt a policy like the one described above, where a student will receive certain belts after a given time period? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below after you vote!
The list of potential foes for Thales Leites at MFC 25: Vindication is an impressive one with a final decision on who will face the Brazilian star in the main event expected in the very near future.
Leites (16-3), who defeated Dean Lister in a convincing unanimous decision at MFC 23 in December, is expected to headline MFC 25 which will take place on Friday, May 7 live at the Northlands Expo Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, and airing live on HDNet Fights throughout North America.
Among those on the short list is fellow Brazilian standout Jorge Santiago, a fan favorite in Japan who sports an impressive resume. Santiago (22-8), a member of American Top Team, holds career wins over former MFC light heavyweight champion Trevor Prangley, onetime MFC lightweight title contender Derrick Noble, and Jeremy Horn.
Another name that has recently surfaced as a possible opponent in Jesse “JT Money” Taylor, a former reality show cast member. Taylor (14-5) is coming off a victory over former MFC light heavyweight title challenger Jason Day and has fought a long list of known names including a pair of ex-MFC middleweight rivals, Chris Camozzi and Jesse Forbes.
Also in the mix is a well-known international name in “Professor X” Xavier Foupa-Pokam. The talented Frenchman (21-12) has fought all over the world and been in against several prominent names including Murilo “Ninja” Rua and Denis Kang. Foupa-Pokam joins Travis Lutter as those who have recently had their names added to the candidate list. Lutter (10-5) put some shockwaves into the MMA world when he came back from an 18-month layoff to make his organizational debut at MFC 22 and outlasted Jason MacDonald to take a unanimous decision.
MFC 25: Vindication already features a great lineup of fights including:
Ryan Jimmo vs. Wilson Gouveia, light heavyweight
Dwayne Lewis vs. Emanuel Newton, light heavyweight
David Heath vs. Solomon Hutcherson, middleweight
Luigi Fioravanti vs. Pete Spratt, welterweight
Tickets for MFC 25: Vindication are on sale now via the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024 or through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.ca and charge-by-phone (780) 451-8000.
Edmonton, Alberta (Canada): The Fight Club (TFC), one of the top fight promotions in Canada, is proud to bring MMA fans “HIGH OCTANE” on Friday, March 19th, live from the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The event will feature several top MMA superstars, including TFC World Welterweight Champion Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford, former TUF finalist Tommy “Farmboy” Speer, TFC World Light Heavyweight Champion Victor Valimaki, and UFC veteran Tim “Thrashing Machine” Hague. Tickets are available through http://www.thefightclub.ca/, or (780) 991-5670.
“HIGH OCTANE” will be the first Canadian MMA event to be shown live on pay per view. The PPV will be available across Canada on Shaw, Shaw Direct, Bell TV, and Viewer’s Choice. The event will also be broadcasted at many commercial establishments, bars, pubs, lounges, and casinos across Canada. In addition, through a distribution agreement with Ringside Boxing & MMA, the event will be televised to a potential worldwide audience of over 130 million viewers on a delayed basis. A press conference is scheduled for Wednesday, March 17th at 2 PM at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton.
In the main event, Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford (11-2) will defend his title against TUF season six finalist Tommy “Farmboy” Speer (13-4). “The Real Deal” is a native of Edmonton, and has defeated UFC veterans Pete Spratt and CJ Fernandez. Many consider Ford to be the top contender for the next breakout Canadian welterweight, following in the footsteps of current UFC World Welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre. Speer, who has beaten War Machine (a.k.a. Jon Koppenhaver), Ben Saunders, and George Sotiropoulos while appearing on The Ultimate Fighter season 6. He has gone 4-1 since his exit from the UFC.
The co-main event will feature Edmonton, Alberta native Victor “The Matrix” Valimaki (16-5), who holds the TFC Light Heavyweight Championship, as he puts his title on the line against Martin “Stress” Desilets (9-2), who hails from Victoriaville, Quebec. Former UFC fighter Valimaki is riding a seven-fight winning streak, and is hoping that a win over Desilets will vault him back into the UFC. He holds victories over MMA legend Dan “The Beast” Severn and UFC veterans Vernon “Tiger” White, and Jason Day. Desilet is the XMMA Light Heavyweight title-holder, and trains with the likes of Kenny Florian and George St. Pierre. He is the number-one contender to the belt held by “The Matrix.”
Also featured at “HIGH OCTANE” will be recent UFC heavyweight Tim Hague (10-3) taking up-and-comer Tyler East (5-3) in an anticipated bout. The massive Hague has defeated UFC veterans Sherman “The Tank” Pendergarst and Pat Barry. The man he’ll be facing, Tyler East, is a 6’5” 230 lb. youngster who has fought for Bellator and King of the Cage. In addition, Edmonton native Victor “The Professor” Bachman (6-2), a former TFC Canadian Welterweight Champion will compete in a match in which the winner will get a shot at the Canadian title in June.
The full fight card includes:
· 170 lbs: Ryan Ford (11-2) vs. Tommy Speer (13-4)
· 205 lbs: Victor Valimaki (16-5) vs. Martin Desilets (9-2)
· 265 lbs: Tim Hague (10-3) vs. Tyler East (5-3)
· 170 lbs: Victor Bachmann (6-2) vs. Markhaile Wedderburn (8-5)
· 185 lbs: Sheldon Westcott (2-1) vs. Tim Smith (10-4)
· 195 lbs: Cody Krahn (6-2) vs. Elliot Duff (2-2)
· 165 lbs: Mitch Clarke (5-0) vs. Brandon MacArthur (5-14)
· 155 lbs: Curtis Demarce (9-7) vs. Mike Bell (4-14)
· 170 lbs: Rio Wells (2-0) vs. Karel Berger (1-0)
· 170 lbs: Jason Zorthian (3-3) vs. Todd Mabbott (2-1)
· 155 lbs: Doug Neumann (0-0) vs. David Bodrug (1-0)
For more information, please visit our website at http://www.thefightclub.ca/
March 1st, 2010 | Author: iCompete
This article was originally published at iCompete. Copyright: iCompete.
Professor David Adiv will be teaching a seminar at St. Peters. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity. As an instructor, David teaches all aspects of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from the self-defense aspect to Sport Jiu-Jitsu, Submission Wrestling and on to Vale Tudo. He is considered by many to be one of the most technical black belts today.
Rafael Sapo, who picked up his fifth win in six fights with a knockout of Travis Lutter at the recent Moosin MMA event in Massachusetts, has signed a four-fight deal with the UFC.
