“It’s hot as hell here in Niteroi, but I’m training. I’ve got news, I want to fight at ADCC 2009. My idea is to talk to the organizers and see if there’s a possibility of my being invited, for all the titles I’ve won at the event. I don’t really want to go through the trials in Rio, especially since it’s already too close to the event to be able to train properly. That’s why my idea is to go straight into the main tournament, to go right up against all the toughest from around the world. I even called up Paulao [Filho] to see if he’d get motivated about participating, but he says he doesn’t want to. So I came up with the organizers’ email, and I’ll be contacting them to see about an invite. I’m excited,” said the champion of the superfight at ADCC 2003, in Sao Paulo, when he dethroned Mark Kerr.
Arona, who was also two-time champion at 98kg (2000/1) and absolute champion in 2001, is one of the winningest fighters of the ADCC, the grappling tournament that has been around since 1998. It was at the event founded by Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed, of the United Arab Emirates, where the Carioca, then still a brown belt, swapped takedowns with beasts of the caliber of Tito Ortiz and same his name catapulted to fame, in 2000. A little later on, Arona would sign a contract to fight in the big-money Japanese MMA scene.
Should his name be confirmed, Arona will could participate in a replay of one of world MMA’s classic bouts, since the organizers announced Russian Fedor Emelianenko has shown interest in participating in the competition. Arona and Fedor have faced off once before in December of 200, at the now-defunct Rings event. The Russian won by unanimous judges’ decision, in an evenly-matched bout.
Stay tuned to GRACIEMAG.com for further news about ADCC 2009.
