Luiz “Big Mac” Theodoro is, without a doubt, a strong candidate to take first place both at his weight, super superheavyweight, and in the absolute of the 2008 Jiu-Jitsu Pan-American, to take place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, at California State University Dominguez Hills, in Carson.
“First I have to think of winning the category, but the goal is to get the double (weight and absolute)” said the Roberto Tozi student, who is the current Brazilian champion in the absolute division and World second place at weight, who tonight sets off for California, where he will be in concentration with his team before disputing the tournament.
“I’m training a lot, we won’t be in the rhythm of a World or Brazilian championship, if just because some of the excesses of the beginning of the year get in the way, but I’ll be going humbly in there to get the submission as quickly as possible.”
This will be the Brazilian’s first time participating in the famous competition and he guarantees it will be no walk in the park. “I always wanted to fight in a Pan-American, the European is a strong competition, but the Pan is closer to Brazil and is also better for the Americans. It’s a highly considered competition that will have a lot of standouts, but I’m going to fight for titles,” he finishes.
To do so, Big Mac will have seriously tough opponents ahead of him, one could be the man who took the gold medal from him at the Worlds by an advantage point, the American Rafael Lovato. “He’s a great opponent. I have nothing against him. I’m going in there with a lot of will to win. Right now he is 1 to 1 with me in the gi and in submission grappling I’m one ahead,” guarantees the black belt, of 25, who is not overlooking the other threats.
“At weight there is Marcio Corleta, Bruno Paulista, with whom I’ve never fought but who’s really strong. In the absolute there’s Andre Galvao, Alexandre Souza, who beat me in Europe, among others,” concluded Luiz Theodoro.
