Bruno against Marcelo Silva in semifinal in Gramado / Photo by Ivan Trindade
Before the WPJJ trials event in Gramado, Brazil, was even over, the promoters had already counted the votes and announced the name of the number-one competitor in technical mastery of the competition. And it was of no surprise that the featherweight from São Paulo Bruno Frazatto was neck and shoulders ahead of all the other big names, as the Atos ace had gotten the finish in every one of his matches up until the semifinals.
Bruno is a hot item because of the stellar level of technique he routinely exhibits in competition. Seldom does he stall for a result, and he always displays eye-pleasing and finish-oriented Jiu-Jitsu.
His unexpected submission loss in the final took on even greater proportions than one would have imagined. His opponent, Isaque Paiva, couldn’t contain his excitement, and ran over to embrace Guilherme Paradeda, one of the promoters of the event and a witness to all the young martial artist’s efforts to make it to Abu Dhabi ever since the very first tryouts for the event, in Porto Alegre in 2009.
The celebration got him a wicked penalty: disqualification (as described in the rules) and a “win” for Bruno, to Paiva’s chagrin.
“It was a moment of emotion; we here practically adopted him since 2009, when he slept in the gymnasium for lack of means. As the new rules stand but at all the other championships the refs turned a blind eye to anyone who went outside the area to celebrate, it wouldn’t be fair to eliminate Isaque after that riveting final. I’m going to have a word with the organizers to see if Frazatto doesn’t get invited, as well,” said Fernando Paradeda, who requested referee Alvaro Bobadilla ask Frazatto what he thinks of that.
BETWEEN HONOR AND A BERTH, BRUNO CHOSE WELL
Thus there is grandeur even in defeat, as Frazatto was quick to refuse to win in such a manner; forsaking the first place and the prize. Everyone, even a well-known athlete like Bruno Frazatto, knows how difficult it is to come up with a sponsor who can pay for a trip to Abu Dhabi to compete at the WPJJ. Between paying his own way and getting an all-expenses-paid trip, Frazatto opted for one of the values a good warrior prizes the most: honor.
I’d like to deliver the message to the WPJJ organization in Abu Dhabi myself, as the most technical athlete at the Gramado Trials, Bruno Frazatto, “the beaten,” too, without a shadow of a doubt, deserves to go to Abu Dhabi.
If just because I’ll bet you want to see the rematch too, don’t you? Let the other GRACIEMAG.com readers know what you think in the comments section below.
I agree. Bruno Frazatto to Abu Dhabi.
This new rule sucks…I can’t wait to see what is gonna happen in June at the World championship. You spend years training to become a world champion and then when you see your dream coming true…You can’t even go celebrate it with your master and teammates. Bullshit!! Maybe Roger Gracie, Jacare, Garcia,Saulo and Xande Ribeiro would stay close to the referee until their arms are raised but it will be hard for a first time world champion to not go say,cry,scream and thank everybody else that helped him to become number one in the world.
Would I like him to go? Absolutely.
Do I think it’s fair? Absolutely not.. There are so many athletes that don’t make it that also deserve to go. I think it is extremely unfair to send Frazatto because of what he did against Isaque, especially since these new rules are an absolute load of shit. Let’s not forget the other competitors who would also kill for a chance like this.
Bruno deserves to be there! Give him an invite!
Bruno should go to the tournament for sure, he’s a true champion!
Free pass for Frazzato
His Higness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as a true BJJ lover and black belt must to invite Bruno Frazatto… no discussion