Buchecha, por exemplo, não conseguiu pontuar em cima da fera Alexander Trans, na semifinal do peso pesadíssimo. Rodolfo, por sua vez, venceu Yuri Simões por 8 a 0, placar até econômico para quem conhece o instinto finalizador do craque da GFTeam.

Já na grande final do absoluto, a última do campeonato, os dois entraram em alta voltagem. Mas o peso pesadíssimo da Checkmat estava mais ligado. No segundo minuto, puxou para a guarda com sua característica explosiva, enlaçou a perna e fintou que ia para trás, mas girou e desequilibrou Rodolfo.

Atrás no placar e fazendo guarda, restou a Rodolfo tentar conter Buchecha com sua guarda. Missão complicada. Além de estar a defender seu título, Marcus ainda era mais pesado. E explosivo. Vieira não se intimidou com nada disso e improvisou uma interessante ida para as costas, mas Buchecha tratou de ir no joelho e evitou os pontos.

Por baixo, Buchecha explodiu de novo. Quase raspou, e obteve mais uma vantagem. Numa aula de Jiu-Jitsu, Buchecha tratou então de acabar com as chances de Rodolfo: numa manobra de craque, escorregou para as costas do então bicampeão mundial dos pesados, abrindo 6 a 0.

“Essa ida para as costas o Leozinho me mostrou há coisa de um mês, é um berimbolo diferente. Dei no [Ricardo] Evangelista e funcionou, e apliquei agora no Rodolfo também”, diria depois, já com a medalha e o título de bicampeão mundial absoluto.

Mas Rodolfo defendeu com garra total, ao ficar de pé – com 107kg nas costas. Buchecha escorregou e Rodolfo caiu por cima, botando pressão final para tentar passar a guarda. O aluno de Rodrigo Cavaca sentiu e virou de quatro para não levar os pontos. Mas acabou por fazer melhor: com uma cambalhota genial, caiu não apenas fazendo guarda, mas por cima da guarda de Rodolfo, a 8min de luta.

Com 1min30, Buchecha ainda passou a guarda, abriu 9 a 0 e tentou a finalização, no pescoço e depois no braço, mas o relógio soou. Ouro no peso e no absoluto para Buchecha, que seguia em sua trajetória rumo ao panteão do Jiu-Jitsu.

The 2015 World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship is just around the corner.

Now a five-day event, this years edition is scheduled April 20-25.

Once again, the biggest names of Jiu-Jitsu will gather in Abu Dhabi to fight for medals and the money prizes offered by the event.

Even it’s impossible to know who’s going to be the standout in 2015, it’s pretty easy to know that we are going to witness epic battles and hair-raising thrills, just like in the five past editions.

GRACIEMAG was present in all five installments held since 2009 and we bring you some of the best images our photographers captured.

Relive the emotions and choose your favorite moments.

Pictures: Ivan Trindade, Luca Atalla, Dan Rod, Gustavo Aragão

Garry Tonon and Kron Gracie met in the 77kg division when this happened.

Watch this amazing display of coolness and defense technique.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD8Wck3GmkM

Leandro Lo e Jake Shields fizeram uma das melhores lutas da JJ Expo 2013. Foto: Erin Herle/GRACIEMAG

Sempre recheada de atrações direcionadas ao povo da arte suave, a World Jiu-Jitsu Expo já tem data e local definidos para sua edição de 2014.

Mais uma vez atracando no Convention Center, em Long Beach, Califórnia, a Expo será realizada nos dias 18 e 19 de outubro deste ano.

Com presenças ilustres do cenário do Jiu-Jitsu e do MMA, sem falar nos seminários, torneios e superlutas de tirar o fôlego, a World Jiu-Jitsu Expo 2014 promete mais um grande evento para os amantes da arte.

E você, leitor, tem alguma sugestão de superluta bombástica? Algum confronto que você sonha em ver?

Fique ligado em GRACIEMAG e saiba todos os detalhes em primeira mão.

Para ter um gostinho do que virá, relembre os melhores momentos da Jiu-Jitsu Expo 2013 no vídeo abaixo:

Rodolfo Vieira arrived in Abu Dhabi in 2013 seeking his third gi open class title

The brackets for the brown belt and black belt divisions at the 2014 WPJJC will be publicly drawn right after the athletes weigh in.

The event’s organizers announced today that no pre-separation of athletes will be made, which means athletes from the same team can be paired up even in their first match.

The action is taken to prevent close-outs in the finals.

The open drawing takes place April 16, at 7:30pm (Abu Dhabi time).

In the black belt open class divisions, Rodolfo Vieira and Marcus Almeida Buchecha in the male competition and Gabi Garcia in the female competition will have the right of place in the bracket as champions of the previous years.

The WPJJC also released the schedule for this year’s edition.

The 2014 WPJJC takes place on April 15 – 19.

Click here for the full schedule.

For more info, go to www.uaejjf.org

Twitter: https://twitter.com/uaejj
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/UAE-Ji…
Instagram: http://instagram.com/uae_jiujitsu#
Website: http://uaejj.com/en/
IPIC — the Official Partner to the event: http://www.ipic.ae/

Roberto Cyborg was the 2013 Open Class champion

Roughly five months after the event in Beijing, China, the ADCC committee released  the winners of the awards for the 2013 edition.

The absolute champion Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu deserved the greatest honor, being awarded as the best fighter.

The other awards were:

BEST FIGHTER:

Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu

BEST TAKEDOWN:

Rustam Chsiev – (Absolute class fight against Orlando Sanchez)

FASTEST SUBMISSION:

Dean Lister – (-99kg weight class against Jia Jing Yang)

BEST FIGHT OF COMPETITION:

Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu vs. Marcus Almeida “Buchecha” – (Absolute class the FINAL)

Watch the 2013 ADCC open class final.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAAmmxn0X2E

Buchecha vs. Galvão, the match of the 2013 Pan

First of all, know that you have only until March 3rd to register for the 2014 Pan.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

After that, let’s remember one of the greatest moments in the history of the event.

Last year, the black belt open class final put Marcus Almeida “Buchecha” and Andre Galvão face to face for the gold.

It was a thrilling match indeed.

We have talked to Buchecha and Andre to know what they remember of that match.

Buchecha opens the comments with a praise to Galvão: “Andre is an exceptional competitor and I knew that it was going to be one of the hardest fights of all. Fortunately, I was able to put my game plan in action.”

The game plan was to take Galvão down in the beginning and work the pass, then mount and finish?

“Well, I always fight for the submission. He has such an accurate technique that he was able to defend well, but I got to a foot lock and an omoplata.”

Galvão joins the conversation with also a praise to Buchecha: “I had some black coffee before the match to be on my toes but it did not help at all. His explosive strength in the beginning was impressive. I would say he didn’t take me down, but came over me like a horse in a rodeo show.”

After the inicial two points scored, Galvão worked his guard to prevent a pass from Buchecha. He did his job well and Buchecha was unable to get the pass. “I trained it a lot before the championship,” says Galvão.

The fight went on and near the end, behind 2-0 in points and in advantages, Galvão made his attempt to even the score.

A judo takedown tied the score in points for a brief period.

Buchecha talks about the takedown: “I don’t care about being on top or on the bottom. I think you have to be ready for all situations. Even with the takedown, I knew I was ahead in advantages and my strong game is when I’m on the bottom. I had complete confidence in my sweeps.”

Soon enough, Buchecha worked a beautiful omoplata sweep to settle the final score of 4-2.

Asked what he would do differently if another opportunity arises to compete against Buchecha, Galvão kept his sense of humor: “I would pay more attention in the beginning of the match”.

Now you’re ready to watch the match.

Enjoy!

Cat Zingano (de roxo) na vitória contra Miesha Tate, em abril. A novidade em 2013 foi uma luta feminina entre as melhores da temporada no UFC. Foto: Divulgação/UFC

O ano ainda não terminou, sabemos, e o campeão Chris Weidman e o ex-rei Anderson Silva ainda podem aprontar no UFC 168, no dia 28 de dezembro.

Mas janeiro anda próximo, e queremos saber do leitor qual foi o combate que mais marcou você, como fiel espectador e praticante de lutas.

Nossa equipe puxou pela memória alguns conferes marcantes, como a própria derrota de Anderson Silva para Chris Weidman, em julho, pelo desfecho inusitado.

Mas o UFC trouxe diversos embates épicos em 2013, como você bem lembra.

Qual foi o melhor na sua opinião? Jon Jones x Alexander Gustafsson? Wanderlei Silva x Brian Stann? Mark Hunt x Stefan Struve? Cat Zingano x Miesha Tate? Gilbert Melendez x Diego Sanchez? Antonio Pezão x Hunt? José Aldo x Frankie Edgar?

Ou você vibrou mais com algum outro duelo, quem sabe visto numa organização que não o UFC?

Mande seu voto!

Especialistas no assunto, Rousimar Toquinho e Dean Lister estarão frente a frente numa batalha sem kimono de 20 minutos, sem pontos, onde só uma finalização define o vencedor. Confira o trailer abaixo, e para mais informações acesse http://worldjiujitsuexpo.com/

World Jiu-Jitsu Expo 2013
Long Beach, Califórnia
9 e 10 de novembro de 2013

Sábado, 9 de novembro

Caio Terra x Nam Pham (sem kimono)
Leandro Lo x Jake Shields (sem kimono)
Rafael Lovato x Adversário não definido
Samuel Braga x João Miyao (sem kimono)
Efrain Escudero x Philipe Nover (sem kimono)

Domingo, 10 de novembro

Rousimar Toquinho x Dean Lister (sem kimono)
Paulo Miyao x Jon Fitch (sem kimono)
Lucas Leite x Keenan Cornelius (sem kimono)
Bruno Malfacine x Jeff Glover

GP faixa-preta

1.Magid Hage | Gracie Barra
2.Lucas Rocha de Freitas | Gracie Barra
3.Kit Dale | Checkmat
4.Jackson Souza | Checkmat
5.Luiz Fernando Panza | Barbosa Jiu-Jitsu
6.Nathan Mendelsohn | Team Claudio Franca
7.Ricardo Resende | Fight Sports Cyborg
8.James Puopolo | Team Lovato

Marcus Buchehca

Many have tried what Andre Galvão will try tomorrow, at the adult male black belt open class final.

The leader of Atos JJ San Diego already said that he is going to give his best to take the crown off of Marcus Buchecha’s head.

Last year, Buchecha closed out the absolute at the Pan with teammate Antonio “Cara de Sapato” Barbosa, and then went to dominate the absolute also at the 2012 World Championship.

This Saturday, in Irvine, the Brazilian ultra-heavyweight displayed once again an incredible amount of pressure and attack variations.

In the open class, in four fights, first he tapped Nathan Mendelsohn from the side control; then he caught Marcel Goulart with a triangle; the third match was against Guto Campos and although the tap out didn’t happen, the 19-2 score was proof enough of Buchecha’s superiority.

In the semifinal, Buchecha faced fellow world champion Bernardo Faria.

A takedown in the beginning put Buchecha in the lead, but Bernardo managed to make his trademark move work and swept the opponent from the deep half guard.

Buchecha soon swept back and worked the pass and a knee on the belly two times to close the score at 12-2.

Still humble, Buchecha talked about his performance: “The Pan is a very tough competition and I’m happy I got to be in the open class final. All my opponents were really well rounded and gave me a lot of work to beat them.”

Then he talked about Galvão, his opponent to be: “What can I say about him? He is a world champion, an ADCC champion, a real beast.”

Galvão also did not have an easy ride at the Bren Events Center.

First he beat Max Freitas with an armbar, then he choked Tanner Rice from the back.

The third fight against Orlando Sanchez was only decided by the referee, after a 0-0 tie.

“I tried everything, omoplata, choking from the guard, sweeping, but the guy was just too strong and heavy to bulge,” said Galvão.

The semifinal was against Nivaldo Lima, kind of a underdog, once he defeated world champion Leo Nogueira in the quarterfinals.

Galvão himself explains what happened in the fight: “Nivaldo has a very annoying guard, with a lot of strong sweeps, so I decided to play guard and get the sweep myself, which I did. Then he tried to sweep me back but I was able to resist.”

The 2-0 score secured his spot and the chance to dethrone Buchecha: “He is the absolute black belt world champion, so I don;t need to say much about him, All I gonna say is that it’s not going to be easy for him,” promised Galvão.

Here is an exclusive interview GracieMag did with the finalists.

Here is an exclusive photo gallery of the black belt open class this Saturday.

[flickr set=72157633074864102]

For the full coverage, go to GracieMag’s Google+ Page.

Sign up by Jan. 16!

The IBJJF European Open has long been the center stage for those in or around Europe who have difficulties traveling to the United States for major tournaments. The prestigious tournaments held in southern California have long been known as the best to attend however it is the European Open that sets the standard for every athlete’s year.

The coverage that is accumulated within the competitor list is astounding this year. Romania, Italy, Britain, Ireland, Turkey, Switzerland, Japan, Sweden, Hungary, Denmark, United States, Brazil just to name a few of the places being represented.

Why should you attend? Why should you compete?

Here are five ways to describe why you should not miss this event:

1. Lagarto and other top black belts will be battling it out.

Lucio “Largarto” Rodrigues is the perfect example of a great athlete who has yet to make it to the World Championship since it moved from Brazil. Largarto has defeated some of the top names such as Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida and Leo Nogueira but has yet to be in the spotlight. The Europeans are nearby as he trains and teaches at his home in the UK. Don’t miss out on your chance to see an accomplished athlete in action. Other names to take note of are Romulo Barral, Osvaldo Augusto, Alexander Trans, Mackenzie Dern, Gianni Grippo, AJ Agazarm, Paulo Miyao, Janni Larsson and more to be announced.

2. Costs are low even at the last minute.

Flights departing from:

London from $189
Dublin from $219
Stockholm from $282
Zurich from $291
Budapest from $258
Athens from $319
Rome from $220
Barcelona from $131

You can pay for meals around 7 EUR in Lisbon and the average hotel stay is around 60 EUR. Many hotels are in walking distance to the venue and a cab ride from the airport to your hotel would be around 6 EUR.

3. Start the new year off right with the first major competition of the season.

Even if you’re not a competitor aiming to be the next Rodolfo Vieira or Roger Gracie, you can still participate to get your year set off right.  A gold medal on the mats in Lisbon would solidify your path of achieving goals all year round. If you are an avid competitor who is hungry for gold, the grand slam opportunity is yours. As the first of the four major tournaments including European Open, Pan American Championship, Brazilian Nationals and the World Championship, you can start now. Keenan Cornelius was the first ever to win double gold at every grand slam tournament making him a historical person in our sport. Think you can do better?

4. Enjoy historical Lisbon and send off your family members to be entertained.

The venue itself is located outside of the city although it is a spectacle to see in the morning light as the rays hit the competition mats. The metro station is in walking distance allowing free range whether you are competing in the tournament or not. Have relatives that would like to see you compete? On the days before and after, you can send them off to enjoy the shopping in Chiado and Bairro Alto, the aquarium, the zoo, the Belem Tower and St George’s Castle. Make your trip worthwhile by easily visiting the most historical and monumental aspects of Lisboa.

5. The deadline isn’t until Jan. 16 to sign up.

Right now you can sign up as a competitor at www.ibjjf.org leaving you enough time to gather funds, secure your proper identification and membership if needed and make the cut off. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to win gold and enjoy beautiful Lisbon weather, historical culture and vacation. You have one week until today so don’t hesitate!

We’ll see you in Lisbon. For more information please visit www.ibjjf.org!