Held last March 2nd, ADXC 3 was born with the status of a historic event. Being the first edition of the Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship outside the capital of the UAE, the tournament featured a breathtaking card, and one of these duels became even more memorable after its completion: the fight between Rayron Gracie vs Fellipe Andrew.

Not since Roger Gracie vs. Marcus Buchecha in 2017 has there been so much commotion over the entry of a Gracie into a fight. Leaving the mats to enter the cage in his gi, just as Royce Gracie did before when he debuted in the UFC, the underdog Rayron Gracie faced two-time ADWPJJC champion Fellipe Andrew with the responsibility of representing more than 100 years of tradition in Jiu-Jitsu. Marcus Buchecha, six-time ADWPJJC champion, was stopped by Roger’s collar choke. Fellipe, also ADWPJJC champion and also a black belt under Rodrigo Cavaca, just as Buchecha, was also stopped with a choke using the collar, applied by Rayron.

Son of the legendary Ryan Gracie, whose greatest characteristic was his ferocity in fights, Rayron showed a colder and more calculating style, closer to his cousins Roger and Kyra, more distant from his uncles Renzo and Ralph. This distance, however, was just in style. In his duel at ADXC 3, Rayron had the support of the Gracie family, with Renzo, Ralph, Kyra, and Gregor shouting for him on the edge of the cage. Renzo even came up with the right details to complete the victory, minutes before the fight.

Inside the cage, Rayron used his pressure to avoid the dangerous attacks of Fellipe Andrew, known for his game of triangles and attacks on the foot. With firm grips on his pants and applying his weight in the right place, Rayron thwarted Fellipe’s attacks throughout three rounds. In the fourth round, Rayron opened the fight with a takedown, landing with side control and attacking the collar. Renzo shouted from the corner: “Clock choke!”, and Rayron went all out with the classic choke to secure the victory.

“Fellipe is a very well-conditioned athlete”, highlighted Rayron in an interview. “I knew I would only be able to apply my game in the final rounds. Renzo explained the details of this position to me minutes before the fight, but I thought it would be difficult to get this right against Fellipe. Renzo has this gift. He showed a position to Neiman before the ADXC 1, and now it was my turn.”

With the victory over the favorite Fellipe, after a fight full of strategy, the ADXC team spoke to Kyra Gracie, who graduated Rayron with a black belt. The legendary competitor congratulated her pupil and left a message for Rayron’s next challengers.

“It was a very important fight for his career, as he debuted as a black belt this year, in 2024”, highlighted Kyra. “Fellipe Andrew is very tough, but it’s great that Rayron is testing himself against the best, he didn’t get his black belt to hide afterward. Before the fight, they said Rayron was too young for a challenge like that as Fellipe is already a great champion. Fellipe said he would submit Rayron in the first round. Never underestimate a Gracie.”

To review Rayron Gracie’s submission and the other fights that became instant classics in world grappling, visit TX7.ae and check out the ADXC 3 replay.

Marcelinho Garcia in action at 2011 Worlds / Photo by John Lamonica

Every now and then, do you catch yourself thinking about that one technique you seem unable to get right, or that part of your game that looks like a dead end? Relax. Our team put together five submissions beyond all reproach, taught by champions of the highest caliber. Let us know which works best for your game, and enjoy your training!

1. Alexandre Ribeiro teaches a choke

2. Marcelo Garcia teaches to warm up and finish in laid-back spar

(Special attention to the armbar at minute 5)

3. Roger Gracie teaches a sweep from closed guard

4. Rubens Cobrinha teaches how to finish at 2008 Pan

5. Vitor Shaolin teaches a sweep from half-guard and pressure on neck to help

Vitor Terra. 

A teacher at Gracie Terra in Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Terra has been sharpening his weapons for both classical and no-gi BJJ, and in today’s lesson he shows a move he adapted from his classical BJJ training in order to torment his no-gi opposition.

The baseball choke, normally used in gi matches, has as its main characteristic the use of the lapels while the opponent gets choked due to the arms being crossed. In Vitor’s opinion, an adaptation comes in handy so that the technique can be used in no-gi.

With his knee on his opponent’s stomach, Vitor teaches how to pass your forearms around your opponent’s neck, adjust the hand-to-hand grip, and switch the base to squeeze the choke. Check it out in this video:

O detalhe para estrangular sem kimono no baseball, com Vitor Terra. Foto: Reprodução

Professor da nossa GMI Gracie Terra, na Zona Sul do Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Terra tem afiado suas armas no Jiu-JItsu tanto de kimono quanto sem kimono, e na aula de hoje a fera mostra um golpe que gosta de adaptar do treino de pano para atacar os adversários nas disputas sem pano.

O estrangulamento beisebol, utilizado nas lutas de kimono, tem como principal característica o uso das lapelas enquanto estrangula o oponente ao cruzar os braços. Para Vitor, porém, uma adaptação cai bem para que o golpe seja usado também sem kimono.

Com o joelho na barriga, Vitor ensina como passar os antebraços em volta do pescoço do oponente, ajustar a pegada mão com mão e trocar a base para arrochar o golpe. Confira no vídeo abaixo, estude e coloque mais este trunfo na sua manga!

Roger Gracie and Marcus Buchecha. Carlos Arthur Jr.

Last Sunday made it to the BJJ history books. Gracie Pro, held in Rio, was the stage for the second clash between Roger Gracie and Marcus Buchecha. The two ten-time world champions had previously fought in 2012 — an encounter that ended in a tie.

Sunday’s fight began with Buchecha setting the pace, with single-leg takedown attempts. But Roger kept his cool. After standing up, Roger seized the initiative and brought the fight back to the ground.

Instead of pulling into his feared closed guard, Roger pulled Buchecha sideways. With a knee in the middle and a firm grip on Buchecha’s left sleeve, Roger got up and skillfully reached the Checkmat star’s back. The audience was roaring as Roger adjusted the choke, and then the tapout occurred 6’52” in. Roger Gracie was saying farewell to the mats with the last win his career had been missing.

“I frustrated him a bit as I defended against the takedowns at the start of the fight,” Roger told Graciemag. “He ramped up the pace at the start, but he could not reach his strong position. My strategy was to cook a little in the first five minutes. He expected me to pull into closed guard, but I pulled sideways with the knee — a strong position of mine. I landed right on his back. He came to the side of my good hand, and I knew I wasn’t leaving that position anymore — all that was left was to adjust.”

A disappointed Buchecha said: “My mistake was letting him dictate the pace of the fight. He managed to do a good grip on my left arm and messed me up a lot. When he got up, I erred. The strategy was to not turn so much on the ground, but I ended up turning on reflex, and wound up paying the price.”

Renzo and Demian adjusted their grips at the Camp. Eduardo Ferreira

Teachers Renzo Gracie and Demian Maia were side by side recently to teach to a classroom some of their best BJJ advice. It happened during the Camp, an event held in the Brazilian city of Florianópolis, and, there, a chance arose for teachers and students to study a choke position.

The lesson was led by Renzo. He showed the details to the grip for choking an opponent from the side, with the arm on the inside and one hand-to-hand grip. Renzo went over the adjustment and showed how easily he could squeeze, with no need for too much force. Then he adjusted the move with Demian, who may be using this in the UFC eventually, as the move does not require a gi to work.

Check it out and let us know what you think.

To prevent the advance of the guard player, who tries to sit down to sweep, Terra explains the details of a different kind of choke. In this lesson, Terra seizes the collar and feints a push. The guard player, who tries to get up, comes back with his weight and winds up having his neck lassoed. After adjusting the legs, Terra raises his body to tighten the position and finish on the neck.

Learn from black belt Tim Spriggs a crafty overhook punch from the closed guard.

It’s a great way to catch the opponent by surprise with little effort.

Click and play to add it to your game.

Leandro Lo tarevelled to Santa Cruz, California, on August 29 to take part in the IBJJF Santa Cruz BJJ Pro.

He competed in the middleweight division and faced Julian Marquez in the final for the $4,000 money prize.

Here’s how he pocketed the money.

Kayron Gracie celebrates another birthday this Monday, May 4.

The son of Carlos Gracie Jr and grandson of Carlos Gracie recently returned to the competition circuit after two years on the sidelines due to a neck injury.

Kayron, who has among his best results as a black belt the 2010 Pan middleweight title and the 2010 Worlds middleweight bronze medal, is known for his refined technique.

In this video he teaches a efficient choke from the closed guard, perfect for when the opponent is stalling on top.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJBS-jw2jrQ

The black belt from Gracie Barra faced Joshua Hinger, Atos, and invested all in the collar to get a choke from the mount. Check it out: