Nesta quinta-feira, Otávio Sousa confirmou o acerto para representar a Gracie Barra Pernambuco no Rio de Janeiro, dia 21 de julho.

O atual campeão mundial dos médios, título conquistado no início de junho na Califórnia, onde reside, virá para o Brasil apenas para tentar vencer o GP dos Pesos Médios. Seu técnico será seu professor Zé Radiola.

“O Otávio e o Formiga serão as duas atrações internacionais do evento”, lembra Jeferson Maycá, diretor da Pódio. ” O Otávio entrou na vaga de Adriano Silva, da escola Barbosa JJ que optou por priorizar outras competições que ocorrem no mesmo período”.

Otávio Sousa playing on top / Photo: John Cooper

This Thursday, Otávio Sousa confirmed he’s signed a deal to represent Gracie Barra Pernambuco in Rio de Janeiro on July 21.

The current middleweight champion of the world, since earning the title early this June in California, where he resides, will head home to Brazil for the sole purpose of trying to win the Middleweight GP. His coach, Zé Radiola, will be in his corner.

“Otávio and Formiga will be the two international attractions of the event,” points out Jeferson Maycá, the director of the Pódio promotion. Otávio is taking the place of Barbosa JJ’s Adriano Silva, who decided to make a priority of the other competitions going on during the same period.”

For the Heavyweight GP, to take place late in the year, Rodolfo Vieira, Marcus Bochecha, Ricardo Demente, João Gabriel were already in the lineup. The promoters have now struck a deal for Marcio Pé de Pano, a two-time absolute world champion, in 2002/2003, to join the mix.

Check out how the card for the upcoming Copa Pódio event has shaped up, and keep in mind that the final berth in the Middleweight GP will be determined by the result from the supermatch between Victor Bomfim of Evolve Gordo team and Diego Almeida of team Ryan Gracie at the June 30 Grand Prix match-drawing ceremony.

OPENING SUPERMATCH
Cláudio Caloquinha (Gracie Barra BH) vs. Ed Ramos (Atos)

MIDDLEWEIGHT GP MATCHES

TEAMS & FIGHTERS
Alliance (Dimitrius Souza with Prof. Fabio Gurgel)
Atos (Davi Ramos with Prof. Ramon Lemos)
Cícero Costha (Leandro Lo with Prof. Cícero Costha)
Checkmat (Nivaldo Oliveira with Prof. Rodrigo Cavaca/Rico Vieira)
GFTeam (Vinícius Marinho with Prof. Júlio César Pereira)
Gracie Barra BH (Felipe Preguiça with Prof. Augusto Tio Chico)
Gracie Barra PE (Otávio Sousa with Prof. Zé Radiola)
Nova União (André Bastos with Prof. Wendel Alexander)
Soul Fighters (Rafael Formiga with Prof. Leandro Tatu)

SUPER PÓDIO CHALLENGE
Guto Campos (Guetho/Atos) vs. Raphael Abi-Rihan (Abi-Rihan JJ)

REFEREEING: Coordinated by Múzio de Angelis. Referees: Alan Moraes, Flávio Ferreira and Luciano Mendes.

FIRST BATCH OF TICKETS ON SALE

The event promoters promise a thrilling spectacle for anyone who appreciates good Jiu-Jitsu, and they announced the retail outlets where the first batch of tickets will go on sale:

*BELO HORIZONTE

Academia Rio Sport Center
Gracie Barra BH – Marcelo Azevedo
Rodovia BR 356 – Loja 224 – marcelosports@hotmail.com – 83*5823

*RIO DE JANEIRO

COPACABANA
Checkmat JJ:
Rua Francisco Sá, 36 – (21)22749719 – ricovieira@hotmail.com

ENGENHO DE DENTRO
Academia Marques Gym:
Rua Aldo Bergamini, 324 – (21)32746794 – davidjjmendes@hotmail.com

GÁVEA
Gávea Gym:
Praça Santos Dumont, 62 – (21)22749719 – contato@gaveagym.com.br

LAGOA
Família Abi-Rihan JJ:
Av. Borges de Medeiros, 701 (21)78929796 – abirihanraphael@hotmail.com

MEIER
GFTeam Matriz:
Rua Arquias Cordeiro, 478 – (21)34970478 – jcgfteam@hotmail.com

TIJUCA
Soul Fighters Evidence:
Rua Conde do Bonfim, 685 (Sobreloja) – tanquejj@gmail.com

Academia Delfim:
Rua Pereira Siqueira, 45 – (21)25657403 – compras@delfimboxe.com.br

VILA VALQUEIRE
Nova União Vila Valqueire (Academia Lopes)
Rua das Margaridas, 32 – (21)32692249 – decobastos@yahoo.com.br