The second edition of the Copa Podio Middleweight Grand Prix will be on Sunday, September 8 in Rio de Janeiro. The ten athletes, who are separated in two groups, will match-up against each opponent within their group. Whoever earns the most points will move on to compete against those who earned the most points in the opposite group.

Check out where the athletes are before the big show in a few days:

Travis Stevens made his way from Boston to the Graciemag headquarters in Rio with CEO Luca Atalla and team. Photo: Alan Teo

Kit Dale traveled from Australia and is around Rio training at major academies like the one here, Checkmat Copacabana. Photo: Kit Dale

Paulo Miyao competed in a local tournament and closed out with his brother Joao. Photo: Paulo Miyao

Davi Ramos won his most recent MMA fight with a guillotine in the first round. Photo: Davi Ramos

Felipe Pene trained with his instructor Draculino as the Gracie Barra Texas leader visited Brazil. Photo: Felipe Pena

Manny Diaz flew into Sao Paulo and trained with Leandro Lo who will be facing Claudio Calasans in a superfight. Photo: Manny Diaz

The full schedule for the event in PST or LA time is as follow:

City Challenge(No time limit to submission) – 1:00 pm (LA)
Manaus (Diego Borges) x San Diego (Clark Gracie)

ROUND 1 GP – 2:00 PM (LA)
Verde Renato Cardoso x Travis Stevens
Verde Paulo Miyao x Manuel Diaz
Amarelo Felipe Preguiça x Alexandro Ceconi
Amarelo Diogo Moreno x Davi Ramos

ROUND 2 GP – 2:35 pm (LA)
Verde Paulo Miyao x Jaime Canuto
Verde Manuel Diaz x Travis Stevens
Amarelo Diogo Moreno x Kit Dale
Amarelo Alexandro Ceconi x Davi Ramos

ROUND 3 GP – 3:10 pm (LA)
Verde Manuel Diaz x Renato Cardoso
Verde Travis Stevens x Jaime Canuto
Amarelo Davi Ramos x Felipe Preguiça
Amarelo Alexandro Ceconi x Kit Dale

ROUND 4 GP – 3:45 pm (LA)
Verde Travis Stevens x Paulo Miyao
Verde Jaime Canuto x Renato Cardoso
Amarelo Alexandro Ceconi x Diogo Moreno
Amarelo Kit Dale x Felipe Preguiça

ROUND 5 GP – 4:20 pm (LA)
Verde Jaime Canuto x Manuel Diaz
Verde Renato Cardoso x Paulo Miyao
Amarelo Kit Dale x Davi Ramos
Amarelo Felipe Preguiça x Diogo Moreno

SPECIAL MATCH (NO GI) 5:30 pm (LA)
Leandro Lo x Cláudio Calasans

Catch the livestream by going to www.copapodio.com

Australian black belt Kit Dale is entered into the Copa Podio Middleweight Grand Prix with the likes of Paulo Miyao, Travis Stevens, Alexandre Ceconi, Jaime Canuto, Felipe Preguica and more. When he’s not training for the event, he’s working on his video skills. See his latest below and watch for him in the Copa Podio event on September 8. Livestream available here: www.copapodio.com

Disclaimer: This video is for comedic purposes only and we do not condone outlandish acts of ego on the mat.

Manuel Diaz will compete at the Copa Podio Middleweight GP. Photo: Copa Podio

The Copa Podio Middleweight GP has undergone many changes since its first announcement however the roster is now set for the September 8 event. Manuel Diaz, a Mexican-American, will take on the spot that fellow competitor Keenan Cornelius left when he chose to opt out recently.

Manuel Diaz is a brown belt under Caio Terra who received his most recent belt rank on the podium of the 2012 World Championship at the hands of Caio. The Bay Area native has only been training since 2009 but already accumulated World and Pan American titles as well as a spot at the 2012 Abu Dhabi WPJJC after winning double gold at a trial event in which he severely injured his ankle half-way into his matches.

Known as a hard worker with a severe obsession towards what he loves (he played golf avidly for years) he takes his heart of gold to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in September to take on some of the best in the world.

GRACIEMAG asked Manny some quick questions during a break in his schedule, see what he says about his invitation:

GRACIEMAG: How did you feel when you were invited to a prestigious tournament on such late notice?

I was honored to be invited, honored to be considered even though I’m still a brown belt.

What is your training routine and are you making changes to accomodate this tournament?

Right now evening training is the only training I have due to a full time job, unfortunately. Although it was short notice I still feel I have plenty of time to prepare. I started training at 5 a.m. to adjust my body to the time change. I think this is the biggest change I’ve made for the event but other than that it’s still the same training at Institute of Martial Arts.

Who do you feel is your biggest threat?

Everyone in the tournament is very skilled and I feel that each of them are equally dangerous. They were invited because of this fact and I feel honored to be on the same card.

Do you feel that you are already a force at the black belt level despite still having a brown belt around your waist?

As far as me being a force on the black belt level I still feel I have a ton to learn. The only thing I can do is give it my all and leave it all on the mat; time will tell.

The Copa Podio Middleweight Grand Prix will be on Sunday, September 8; more information and a livestream feed available at: www.copapodio.com

Check out his preparation from the 2013 Worlds Camp at GMA Institute of Martial Arts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EVZqb_F9Xs

Jiu-Jitsu champion Paulo Miyao may meet again with rival Keenan Cornelius in Rio Photo: Erin Herle

The list of ten athletes designated to compete in the Middleweight Grand Prix of the second installment of Copa Pódio, was closed on Tuesday, July 23. The organization agreed on valiant featherweight Paulo Miyao (Cicero Costha), the current absolute brown belt world champion who was recently promoted to black belt. Thus on Sep. 8 Miyao will try to become next in line to the throne of teammate Leandro Lo, winner of the first edition of the Middleweight GP.

“Paulo Miyao enters as a wildcard. With at least ten pounds less than the competition [indeed in June he became one of the lightest absolute world champions in history], he arrives to electrify the tournament. I feel that we have gathered ten great names in the GP, and they certainly will put on a great show for fans of Jiu-Jitsu,” says director Jeferson Mayca. “I think balance will be the hallmark of this tournament. I simply do not see a favorite.”

While Paulo Miyao enters the event, Romulo Barral walks out. Concentrated on his workouts for the ADCC and the No-Gi World Championship in November, the GB professor gives his place to friend Felipe Preguiça. Thus, the ten warriors featured in the Middleweight GP are Yan Cabral, Keenan Cornelius, Alexandro Ceconi, Diego Moreno, Jaime Canuto, Travis Stevens, Kit Dale, Renato Cardoso, Paulo Miyao and Felipe Preguiça.

In addition to the GP, the next edition of the event has other major attractions. The Challenge of Cities, Diego Borges and Clark Gracie will defend Manaus (BR) and San Diego (USA), respectively, while Leandro Lo struggles to maintain his great track record as he stars in a no-gi, timer-free superfight. His opponent, however, is still a mystery. “We are giving some clues through the official website of the Copa Pódio Middleweight GP on Facebook. Here’s a new one: the two have never faced before. Very soon everyone will know who takes on Leandro Lo on September 8,” Jeferson promises.

Scheduled for the 8th of September in Rio, Copa Pódio’s Middleweight GP has added another foreign athlete.

After many requests on social networks by Checkmat supporters, Australian black-belt Kit Dale entered the race, and will try to impose his game of pressure over the more experienced stars.

The GP already had confirmed eight other fighters: Romulo Barral (Gracie Barra), Keenan Cornelius (Atos) Yan Cabral (Aranha / Nova União), Alexandro Ceconi (Ceconi Team), Travis Stevens (Renzo Gracie), Jaime Canuto (GFTeam), Renato Cardoso (Checkmat) and Diego Moreno (Soul Fighters).

Who should fill the last remaining slot? Sound off below.

The event has other good attractions. That same evening, Tijuca Tennis Club will see Clark Gracie (San Diego) and Diego Borges (Manaus) battle it out in the Duel of Cities. The match between the black belts will be a timer-free affair, ending only when one of the fighters resigns or is choked out. Two-time world lightweight champion Leandro Lo will be featured in the superfight, and his opponent should be announced soon.

Check out the line-up announced so far:

Copa Pódio – Middleweight Grand Prix
Tijuca Tennis Club, Rio de Janeiro
September 8, 2013

GP: Romulo Barral, Alexandro Ceconi, Keenan Cornelius, Yan Cabral, Jaime Canuto, Renato
Cardoso, Diego Moreno, Travis Stevens and Kit Dale.

Duel of Cities: Clark Gracie (San Diego) vs. Diego Borges (Manaus)