Bochecha in photo by K Jewel (publicity).

Having won his weight group and the absolute at the Jiu-Jitsu Worlds as a brown belt, Marcus “Bochecha” Almeida lived up to expectations and had a great run at black belt. His first major result came in no-gi competition, this month. Bochecha closed out the heavyweight division with João Assis and the absolute with Cyborg. Speaking with GRACIEMAG.com, the beast from the coastal São Paulo city of Santos analyzes the season coming to a close and his perspectives coming in 2011. First, though, he shows how he’s keen to the UFC 123 show coming up this Saturday.

“I’d like to wish my great friend Edson Jr. luck in his UFC debut. He’s going to kick butt!”

How do you assess your first year of competition as a black belt?

It was the best year of my life in every way. Both professionally and personally, things came together as best they could and with what I like doing: competing, training, and teaching. I did well in all the competitions, winning at weight and open weight. But I could feel the weight of the new belt, always against more experienced opponents. I feel I’m learning more and more with every competition.

Bochecha and Pablo Popovitch celebrate at No-Gi Pan. Photo: Alberto Vasari

What’s your aim for next year?

We’ll start 2011 in everything. Cavaca and Raphael Chaves will do a European tour. That’s why we’ll be training hard starting in January, but our main focus is the Pan, World Pro, and, of course, the Worlds.

What do you need to do to win the Worlds?

I feel that in any competition the secret is not just to train, but to know how to train properly. That’s why we’re not going to take any rest until then. I’m really anxious to see how I’ll do. I guarantee I’ll do my best and fight to win. Is winning the absolute at the 2011 Worlds already a reachable dream?

That’s for sure any Jiu-Jitsu fighter’s dream, and it’s mine too. I know that before then I’ll face loads of tough fighters, but I’ll always fight in pursuit of this dream and objective.

Will you compete again in 2010?

After the No-Gi Worlds the plan was to rest, but I’ll go to Brazil to compete at the World League. So I’ll go without rest. We’re training hard, Thiago “Baiano”, Chaves “Cabeçudinho”, and I. They will give us a lot to talk about, as will Master Cavaca, who also had a great year and will go full steam into 2011.

I’d like to thank my family the Armory, my sponsors, and the whole crew back in Santos. Without forgetting to thank, of course, GRACIEMAG.com!

Bochecha em foto de K Jewel (divulgação).

Depois de vencer na faixa-marrom o peso e absoluto do Mundial de Jiu-Jitsu, Marcus Almeida, o Bochecha, fez valer as expectativas e foi bem na faixa-preta. O primeiro grande resultado em mundiais veio sem kimono, neste mês. Bochecha fechou a categoria superpesado com João Assis e o absoluto com Cyborg Abreu. Em conversa com o GRACIEMAG.com, o a fera de Santos, no litoral de São Paulo, analisa a temporada e as perspectivas para 2011. Antes, se mostra atento ao UFC 123, que acontece neste sábado: 

“Gostaria de desejar sorte para nosso grande irmão Edson Jr, que estreia no UFC. Ele vai arrebentar!”.

Como analisa o seu primeiro ano de competições na faixa-preta?

Foi o melhor ano da minha vida em todos os sentidos. Tanto no lado profissional como no pessoal, as coisas todas se encaminharam para melhor e com o que gosto de fazer: lutar, treinar e ensinar. Fui bem em todas as competições, tendo vencido peso e absoluto. Mas deu para perceber o peso da nova faixa, sempre contra adversários mais experientes. A cada competição sinto que aprendo mais.  

Bochecha e Pablo Popovitch comemoram no Pan Sem Kimono. Foto: Alberto Vasari

Qual o principal foco no próximo ano? 

Em 2011 já começaremos com tudo. O Cavaca e o Raphael Chaves farão um tour pela Europa. Por isso, começaremos a treinar forte desde janeiro, mas o nosso principal foco é o Pan, o World Pro e, com certeza, o Mundial. 
 
O que precisa fazer para vencer no Mundial? 

Acho que em qualquer competição o segredo não é apenas treinar, mas saber treinar. Por isso não vamos ter descanso até lá. Estou muito ansioso para ver como me sairei. Garanto que vou dar o meu melhor e lutar para vencer.

Ganhar o absoluto do Mundial em 2011 já é um sonho possível? 

Isso sem dúvida é o sonho de todo lutador de Jiu-Jitsu, e o meu também. Sei que até lá enfrentarei muitas pedreiras, mas sempre lutarei em busca desse sonho e objetivo.  

Luta ainda em 2010?

Depois do Mundial Sem Kimono o plano era descansar, mas vou ao Brasil para lutar o World League. Então estou sem descanso. Estamos treinando forte eu, Thiago “Baiano” e Chaves “Cabeçudinho”. Eles vão dar o que falar junto com o mestrão Cavaca, que também teve um ótimo ano e vai chegar com tudo em 20011.
 
Gostaria de agradecer à família Amory, aos meus patrocinadores e a toda rapaziada de Santos. Sem esquecer de agradecer, claro, ao GRACIEMAG.COM!

Photo: John Lamonica

GRACIEMAG reported first hand on the Gregor Gracie-Pablo Popovitch matchup to take place at the August 27 and 28 Fan Expo in Boston. Tuned into the site, a reader by the codename of “Triângulo” posted a comment shortly thereafter: “Rolles Gracie will be there too, against Cyborg Abreu”

Following the lead, we had a talk with Cyborg, who confirmed the matchup:

“That’s right, my brother. I’m going to fight Rolles and Pablo’s going to face Gregor. We’re training hard as always. We have a really good camp going on here in Florida, and we train the whole year. The UFC Fan Expo, in partnership with Grapplers Quest, is a huge showcase for Jiu-Jitsu. I’m going there to put on a spectacle and show what I do! There’s not much I can say about Rolles, I respect the Gracie family and I’m certain we’re going to have a great match,” he says.

This season Cyborg was one of the standouts at the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, placing second in the ultraheavyweight division. The event provided the black belt with a lot experience and emotions spanning from joy to sadness. Cyborg will never forget the 2010 Worlds.

“This Worlds was a great experience for two reasons. Right off the bat I was in really tough brackets both in the absolute and my weight group, hard fights from start to finish. At weight, first off I faced Tozi, then came Gabriel Vella, Braga Neto and Rodrigo Cavaca. Couldn’t have been a better day, right? (laughs) I went developing match after match and then after an historic showing against Braga Neto I reached the final. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be; Cavaca got the better of me that weekend and managed to bump me out of the event twice. Full credit to him, besides being champion he’s a great person,” he says.

“On the other hand, I lost my best friend, Peter Bivona. Peter was my friend and student; he went with me and the rest of my group to the Worlds. He fought on Thursday and was there egging me on every day till Saturday. Suffering from a sharp pain in his shoulder, he was taken to hospital Saturday night. Sunday, during the finals, I lost my friend without even knowing how it happened. The doctor’s told me he was fine, and then he died. That was my biggest loss. And that’s why I’ll never forget that World Championship. My brother fulfilled his dream of competing and seeing the whole gang in excitement. It was his passion for Jiu-Jitsu!” he continues.

Cyborg and students. Photo: personal archives

Cyborg is proud of the work he’s been doing in the United States. Harking from the Pantanal, in Central Brazil, he now heads two academies in Miami.

“Work is going great. The Jiu-Jitsu academy is called Fight Sports. There’s a really big new wing and a gigantic matted area. The academy is complete, in a hotel and facing the ocean. The hotel is part of FS Miami Camp and is for Jiu-Jitsu guys from around the world who want to do intensive training on the beach front in South Beach, a dream come true that worked out. Thank God, it’s been a success,” he says.

“The other one is Legacyfit (legacyfit.com), geared towards MMA and grappling. We’re producing great fighters there. Soon I’ll have a number of MMA beasts, too. I thank God and my master Toco of Nova Geração for that,” he says in closing.