Written by Michel Oliveira*

You run a successful academy in Brentwood, California, teaching Jiu-Jitsu to a highly diverse group: children, adults, seniors, police officers, business owners, competitors, and even war veterans. What are the key virtues a teacher must have to work so well with such a diverse group? And what mistakes can’t they make?
THIAGO GAIA: Yeah, it’s been amazing to be able to teach Jiu-Jitsu to all different kinds of people. I think the main thing for being successful is loving the day-to-day of the classes. You gotta understand that you’re a service provider. Even if you’re not having the best day, your job is to teach BJJ the best way possible and make sure people feel good in a nice environment. My students come to train mainly for the wellness that a Jiu-Jitsu workout gives them, so even if I’m not feeling 100%, I do my best to make the class enjoyable and productive.

I think a big mistake is just seeing the students as numbers for your business. That diminishes the importance of the work. I try to sanctify my work through the good that BJJ brings to my students’ lives – some lose weight and get out of depression, others build confidence and can defend themselves. Jiu-Jitsu is my livelihood, it’s what puts food on the table for my family, so the financial side is important. But the mistake is to just focus on that. Concentrating on the benefits BJJ has for the students’ lives is what gives deeper meaning to my work and makes me excited to go to the academy every day.

With around 10 pro MMA fights under your belt, what’s the biggest thing you learned from that thrilling journey in the ring?
MMA is the most intense sport I’ve ever done. It requires technical knowledge of various martial arts, an extremely high level of physical conditioning, great emotional control, and a lot of courage to accept the vulnerability of stepping into an octagon to face a trained opponent who’s trying to hurt you to win. It’s not for the faint of heart.

It’s exactly those difficulties that MMA imposed that made me grow as a person – facing my fears, using them to my advantage, and having a lot of faith in God. It’s easier to overcome the challenges of a fight when you have belief in God, rather than just hyper-rationalizing all the possibilities that could happen. Train your hardest to be prepared for anything, then leave it in God’s hands, because sometimes even the bad results can lead to benefits down the line that our human limitations can’t foresee. MMA brought me a lot of personal growth.

Some people like martial arts but are hesitant to join an academy and start training. What do you usually tell those people? What are the benefits that a Jiu-Jitsu academy offers people and society in general?
This is the eternal dilemma of the white belt interested in martial arts – they unconsciously believe they need to be prepared to start BJJ, because they think the more experienced students will just “beat them up.” That’s an illusion, it’s a fear their mind creates that prevents them from starting something that could change their life.

In a good academy, with an experienced and professional instructor, that student will be welcomed into a friendly and understanding environment that respects their limitations. That’s why in my academy, the students who have never done martial arts start in the “Fundamentals Class,” where they’ll learn the basic Jiu-Jitsu concepts and work on specific situations, respecting their physical and technical limitations. Bit by bit, the student gains more confidence and physical conditioning to be able to attend the more advanced classes. Many say they’re out of shape to start, but I tell them they’ll develop the necessary fitness through the training – don’t procrastinate because of excuses your mind creates.

You’re childhood friends with Marcus Buchecha, one of the greatest Jiu-Jitsu competitors of all time. How has that closeness with an icon like him influenced your career? And as a professor and coach, what fundamental tips do you give your students who have the goal of gold medals in the major championships?
I’ve followed Buchecha’s career since we were both blue belt juniors. We trained in the same age category but different weight classes – he was at Checkmat in Santos and I was in São Paulo. I got to see him become the world champion in his division and the absolute, and witness the transformation from a simple, playful kid to a true icon of the sport.

I don’t need to talk about how exceptional he is as an athlete – his titles speak for themselves. But what makes me see him as one of the main references in the sport is his conduct throughout his entire career. He never “sold out” his personality to the “trash talk” generation that came from some MMA athletes. You’ll never see Buchecha disrespecting opponents or losing his martial artist composure. He has confidence in victory without needing to put anyone else down. I believe BJJ needs to give more value to athletes who aren’t just high-performance competitors, but martial artists who haven’t forgotten that Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art and try to revive the values that have been forgotten in favor of a “modern show business” that does have its demands, as a reflection of the moral decline in today’s society. But for the martial artist, it’s better to set a good example, even if few listen, than to corrupt the meaning of the martial art just to be heard by a hysterical, valueless crowd.

Coach of Mayra Sheetara (UFC athlete), how do you analyze the growth in women’s participation in Jiu-Jitsu and the role of self-defense in the daily lives of women?
I’ve been training with Sheetara for over 7 years, ever since we were living in São Paulo and training at Chute Boxe Diego Lima. My focus with her has always been on the BJJ side of things, and it’s been incredibly gratifying to see her become one of the top finishers in the UFC. We’re in constant contact and I get to see her during her training camps – she’s incredibly well-supported by the pros at American Top Team these days.

Sheetara is an incredibly strong woman, and the grit and determination she displays in her fights is a reflection of the adversity she’s overcome in her personal life. She’s dealt with all sorts of financial and health challenges, and I have the utmost respect for her mental toughness.

BJJ is essential for women – it’s the martial art where the physically weaker can overcome the stronger through technique. For women’s self-defense, it’s the premier martial art. A woman well-versed in BJJ drastically increases her chances against a physically stronger male assailant. I’d recommend that all women start training in Jiu-Jitsu – my own wife trains, and my daughter will be starting soon as well.

Photo: Milena Maldonado

As a brown-belt, in 2019, Jéssica Caroline had her best moment when she topped off a strong phase with titles in the IBJJF’s Pan and World Championship in Long Beach, California.

The two medals resulted in Jéssica, 27, being promoted black-belt atop the podium of the last Worlds, prior to the pandemic. Since then, the Alessandro Nunes-trained athlete won the South American and the Rio Open, and placed second in the Brazilian Nationals—all three events held by IBJJF/CBJJ in Brazil.

“In 2019 it was an incredible experience; I was really well prepared, I felt really good in all the fights I had, thus winning the title of champion,” she said. “This year I’m feeling great too, focused and training a lot… I’m going to give it my maximum to bring this title home again, now in the black belt.”

Asked about the state of the roosterweight division, the PAX Academy athlete added: “My category is quite interesting! There are some girls I’ve never fought, all at a high level. I’m anxious and excited! I want it to come soon, because it’s going to be a war.

“I’m prepared and confident; my training sessions have been difficult, and that makes me confident. Nothing can be harder than my training.”

A black-belt since September 2019, Jéssica also spoke of what she thinks it takes to win the World Championship, which is set to start on December 9 in Anaheim, California.

“It’s impossible for you to have success at the Worlds without having the discipline to train right and eat well,” she said. “That’s the work I’ve been doing in the course of all these years. I have a training routine, and discipline to do what’s right and say no to the distractions. When it’s fight time, I also like to see each fight as final, and, in my mind, the person who dictates the pace of the fight is me. That’s the path I’ll follow to become world champion!”

Check out below one of Jéssica’s fights from the 2019 Worlds in California.

Photo: Personal Archive

At 23 years of age, Jeferson Guaresi is one of the strongest athletes from the new generation of Jiu-Jitsu. The black-belt from Unity Jiu-Jitsu proved he deserves this distinction as he won the IBJJF’s World Championship and No-Gi Pan in the last two months. These are medals at the highest level of the sport, especially in the black belt division.

With just two years of experience as a black-belt — a promotion given to him by Murilo Santana — Jeferson has accumulated 29 wins, nine of which were by submission. At the No-Gi Worlds, for example, he won four matches and scored two submissions against Rodrigo Lopes and Joseph Watson. In the medium heavy final, Jeferson played the strategist to beat Pedro Rocha, a fighter known for his guillotines. Jeferson spoke about his performance in a recent interview.

“The final was an interesting fight, because my opponent only had one move about which I had to worry,” he said. “It was a fight where I had to be very focused on not losing my concentration, but I knew my jiu-jitsu is up to date. It just came down to not messing up, and I’d walk away with the win. That was when I scored two points right away and then managed my advantage.”

Jeferson is an avid competitor who has won more than 100 medals in national and international tournaments — including gold at the IBJJF’s No-Gi Pan, No-Gi Worlds and European Championship — in the past eleven years, the time he has been practicing jiu-jitsu. He shared some thoughts on this journey:

“My goal in jiu-jitsu has never been just to be world champion; that’s a consequence of my training. In the course of this time, my goal is to help all who are parts of the sport. I want to make the sport grow more and more, and I want to help people achieve their goals. I want the practitioners of jiu-jitsu to be good people to society too. I’m greatly inspired by my master, Murilo Santana, who is a big influence on what I’ve become today. Rafael Godoi, my first teacher, is also an important part in my education as an athlete.”

Jeferson is considered by many to be the originator of the “thrown by” guard pass — a move that has earned him multiple gold medals in different competitions, including at the No-Gi Pan. Here’s a pioneer’s perspective on how the guard pass works:

“It’s important that you know how to create space to position yourself when it’s time to move. The guard pass I do is intricate and requires perfect timing and form; the secret is in the positioning of the hip and knee, responsible for preventing the guard player’s returning with the leg to defend. Then, I use one of my hands to control my opponent’s hip and advance my entire body to win the three points.”

To see how it works, check out Jeferson’s step-by-step tutorial in the following images.

Photo: Personal Archive

Bibiano Fernandes, 41, has an appointment under One Championship for December 5. The bantamweight champion will be defending his belt against John Lineker, who has only fought three times in the organization, between 2019 and 2021. The announcement was made by One’s CEO, Chatri Sityodtong.

Throughout his career, which began in 2004, Bibiano has achieved 24 wins and suffered four losses. In One Championship, which has employed him since 2012, he has 11 wins and just one loss.

“I’m happy to be able to defend my belt again,” the Brazilian said in a recent interview. “I’ve been on this journey for a long time. I’m happy, healthy, well trained. I want to show younger people that with discipline and hard work, you can get to where you want. Bibiano is the result of a lot of effort, lots of faith and dedication.”

In his native state of Amazonas, where he was staying several days ago, Bibiano got in touch with his roots before returning to Canada to resume his training.

“I’m in Manaus to visit my family and friends and have contact with nature,” he said. “I always come to Brazil before I have an important appointment in my life. Out here, the other day, I did a lecture at a military school for more than 200 students, where I spoke about the importance of being confident, having discipline and courage.” He added: “I’m quite happy to be here.”

Bibiano also revealed that he’s not done evolving in Jiu-Jitsu, as was recently recognized by his teacher, Prof. Osvaldo Alves.

“I’ve received another degree on the black belt,” said Bibiano, who is a three-time BJJ world champion. “I’m happy to conquer another step in the black belt in Jiu-Jitsu, the sport that gave me everything I have. I lost my mom very early, and my dad had no means to raise us; I went to the interior of Amazonas, but if today I am someone, it was the sport that saved me and because I believed I could be someone.”

Photo: Personal Archive

Women’s jiu-jitsu has been growing fast, and one effect of this is noticeable in IBJJF events. From the blue belt up to the brown – where Thamires Monteiro competes – women are more professional and standing out more.

A few weeks ago, Thamires shone at the 2021 Pan, held in Orlando, Florida. The young Checkmat star defeated three opponents to bag the gold medal in the lightweight division. In the final, she scored ten points on Joanna Christine (Tac Team BJJ).

“I did three fights in the division; no points or advantages were scored against me in the course of the competition,” Thamires said in a recent interview. “I was able to put my whole game into action. I was one step ahead of the other girls.”

She trains at Checkmat La Habra, in California, alongside her husband, the black-belt Jackson Douglas. The 23-year-old Thamires dreams of becoming a strong black-belt. She trains under Lucas Leite, who is charged with shaping her way of fighting. At the Pan, for example, her way of conducting matches was quite clear – always scoring as much as possible until reaching a submission.

“The training is fully focused on competition: specific training and brawling,” she said with a laugh. “I love guard-passing; it’s my favorite game! But it’s been a while since I started challenging myself on the bottom, and it’s going well… I confess I even like it!”

Thamires then shared some thoughts on the growth of women’s BJJ: “I believe we’re on the right path to gaining our due recognition, but changes take time. Each passing year, the quantity of girls in competitions goes up, which really helps bring visibility to women’s BJJ. Big events like Fight to Win, BJJ Stars, BJJ Bet are including girls in their events. Of course it’s still one or two women’s fights to a card with five men’s fights, but it’s getting better. The more women we have in the competitive jiu-jitsu scene, the more visibility we’ll have and, consequently, the more opportunities. I hope.”

In the course of her career, Thamires has won gold medals in the American Nationals (weight and absolute), Brazilians Nationals and Pan.

Yuri and Khabib Nurmagomedov. Photo: Personal Archive

Yuri Simões, 31, sits on the shelf of grappling greats. The black-belt has two consecutive ADCC titles, won in 2015 in São Paulo, Brazil and in 2017 in Helsinki, Finland, respectively.

Between 2014 and 2015, Yuri started devoting more of his time to no-gi training, and the results were gigantic. For example, before winning his first ADCC, the athlete was already riding the momentum of winning double gold at the IBJJF’s No-Gi Worlds, where he beat Keenar Cornelius, who represented Atos at the time.

A year later, in 2015, on Brazilian soil, the two clashed for the title of best grappler in the ADCC’s 88kg division. Yuri, again, won by three points, after totally dominating the standup and ground portions of the match.

“From that day, I have great memories,” the Brazilian said in a recent interview. “I was coming off a great phase in no-gi; I had just won my weight and the absolute in the No-Gi Worlds, and that ended up being reflected there, also, at the ADCC.”

“Of the fight with Keenan, I have little memories from that day, but I can tell you I was very dominant during the fight. I showed that I had arrived to stay, and that’s what happened. The fight was fast-paced, but I was one step ahead the whole time. I remember that halfway into the fight, I got a takedown and went straight to the back. It was one of the decisive moments of that day.”

About the feeling of bagging the gold medal, Yuri added: “It gave me the certainty that all my hard work and sacrifices to be there paid off! Starting that moment, my name would be etched in the history of grapping, of jiu-jitsu, forever.”

An MMA athlete fighting for AKA, where he trains side by side with Daniel Cormier and Khabib Nurmagomedov, Yuri is presently keeping his boxing and Muay Thai training active while waiting to be summoned by One Championship.

“I remain focused on my MMA and grappling training,” he said. “I am an active fighter and love the process of learning and training. I can’t wait to put on the gloves again.”

Patrick fighting in Moscow. Photo: IBJJF

From a childhood in Campo Grande, West Zone of Rio de Janeiro, to teach classes in Russia and continue with intense competition training in Hawaii. Patrick Almeida tells his very unusual trajectory of those found in Jiu-Jitsu: he abandoned his career in medicine to follow his passion for the sport.

A lot has happened in the hiatus of his story full of challenges, consistency and determination, all thanks to the good old Jiu-Jitsu. Nothing was easy for black belt Patrick Almeida, 26, an athlete trained by professors Everaldo Penco and Fabinho Oliveira at Carlson Gracie Recreio. His successful trajectory can serve as an inspiration for you, a dreamer who wants to follow even more hard in pursuit of your goals.

Jiu-Jitsu appeared in Patrick’s life, as in many other cases, when he was still young, to fight the bullying he suffered at school. Patrick was the target of constant nicknames and constant assaults at school until his older cousin suggested that he enter Jiu-Jitsu classes. Patrick’s parents wrinkled their noses at first, fearing the still present image of bullies of the 90s, however, they ended up giving in to the sport.

Fabinho Oliveira and Patrick with Everaldo Penco. Photo: Personal archive

His first Jiu-Jitsu lesson was about adaptation. With a borrowed kimono and a lot of desire to learn, Patrick used his time after school to ride his bike to the gym and give his first “balls” at the Vikings academy, with professor Elienai Rodrigues. Later, the teacher moved and Patrick, already living at Recreio, had the opportunity to train at Team Nogueira, with professor Everaldo Penco, who was to be his master throughout his career as an athlete.

The training life was intense, but the biggest plan at that time was to study medicine at a federal college since Patrick had excellent grades at school. The entrance exam took him on a different path, which was to study Engineering in Minas Gerais, and there his first steps as a teacher started in a small social project. Subsequently, a general shutdown of the college in Minas Gerais took Patrick back to Rio, giving him another opportunity to study medicine, this time in icy Russia.

“I went to Kursk, a very cold and extremely remote city,” says Patrick, “at that time I didn’t have Jiu-Jitsu, but sambo, judo, and wrestling were part of their daily lives. In my college there was sambo and I decided to try it. I was lucky enough to get there on the day of solo training and I with Jiu-Jitsu lay down and rolled over the Russians. I earned their respect, but they didn’t relieve me from falling training. I didn’t know what floor or ceiling was in the felling class. In striking training, it was the same thing, only worse. I started attending the Bola de Neve church there and I was told that they had plans to open a Jiu-Jitsu training, except that a teacher was missing. I applied and the classes grew ”. Little did the black belt know that he would have been one of the pioneers of Jiu-Jitsu in Kursk, leaving a legacy in the city.

Patrick with his students, at the Moscow Open 2014. Photo: Personal archive

With the experience gained teaching classes and a referral from his friend Mahamed Aly, Patrick moved to St. Petersburg, also in Russia, to train and help at a Jiu-Jitsu academy, requesting a transfer to the St. Petersburg University of Medicine. As Patrick fought and won most national championships, his passion for Jiu-Jitsu began to speak louder than his ambition for medicine. Patrick then decided to take a risk, drop everything and pursue his career as an athlete. This was the first time, of many, that the black belt learned to reinvent himself.

Back in Rio de Janeiro, Patrick helped to found Carlson Gracie Recreio and, later, began to act as a teacher, giving some private Jiu-Jitsu classes. One of her students paid her hours in advance, and her biggest dream in Jiu-Jitsu would be realized: fighting the Worlds in California.

With tickets and hotel reserved, everything was fine to compete in the biggest Jiu-Jitsu tournament, if it weren’t for an unforeseen event: an ear infection hindered the final stretch of training and the weight didn’t go down as it should, forcing Patrick to rise from the middleweight. for heavyweight. Even with all the difficulty and against medical advice, and tears on reaching the Long Beach Pyramid, the tough guy came in to fight, being overcome.

“Once again Mahamed was at my side to help me,” revealed Patrick. “I had problems with the ticket back to Brazil that forced me to stay in the USA for a while longer. I did not fail and went back to Rio, where I would have another sensational experience. ”

Patrick with Leo Dalla and Mahamed Aly. Foto: Personal archive

Patrick spoke of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. A friend of the family indicated the sportsman to work at the event, coordinating the weighing area of several modalities such as judo, taekwondo, and boxing. This baggage made him receive a new invitation to return to the country that was indispensable in his career: Russia. This time Patrick was not going as a medical student but as a Jiu-Jitsu professor and partner of one of the largest academy chains in greater St. Petersburg.

“I got there at a time when the government supported newaza tournaments, a fight that was fought with submissions,” recalled Patrick. “Our students trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and were outstanding in these competitions. In the middle of this rush of classes and tournaments, Everaldo Penco traveled to Russia for a seminar tour, and when I got there I graduated to black belt. I was even training for the European Jiu-Jitsu Championship, with a focus on brown belt, but he said that I would have to turn around and fight as a black belt because I would graduate anyway. ”

As a teacher, Patrick won his weight class and won the no-gi absolute at the Moscow Open, in addition to refereeing in tournaments across Europe in cities like Copenhagen, Prague, Lisbon and Moscow, which he had previously referred. Unfortunately, in one of these tournaments, the beast ended up breaking two knee ligaments and had to reinvent himself a second time. Classes decreased due to the severity of the injuries, with some students being turned off by the lack of a teacher. After a while, he and his then partner, Igor Buchman, received an interesting proposal to sell the academy. And so they did.

With his knee injured and being forced out of competition for a period, Patrick took the opportunity to travel the world and visit other countries – more than 30, according to the athlete. His sabbatical season ended when he received a proposal to teach in Denver, USA, appeared, but another factor would tangle such a simple equation.

Patrick with the gold medal at Lisbon. Photo: Personal archive

“Tiago Oliveira, who is a soccer coach and trained with me and Everaldo at Recreio, came to me intending to take me to Hawaii, to give a seminar. They sent the tickets and when I got there, I met Keola Akao, an outstanding Hawaiian who introduced me to the local culture. I ended up falling in love with the place, the people and their hospitality. He commented that he was looking to expand the academy, form a competition team and such, so I talked about the proposal I had in Denver to teach, but I would still like to stay in Hawaii and continue my dream of being a top athlete. Keola made me a counteroffer, offering me all the support and we agreed that I would stay. I was also lucky to have the support of Horlando Monteiro, a black belt from Kimura, who is also here in Hawaii, as the team’s coach. We are of similar age and weights, being able to help each other in the process. I’ve been here for a few months and I’m applying to stay as an athlete, so I can live my dream again. ”

With a history that began in Rio de Janeiro, taking Jiu-Jitsu classes to defend himself at school, then going on to teach classes in Russia in parallel to his medical course and, finally, going to Hawaii, where he is currently continuing to your career as an athlete. Choice of dreams, changes in plans and, above all, a lot of determination and intense training. Patrick Almeida learned to reinvent himself with every unforeseen and opportunity that life offered him. “It is very difficult to stay away from the people we love, family, friends and give up so many other things for a purpose because this is your dream and you need to win in life. The price of giving up so many things is very expensive, but without that nothing is possible ”, says the black belt.

Patrick fighting against Tommy Langaker. Photo: Personal archive

In this way, we can conclude that even a young man in the face of such different dreams and having to reinvent himself several times throughout his career, was able to reach the world and will continue to fight until he conquered his goals in his career as an athlete. Even in times of pandemic, with quarantine in all parts of the world, Patrick’s baggage of overcoming and willpower makes the teacher deal with the moment particularly, already with plans for the end of the storm.

“‘ The winner is the winner for winning. The loser is a loser because he gives up. ’ Not even this quarantine will stop me. I operated on my knee during the severe winter in Russia, I couldn’t move around the neighborhood because of the cold and the ice accumulated on the street, which slipped a lot. I was practically in a semi-quarantine at that time, and I learned that stuck at home, you either sink or you rise to the maximum. We cannot let ourselves rest, staying at home makes us lazy. We have to fight comfort. I have used the quarantine to train more, read more and take several courses online. Take the time to invest in yourself and become a better person”, he concluded.

Before the bout, watch Alex using his guard game against Mark Nguyen at Cage Championships 38. The victory came via armbar. Check it Out:

The position begins with Mansher Khera using a spin to fall in the legdrag position. With Dillon’s legs trapped, Mansher tries to put pressure. But that’s when Dillon escapes and he explains how.

In a deft move, the Alliance’s brown belt loops Khera’s neck and moves his hips to the right side. To adjust the pressure, Dillon puts the right leg over his opponent’s back and submits.

Also notice how he places his head right next to his opponent’s body, preventing the guy from posturing up.

Pressured by Allen, who insisted on trying to take him down, Frankie saw the space to lasso the opponent’s neck and get the guillotine. With a precise attack, the fighter from Ricardo Almeida’s academy got the submission.

Frankie has nine victories (five by submission) and one defeat in his card. See below the beast’s fighting style:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkz7v9t7u_k#t=149

Shane Del Rosario Photo by Josh Hedges

UFC heavyweight Shane Del Rosario, 30, passed away this Monday, December 9, after suffering what was called a catastrophic cardiovascular failure two weeks ago.

The fighter suffered a critical heart failure on Nov. 26 while he was alone in his home in Newport Beach, CA, where he was found by roommate and fellow fighter Ian McCall.

He was brought to the hospital and resuscitated and was in critical condition since then.

The UFC has released a statement:

“The Ultimate Fighting Championship mourns the tragic loss of heavyweight competitor Shane Del Rosario, who has passed away at the age of 30. Del Rosario suffered a heart attack on Tuesday, Nov. 26 as a result of what doctors believe to be a congenital heart disorder, according to his manager Jason House. The entire organization sends its deepest condolences to Shane’s family and friends.” 

Doctors believe that Del Rosario suffered from a congenial condition called Long QT Syndrome, which causes a life-threatening sudden change in the heart rhythm. 

Del Rosario had a 11-2 overal record in MMA, but a 0-2 record in the UFC.

His last fight took place Dec. 15 2012, as part of TUF 16 Finale and he was knocked out by Pat Barry.

After that, Del Rosario was badly injured on his back after suffering a car accident and had to withdraw from two commitments with the UFC.

Shane Del Rosario Photo by Josh Hedges

Sad news for the MMA community this Thursday.

UFC heavyweight Shane Del Rosario, 30, is said to have no brain activity after suffering what was called a catastrophic cardiovascular failure last Wednesday.

The fighter suffered a heart attack while he was alone in his house, where he was found by roommate and fellow fighter Ian McCall.

He was brought to the hospital and resuscitated and was in critical condition since then.

Del Rosario’s passing was erroneous informed yesterday.

He remains in life support and it is said that his family will make the final decision of letting him go this Friday.

His coach Colin Oyama posted on Facebook: “The Del Rosario family and I, and all of our family, team-mates and friends thank everyone for their prayers and support. God has a different path for Shane to take and instead has chosen to take Him away from us to be with his forefathers in Heaven. Yet through all of this our Faith in GOD remains unwavering.”

Del Rosario had a 11-2 oevral record in MMA, but a 0-2 record in the UFC.

His last fight took place Dec. 15 2012, as part of TUF 16 Finale and he was knocked out by Pat Barry.

After that, Del Rosario was badly injured on his back after suffering a car accident and had to withdraw from two commitments with the UFC.

Watch Del Rosario in his last win as a MMA figther against Lavar Johnson on Feb. 2012, still in Strikeforce.

ShaneLavar by rodnog2009