Otávio Sousa

The IBJJF held the first ever Atlanta Pro championship this Saturday, April 30.

João Miyao, Otavio Sousa, Vitor Oliveira and Leonardo Nogueira walked away with the biggest prizes in the adult black belt division.

In the featherweight, João Miyao beat Bruno Frazzatto for the title and the $4,000 prize.

The middleweight gold medal went to Otavio Sousa, after an armbar finish on Jaime Canuto.

Vitor Oliveira beat Murilo Santana for the heavyweight title while Leonardo Nogueira beat Mahamed Aly by one advantage for the ultra-heavy gld medal.

In the teams’ competition, results were:

1 – Roberto Traven BJJ – 288

2 – Gracie Barra – 203

3 – Pedigo Submission Fighting – 76

Click here for the full results.

Michael Serg with his team. Photo: Personal archive

Within one year as a black belt, Michael Sergi of GMA Serg BJJ has made strides in his Jiu-Jitsu career. At the 2015 IBJJF Atlanta Winter Open on Jan. 31 he earned his first gold medal and title at the rank of black belt.

This was his third tournament competing as a black belt and three’s a charm. Michael came out on top in the black belt master 2 heavyweight division against Royce Gracie black belt Jon Pyler and UFC veteran Rory Singer.

In his final, he was able to secure the win by a guard pass within the last 30 seconds of the match!

Michael, left, with Marcio Cruz, center, Rafael de Lima, right. Photo: Personal archive

The Marcio Cruz student attributes his success to his students and professor but admits there is always more to go: “I’m happy with winning gold, but I’m not satisfied. I have much to improve. I’m thankful for great students that push me in training and to Marcio for supporting me.”

Learn more about Michael Sergi and Serg BJJ in Savannah, Georgia at www.sergbjj.com

Roberto Traven BJJ competitor at the 2014 IBJJF Atlanta Open. Photo: Preston Smith

The team that earned the top spot for most points scored as a team at the 2014 IBJJF Atlanta Open on August 30 was a local one. Team Roberto Traven BJJ led his group of competitors to gain one of the highest amounts of team points scored at an IBJJF tournament.

We spoke with Roberto about this win and what it means for his team:

GRACIEMAG: How many students did you have signed up for the Atlanta Open?

ROBERTO TRAVEN:  This tournament we had 190 students competing under Roberto Traven BJJ.

How did your team prepare for the tournament?

The team worked very hard for this competition. We did eight weeks of a very intense camp before the competition. I do believe that when you train very hard you feel much more confident to do a good job during the competition and end up getting the results that you want.

How big of an accomplishment is this?

This result means a lot to me and it’s a huge accomplishment. We not only won for the second time in a row but we also got more than 700 points. The difference between our team and the second place team was more than 360 points. This is very impressive because we beat teams that have been out there for years and my team is a very new team,; we are only seven years old. And we beat them by a huge difference in points. This result confirms that we are doing the right job. Interestingly, I have been searching throughout the IBJJF website and I could not find any team who have gotten that many points as a team. I have sent an email to IBJJF and waiting for their response. I might be wrong but I think we are the only team who have gotten so many points in one tournament. And I thank GOD for this.

While it can’t be confirmed as beating the record, it is one of the highest amount points scored and an impressive feat. Learn more about Roberto Traven BJJ at www.unit2fitness.com

Tim Spriggs e Roberto Torralbas fecharam o absoluto. Foto: Arquivo Pessoal

No último sábado, 30 de agosto, os competidores do Atlanta Open da IBJJF dominaram o ginásio Georgia Convention Center, no estado da Geórgia. A equipe de Lloyd Irvin dominou duas categorias, o peso pesado e o absoluto, com Tim Spriggs e Roberto Torralbas. O pódio do absoluto foi completado com o valente veterano Wellington Megaton (Gracie Humaitá) e Walnan Constantino (Mineirinho).

Jonathan Thomas (Alliance) ficou com o ouro no pena. Rafael Rosendo (Alliance) brilhou no médio. Vitor Toledo (Atos) foi o melhor no meio-pesado.
Guybson Sá (SAS) subiu no lugar mais alto do pódio no superpesado.

Na faixa-marrom, a academia de Lloyd Irvin também foi destaque. Campeão meio-pesado, Tye Murphy (Lloyd Irvin) também brilhou no peso aberto, e fechou com o companheiro de equipe Admilson Gobi.

Para ver todos os campeões, clique aqui.

Michael Sergi in the blue. Photo: Erin Herle

Michael Sergi of GMA Serg BJJ traveled from Savannah to NYC for the 2014 IBJJF New York Summer Open. Along with him came two students from his school and one other from Marcio Cruz BJJ.

In total, they took home one gold, one silver and one bronze. For Michael, this was his first tournament as a black belt. Of the experience he says, “I competed against some very good and very experienced competitors.” He earned silver in his medium-heavy weight class and a silver in the open class.

The team as a whole, Marcio Cruz BJJ, came in 24 out of 140 teams with only four competitors. Congratulations.

To learn more about Serg BJJ in Savannah, GA, visit www.sergbjj.com

Pe de Pano promotes first American black belt, Michael Sergi. Photo: Personal Archive

Marcio “Pe de Pano” Cruz promoted his on of his students to black belt over the weekend of April 26 – 27 at the 2014 IBJJF Boca Raton Open in Florida. This is the first American he has promoted to black belt

The student, Michael Sergi of GMA Serg BJJ was given his black belt after winning gold in the brown belt masters 2 medium-heavy division.

He says, “I was happy about my performance and winning gold, but I was overwhelmed with joy when Marcio wrapped the black belt around my waist on the podium. I am proud to achieve the belt and even more proud that Marcio trusted me enough to make me his black belt. I know he has high expectations. I have a lot more work to do now.”

Learn more about this new black belt and his GMA academy Serg BJJ in Savannah, GA, visit www.sergbjj.com

UFC Fight Night 35
Duluth, Geórgia
15 de janeiro de 2014

Luke Rockhold venceu Constantinos Philippou por nocaute técnico aos 2min31s do R1 (Nocaute da noite)
Brad Tavares venceu Lorenz Larkin na decisão unânime dos jurados
TJ Dillashaw venceu Mike Easton na decisão unânime dos jurados
Yoel Romero venceu Derek Brunson por nocaute técnico aos 3min23s do R3 (Luta da noite)
John Moraga venceu Dustin Ortiz na decisão dividida dos jurados
Cole Miller finalizou Sam Sicilia no mata-leão a 1min54s do R2 (Finalização da noite)

Card preliminar

Ramsey Nijem venceu Justin Edwards na decisão unânime dos jurados
Elias Silvério venceu Isaac Vallie-Flagg na decisão unânime dos jurados
Trevor Smith venceu Brian Houston na decisão dividida dos jurados
Louis Smolka venceu Alptekin Ozkilic na decisão unânime dos jurados
Vinc Pichel venceu Garrett Whiteley na decisão unânime dos jurados
Beneil Dariush finalizou Charlie Brenneman no mata-leão a 1min45s do R1

Rockhold vence Philippou e sonha com revanche contra Belfort. Foto: UFC/Divulgação

A noite dessa quarta-feira, dia 15, foi de muito trabalho para os jurados no UFC Fight Night 35. Das 12 lutas apresentadas no card realizado em Geórgia, nos EUA, apenas quatro não foram para decisão. Uma delas foi a vitória de Luke Rockhold sobre Constantinos Philippou por nocaute técnico, em combate válido pela categoria peso médio do Ultimate.

Rockhold, que vinha de derrota brutal para Vitor Belfort no UFC em Jaraguá do Sul, no ano passado, entrava no cage na obrigação de mostrar porque era tão temido no descontinuado Strikeforce. Do outro lado, um cipriota bom de boxe Costa Philippou queria acabar com a festa. Mas foi em vão.

Com ações mais contundentes do americano, a vitória veio com uma combinação de soco e dois chutes na linha de cintura. A primeira apenas marcou que o caminho era mesmo aquele, pois Costa acusou discretamente o poder do primeiro chute. O segundo veio para sacramentar o fim da luta, forçando Costa a ir ao solo, recebendo mais um chute, este sem muita potência, enquanto Hearb Dean encerrava o combate. (clique aqui e reveja)

Após a luta, uma surpresa: Rockhold revelou que ainda almeja uma revanche contra Vitor Belfort, mas espera que seu sonhado acerto de contas seja realizado em solo estadunidense. Ele ainda disse que pretende derrubar todos no caminho até sua revanche, e que Michael Bisping seria uma boa vítima na caminhada. O algoz Vitor, por sua vez, já possui encontro marcado com Chris Weidman pelo cinturão peso médio do UFC. Quem sabe no futuro.

Outros destaques ficaram para a finalização premiada de Cole “Magrinho” Miller sobre Sam Sicilia (clique aqui e reveja), para a vitória de Yoel Romero sobre Derek Brunson, em combate fechado por nocaute técnico com cotoveladas na linha de cintura, e para a finalização rápida e eficiênte do craque de Jiu-Jitsu Beneil Dariush sobre Charlie Brenneman.

Confira os resultados:

UFC Fight Night 35
Duluth, Geórgia
15 de janeiro de 2014

Luke Rockhold venceu Constantinos Philippou por nocaute técnico aos 2min31s do R1 (Nocaute da noite)
Brad Tavares venceu Lorenz Larkin na decisão unânime dos jurados
TJ Dillashaw venceu Mike Easton na decisão unânime dos jurados
Yoel Romero venceu Derek Brunson por nocaute técnico aos 3min23s do R3 (Luta da noite)
John Moraga venceu Dustin Ortiz na decisão dividida dos jurados
Cole Miller finalizou Sam Sicilia no mata-leão a 1min54s do R2 (Finalização da noite)

Card preliminar

Ramsey Nijem venceu Justin Edwards na decisão unânime dos jurados
Elias Silvério venceu Isaac Vallie-Flagg na decisão unânime dos jurados
Trevor Smith venceu Brian Houston na decisão dividida dos jurados
Louis Smolka venceu Alptekin Ozkilic na decisão unânime dos jurados
Vinc Pichel venceu Garrett Whiteley na decisão unânime dos jurados
Beneil Dariush finalizou Charlie Brenneman no mata-leão a 1min45s do R1

Veja abaixo como Cole Miller aplicou sua técnica apurada para finalizar Sam Sicilia, e levar o bônus de finalização da noite do UFC na Geórgia.

UFC Fight Night 35
Duluth, Geórgia
15 de janeiro de 2014

Luke Rockhold venceu Constantinos Philippou por nocaute técnico aos 2min31s do R1 (Nocaute da noite)
Brad Tavares venceu Lorenz Larkin na decisão unânime dos jurados
TJ Dillashaw venceu Mike Easton na decisão unânime dos jurados
Yoel Romero venceu Derek Brunson por nocaute técnico aos 3min23s do R3 (Luta da noite)
John Moraga venceu Dustin Ortiz na decisão dividida dos jurados
Cole Miller finalizou Sam Sicilia no mata-leão a 1min54s do R2 (Finalização da noite)

Card preliminar

Ramsey Nijem venceu Justin Edwards na decisão unânime dos jurados
Elias Silvério venceu Isaac Vallie-Flagg na decisão unânime dos jurados
Trevor Smith venceu Brian Houston na decisão dividida dos jurados
Louis Smolka venceu Alptekin Ozkilic na decisão unânime dos jurados
Vinc Pichel venceu Garrett Whiteley na decisão unânime dos jurados
Beneil Dariush finalizou Charlie Brenneman no mata-leão a 1min45s do R1

The Serg BJJ team representing at the 2013 IBJJF Atlanta Open. Photo: Personal Archive

The Serg BJJ / Team Marcio Cruz Savannah Academy traveled from Savannah, GA to the 2013 IBJJF Atlanta Open on Saturday, Aug. 31. The team was comprised of eighteen athletes and they brought home eleven medals.

Ultimately, their small group came in tenth place out of a total of 73 teams that were representing at the international championship.

The list of individual athletes:

WHITE / Adult / Male / Rooster Brandon Hunnicutt
WHITE / Adult / Male / Rooster Jakob Williams
WHITE / Adult / Male / Light Feather James Moseley
WHITE / Adult / Male / Feather Parker Sass
WHITE / Adult / Male / Middle Samuel Norton
BLUE / Adult / Male / Light Feather Cody Keers
BLUE / Adult / Male / Light Feather Josh Sipes
BLUE / Adult / Male / Light Aaron Hines
BLUE / Adult / Male / Middle Dag Gay
BLUE / Adult / Male / Ultra Heavy Danny Hellmann
BLUE / Master / Male / Middle Trent Sikes
BLUE / Master / Male / Heavy James Owens
BLUE / Master / Male / Heavy JR Gay
PURPLE / Adult / Male / Heavy Austin Avera
PURPLE / Adult / Male / Heavy Dustin Waters
PURPLE / Master / Male / Feather John Rodgers
PURPLE / Senior 1 / Male / Middle Harry West
BROWN / Senior 1 / Male / Heavy Michael Sergi

In a facebook post addressed to his students, head instructor Michael Sergi said, “I’m proud of the way our guys competed and represented. I was very proud of the poise and confidence that each of you had in your matches. You not only represented well on the mats you represented well off of the mats. Your sportsmanship and respect for the other competitors/spectators deserves just as much attention. There were too many outstanding things that took place competitively for me to mention in this post. Know that your effort and attitude was judged way more than the results of your matches regardless of the outcome.

What must be addressed are the many thanks and words of appreciation for everyone involved. I appreciate the courage and commitment to the guys that competed this weekend. Each of you stepped up big. Without you we wouldn’t have achieved such a level of success. A big thank you to the team members that took the time to travel to Atlanta and support those competing. I want to mention all of your names, but there are too many to list. You guys are the best and your presence meant so much. Another big thank you to the family and friends that supported us back home. You play a big part of our success too. Another big thank you to Professor Marcio Cruz. Your guidance and words regarding your expectations for the team are motivating for all of us to set higher goals and accomplish bigger things.”

Congratulations to the Serg BJJ team, Michael Sergi and Professor Marcio Cruz in leading the team to their victories.

More information about Serg BJJ can be found at www.SergBJJ.com

One of the best and most exciting matches of the day was the back-and-forth exhibition between Alliance’s Lucas Lepri and GFTeam’s Vitor Oliveira.

The win was determined by two points each, advantages for each and a penalty. It was a close match with both athletes leading at one point but Vitor took home the gold in the division via advantages.

Check out the exhibition of fast-paced black belt talent as two top class competitors show how to sweep, takedown, maintain a solid base, transition from one position to another, avoid takedowns, pull guard effectively and not effectively, use X-guard, use toreando guard passes and more.

Take notes!

Lucas Lepri (bottom) has never competed in ADCC before. Here he sets up a sweep on Kenny Florian at the 2009 Pan No-Gi.

Along with many athletes receiving emails from the ADCC organization, Alliance champion Lucas Lepri is of that group. Gaining his first-ever invitation to the prestigious event, Lucas will be traveling to Beijing, China, in October to represent his team in the under 77kg division.

Having already been to Abu Dhabi for the World Pro and a champion in IBJJF’s top tournaments, it’s time for Lucas to make his debut as a no-gi grappler on the international stage of ADCC. See how he reacted to the surprise notification and how he will adjust his training regiment in an exclusive chat with GRACIEMAG.com.

GRACIEMAG: How does it feel to be personally invited to one of the most prestigious BJJ tournaments in the world?

LUCAS LEPRI: Honestly when Fabio Gurgel called me and told me that I was chosen to represent my team at the ADCC, I felt so happy and at the same time so flattered for the opportunity. I was waiting for this invitation since my first No-Gi Worlds title [in 2009] and now I am more than happy to know that my work is being recognized.

Will you change your training from now on to be prepared for this no-gi event and will you go anywhere else or stay in Atlanta?

Yes, my training now is going to be more focused on no-gi, but I will keep training with the gi because in my opinion it’s very important to combine both to get the result that I am looking for. All my training is going to be done in Atlanta with Master Jacare and my students. But I might also go to NYC [Marcelo Garcia Academy] as it seems that our crew from Brazil is coming so we can all train together and get prepared.

What kind of matches are you looking forward to with possible opponents such as Otavio Sousa?

For all of my fights my goal is to fight forward and look for the submission. It’s always a pleasure to fight with big athletes of our sport.

Stay tuned for more ADCC news on who will be in attendance and more.