Fabrício Werdum is our man on the cover to celebrate being the first athlete to have become champion at the IBJJF Worlds (as a black belt), the ADCC and the UFC.

He talks about his life and career and teaches some of his techniques.

Find inside also Bruno Malfacine, Erberth Santos, Mikey Musumeci, how to hydrate, Martin Rooney, Jacob Harman and much more.

Teams getting ready for the 2015 ADCC

Scheduled August 29-30 in São Paulo, the 2015 ADCC is less than 10 days away.

Many athletes already made their way to Brazil, as their training camp wrap up around the world.

We did a round up to see how the competitors prepared for the most important submission grappling event of the season.

Here’s what we found out.

Cyborg’s army in Miami

Roberto Cyborg shocked the world two years ago when he beat Marcus Buchecha for the open class gold medal in Beijing. In 2015, his mission is to stop André Galvão in the superfight and add another title to his career. To be ready for his extremely difficult mission, Cyborg put together one of the strongest camps for the 2015 ADCC. João Gabriel Rocha, Rodolfo Vieira, Abraham Marte, Vagner Rocha, among others, are some of the beasts training in Miami. Rocha summed the feeling of getting ready in such a strong camp: “The wrestling training here is awesome and Cyborg is the best in the world in no-gi. I wouldn’t have a camp like this one in Brazil.” Here’s a video with Cyborg talking about the camp itself, by Stuart Cooper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yVLAk6RHb4

Galvão leads Atos JJ troops in San Diego

André Galvão wants to join a very select group of champions after the 2015 ADCC. If he beats Cyborg in São Paulo, he’ll be one of two athletes to have a weight class gold medal, an open class title and two superfight wins at the ADCC. Zé Mário Sperry is the only fighter to have that in his record. To get ready for such a great accomplishment, Galvão is taking his preparation very serious. Alongside his impressive team of black belts, he has one of the strongest camps for the 2015 ADCC. Keenan Cornelius, JT Torres, Mike Perez, Dean Lister are some of the names training together in San Diego to compete in Brazil. Here’s a video with some images of the camp, by Patrick Flores.

No teams, just grind at Calvary Chapel

Wrestling coach Jacob Harman made a name for himself recently with awesome results from athletes that trained with him. Two years ago, he had three 2011 ADCC champions and a second place finisher training with him: Marcus Buchecha, João Assis, Romulo Barral and Otavio Sousa. For 2015, the list grew and his classes at the high school in Costa Mesa are packed. Gabi Garcia, Barral, Lucas Rocha, Edwin Najmi, AJ Agazarm, among others go there weekly to improve on their wrestling techniques and also take advantage of the insane physical conditioning included in each session with coach Harman. Gabi talks about how hard it is to train at Calvary Chapel: “It’s certainly one of the hardest session I’ve ever done. I feel like a monster for being the only woman among such strong beasts. It makes my mind even stronger. I’m all bruised up, but I’m sure nothing can be harder than training there.”

Training at Calvary Chapel

Lovato is back and he wants his first gold medal

Rafael Lovato Jr. started competing again last June after more than a year away healing a serious shoulder injury that required surgery to be fixed. With his eyes on the ADCC, he put a strong training camp at his academy in Oklahoma City. The presences of Justin Rader, Jared Dopp, James Puopolo, Xande Ribeiro and even a visit by Braulio Estima made the camp specially hard for the 2015 ADCC. Lovato talks about how prepared he is for going all the way in São Paulo: “I’m feeling awesome. We’ve had Braulio with us and I learned a lot of great technical details from him. Also training with Xande and all the others here. I’m so happy to have this quality of training for my ADCC camp.”

Dopp, Xande, Lovato, Rader

DeBlass, Tonon, Cummings lead the east coast crew 

In New York, Tom DeBlass, Garry Tonon, Ed Cummings, Jason Lees will do their best to keep the legacy of their lineage, which comes from two-time ADCC champion Renzo Gracie. DeBlass talked to Open mat radio about the importance of the ADCC for the grappling community: “It’s our Olympics. It doesn’t get any better. It’s the pinnacle. It’s where everybody wants to be. We want to go there and test ourselves against the absolute top guys in the world. So, our team will be there to prove we are here to stay.”

In Brazil, Burns, Calasans, Cavaca and Frazatto working hard to represent the home team 

Brazil’s supremacy throughout ADCC history is clear, as the country produced the largest number of champions by far. So, as the main event lands in São Paulo for the second time, the home team wants to be ready to represent the tradition once again. Gilbert “Durinho” Burns, Claudio Calasans, Bruno Frazatto and Rodrigo Cavaca joined forces to prepare for the war at the end of august. Durinho talks about the hard work they are putting in to compete: “I’m ready! It’s been a war. I’ve been training with Calasans for the past month and with Cavaca and Frazatto for the past two weeks. We’re going there to win!”

Cavaca, Burns, Calasans and Frazatto

Keeping Marcelo Garcia’s legacy alive

Gianni Grippo, Dillon Danis and Bernardo Faria have some pretty big shoes to fill. Training under Marcelo Garcia, the only 4-time ADCC champion in a single weight division, they have to put on a good performance in the same venue their professor first awed the grappling world, back at the 2003 ADCC. Gianni talks about the camp: “It’s only Danis, Bernardo and myself. The training has been great. Marcelo helps a lot with this one. More than anything he tells us that the best way to approach this event is to play our game and look to attack throughout. I’ve asked him what he thinks about the rules and how it’s best to approach it but he always keeps it simple saying just to look to finish the match- don’t worry about the points and time.”

Grippo and Danis

Cobrinha wants to repeat what he did in China

Rubens Cobrinha pursued his first gold medal at the ADCC for four years. He nearly made it in Barcelona (2009) and Nottingham (2011), when he had to settle for two silver medals after being stopped in the final by Rafael Mendes. In 2013, he had his redemption when he made it all the way after another tough final match with his biggest rival. In São Paulo, Cobrinha’s birth state, he wants his second gold medal to tie the count with Mendes and be just one behind the -66kg division titles record-holder, Royler Gracie. Cobrinha decided to have his camp at home in Los Angeles and with the help of Fabio Passos, Lucas Lepri, Gabi Garcia and others, he’s been training hard for the 2015 ADCC. Here’s a video with some of his training routine.

Libório and Sperry sweating bullets to relive old rivalry

One of the biggest attractions of the 2015 ADCC will be the masters super-match between living legends Zé Mário Sperry and Ricardo Libório. As both were bred by the same master, Carlson Gracie, there’s a lot of history in that match. Libório, 48, prepared for the match with the ATT crew in Florida. He tells how hard the sessions were: “My mother asked me to stop rolling with the young guys from ATT. She said I was going to get hurt. Zé Mário may win as he is one of ADCC’s greatest champions, but he’ll have to work hard to beat me.”

De La Riva, Libório, Bustamante and Jaoude. Photo Clever Barbosa

Zé Mário is training in Rio de Janeiro, at X-Gym, and also sharpening his Jiu-Jitsu with Roberto Gordo. He told GRACIEMAG how he is feeling for the super-match: “I love training, so It’s all good. Libório was one of the best training partners I’ve ever had. He’s good in all aspects of the match. It’s going to be a huge challenge.”

José Mário Sperry

The 2015 ADCC kicks off August 29, in São Paulo, Brazil. Don’t miss GRACIEMAG’s full coverage on all our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Periscope).

Novo campeão dos leves do UFC, o astro Rafa bateu um papo exclusivo com o GRACIEMAG.com sobre a luta que escreveu seu nome na história do MMA, e apontou o momento em que ficou tranquilo na luta.

Dos Anjos disse ainda o que passou pela sua cabeça logo que o árbitro levantou sua mão, na luta contra Anthony Pettis no UFC 185, no Texas. “É um momento muito emocionante, um resultado de anos de treinamento, mas ao mesmo tempo é tudo muito rápido”, rememorou.

O faixa-preta de Roberto Gordo também falou sobre as contusões, os próximos rivais e respondeu a algumas críticas que alegam que ele não seria um campeão tão excitante quanto Pettis.

“Como bem disse o treinador Zagallo, esses críticos apenas vão ter de me engolir. Meu objetivo é chegar no octógono e vencer minhas lutas, não agradar a todos”, disparou Rafa.

Carol Gracie is back to present you another issue of the best Jiu-Jitsu magazine in the world.

GRACIEMAG #210 brings black belts Flavio Almeida and Philipe Della Monica teach you all you need to know about the butterfly guard.

You will also find an interview with Beatriz Mesquita, a special feature about loyalty in Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling lessons, Martin Rooney and much more.

Benny Dariush alongside Master Rafael Cordeiro after a recent promotion to black/navy blue belt. Photo: Personal Archive

Beneil Dariush, also known as Benny, has earned his spot in the UFC.

At the beginning of this year, Benny announced he would retire from the gi. Having received his black belt six months prior, he felt it was time to focus on what would help him support his family instead of remaining in the Jiu-Jitsu competition scene.

He was promoted to black belt in 2012 by his long-time professor Bruno “Mamute” Paulista of GMA Ralph Gracie OC but also in attendance was Romulo Barral who shared the promoting duties. His relationship with Romulo and the knowledge he’s learned from him can be described as: “Romulo has been kicking my ass since I was a blue belt but I moved and trained at his gym in 2011 for 6 months. Those 6 months changed my life.”

Benny’s Jiu-Jitsu accomplishments extend from blue belt and on gathering medals from Pan Ams, Worlds and more. But MMA requires more than a ground game. After winning his first MMA fight in which he experienced his introduction to stand-up, it was only then that he sought out the help of a stand-up coach. That coach was Master Rafael Cordeiro at Kings MMA who also coaches UFC’s Anderson Silva, Fabricio Werdum, Wanderlei Silva, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and others. In just three years Benny has earned a black/dark blue belt, one step away from black belt in the Muay Thai ranking system.

Also in 2010 Benny took up wrestling and chose Churchboyz with Jacob Harman to perfect his takedowns. The same coach helped three of the champions of ADCC win their gold in Beijing this year. He wrestles three times a week with those champions.

The professional record for Benny as he enters the biggest MMA organization in the world is 6-0-0. One was a split decision but five of his wins have been stopped early with two submissions, one KO and one TKO. Three of his fights have ended in the first round.

Signing the UFC contract. Photo: Personal Archive

The call from the UFC came through his manager, who he shares with Frankie Edgar, to replace an injured Adlan Amagov and fight Jason High in the UFC Fight Night 35: Rockhold vs. Philippou on Jan. 15, 2014. He jumped at the chance.

A family man, Benny’s priorities aim towards helping out his family. This opportunity is his biggest yet as he focuses on winning the fight because this is his dream but also for the financial rewards and representing his Assyrian roots.

The 24-year-old, began Jiu-Jitsu in 2007 and says, “before Jiu-Jitsu I had no clue what competition was. I became a man from the Jiu-Jitsu circuit.” What he learned from competing on the mats in tournaments has carried over into the cage. Along with his three years of training on the feet, Benny has finally made it onto the main stage to put it all together where it counts.

Today he responds to this new chapter with confidence: “I don’t believe in talent, only hard work.”

Watch the UFC Fight Night 35: Rockhold vs. Philippou on Jan. 15, 2014 on Fox Sports 1.

During the Worlds 2009, Otavio tested his no-gi game with success and closed the medium heavy with Romulo Barral.

With the second world championship title of Jiu-Jitsu in June, Otavio Sousa (Gracie Barra), 26, not only won the gold medal and recognition of the fans as the best black belt of the world at middleweight.

The student of Jose Olimpio, Zé Radiola, also earned an invitation to participate in the ADCC in Beijing, China, on October 18 and 19 this year in the 77kg division.

A Gracie Barra professor living in Irvine, Otavio talked about the next challenge and detailed his training by email exchange with GRACIEMAG. Check it out.

GRACIEMAG: How does it feel to participate in your first ADCC, and in China?

OTÁVIO SOUSA: It was the best thing that could have happened, because I could not participate in the ADCC trial in Brazil, in April, because I was very busy here in California with the gi training for the Worlds and classes at Gracie Barra. This invitation came at the right time, the competition is very tough but today I am a more mature athlete with more confidence. I feel that my positions are more accurate and adjusted than a few years back. Let’s see now without the gi. I still remember when I was a kid and watched the ADCC, with all those black belts giving shows and performing unforgettable fights. This year I will fight the most classic of the tournaments without the gi there in China, and I’m pretty happy about that.

How do you evaluate the 77kg division, of the legendary Marcelo Garcia, who will still have Leozada Nogueira with his guillotine and perhaps Kron and others?

The competition will be ruthless, as usual. It is a slightly lighter weight than I usually compete, which goes to 82kg. So I still need to lose some weight, but nothing else. I’m excited and I’m not a true beginner; after all, I already attended other events without the gi. In 2009, I even closed the medium heavy at the No-Gi Worlds with my partner Romulo Barral here in California.

What do you change in your game during a no-gi tournament?

The game changes just a bit, but you need to make some adjustments. The difference in the end is that the fight slips a lot more and you can’t grip the same way. Techniques need to be better, so you don’t lose the move. And, of course, attention needs to be focused on the legs and feet, especially in ADCC, because all locks are allowed. As the fighter has nothing to hold, it becomes much more difficult to defend these twists.

How are you going to train for the ADCC? Did you change anything?

I’m focusing on my workouts to come back with the victory, God willing. I’m training no-gi Jiu-Jitsu with the beasts of Gracie Barra and wrestling with Jacob Harman, from Calvery Chapel. He teaches various MMA athletes like Renato Babalu, Rafael dos Anjos, Beneil Dariush among others. I am happy to be able to train with these beasts.

What is the main aspect to win a tournament like ADCC, Otavio?

One of the recipes to success is self-confidence. I worked a lot on it before the Worlds, I trusted in my game and I thought I was going to do well. I believe in my potential and I will do anything to be victorious in this too. Another recipe is to never underestimate any opponent and never expect an easy fight. In this regard, the Worlds and ADCC look the same. So I will continue applying this thinking to compete in Beijing, and continue with the same focus and training discipline I have always had.