The grand champion of the tournament was Ryan Hall, which should have come as little surprise to anyone keen to the Jiu-Jitsu scene, however less famous he was to the stalwart opposition he faced in the final, none other than UFC star Diego Sanchez.

Ryan Hall / Photo: publicity

Long a force figuring among the world’s best grapplers, the Felipe Costa black belt now teaching at Fifty/50 team in Arlington, Virginia, took bronze at the last ADCC and, more recently, dropped a close match at the World Pro to the eventual winner of the under-65 kg division, Jefferson “Tanquinho” Mendes.

Shortly after the final of the Fan Expo, GRACIEMAG.com editor Marcelo Dunlop caught up with the submission whiz, who graciously answered a number of questions.

On his match with UFC star Diego Sanchez:

“I remember Diego from when I was just starting Jiu-Jitsu and he was already doing great on the submission grappling circuit in the US and had beaten a bunch of really tough guys, so it was a really neat opportunity to get to compete with him. He’s competed in ADCC and put on a great show with some of the best in the world, so I knew I would have my hands full.

“I was giving up a lot of weight in this match, so I wanted to tangle him up and keep out of scrambles as much as I could. I was able to secure the 50/50 early on and caught him in a tight heel hook, but he hung tough and would’t tap when his knee popped a bit. When he was able to scramble out, I knew I had to be careful. Diego has always had a dangerous kneebar and he finished his match yesterday with it, so I was waiting on him to jump for it in the closing moments when I was up a few advantages. When Diego spun for the kneebar with about a minute left, I was ready and was able to defend and come on top for 2 then immediately pressure to the back for 4 more points. The match ended there and I was able to come away with the win, but Diego was really tough and it was definitely no cake walk.”

On what he hopes his performance at an event offering such great exposure as the UFC Fan Expo may bring him:

“I feel really fortunate to have had the opportunity to compete against two top-quality opponents in Diego and Jorge Britto. I wasn’t able to compete in the ADCC trials this year due to injuries, but I hope that putting in good performances here (against an ADCC veteran and a 2011 trials winner) and at other events will help me make a case for an invitation to the main event later this year.”

Props to the man who made it possible:

“Big thanks to Brian Cimins for giving me the opportunity to compete at the UFC Fan Expo again–it’s always a great experience.”

“The arm is coming along great, but I’m still not practicing. My physiotherapist Octavio Amazon has done an excellent job and I nearly have the full range of motion back. My impression is that I should be back in training soon, well ahead of schedule. I’ll be in Brazil on the 10th and will go to the doctor for a new assessment. If he releases me, I’ll slowly get back into training; at least I think it will. But I’ll wait for his orders,” he said to GRACIEMAG.com via email.

“To compete, I think I’ll wait to get back to the pace in training and physical preparation that I was in, after all I’ve gone four months only exercising my lower limbs, with no real training in the gi. I’ll wait to fight only when I’m 100% and I’ll stick to my Master Alvaro Mansur for him to correct me and iron out the details of my game, so when I get back I’ll be able to put up a front against all the tough guys in the lightweight division,” added Tanquinho.

Augustus worked as a referee at the European Championship in Lisbon and followed up with a trip to Malaga, Spain.

“Yesterday I conducted a seminar, and it was a success! Just one week after announcing it, we gathered 20 people, and it was really cool. On the next trip here will organize it earlier, I’m in touch with the people here, “he said in finishing.