Mike Rio arrocha o armlock em John Cofer. Foto: UFC/Divulgação.

O TUF 16 Finale presenteou o fã do bom Jiu-Jitsu com uma noite recheada de golpes da arte suave, além de nocautes no varejo.

TJ Waldburger ficou com o bônus de melhor finalização, após apagar Nick Catone num triângulo. Pat Barry faturou o prêmio de melhor nocaute. Já a surra de Tim Elliott no resistente Jared Papazian foi eleita pelo UFC como luta da noite.

Confira, abaixo, os principais movimentos que rolaram no octagon montado no Hard Rock Hotel, em Las Vegas.

[flickr set=72157632260199478]

UFC – TUF Finale 16

Las Vegas, Nevada, EUA

15 de dezembro de 2012

Roy Nelson derrotou Matt Mitrione por nocaute técnico aos 2min58s do R1

Colton Smith derrotou Mike Ricci por decisão unânime dos jurados

Pat Barry derrotou Shane del Rosario por nocaute técnico aos 26s do R2

Dustin Poirier finalizou Jonathan Brookins no triângulo de mão aos 4min15s do R1

Card Preliminar (Fuel TV)

Mike Pyle derrotou James Head por nocaute técnico (joelhada e socos) a 1min55s

Johnny Bedford derrotou Marcos Vina por nocaute a 1min do R2

Rustam Khabilov derrotou Vinc Pichel por nocaute (suplê) a 2min15s

TJ Waldburger apagou Nick Catone no triângulo a 1min04s do R2

Card Preliminar (Facebook)

Hugo Wolverine nocauteou Reuben Duran aos 4min05s

Mike Rio finalizou John Cofer na chave de braço da guarda aos 4min11s do R3

Tim Elliott derrotou Jared Papazian na decisão unânime dos jurados

Cristiano Marcello and Sam Sicila at TUF 15 Finale weigh-ins / UFC publicity photo

The Ultimate Fighter 15 reaches an end this Friday, June 1, and there’s promise of some first-rate Jiu-Jitsu to come.

In Las Vegas at the season finale for the reality show, lightweights Al Iaquinta and Mike Chiesa (both from Urijah Faber’s team), will do battle to determine who will make off with the title and UFC contract.

Besides the final, Jake Ellenberger and Martin Kampmann will go toe to toe in a welterweight matchup, while submission wizard Charles do Bronx takes on Jonathan Brookins.

Another bout drawing attention is Cristiano Marcello’s debut in the biggest MMA show on Earth. The former Jiu-Jitsu coach for Chute Boxe academy will be taking on Sam Sicilia.

Check out the Royler and Rickson Gracie student teaching one of his tricks in the video below. Cristiano demonstrates how to defend an omoplata and counter-attack with a footlock.

Check out the complete card and post below: who do you think takes it, gentle reader?

TUF 15 Finale
Las Vegas, USA
June 1, 2012

Cristiano Marcello e Sam Sicila na pesagem do "TUF 15 Finale". Foto: UFC/Divulgação

O “The Ultimate Fighter 15” chega ao fim nesta sexta-feira, dia 1º de junho, e com duelos que prometem no Jiu-Jitsu.

Em Las Vegas, os pesos leves Al Iaquinta e Mike Chiesa (companheiros de equipe no time de Urijah Faber), decidem quem fica com o título do programa e um contrato com o UFC.

Além dessa final, a luta principal será entre Jake Ellenberger e Martin Kampmann, que vão se digladiar no peso meio-médio, enquanto o mago das finalizações Charles do Bronx’s terá Jonathan Brookins pela frente.

Outro combate que chama a atenção é a estreia de Cristiano Marcello na gaiola mais famosa do MMA. O ex-treinador de Jiu-Jitsu da Chute Boxe encara Sam Sicilia.

Confira, abaixo, o ex-aluno de Royler e Rickson Gracie e ex-companheiro de Wanderlei Silva ensinando uma das suas. Cristiano mostra como defender a omoplata e contra-atacar com uma chave de pé.

O canal Combate transmite hoje o “TUF 15 Finale” ao vivo, a partir das 19h25. Quem vence, fiel leitor?

TUF 15 Finale

Las Vegas, Estados Unidos

1º de junho de 2012

Gomez has been a black belt since 2006, but has been teaching for other people for about 10 years, since he was a blue belt. He’s always wanted to own his own school. “It’s about time,” he says, “This opportunity showed up and I took it. Temecula’s a great spot. There are lots of families here. People love Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, and fighting.”

Mikey Gomez competing again after a four year hiatus / Photo: Deb Blyth

Gomez started out at Nova União in Paraguay at 16 years of age. When he got his blue belt, he moved to Boston, but at that time there were no Nova União gyms in the States. “Kenny and Keith Florian were teaching classes under Roberto Maia. I tried it for a month, but it was too cold for me!” he laughs, “I was going to go to Renzo’s, but that was New York, so it was still too cold for me.”

So, in 2001, Gomez ended up making the move to Florida and began training at GB Orlando with Marcio Simas. “I was 19 years old and didn’t have the money to train,” he says, “I worked at a clothing store, folding clothes. It was my first job ever. After work I would go to GB Orlando and watch the classes until I saved up enough money to train.”

Gomez loved Jiu-Jitsu so much, he asked Professor Simas if he could start a kids program for them. “That’s how I started teaching and getting paid,” he says, “I started teaching the kids and then slowly started helping with adult classes and eventually took over. I loved GB Orlando. It was great. I call that ‘home’ now. I lived there for 9 years.”

Gomez says competing in Florida was “crazy.” He had to travel all over for tournaments. “Miami, Jersey, California, different parts of Florida… I had to travel all over to compete,” he says, “Then I would go to the Worlds in Brazil to gauge myself and see how I was progressing. I never placed, but I always won three or four matches and I’d win them all by submission.”

Gomez started training in MMA in 2003. He spent one year training and by this time, he was a purple belt in Jiu-Jitsu. In 2004, his instructor, Todd Broadway, told him he was ready to have his first fight. Gomez took that fight and won.

Mikey in MMA / Photo: Steadfast Videos

By the time Gomez took his third fight, he was feeling pretty good. He took on Carlo Prater, whom Gomez says was “like 22-2,” and lost on a decision. “I didn’t have a manager,” he says, “It was just me doing my thing. After that it was so hard for me to get fights. People kept dropping out.”

Gomez then made the mistake that many fighters make by trying to make it big in MMA. “I started fighting just for the money,” he says. Like many before him, he’d take fights on a couple of days to a couple of weeks’ notice and won a few of them, but lost many, too. With no manager and no routine training schedule, Gomez was lost. He took two professional muay thai fights. “I lost my first fight against UFC fighter Thiago “The Pitbull” Alves,” he says, “I only had three weeks to get ready for that fight and I lost to a decision.” Gomez won his second fight. “The guy I fought had a record of like 24-0. It was a title fight and they brought me in to lose. I ended up winning by TKO in the third round and won the belt,” he laughs, “I never stopped training after Thiago.”

Gomez moved to California in 2009. “I needed to fight out of Florida,” he says, “I was known in Florida and felt I couldn’t get the exposure I needed to fight in bigger shows. I wanted to get noticed.” So, Gomez hooked up with Renato “Babalu” Sobral and started training muay thai at GB Cerritos. “I wanted to train more,” he says, “I felt like everyone was getting better but me. I wanted to be a student again.” But once again, Gomez got lost in the shuffle of freeways and busy cities in California and couldn’t get it together. “I didn’t know California was so crazy with everything so far apart,” he says, “It was really difficult for me to train and I didn’t have a set camp.”

Gomez and teammate Fabiana Borges winning Gold / Photo: Deb Blyth

So, with a record of 12-8, Gomez decided to take some time off from being the student and once again, became the instructor, teaching at different GB schools in Southern California. He became roommates with Fabiana Borges and Rodrigo Simoes and they enjoyed a year of training and friendship together. “We helped each other be better,” he says, “Living with them was great. It was like heaven. That was my little family last year.”

Gomez has now returned to the MMA scene with a new perspective and a new training team, but he still trains everyday with his GB team. “I never stopped training with the gi,” he says, “It makes everything tighter.” Gomez trains with GB greats Otavio Sousa, Kayron Gracie, Romulo Barral, Flavio Almeida, Marcio Feitoso and even Master Carlos himself. “It’s been so great,” he says, “I love training Jiu-Jitsu with such a high-end team.”

Gomez is training so much now, he’s even started competing in Jiu-Jitsu again. Gomez won the 2010 No-Gi Nationals. “It was really great because I hadn’t competed since ’06,” he says, “I won my first match at the 2010 No-Gi Worlds, but then I let Tussa keep on going because he was the defending world champion.” Gomez says he’s honing his skills. “I feel great in my game now,” he says, “I’m a completely different fighter. I have better listening skills, better striking, my Jiu-Jitsu is better. I’m better all the way around.”

One major reason for his improvement is that he now trains at Reign with Mark Munoz. “There I train with Mark Munoz, Fabricio Werdum, Jason “Mayhem” Miller, Brett Cooper, and Marcel Louzado to name a few,” Gomez says, “They’ve helped me so much. It’s the first time I have an actual team.”

Gomez also finds strength through his training at Juggernaut Training Systems with Chad Smith. He trains there with all of his GB friends, like Fabiana Borges, Rodrigo Simoes, Romulo Barral, Kayron and Ronis Gracie and Bruno Antunes. “For the first time, I’m really getting stronger,” he says, “A lot of times when I lost to Division 1 wrestlers by decision I didn’t have that raw strength that they did. Now I feel like I do have it. I’m stronger and more explosive.”

Gomez prepping for James Brasco / Photo: Steadfast Videos

Put all that together and you have a new fighter with a strong mind and a well-conditioned body to go with it. Gomez recently put his new skills and training to the test when he faced James Brasco in his WEF fight last week and won by TKO in the first round. Gomez trained seven weeks for the fight. “I stunned him (Brasco) with a jab and tried to finish it, but I slipped and fell,” he says, “We traded some punches and he stunned me for a second. I worked in a few punches and stuffed his takedowns. Then he clinched and I threw a knee to the body that dropped him. I followed with punches from the guard then from half-guard. The ref eventually stopped the fight.”

The win stoked Gomez’s MMA fire more than ever. “I want to fulfill my own dreams as a fighter,” he says, “I didn’t go on to school because I always wondered if I’d have regrets about not fighting. So I followed the fighting path. I don’t regret a single thing. I want to get into the UFC and make a run for that 185-pound title.”

Big dreams for a kid out of Paraguay who, at one time, was folding clothes in a store to make enough money to train Jiu-Jitsu. But while he has his own personal dreams to realize, as usual, this born-teacher is helping others manifest their dreams as well. “I’ve trained so many fighters and they’re doing great,” he says, “Jim Ailers, Bruce Connors, and Frank Sharipov. They all have a shot at getting in the UFC. I helped Jonathan Brookins before he went into the TUF house. All those guys back in Florida. I’m really proud of that.”

And now Gomez has his own school in GB Temecula. “My goal for the school is to be successful and to help people,” he says, “I like teaching a lot. I’ve seen grown men who’ve been bullied their whole lives. I like helping them out. Seeing them progress and watching them become so confident. I like to make good fighters. Everyone’s fighting for something – being more confident, losing weight, becoming an MMA fighter. I like helping them in their lives.”

Gomez says he lives his life by the tenets his mom taught him. “She always said, ‘Every time someone leaves your life, they should leave feeling like they gained something positive from you.’ That’s what I try to do,” he says, “You always start somewhere. Someone always gave you a hand along the way. I want to be that person to others. My reward is being a positive addition to anyone’s life.”

Jonathan Brookins comemora o triunfo no TUF. Foto: Josh Hedges.

O ultimo sábado foi especial para o nosso GMA Marcio Simas, líder da Gracie Barra Orlando, na Flórida.

O seu ainda faixa-azul Jonathan Brookins foi o grande vencedor do reality show “The Ultimate Fighter 12”, no evento que marcou a final do programa, em Las Vegas.

Juntamente com o contrato com o UFC e prêmio em dinheiro, Brookins recebeu a faixa-roxa ainda no octagon.

O lutador, que fazia parte do time de Georges St. Piere no programa, venceu Michael Johnson por decisão unânime.

O feito do aluno encheu de elogios a página do professor de Jiu-Jitsu Simas no Facebook, e o mesmo faz o GRACIEMAG.com, que também comemora o sucesso de mais um GMA.

Photo: Personal Archives

Last Saturday was a special one for GMA member Marcio Simas, leader of Gracie Barra Orlando, in Florida.

His BJJ blue belt Jonathan Brookins won The Ultimate Fighter 12 reality show grand finale, in Las Vegas.

Along with the prize money UFC contract, Brookins got his purple belt while still in the octagon.

Brookins, who was part of Team GSP, fought teammate Michael Johnson and came out victorious with a unanimous judges’ decision.

Simas’ Facebook page is filled with congratulations from fellows professors, students, and other fighters.

The GMA and GRACIEMAG.com join in the celebration.

Here is the link for the full final episode of TUF 12.

For more info, go to marciosimas.com

Do you own a Jiu-Jitsu academy and want to have your school featured on GRACIEMAG.com? It’s easy, all you need to do is to become a GMA member. Click here and find out how.

Demian in Jiu-Jitsu, in Photo by Gustavo Aragão.

Demian Maia Baptista, 33, won another one in the UFC. The Jiu-Jitsu black belt repeatedly wrestled Kendall Grove to the canvas, got mount, back mount, and took the W via unanimous decision.

The Ultimate Fighter 12: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck Finale took place this December 4 in the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

In the TUF final, Gracie Barra’s Jonathan Brookins earned both the reality show belt and his Jiu-Jitsu purple belt while still in the octagon after beating Michael Johnson on the scorecards.

Check out the complete results:

Dave Branch defeated Attonito via unanimous decision

Pablo Garza knocked out Fredson Paixão with a knee at 0.51 min of R1

Nick Pace defeated Will Campuzano via submission at 4:32 min of R3

Kyle Watson defeated Sako Chivitchian via unanimous decision

Ian Loveland defeated Tyler Toner via unanimous decision

Cody McKenzie defeated Aaron Wilkinson via guillotine at 2:03 min of R1

Leonard Garcia defeated Nam Phan via split decision

Rick Story defeated Johny Hendricks via unanimous decision

Demian Maia defeated Kendall Grove via unanimous decision

Stephan Bonnar defeated Igor Pokrajac via unanimous decision

Jonathan Brookins defeated Michael Johnson via unanimous decision

Demian no Jiu-Jitsu, em foto de Gustavo Aragão.

Demian Maia Baptista, 33 anos, venceu mais uma no UFC. O faixa-preta de Jiu-Jitsu botou para baixo o havaiano Kendall Groove numa boa, montou, pegou as costas, e levou a vitória por decisão dos jurados.

A edição do UFC deste dia 4 de dezembro foi dedicada ao reality show “The Ultimate Fighter 12: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck Finale”, no Palms Casino Resort em Vegas.

Na final do TUF, deu Jonathan Brookins, da Gracie Barra, que afivelou o cinturão do reality e a faixa-roxa de Jiu-Jitsu no Octagon.

Confira os resultados completos:

Dave Branch venceu Attonito por decisão unânime dos jurados
Pablo Garza nocauteou Fredson Paixão com uma joelhada aos 51s do 1R
Nick Pace venceu Will Campuzano por finalização aos 4min32s do 3R
Kyle Watson venceu Sako Chivitchian por decisão unânime
Ian Loveland venceu Tyler Toner por decisão unânime
Cody McKenzie venceu Aaron Wilkinson numa guilhotina aos 2min03s do 1R
Leonard Garcia venceu Nam Phan na decisão dividida
Rick Story venceu Johny Hendricks na decisão unânime
Demian Maia venceu Kendall Grove por decisão unânime
Stephan Bonnar venceu Igor Pokrajac na decisão unânime
Jonathan Brookins venceu Michael Johnson por decisão unânime

Demian no UFC. Foto: Josh Hedges

A grande final do reality-show The Ultimate Fighter 12 (TUF) acontece a partir da meia-noite deste sábado, dia 4, para domingo, dia 5, com transmissão ao vivo do Combate. A decisão será entre Michael Johnson e Jonathan Brookins, que irão disputar o contrato de seis lutas com o Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Entre as lutas da noite, o canal a la carte da Globosat especializado em lutas transmite com exclusividade o retorno do brasileiro Demian Maia ao octógono contra o havaiano Kendall Grove, campeão da terceira temporada do TUF. Os participantes da 12ª Edição do The Ultimate Fighter foram treinados por George St-Pierre e Josh Koscheck, que irão se enfrentar no UFC 124, no próximo dia 12, também com transmissão ao vivo pelo Combate.

Michael Johnson (6-5) tornou-se o primeiro na seleção geral do TUF 12 depois de derrotar Pablo Garza por decisão unânime na estreia da temporada. Johnson pegou Aaron Wilkinson na luta seguinte e dominou o britânico no chão antes de finalizar com um mata-leão no terceiro round. Nas quartas-de-final, bateu de frente e derrotou seu arqui-rival Alex Caceres por decisão unânime após dois rounds e garantiu sua vaga na final ao bater Nam Phan em uma guerra de três rounds. Michael Johnson é um ex-wrestler de destaque e running back do time de futebol americano da Marquette High School, em St. Louis.

Jonathan Brookins (11-3) está familiarizado com os holofotes, já tendo lutado contra o brasileiro José Aldo. Desde a derrota para Aldo, em novembro de 2008, Jonathan faturou sete vitórias consecutivas, incluindo quatro vitórias decisivas no TUF. Na sequência de um triunfo por decisão unânime sobre Ran Weathers no episódio de estreia, Brookins finalizou rapidamente Sevak Magakian e Sako Chivitchian com mata-leões antes de derrotar Kyle Watson por decisão nas semifinais.

Demian Maia (13-2) retorna ao octógono em busca de outra chance pela coroa dos pesos médios do UFC ao enfrentar Kendall Grove. Maia derrotou recentemente seu compatriota Mario Miranda, em agosto no UFC 118, e antes disso substituiu Vitor Belfort no confronto contra o campeão Anderson Silva em Abu Dhabi, nos Emirados Árabes, onde perdeu por decisão unânime. Demian venceu suas cinco primeiras lutas no UFC por finalização, contra lutadores notáveis como Chael Sonnen, Jason McDonald e Nate Quarry. Em sua sexta luta, foi nocauteado por Nate Marquardt, mas se recompôs no UFC 109 com uma impressionante vitória por decisão unânime em cima de Dan Miller.

Seu adversário Kendall Grove (14-7, 1 NC) é conhecido do The Ultimate Fighter. Ele participou da terceira edição do programa e vem de uma importante vitória, sobre Goran Reljic, no UFC 116, em julho, o que significou esperança para uma eventual disputa de título dos médios. Grove busca usar sua habilidade no muay thai para derrotar Maia.

Confira o card:

TUF 12
Dia 4 de dezembro de 2010
Las Vegas, Nevada, EUA

Stephan Bonnar x Igor Pokrajac
Michael Johnson x Jonathan Brookins
Kendall Grove x Demian Maia
Rick Story x. Johny Hendricks
Rich Attonito x Dave Branch
Leonard Garcia x Tyler Toner
Pablo Garza x Fredson Paixão

GMA member Marcio Simas, leader of Gracie Barra Orlando, is proud of one of his fighters.

Jonathan Brookins has made his way into The Ultimate Fighter, season 12.

He is part of Team Georges St. Pierre.

The lightweight fighter has a 20-2 MMA record.

You can watch Brookins at TUF 12 every Wednesday night.

He is on the semifinals, alongside with Kyle Watson, Nam Phan and Michael Johnson.

On December 1st, will be aired the episode that will decide the two who will make the big season final.

For more info, go to marciosimas.com

Do you own a Jiu-Jitsu academy and want to have your school featured  on GRACIEMAG.com? It’s easy, all you need to do is to become a GMA member. Click here and find out how.