Check out this video highlight of the Los Angeles event:

It sounds like a match made in gentle-art heaven, but there’s a card in the works that has major stars from Jiu-Jitsu’s past and present facing off in classic no-points, fight-to-the-finish style. And it’s not in the UFC.

Metamoris Pro Jiu-Jitsu Invitational is coming up on October 14, and it’ll be headlined by the matchup gi-fighting fans crave most: three-time absolute champion of the world Roger Gracie will be taking on the wunderkind currently holding the world absolute title, Marcus Bochecha, in a 20-minute gi-clad bout where only submissions count for the win. Now that matchup alone would make buying the pay-per-view worthwhile, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg.

ADCC double gold winner André Galvão will return to the mat too, taking on UFC founder Rorion Gracie’s son Ryron. Then there’s a blast from the past, with ADCC legend Jean-Jacques Machado squaring off with Nelson Monteiro, one of the founders of the ADCC, who will be competing on his home turf.

Now if you can’t make it to the Viejas Arena in San Diego, California, on October 14, you can’t pass up on the live stream. But see if the rest of the card doesn’t make it worth shelling out the airfare:

Kron Gracie vs. Otávio Sousa
Kayron Gracie vs. Rafael Lovato
Jeff Glover vs. Caio Terra
Dean Lister vs. Kevin Casey
Jean Jacques Machado vs. Nelson Monteiro

Roger listens to pointers from Lyoto between rounds during a sparring session. Publicity photo.

Curious to see Roger Gracie and Lyoto Machida tangling at Black House academy in Los Angeles? We were too.

“Lyoto’s a sensational guy. We’re helping each other a lot, I think, and not just in the ring. We’re just starting to become good friends, as we haven’t known each other very long,” said the Gracie. “Our styles complement each other. If I can pick up a bit of his standup game of darting in and out, I’ll be a complete fighter.”

Roger takes on Keith Jardine at this  Saturday’s Strikeforce event.

Check out the Mike Lee-produced video, where you even get to see Kevin Casey launch a sweet ground attack on Roger, and an interesting spar between André Galvão and the Gracie. Let us know what you think in the comments field below.

Besides Bochecha, Caio Terra, Kron Gracie, Zak Maxwell, Kevin Casey and others (read more here) all qualified for all-expenses-paid trips to the World Pro.

Photographer John Lamonica represented GRACIEMAG.com at the Sports Center Las Vegas and sent in the best pics from the event.

Check them out:

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Bochecha on Braga Neto's back / Foto: John Lamonica

In the under-92 kg division, Kevin Casey took top spot. Kron Gracie and Rômulo Barral didn’t face off in the under-83 kg decider. Both went into the match on the back of submission wins, but Rômulo felt pain in his knee – the same knee that kept him out of the World 2010 final against Roger Gracie.

In the under-74 kg division, Zak Maxwell qualified, while Caio Terra again trampled all his opponents to take the under-65 kg division.

The Las Vegas tryouts were produced by Abu Dhabi Pro, a company run by black belt Fernando Paradeda. The next two events will be the San Diego tryouts, on March 5 and 6, and the ones in Gramado, on March 19 and 20. Find out more at www.abudhabiprojj.com.

Além de Bochecha, também garantiram vaga ao World Pro Caio Terra, Kron Gracie, Zak Maxwell e Kevin Casey, entre outros (leia mais aqui).

O fotógrafo John Lamonica representou o GRACIEMAG.com no Sports Center Las Vegas e enviou as melhores imagens do evento.

Confira:

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Bochecha nas costas de Braga Neto. Foto: John Lamonica.

Na categoria até 92kg, levou a melhor Kevin Casey. Kron Gracie e Rômulo Barral não fizeram a decisão do peso até 83kg. Ambos vinham de vitória por finalização, mas Rominho sentiu o joelho, o mesmo que o afastou da final do absoluto no Mundial 2010 contra Roger Gracie.

No peso até 74kg, se classificou Zak Maxuell, enquanto Caio Terra surpreendeu novamente todos os oponentes para se garantir na categoria 65kg.

A seletiva de Las Vegas é produzida pela Abu Dhabi Pro, empresa organizada pelo faixa-preta Fernando Paradeda. Os próximos dois eventos são as seletivas de San Diego, nos dias 5 e 6 de março, e Gramado, nos dias 19 e 20 de março. Saiba mais no www.abudhabiprojj.com.

Casey uses his Jiu-Jitsu to win at Strikeforce. Photo: Esther Lin

“King” Kevin Casey will have the toughest task of his MMA career ahead of him. On May 21, in Portland, he will face off against Olympic medalist Matt Lindland in the main event of Strikeforce Challengers.

Casey specializes in Jiu-Jitsu, a style he has been practicing with Rickson Gracie for a long time. But the thing that most grabs attention is that he’s a hip hop singer. He recently recorded the single “No Surrender”.

With three wins and one loss on his record, he made his Strikeforce debut in November of 2009, when he submitted Chad Vance with a rear-naked choke.

Lindland needs no introduction. Besides being an Olympic silver medalist, he has faced fighters of the caliber of Fedor Emelianenko, Murilo Bustamante, Vitor Belfort and Ricardo Cachorrão, among others.

Want to see how good Kevin Casey is at fighting and hip hop? Check out both facets of the fighter in the video below: