Buchecha was drugs free at the 2013 Pan

The 2013 Pan ultra-heavyweight and absolute black belt champion was clean of any prohibited substances.

Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida released earlier today in his Facebook page the letter he got from USADA.

The text says that he was PEDs free during the 2013 Pan.

Buchecha commented on the good news: “I asked to be the first one to be tested, so here it is! Respect the sport, hard training is the secret!!”

More results should surface in the next days.

So far, Andre Galvão, Gabi Garcia and Buchecha were cleared by the Anti0-Doping agency.

Watch the full interview with Marcus Buchecha

GracieMag did it’s inaugural live hangout on Google+ this afternoon. Luca Atalla interviewed current absolute world champion Marcus Almeida.

For half an hour, “Buchecha” talked about training for the 2013 season, the big titles he won so far, the Metamoris fight with Roger Gracie and his expectations for the future.

He even picked a favorite for the upcoming UFC 158’s main event between Georges St-Pierre and. Nick Diaz.

If you missed the live interview on Google+, watch the full video here.

Make sure you watch it all the way to the end as Buchecha prepared a surprise for you.

Kron vs. Marcus Bochecha was one of the great moments of last year’s Pan

The 2013 Pan American Championship on March 20-24 is looming in on us and with that, the registration date is nearing. Don’t miss out on the most prominent, largest tournament of Jiu-Jitsu by forgetting to register on time!

Registration ends March 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Go to this link here to register now.

Be sure to have your membership confirmed if needed, check the pre-schedule for an idea of when you will be competing and prepare your travel arrangements!

The Brenn Event Center at UC Irvine is located at 100 Bren Event Center Irvine, California 92617.

Let us remind you of some of the great matches that have unfolded at previous Pan Ams between the top athletes in our community.

To start, we have Marcus “Bochecha” Almeida against Kron Gracie at the 2012 Pans in the black belt open weight semifinals.

From the very beginning the exchange of takedowns sets the pace that continues throughout the match with footlocks, closed guard, 50/50, back-take attempts, torrendo passes, flying triangles and more — but we don’t want to spoil it for you.

Watch it for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDfjZOJ4UPQ

World champion Rodolfo Vieira is in Australia for a series of seminars in the company of GF Team leader, professor Julio Cesar. Across the world, the heavyweight knew about another tough fight he will face.

Humorous, Rodolfo talked about the Copa Podio duel against Ricardo Abreu, Demente, on May 1st, at Hebraica, in Rio de Janeiro:

“I think Jeferson [Maycá, Copa Podio creator and organizer] screwed me up with this fight (laughs)! The only advantage I have over Demente is that I’ve been fighting with the gi more than him. Lately, he was more focused on MMA”.

After the joke, Rodolfo analyzed the opponent: “He is a great athlete and a great person, my friend. I’m sure we’ll make a great fight for Copa Podio audience.”

Besides Copa Podio, where he also faces Leo Nogueira in the triple GFTeam vs. Alliance challenge, Rodolfo is getting ready for the major IBJJF championships.

He did not confirm his presence in Pan at the end of the month, but he will be in the world championship in the last days of May and early June. The double heavyweight world champion did not omit his opinion about drug testing:

“It’s a great IBJJF initiative, although we still have doubts if it will really happen. But if it does, I know I’ll be one of the first to be tested. I’m clean and I will prove it to everybody. They can test me whenever they want, before, during or after the World Championship, which is the most important tournament of the year.”

To finish, he had to ask about the other great name of Jiu-Jitsu today, Marcus Almeida, Bochecha. Rodolfo is eager to meet his rival (and friend) once again. He commented on the duel between Bochecha and Roger Gracie from late 2012, and told us what he expects in a new meeting with the absolute world champion:

“Yes, I saw the fight, and what a fight! I think that better than that one with Roger, only our fight in the quarterfinals of the absolute in the 2012 World Championship. Our fights will always be like that, great to watch, because he is a guy who plays forward, without fears, and he has a great heart. And I’m the same! I hope this time we do a fight equal or better than the last one. And preferably I will be the champion”.

And you, reader? Are you ready for another Rodolfo vs Bochecha episode, in the World Championship or even before in Abu Dhabi this Apil? And what about Copa Podio? Will Demente stop the champ?

Rodolfo Vieira comemora o título do Mundial 2011. Foto: Jonh Cooper.

O campeão mundial Rodolfo Vieira está na Austrália, para uma série de seminários em companha do líder da GF Team, o professor Júlio Cesar. Do outro lado do mundo, o peso pesado ficou sabendo de mais uma pedreira que terá pela frente.

Bem humorado, Rodolfo comentou o duelo na Copa Pódio contra Ricardo Abreu, o Demente, no dia 1^o de maio, no clube Hebraica, no Rio de Janeiro:

“Acho que o Jeferson [Maycá, criador e organizador da Copa Pódio] me ferrou com essa luta! (Risos) A única vantagem que eu tenho sobre o Demente é que eu venho competindo mais do que ele de kimono. Nos últimos tempos, ele estava mais focado no MMA”.

Depois da brincadeira, Rodolfo analisou o adversário: “Ele é um grande atleta e uma ótima pessoa, meu amigo. Tenho certeza de que vamos fazer uma grande luta para o público da Copa Pódio”.

Além da Copa Pódio, em que também enfrenta Léo Nogueira no desafio triplo GFTeam vs Alliance, Rodolfo está se preparando para os grandes campeonatos da IBJJF.

Ele não confirmou presença no Pan, no fim do mês, mas é certeza no Mundial, nos últimos dias de maio e no início de junho. O bicampeão mundial peso pesado não fugiu da raia quando o assunto foi o exame antidoping:

“É uma ótima iniciativa da IBJJF, apesar de ainda termos dúvidas se vai rolar mesmo. Agora, se rolar, sei que vou ser um dos primeiros a ser testado. Estou limpo e vou provar isso para todo mundo. Podem fazer quando quiserem comigo, antes, durante ou depois do Mundial, que é o campeonato mais importante do ano”.

Para terminar, não poderia faltar uma pergunta sobre o outro maior nome do Jiu-Jitsu de competição no momento, Marcus Almeida, o Bochecha. Rodolfo está ansioso para reencontrar o rival (e amigo). Ele comentou o duelo entre Bochecha e Roger Gracie, no fim de 2012, e disse o que espera de um novo encontro com o atual campeão mundial absoluto:

“Vi a luta sim, e que luta! Acho que melhor que aquela com o Roger só a nossa nas quartas de final do absoluto, no Mundial 2012. Nossas lutas serão sempre assim, ótimas de se ver porque ele é um cara que joga pra frente, sem medo, e tem um coração enorme. E eu sou igual! Espero que desta vez a gente faça uma luta igual ou melhor do que a última. E que de preferência eu saia campeão”.

E aí, leitor? Está pronto para mais um episódio Rodolfo vs Bochecha, no Mundial ou mesmo antes, em Abu Dhabi, em abril? E a Copa Pódio, será que Demente freia o campeão?

Bochecha in a joyous outpour

The grand black belt champion, Marcus Almeida etched his name into the pantheon of Jiu-Jitsu greats this Sunday.

In an electrifying final, Bochecha rallied back on the scorecards in the last 10 seconds to win a decision over Leonardo Nogueira.

Watch the end of the match and an exclusive interview with the main star of the 2012 Worlds.

Bochecha transborda de alegria

O grande campeão absoluto faixa-preta, Marcus Almeida, escreveu seu nome entre os grandes do Jiu-Jitsu nesse domingo.

Em final eletrizante, Bochecha virou o placar da decisão contra Leonardo Nogueira nos últimos 10 segundos.

Reveja o final da luta e assista a uma entrevista exclusiva do principal personagem do Mundial 2012.

GMA member Roberto “Cygorg” Abreu will be welcoming BJJ’s new star Marcus “Bochecha” Almeida for a seminar next Sunday.

The pan-american champion and Worlds finalist will be teaching some of the techniques that have put him among the top athletes of the art.

The cost for the class is US$ 60 and space is limited.

For more info, go to cyborgbjj.com

Lucas Rocha in photo by Ivan Trindade

Brown is the last belt before black. Among those who may make life hard on the Gentle Art’s biggest stars in the near future, Lucas Rocha (Gracie Barra) carries on doing his homework. The fighter beat all opposition at middleweight. Other brown belt standouts are Marcus Almeida “Bochecha” (CheckMat), at superheavyweight; Ian McPherson (Alliance), middleweight; Zak Maxwell (Gracie Humaitá), lightweight; and the youngest of the Langhi family, Michel (Alliance), winner at light featherweight.

Michel Langhi (right) celebrates with Bruno Malfacine and brother Michael. Photo: Ivan Trindade

At purple belt, the big name was Alec Baulding (Alliance), winner of the middleweight and absolute divisions. Another to stand out is João Gabriel (Soul Fighters), winner at medium heavyweight. Among the girls, Renzo Gracie’s dangerous student Kay Stephenson took both the medium heavyweight and absolute.

At blue belt, after winning the World Pro qualifiers in Rio, Mateus Luckmann (Alliance) took featherweight gold at the Pan. He heads to Abu Dhabi riding a wave of success. The Lloyd Irvin athletes also showed their mettle. Willie Leonard first won the ultra heavyweight, before closing out the absolute division with teammate Jackson De Alonzo. Also from Lloyd Irvin, Tracy Godell won at weight and the absolute in the female category.

And not to leave out the juvenile division, Christian Broadnax (Nova União) was top among medium heavyweights and the absolute.

Stay tuned to GRACIEMAG.com for all there is to know about the Pan.

Bochecha on the back of Ferrari. Photo: Carlos Ozório

Marcus “Bochecha” Almeida was the only brown belt to guarantee himself a place in the main event at the World Pro Tryouts in Rio de Janeiro, repeating the feat of Rodolfo Vieira in 2009. Now, as with said Rodolfo, Bochecha wants to return home to Brazil with the title and the thousands of dollars in prize money offered the winners in the UAE. However, before that can happen, the CheckMat representative has another commitment.

“I was scheduled to compete at the Pan-American. Now I’m going to California and then to Abu Dhabi,” he tells GRACIEMAG.com.

To beat beasts lik Augusto Ferrari, his opponent in the final, the fighter had to overcome odds.

“I always expect to win, but there’s also that doubt. My hand was injured, with four stitches. I don’t even know if they busted, but it was worthwhile. ”

In the decider his win came from taking the back. Bochecha commented about the position.

“That one I pulled out of nowhere! I can’t even believe it. I practice a lot of those back positions. I worked hard to sweep, the judge didn’t give the points, so I ventured to his back. I had nothing to lose, I was losing, but I managed to get the hooks in and secure the points. It was great!” he says jubilantly.

Now the goal is to win everything. And the Pan and World Pro are coming up.

“My prep work has been done and now I just need to keep up the pace. It’s all about trying to achieve things and be champion again. “