Alexandre Café. Graciemag archives

Another fight has been announced for the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Tokyo, set for July 15. Alexandre Café Dantas and Ricco Rodrigues will face off in a heavyweight bout. The winner will find himself as a possible contender to Márcio “Pé de Pano” Cruz’s Abu Dhabi Legends belt.

Registration for the Grand Slam ends today, the 11th, so you’d better act fast if you’re interested. For more, go to https://events.uaejjf.org/event/8.

Nosso GMI no Rio de Janeiro, Café parte para um duelo no Japão. Foto: Arquivos GRACIEMAG

Mais um grande duelo foi confirmado para o Abu Dhabi Grand Slam de Tóquio, marcado para o dia 15 de julho. Além das disputas do torneio que promete incendiar o Japão, um duelo da série Legends foi agendado para o evento.

Alexandre Café Dantas e Ricco Rodrigues estarão frente a frente em luta na divisão de pesos pesados. O vencedor se colocará com grandes chances de encarar Márcio “Pé de Pano” Cruz pelo cinturão do Abu Dhabi Legends.

Café, 38 anos, é faixa-preta de Carlos Gracie Jr.  e tem no currículo do Jiu-Jitsu vitórias sobre feras como Rodrigo Comprido, Gabriel Napão, Fabrício Werdum, Marcelinho Garcia, Demian Maia, Bruno Bastos, Fernando Tererê, Marcio Corleta e outros.

Ricco, 39 anos, foi campeão do UFC na divisão de pesos pesados e tem grande experiência em competições com e sem kimono, como o ADCC, evento no qual já mordeu uma medalha de ouro.

Vale lembrar que nesta terça-feira, dia 11, se encerra o prazo de inscrição para o Grand Slam de Tóquio. Então não perca tempo e inscreva-se já!

Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Tóquio
15 de julho de 2017
Makuhari Messe Convention Center
Período de inscrição: 1 de maio – 14 de junho (inscrição tardia: 11 de julho)
Mais informações: https://events.uaejjf.org/event/8

1998 ADCC competitors

The first ADCC event ever took place at the Abu Dhabi Combat Club, in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on March 20-22, 1998.

The champions of the first edition shared a total money prize of over US$70,000.

It was the creation of Sheik Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a Jiu-Jitsu enthusiast since he first got in touch with the gentle art while studying in the USA.

Sheik Tahnoon himself was responsible for coming up with the rules and training the referees.

Renzo Gracie and Sheik Tahnoon. Photo by Luca Atalla

A total of 72 fighters were brought in for the first edition of the event, divided in five divisions: 66kg (8), 77kg (16), 88kg (16), 99kg (16) and +99kg (16).

The event featured athletes from Brazil, USA, Russia, Spain, Canada, UAE, Italy, Australia, Porto Rico, Iraq, Iran, Philippines, Jordan, Palestine, Morocco and Egypt.

They represented fighting arts such as Jiu-Jitsu, judo, wrestling, sambo and pancrase.

The event paid almost all expenses of the athletes and a few other people invited.

Zé Mário vs. Cachorrão. Photo by Luca Atalla

A car and two jet skis were raffled, along with free tickets to several destinations in Europe.

A brand new arena was built in a venue that used to hold horse shows and it included the three mats for the competition.

Besides the money prize, the open class champion was also awarded with an Arabic dagger made of gold.

Robin (66kg), Renzo (77kg) and Rodrigo (88kg) represented the Gracie family at the event.

Five men have the honor of saying they are part of the first class of ADCC champions: Alexandre Soca (66kg), Renzo Gracie (77kg), Rodrigo Gracie (88kg), Zé Mário Sperry (99kg) and Ricco Rodriguez (+99kg).

Sperry doubled his honor with the open class title.

Alexandre Soca. Photo by Luca Atalla

The finals of each division were all thrilling matches.

Soca and Robin Gracie battled for almost 30 minutes including the sudden death overtime. Soca managed a rear naked choke to secure the gold medal. In addition to his gold medal, Soca was also elected the most technical athlete of the event.

Renzo Gracie imposed his game over Luis Brito and finished the match with a choke from the mount to win the first of his two ADCC titles. Renzo competed in the first ADCC only five days after fighting Sanae Kikuta at Pride 2, in Japan.

Rodrigo Gracie faced Russian Karim Barklaev in the final and had to use all his conditioning to beat the strong owrestler. After 30 minutes (including the overtime), he took gold for being more aggressive.

Zé Mário and Ricardo “Cachorrão” Almeida waged the best match of the event. Cachorrão attempted a guillotine from the get go, but Sperry defended well. He eventually got the gold medal for passing Ricardo’s guard. The movement happened before the points started being counted, but the judges considered it enough to award Sperry the victory.

Rodrigo Gracie. Photo by Luca Atalla

Ricco Rodriguez wrote his name in ADCC history with a guard pass over Sean Alvarez close to the end of the 20-minute regulation time.

A funny fact regarding the final results of the +99kg in 1998 is that it still is the only male division in history that had no Brazilian among the semifinalists (in 2007, the -55kg female division also had no Brazilians among the semifinalists).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep_hwR37wUQ

In the open class, eight competitors signed up to compete for $11,000 and the aforementioned golden dagger.

After beating their two opponents each, Sperry and Ricardo Morais were supposed to meet in the final, but the Brazilian MMA giant had a injured elbow and could not compete, leaving the path open for Sperry to win his second gold medal.

After it was over, the athletes were invited for a cruise with the presence of Sheik Tahnoon himself.

Here’s a photo gallery with rare pictures of the event taken by Luca Atalla.

Caio Terra did what he could against Gustavo Elias in San Francisco

The black belt absolute final at the San Francisco Open last Sunday put roosterweight Caio Terra against ultra-heavyweight Gustavo Elias. Despite all his efforts, Terra ended up being submitted by Elias with a bow and arrow choke.

So we figure it was valid to ask if there’s a way to be succesfull when fighting heavier and bigger guys. What are the techniques that Jiu-Jitsu possesses to take the weight and size advantage away from your opponent?

We went to talk with fourth degree black belt Marcio Feitosa, a three-time world champion and one of the most renowned coaches of all time.

What are Feitosa’s tips for lighter fighters to have success against heavier and bigger opponents?

“I think we can divide the bigger opponent in two categories:  the tall guy and the fat guy,” he told GRACIEMAG.com. “Fighting Roger Gracie is different than fighting a guy with a huge gut, and they are both bigger and heavier than you. When it comes to a fat opponent and you are playing guard, it’s important to do a an armdrag and cross the guy’s arm. You will make him uncomfortable and create an opportunity for a attack on his back.

“If you managed to pass his guard, don’t go for the mount, as it is gonna be easy for him to flip you over. Prefer the knee to the belly and to attack his back.”

For taller guys, Feitosa knows what to avoid.

“If the guy is taller than you, avoid attacking his foot, once chances are he is going to attack your foot as well and be more successful,” he said.

When playing defense, Feitosa has some pointers for when you are in a bad position.

“If the guy passed your guard and is on side control,” he explained, “you have to avoid at all costs to be with your back flat on the ground. Doesn’t matter if you expose your back a little.”

As a last tip, The black belt said that your condition might be the key to your success against heavier opponents.

“Move around a lot and try to gas him out!” he exclaimed.

But for the best tip, the professor always saves for the end: “Do you really want to avoid problems with heavier opponents? Don’t sign up for the absolute!”

Here are two good examples of David vs. Goliath matches.

Marcelo Garcia vs. Ricco Rodrigues (ADCC 2007)

Marcelo Garcia v. Ricco Rodriguez by Noob1309

Rubens Cobrinha Charles vs. Rafael Lovato Jr (Pan 2009)

ADCC king Marcelinho Garcia in GRACIEMAG.com archive photo

Star UFC welterweight Nick Diaz is readying his weapons to take a crack at Bráulio “Carcará” Estima in a No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu match next month. The under-82 kg, or 180 lb, bout is the main draw for the 1st World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, an innovative event promoted by fighter and teacher Renzo Gracie coming up May 12 in Long Beach, California.

Getting in the mood for the super showdown, GRACIEMAG.com sifted through the treasure chest and dug up five classic No-Gi matches that pit MMA monsters against beasts of the gi.

Ronaldo Jacaré vs Randy Couture – X-Mission, 2006

Ricardo Arona vs Tito Ortiz – ADCC 2000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCh7WFLg_L4

Mark Kerr vs Leonardo Vieira – ADCC 2000

Javier Vazquez vs Jeff Glover – ADCC Trials 2005

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5mKJCgnjx4

Marcelinho Garcia vs Ricco Rodriguez – ADCC 2005

What about you, what’s your favorite classic match between Jiu-Jitsu and MMA stars? Let us know in the comments field below.

Marcelinho Garcia, rei do ADCC, em foto do GRACIEMAG.com.

Peso meio-médio do UFC, Nick Diaz já se prepara para encarar o craque do pano Bráulio “Carcará” Estima, no próximo dia 12 de maio, no Jiu-Jitsu sem kimono. O duelo (até 82kg, ou 180 pounds) será o prato principal da 1ª World Jiu-Jitsu Expo em Long Beach, Califórnia, no inovador evento organizado pelo professor e lutador Renzo Gracie.

No clima do superconfere, o GRACIEMAG.com revirou o baú e garimpou cinco clássicos sem kimono que puseram, frente a frente, feras do MMA contra monstros do pano.

Ronaldo Jacaré vs Randy Couture – X-Mission, 2006

Ricardo Arona vs Tito Ortiz – ADCC 2000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCh7WFLg_L4

Mark Kerr vs Leonardo Vieira – ADCC 2000

Javier Vazquez vs Jeff Glover – ADCC Trials 2005

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5mKJCgnjx4

Marcelinho Garcia vs Ricco Rodriguez – ADCC 2005

E você, qual seu clássico favorito entre astros do Jiu-Jitsu com os do MMA? Compartilhe com a gente.

Now Marlon Sandro had been putting on a good performane the featherweight GP final against Pat Curran, until a lapse of caution cost him his consciousness and the win. Jiu-Jitsu black belt Renê Nazaré put in a fine standup display, resulting in his opponent Juan Barrantes being unable to continue after the second-round break.

Check out the whole story in pictures sent in by our collaborator Gil Gomes, from the BTT.

[flickr set= 72157627497786148]

Renê Nazaré in action / Photo: Phillip Hays

Marlon Sandro started out well in the Bellator featherweight GP final against Pat Curran. The aggressor for much of the fight, but met with a kick to the head that abruptly ended the action, dropping an unconscious Sandro to the canvas, where Curran followed up with three more strikes before te referee stepped in.

Now black belt Renê Nazaré showed his boxing is up to speed. The Brazilian had a good showing in the first round that continued in to second, cornering Juan Barrantes and tagging him with strikes. Landing a takedown, he worked the ground and pound and tried for a guillotine, but it was his merciless use of the elbow that had the greatest effect, as manifest in the battered state of the Costa Rican’s eye. Following a doctor’s check, Barrantes was barred from returning to action. The win is the tenth in the Brazilian’s undefeated career.

In the all ex-UFC figher matchup, Seth Petruzelli got the better of Ricco Rodrigues, landing a lethal uppercut and following up with hammer strikes on the ground for the win over the former UFC champion.

(Collaborator Junior Samurai)

Complete results:

Bellator 48
Connecticut, United States
August 20, 2011

Pat Curran defeated Marlon Sandro via TKO in R2;
Cole Konrad defeated Paul Buentello via unanimous decision;
Seth Petruzelli defeated Ricco Rodriguez via TKO in R1;
Renê Nazaré defeated Juan Barrantes via doctor’s intervention in R2;
Nik Fekete defeated Mark Griffin via TKO in R2;
Saul Almeida defeated Tateki Matsuda via unanimous decision;
Jeff Nader defeated Dan Cramer via TKO in R3;
Ryan Quinn submitted Brett Oteri via guillotine in R1;
Andrew Calandrelli submitted Matt Nice in R1.

Renê Nazaré em ação. Foto: Phillip Hays Divulgação.

O Bellator 48 rolou neste sábado, em Connecticut, Estados Unidos.

Marlon Sandro começou bem contra Pat Curran na final do GP dos penas, e dominou as ações na primeira parcial, tendo aplicado boas sequências de golpes. No segundo round, a luta continuava bem movimentada até que Curran soltou um chute alto no rosto de Marlon, que já caiu desacordado. No chão, o americano aplicou mais três socos antes de o juiz interromper.

Já o faixa-preta Renê Nazaré mostrou que está com o boxe em dia e bem afiado. O brasileiro mandou bem no primeiro round e continuou na mesma no segundo assalto, encurralando Juan Barrantes e batendo em pé. Quando derrubou, trabalhou no ground and pound e chegou a tentar uma guilhotina, mas os cotovelos estavam implacáveis e acertaram o costarriquenho, que ficou com o olho bem avariado. Inspecionado pelos médicos, Barrantes foi impedindo de continuar o duelo. Com o triunfo o, brasileiro mantém a invecibilidade em 10 lutas na carreira.

No combate entre os ex-lutadores do UFC Seth Petruzelli e Ricco Rodrigues, melhor para o primeiro, que acertou um upper letal e mais algumas marteladas já no solo para derrotar o ex-campeão dos pesos pesados do Ultimate.

(Colaborou Junior Samurai)

Confira os resultados:

Bellator 48
Connecticut, Estados Unidos
20 de agosto de 2011

Pat Curran venceu Marlon Sandro por TKO no R2
Cole Konrad venceu Paul Buentello por decisão unânime
Seth Petruzelli venceu Ricco Rodriguez por TKO no R1
Renê Nazaré venceu Juan Barrantes por interrupção médica no R2
Nik Fekete venceu Mark Griffin por TKO no R2
Saul Almeidavenceu Tateki Matsuda por decisão unânime
Jeff Nader venceu Dan Cramer por TKO no R3
Ryan Quinn finalizou Brett Oteri com uma guilhotina no R1
Andrew Calandrelli finalizou Matt Nice no R1