João Gabriel Rocha vs. Marcus Buchecha at the 2013 ADCC

João Gabriel Rocha is getting ready for his second shot at an ADCC title.

After finishing second at the +99kg in Beijing, in 2013, he’s back from a cancer treatment to finally achieve his goal of winning the gold medal.

For that, he moved from his native Rio de Janeiro to Miami to train at Roberto Cyborg’s camp.

He explains why he did that: “I came here because Cyborg called me at the time of the 2013 ADCC. The wrestling training here is awesome and Cyborg is the best in the world in no-gi. I wouldn’t have a camp like this one in Brazil.”

Cyborg’s academy welcomed an impressive roster of black belts ranging from Rodolfo Vieira to José Mario Sperry with Abraham Marte, Vagner Rocha and Victor Silvério in between.

Braulio Estima and Marcus Buchecha also stopped by recently for a day of training.

The camp at Cyborg’s academy in Miami. Photo: Roberto Cyborg Instagram

Rocha will compete once again in the +99kg division, the same he finished second in 2013 after a defeat in the final to Buchecha.

He thought he was going to meet the Buchecha once again for a rematch, but a injury to the champion’s left knee forced Buchecha out of this year’s event.

“Man, I was so sad! I wanted so much to fight him once again, but unfortunately we’ll have to wait another two years. I hope he recovers well to be back at 100%,” said Rocha about Buchecha’s absence.

The 2015 ADCC has a special meaning to Rocha. It was after the 2013 edition that he found out he had testicular cancer.

Two years later and after going through a tough treatment, Rocha is ready to compete again.

He talks about the emotions he’s going to be feeling in São Paulo: “I think it’s going to be less intense than what I felt at the 2015 Pan. That was tough, man. It was my first competition after the treatment. I remember I cried before, during and after the matches. At the ADCC, it’s also gonna be huge once the 2013 edition was the last competition before being diagnosed.”

Even without Buchecha, Rocha knows the +99kg division will be as tough as nails. He commented on how he thinks it’s going to play out: “At the ADCC, there’s not even one easy opponent. Whoever gets there knows what he’s doing. You need to be ready for tough matches since the first time you step on the mat.”

The 2015 ADCC takes place in São Paulo, Brazil, on August 29-30.

Mas, como toda luta de Jiu-Jitsu começa em pé, os atletas chegaram afiados no jogo de quedas, e algumas delas você pode relembrar no vídeo abaixo. Assista, estude e inspire-se para seu treino de hoje!

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?