Roosevelt Sousa, 29 years old, has the chance to win his first ADCC in his career on the following September 17 and 18 days, in Las Vegas, 2022 ADCC stage. Roberto Cyborg’s black belt is going to conpete in the +99, alongside Gordon Ryan, Felipe Preguiça, Vinny Magalhães and other superstars of the elite grappling.

To achieve his space in the main event, Roosevelt lined up 4 opponents by submission – 3 by footlock and one by calf lock. Despite fighting between the heavy ones, he has a dangerous game when he is with his back on the mats. According to BJJ Heroes, main bjj statistics website, 45 ou of his 66 victories in the black belt were by submission.

” When I started training, I remember that I was fascinated when I used to see someone tapping another one in the training. I decided to learn submissions to tap people in the training and tournaments as well. That reflects nowadays. My game is very dangerous with submissions, but I always keep learning . I have an open mind to evolve, that is necessary on the sport”, says Roosevelt, who comes with a victory at Grand Slam Miami, after 3 fights, 2 by submission. Ricardo Evangelista via footlock and Herico Hesley via choke.

Roosevelt also decided to improve his wrestling to have more opportunities to get the victory in the main event of ADCC. He didn’t miss a class to learn from Pat Downey at the Fight Sports Miami Headquarters. Following, Roosevelt remember his training lessons.

” The first class with Pat was very memorable and also frustrating ( laughs ), because I noticed that I had to learn Wrestling from 0. I learned how to walk, how to position myself and everything. It was one of the best classes I’ve ever had, after that I evolved my top game a lot. The training camp was amazing and everybody is well prepared, we trained so hard. It’s impressive how everybody just evolved quickly at wrestling, we are already on the final step and I can’t wait to fight. I’m feeling better than ever, I’m in my best shape, very confident and my Jiu-Jitsu is very sharped. Come on ADCC!”, says Roosevelt.

Roosevelt Sousa venceu Yuri Simões no F2W, no Texas. Foto: Arquivo Pessoal

Na última sexta, 29 de julho, Roosevelt Sousa topou um grande desafio de última hora. Com pouquíssimos dias de antecedência, o faixa-preta de Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu aceitou medir forças contra Yuri Simões no Fight to Win 207, em Dallas, no Texas.

Contra o bicampeão mundial do ADCC em 2015 e 2017, Roosevelt decidiu usar a estratégia de atacar o tempo inteiro. O duelo foi de oito minutos de duração, onde só valia a finalização e não havia contagem de pontos.

Depois de um duelo em pé nos primeiros minutos, o paraibano decidiu fazer guarda para atacar Yuri. Ao atuar por baixo, ele quase foi capaz de encaixar um triângulo, defendido rapidamente pelo atleta de Caio Terra. Roosevelt, então, buscou abrir espaços até ver a possibilidade de atacar o pé de Yuri três vezes.

Primeiro, durante a guarda 50/50, ele encaixou a botinha, depois tentou uma chave de calcanhar e por fim voltou para o ajuste da chave de pé. Ao cabo do duelo, o representante da escola Fight Sports foi declarado campeão por decisão dos juízes.

“Estou confiante por causa do camp para o ADCC e venho melhorando meu Jiu-Jitsu, meu wrestling e meu físico constantemente. É difícil me parar quando estou treinado. Estava querendo muito uma oportunidade para lutar contra um grande atleta antes do ADCC e eu me mantenho sempre treinando para quando aparecer a oportunidade”, detalha Roosevelt, antes de analisar Yuri:

“O Yuri é um grande atleta que já venceu o ADCC duas vezes, tem muita experiência no grappling. Fiquei feliz de ter tido essa oportunidade de lutar com ele, porque foi um ótimo aquecimento para o ADCC”, comenta.

O campeão agora volta a sua rotina de treinamento em Miami, na Flórida, ao lado do time profissional de competição liderado por Cyborg e companhia.

Para você ter noção, Roosevelt garantiu vaga no ADCC ao finalizar todos os seus oponentes da cintura para baixo durante a seletiva no início do ano, em Santa Catarina.

Roosevelt é um dos principais treinos de Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu em Miami, na Flórida.

Veja e pratique somente na supervisão do professor:

Roosevelt Sousa is one of the best black belt from BJJ new generation. Foto: Milena Maldonado

Roosevelt Sousa, 29, is one of the Fight Sports stars set to fight at the ADCC 2022, scheduled for September in Las Vegas, Nevada. The black belt will compete for the gold in the +99kg division.

Champion of the ADCC trial in Balneário Camboriú after four matches, being one for a straight standing fight, two for a heel hook, and one with a calf slicer, Roosevelt says that it is impossible to compare that performance to the one that will be presented in the main event in a couple of months.

“At the tryouts, I didn’t have even 50% of the preparation than I have today! I believe that, in September, I will be 100% technically and physically ready and you can be sure of a great performance. I am a very strategic fighter and ADCC’s rules are very specific. I believe that whoever uses this to their advantage will prevail”, says Roosevelt.

The athlete’s preparation will take place at the Fights Sports’ headquarters, located in Miami, Florida, alongside Roberto Cyborg and his team. With months left until the event, he even hired a wrestling star to sharpen his standing game. Pat Downey will be the teacher during the training sessions.

“Here at Fight Sports, we have one of the best no-gi workouts in the world, especially during the ADCC camp, when we have the opportunity to lose weight and learn from Cyborg and Vagner Rocha. It’s Jiu-Jitsu training and two fights during a week”, comments the champion, before talking about Pat’s arrival.

“Pat Downey will be our wrestling coach during camp. To be honest, I’ve never trained with him, but I know he’s a great first-division fighter here in the States. We will certainly learn and develop a lot in our wrestling”, he concludes.