Celsinho, in white trunks, with fighters on Ryan team / Publicity photo

Roger Gracie’s host for the three-time absolute world champ’s first seminar in Brazil ever, last weekend in São Paulo, Celso Venícius didn’t even have time to savor the success of the four classes the Gracie taught.

His thoughts have already turned to his December 18 MMA debut in Macaé, Rio de Janeiro state, at the fifth Face to Face event.

Celso, a three-time world champion of the black belt lightweight division, is honing his fist and foot skills with Master Francisco Veras and Rogerinho, and brushed up on his technique at Ryan Gracie academy in São Paulo with aces like Viscardi Andrade, Armando Polêmico, Francisco “Chicão,” Gabriel Maglioli, Mauricio Croccia and Bruno Alvarez. And he’s confident he’ll pull off the win when he steps into the cage with Junior Kamikaze.

“I watched one of his fights to get an idea of what he likes to do, but my mentality is the same as it is before a Jiu-Jitsu match – I don’t drum up a strategy based on my opponent but train to impose my game on him and win my way. Training has been excellent,” Celsinho begins, revealing that he didn’t pick Strikeforce fighter Roger’s brains about MMA.

“All we talked about was cutting weight; I still have to lose seven kilos by the fight but it will be chill. I’ve shed a lot of weight already so far; I was heavy,” recalls the teacher, who is planning to do an intensive final training camp at the academy of his master, Roberto Gordo, in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro.

Face to Face
Macaé, Rio de Janeiro
December 18, 2011

Matheus Mattos (Team Nogueira) vs Rafael Coruja (FX Fight Team)
Lincoln de Sá (Art Combat) vs Leandro Feijão (Relma)
Saulo de Souza (Team Nogueira) vs Ricardo Capoeira (Macaé)
Celsinho Venicius (Gracie Fusion) vs Junior Kamikaze (Beto Padilha)
Julian Jabá (RFT) vs Eduardo Simões (BTT)
Igor Chatubinha (Team Nogueira) vs Kell Santos (Tatá Fight Team)
Leonardo Chocolate (RFT) vs Ismael Marmota (Equipe Boi)
Mario Soldado (CM System) vs Amilcar Alves (Nova União)
Gerônimo Mondragon (Lobato Team) vs Wiliam Gigante (X-Gym)

Black belts Fernando Belatio, Celsinho Venicius and Carlos Russo with students Mauricio, Christian and Rafael at Ryan Gracie academy. Another good choice for training in the country's biggest city.

Practitioners and enthusiasts of Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, boxing and MMA will be treated to a new place to train in June. Located in the southern part of the city of São Paulo, Ryan Gracie/Veras TK plans to shake things up in the Moema neighborhood, which will feature the first official octagon in São Paulo proper, boasting the same measurements as the UFC stage.

Jiu-Jitsu, the most efficient method of self-defense in the world, will be under the charge of black belt Carlos Russo, while muay thai will be overseen by seasoned teacher Francisco Veras. Boxing will be taught by Junior “Babu” Belém, the teacher at the Olympic training center.

Highest ranked group

Team Ryan Gracie threw a major party last Saturday. Approximately 200 students on the team led by Celso Venicius showed up for the promotion ceremony at São Paulo’s Physical Gym.

“The team is growing a lot, the kids are coming together and we’re going to make a lot of noise yet!” guarantees Celsinho.

Students from several branches showed up

After six years as a black belt, the three-time world champion received his second stripe during one of the greatest moments of the event. The promotion was decided upon by Master Roberto Gordo in Rio de Janeiro and conducted by Professor Carlos Russo in São Paulo.

“The event has already turned into a tradition. We hold promotion ceremonies twice a year,” remarks Russo.

Teachers and some of the girls at Ryan Gracie

There was even a barbecue to satisfy the group’s hunger. To end the day in grand style, the representative of team Udi Lima got another submission win in MMA, via triangle at the Ichigeki event.

“We won some important competitions this year and a number of individual titles. The party also serves for us to celebrate that,” says Professor Pitta Jr in closing.

Group gathered

Durinho in the final against Celso. Photo: Carlos Ozorio

Gilbert Durinho won the under-74kg division of tryouts for the World Pro, which takes place April 17 in Abu Dhabi. Despite a string of injuries, the Atos representative imposed his game on his way to earning his trip to the Middle East.

“I had an arm injury. In Europe I fought injured, but managed to close out the division with the gang. Then I returned to training and hurt my back, and was on ice for a while longer. But I’m doing great work. If I have an injured back, for example, I work my legs. Last week I managed to train hard and I feel I put on a good performance. I went for it in all my matches without getting tired, and that made me happy,” he tells GRACIEMAG.com.

The fighter expects to have an even better performance in the Arab Emirates.

“I want to go in full steam and win that money. I’ll be in good shape when I get there, better than at the qualifiers. Everyone can expect me to push the pace with everybody. Anyone who faces me better be prepared. I’ll bring the pressure the whole time to get that money,” he warns.

In the final of the Rio qualifiers, Durinho beat Celso Venicius by taking the back. At the end of the match the two had an argument. Durinho is in doubt as to the real reason for the controversy, but comments on the possibility in the statement below and in a video interview sent in by our collaborator Diego Marcello.

“Six minutes is a match that has to have a lot of movement going on. If you stop you lock up the game, and that can cause complications. I wanted to carry on in the match and he was piddling around tying and belt and resting. I said: ‘Let’s go, dude. Let’s fight.’ He got kind of angry. If I offended him, I ask forgiveness, which I already did. I have nothing against him. He’s tough, thrice world champion and has nothing to prove. I just did my job and I fell I accomplished my mission.”