Rodolfo struck from the top before shooting for a kata-gatame. Carlos Arthur Jr.

Held late last month, Shooto Brazil 74 featured two BJJ world champions, both taking their first steps in mixed martial arts. Rodolfo Vieira and Bruno Malfacine stepped into the cage and won by submission.

The co-main bout of the night was only Vieira’s second-ever appearance in MMA, as he faced Fagner Rakchal, who had only a day’s notice to replace Vieira’s original opponent.

The fight saw a lot of striking. Powerful kicks and punches were thrown by Rakchal, who was intent on disappointing a crowd that was mostly supporting his opponent.

But, in round three, Vieira managed to apply a takedown, mount, strike from the top, and then pull a kata-gatame with just seconds to go. It can all be seen in this video, so enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0RnHxbV_ic&feature=youtu.be

Rodolfo struck from the top before shooting for a kata-gatame. Carlos Arthur Jr.

Realizado no fim de agosto, o Shooto Brazil 74 trouxe no seu card dois campeões mundiais de Jiu-Jitsu, ambos nos primeiros passos no esporte de luvinhas. Rodolfo Veira e Bruno Malfacine pisaram no cage do evento e venceram por finalização.

Na luta coprincipal da noite, Rodolfo Vieira partiu para seu segundo combate no MMA, contra Fagner Rakchal, adversário que entrou para a luta com um dia de antecedência, já que o oponente original de Rodolfo não pôde se apresentar apto ao combate.

O duelo foi marcado pela trocação. Chutes e socos poderosos foram desferidos por Rakchal, disposto a estragar a festa de Rodolfo, que tinha a torcida ao seu lado.

Porém, no terceiro assalto, o faixa-preta da GFTeam conseguiu derrubar, montar, bater por cima e tirar um kata-gatame da cartola, com poucos segundos para o fim do duelo.

Reveja a luta completa no vídeo abaixo!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0RnHxbV_ic

Shooto 74
Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro
27 de agosto de 2017

Marlon Sandro finalizou Diego Arturo no katagatame a 1min56s do R1
Rodolfo Vieira finalizou Fagner Rakchal no katagatame aos 4min46s do R3
Geraldo de Freitas venceu Luciano Benício na decisão unânime dos jurados
Pedro Falcão venceu Iliarde Santos na decisão unânime dos jurados
Jeferson Minotauro x Handesson Boy Doido terminou em empate majoritário
Luan Danger finalizou Jafel Filho no mata-leão aos 2min55s do R3
Fernando Bruno venceu Edilson Teixeira na decisão unânime dos jurados
Bruno Malfacine finalizou Romário Boaes no armlock a 1min34s do R1
Jonatha Silva venceu Yan Teixeira na decisão unânime dos jurados
Renato King venceu Armando Sapinho na decisão unânime dos jurados
Carlos Eduardo Carlin finalizou Elvis Batista no mata-leão a 4min46s do R1
Jessica Correa venceu Joice Mara da Silva na decisão unânime dos jurados

Malfacine debuted in MMA in Shooto in Rio, winning in R1. Eduardo Ferreira/ Gallerr

Late last month, Bruno Malfacine left his gi and nine gold medals from world championships at home and flew from Orlando to Rio de Janeiro on a mission: to test his MMA-focused jiu-jitsu before an audience at Shooto Brazil. And it was an impeccable debut for Alliance’s brave little one.

The roosterweight legend faced a more experienced MMA fighter in Romário Boaes and finished him via armbar in 1’34”. Bruno took him down, passed guard swiftly, but lost the mount. After landing on the bottom, he did some good work and caught an arm to notch his first win.

Recently Graciemag caught up with Malfacine to extract some of his newfound knowledge. It’s all yours if you keep reading.

GRACIEMAG: What did you feel on the ground, without the usual support points offered by the gi, and with punches flying?

BRUNO MALFACINE: Look, it’s not a jiu-jitsu I’m used to. It’s a somewhat different jiu-jitsu, an MMA-facing type — just like wrestling, Muay Thai and boxing are also adapted for MMA. It’s not just any BJJ world champion that could adapt to MMA rules. I’m learning a lot from Master Ricardo Libório and adapting in the best way my jiu-jitsu to MMA. I have a big advantage due to my traits that I’ve acquired in the sport — that is, the fact I play on top and am always aggressive, looking for the submission all the time.

What is the biggest obstacle to making BJJ lock into place and flow when the fists are flying?

Ever since they created my division in the UFC, I’ve been following every fight in my division. I always thought my BJJ was above the average that I saw in the Octagon, and I feel that I have some advantages to make my BJJ flow, just like I did in my fight in Shooto. However, the biggest challenge now is to connect the transitions very well with the ground-and-pound.

What did you learn from that moment you lost the mount?

I teach class to beginners at my gym, and I’ve understood all of the basic BJJ concept for defense for ages. When my opponent dominated my arm, I knew he could reverse to the same side my arm was dominated on. Therefore, I kept my base and used my free hand to hit him. That was when I lost balance and had to prop that hand on the ground, and at that moment he achieved control over the other arm and surprised me by reversing to the side I wasn’t expecting.

And what of your guard for MMA — is it similar to the one you use in competitive BJJ?

I think it necessary to make some modifications to the guard in order not to expose yourself so much, but the goal is the same as in BJJ. Due to nearly all of my opponents in BJJ being guard players, I became a passer. But I truly trust in my BJJ on the bottom, my defensive BJJ, and I feel pretty comfortable doing guard. I knew a finish was coming out of that position.

Any good stuff you’ve been learning from Libório at American Top Team that you can comment on?

Master Libório has been insisting that staying on the bottom in MMA is not always the best option. When I made the mistake and he reversed, I knew I had to finish soon — otherwise Libório was going to scold me hard. Thank God it all worked out!

Bruno Malfacine fez sua estreia no MMA no Shooto, no Rio, com uma vitória no armlock no R1. Foto: Eduardo Ferreira/ Gallerr

No último dia 27 de agosto, Bruno Malfacine deixou o kimono e as nove medalhas de ouro mundiais em casa, depois de vir de Orlando para o Rio de Janeiro especialmente para uma missão cercada de expectativa: testar seu Jiu-Jitsu voltando para o MMA diante do público, no Shooto Brazil. E foi uma estreia profissional impecável para o pequeno valente da Alliance.

O mito do peso-galo, nove vezes campeão mundial na faixa-preta, enfrentou o mais experiente Romário Boaes, e finalizou no armlock, logo a 1min34s do primeiro round. Bruno derrubou, passou a guarda de modo fulminante, mas perdeu a montada. Ao cair por baixo, trabalhou bem e catou o braço para encerrar a estreia.

A equipe GRACIEMAG bateu um papo com Malfacine para descobrir que lições ele tirou.

GRACIEMAG: Parabéns pela estreia, Bruno. O que você sentiu ali no chão, sem os mesmos pontos de apoio que o kimono oferece, e com a pancadaria comendo solta?

BRUNO MALFACINE: Olha, não é um Jiu-Jitsu com o qual estou acostumado. É um Jiu-Jitsu um pouco diferente, voltado para o MMA, assim como o wrestling, o muay thai e o boxe também são adaptados para o MMA. Não é qualquer campeão mundial de Jiu-Jitsu que se adaptaria às regras do MMA. Estou aprendendo muito com mestre Ricardo Libório e adaptando da melhor maneira meu Jiu-Jitsu ao MMA. Eu tenho uma grande vantagem pelas minhas características, que adquiri no esporte. Isto é, o fato de eu jogar por cima, ser agressivo sempre e lutar o tempo todo buscando a finalização.

Qual é a maior dificuldade para fazer o Jiu-Jitsu encaixar e fluir na hora da porrada?

Desde que criaram minha categoria no UFC, acompanho todas as lutas da minha divisão. Sempre achei meu Jiu-Jitsu acima da média do que via no octagon, e sinto que tenho algumas facilidades para fazer meu Jiu-Jitsu fluir, assim como fiz na minha luta no Shooto. Porém, o maior desafio agora é conectar muito bem as transições com o ground and pound.

Como foi aquele momento da luta em que você perdeu a montada? O que aprendeu ali?

Dou aulas para iniciantes na minha academia, e entendo todo o conceito básico do Jiu-Jitsu para defesas há tempos. Quando meu oponente dominou meu braço, eu sabia que ele poderia inverter para o mesmo lado que o meu braço estava dominado. Mantive então minha base e usei a mão livre para bater. Foi quando perdi o equilíbrio e tive de apoiar a mão no chão, e nesse momento ele conseguiu o domínio do outro braço e me surpreendeu fazendo a inversão para o lado que eu não esperava.

E a sua guarda para o MMA? É similar ao Jiu-Jitsu esportivo?

Penso ser necessário fazer algumas modificações na guarda para não se expor tanto, mas o objetivo é o mesmo do Jiu-Jitsu. Devido a quase todos os meus oponentes no Jiu-Jitsu de competição serem guardeiros, eu me tornei um passador. Mas confio muito no meu Jiu-Jitsu por baixo, de defesa, e me sinto bem confortável fazendo guarda. Eu sabia que iria sair uma finalização daquela posição.

O que tem aprendido de melhor com o Libório, nos treinos na American Top Team?

Mestre Libório tem insistido comigo que ficar por baixo no MMA nem sempre é a melhor opção. Quando eu cometi o erro e ele inverteu eu sabia que teria de finalizar logo, caso contrário o Libório iria me dar uma “chamada” daquelas (risos)! Graças a Deus deu tudo certo!

*** Assine GRACIEMAG, clicando a seguir!

Chegou a revista digital GRACIEMAG, leia no seu celular!

O faixa-preta de Jiu-Jitsu Raoni Barcellos durante o Pan 2007 no Rio. Foto: Divulgação.

Faixa-preta de Jiu-Jitsu e craque da luta olímpica brasileira, o peso-pena Raoni Barcellos quer fazer barulho no MMA, modalidade em que estreia no próximo dia 10, no evento Shooto Brasil, no Rio de Janeiro.

Confira o que ele pretende mostrar de luvinhas.

Jiu-Jitsu black belt Raoni Barcellos at 2007 Pan American Games in Rio / Publicity photo

A Brazilian black belt in Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling ace, the featherweight Raoni Barcellos wants to make some noise, and he’ll be getting his chance on the coming 10th, when he makes his MMA debut, at Shooto Brazil in Rio de Janeiro.

Check out what he brings to the ring:

Na seletiva do ADCC 2009 no Rio, Raoni só parou diante de Rafa Mendes, na final. Foto: Gustavo Aragão.

Aos 5 anos de idade, o carioca Raoni Barcellos deu seus primeiros golpes no tatame ainda no judô. Anos mais tarde, por influência do seu pai e treinador Laerte Barcellos, faixa-preta da Gracie Barra, ingressou no Jiu-Jitsu.

Há anos faixa-preta como o pai, o casca-grossa teve, também, uma boa passagem pela luta olímpica, onde chegou a conquistar bons resultados no cenário internacional e representar o país no Pan do Rio em 2007.

Hoje, Raoni está focado em um novo projeto de carreira, o MMA. Treinando com atletas do calibre de Pedro Rizzo e Glover Teixeira, sua estreia no MMA está marcada para o próximo dia 10 na 28ª edição do Shooto Brasil, pela categoria peso-pena (66kgg). A luta será contra o atleta Vítor Pitanga (Relma).

O GRACIEMAG.com esteve no novíssimo CT da Refinaria de Manguinhos, onde o atleta vem fazendo seus treinos e conversou com ele sobre os treinos no chão, a preparação na parte em pé e muito mais. Confira a entrevista exclusiva a seguir. O card você vê abaixo.

Shooto Brasil 28

10 de março de 2012

Clube Hebraica, Laranjeiras, Rio

Carlos Eduardo (Nova União) vs Joe “Diesel” Riggs – 93Kg

Henrique Melo (Nova União) vs Bruno Carioca ( RFT ) – 66Kg

Danilo Brasília (FFT/Nova União) vs Mauricio Facção – 61Kg

Daniel Araujo (RFT) vs Francisco Pezzi (Tatá) – 57Kg

Fernando Bruno (Nova União) vs Carlston Lindsay Harris (RFT) – 70Kg

Raoni Barcellos (RVT/Manguinhos) vs Vitor Pitanga (Relma) – 66Kg

Hermerson “Tigrinho” Hubaldo (Nova União) vs Rivanildo Jr – 66Kg

Dedé Pederneiras teaches how to flip an opponent who's baring his weight down over your guard. Photo: Junior Samurai.

Widely regarded as the greatest Brazilian MMA coach, Jiu-Jitsu teacher André Pederneiras (Nova União) flew to the city of Fortaleza to tie up the final loose ends before the next Shooto event in the Northeast Brazilian city.

Coach to José Aldo, Vitor Shaolin and a plethora of other top-notch MMA stars, Pederneiras visited the local affiliate of his team, Nova União, where he taught a class to more than 50 practitioners studying under gym leader Guilherme Santos.

GRAB BELT AND SWEEP

Speaking with Junior Samurai, a GRACIEMAG.com contributor, André Pederneiras shared a lesson for Jiu-Jitsu players who are sick and tired of stallers keeping them down. Remember: the key is to sit up and use your elbow; with a helpful nudge from your foot, you should flip that pesky staller without much effort at all.

Caio's eyes are on GRACIEMAG! Photo:Junior Samurai.

This Friday, Shooto Brasil 27 went down at Nilson Nelson gymnasium in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil.

In one of the evening’s title fights, Caio Magalhães went all out in his bid to win the Shooto South America under-84 kg title against the dangerous Ismael Marmota.

Ismael started out well, putting the pressure on Caio in the opening round. A Jiu-Jitsu black belt who won this year’s Rio International Open and qualified for the 2012 World Professional Championship, Caio made it to mount in the second round, where he dropped a barrage of punches on his foe. Thick skinned as always, Marmota hung on till the end but the scorecards came back with a split decision win for Dragon Fight/Nova União rep Magalhães.

“There were three intense round. The guy is really good on his feet; I was at a disadvantage in the first round. But starting in the second, I took him down, mounted and used my ground game but didn’t shy away from the standup. It was war,” said Caio, who now holds the Shooto South America, Amazon Fight and Iron Man titles, while remaining undefeated in his five-fight career.

In another title fight, for the under-65 kg belt, Hacran Dias submitted Paulo Guerreiro with an arm-and-neck choke in the second round.

Standing out in the other fights on the card, Dragon Fight/Nova União’s Ricardinho submitted Lucio Fernandes with a guillotine choke in the first round.

Check out the complete results:

Shooto Brazil 27
Nilson Nelson gymnasium, Brasília
December 2, 2011

Caio Magalhães defeated Ismael Marmota via split decision;
Hacran Dias submitted Paulo Guerreiro via arm-and-neck choke in R2;
Peterson Chacal defeated Vinicius Boneco via unanimous decision;
Ricardinho Martins submitted Lucio Fernandes via guillotine in R1;
Geraldo Ferro defeated Cesar Gordinho via unanimous decision;
Andrews Tigrão defeated Jefferson dos Santos via unanimous decision;
Danilo Noronha defeated Adriano Gonçalves via unanimous decision;
Marcus Montanha defeated Diogo Osama via unanimous decision;
Gildazio Ferreiro submitted Ulisses Moreira via arm-and-neck choke;
Mauristenio Rocha defeated Guilherme Soares via unanimous decision.

The winner of the IBJJF’s Rio Open and qualified for the Abu Dhabi World Pro 2012, Caio Magalhães has been coming up with big results in competition Jiu-Jitsu this season.

What’s more, he’s undefeated in MMA, too. With such credentials, holding four wins in the cage and Amazon Fight and Iron Man titles, the “Monster” has earned the right to try and add another title to his CV.

Caio will fight for the Shooto South America middleweight belt against Goias state-native Ismael Marmota, who is coming off a spectacular knockout win over Alexandre Macaco at Bitetti Combat 10.

By winning this fight, Caio could kill lions with a single choke hold – becoming champion of the André Pederneiras-promoted event and get revenge for Macaco, his teammate at Dragon Fight/Nova União in Fortaleza.

And check back with GRACIEMAG.com next week to catch the exclusive interview with Caio Magalhães.

Caio going for armbar at World Pro / Photo: Carlos Ozório

Last weekend was more than perfect for the leader of Natal, Brazil-based team Kimura, Jair Lourenço, with all his students winning their respective commitments at Shooto Brazil 26 this Saturday.

First, Jussier Formiga submitted Maicon William with a rear-naked choke in the second round and hung on to his flyweight belt. Then, Caio Alencar too used his Jiu-Jitsu to decisive effect against Wagner Câmara. The black belt did the basics, got the takedown, passed guard, mounted, rained down strikes, and when his opponent turned his back, sunk a rear-naked choke on his MMA debut.

“It was a blessing. The two did great and did everything according to the game plan we’d put together. Caião, although a first-timer, was already at a good rhythm from competition and, like I’d said before, he didn’t get all that adrenaline from making his debut, and thus he managed to do what everyone knows you have to – get the takedown and go for the submission, which he did right away,” said Jair.

“Now the strategy we had for Jussier was to stand and strike in the first round, only going for the takedown in the end. Our backup plan was to go straight for the takedown and try and finish the fight, and thank God that’s what he did,” remarked Jair, who today takes off for England, where he will corner his understudy Renan Barão against Brad Pickett next Saturday at UFC 138.

“I expect the best. Barão really dedicated himself in training and I can see him just becoming stronger and stronger and more well rounded, with the look of a UFC fighter. I feel the most important thing an athlete can do is be focused in training and live a regimented life. Without proper rest, nourishment and supplementation a fighter can’t be 100%. I had a good talk with Dedé and Marlon; they too are really confident Barão will have a great performance at UFC 138. Renan’s job is to train a lot and live a controlled life, and I’m certain he did everything just right. Now it’s in God’s hands. Only He knows what the outcome will be,” he said.

To wrap up the weekend, Jair felt an emotion even greater than his students’ triumphs. At precisely 8am Saturday morning, Vithor Lourenço, the black belt’s second child, was born. “My son was born premature, just like his sister Giovana Lourenço, who was born before eight months in the pregnancy were up. The boy was born weighing almost 3.5 kg and 29 cm long, is plenty healthy, and full of energy. He’s going to be a handful,” he said in closing.

Check out the official results from Shooto Brazil:

Shooto Brazil 26
Clube Hebraica, Rio de Janeiro
October 29, 2011

Jussier Formiga submitted Maicon William via rear-naked choke in R2;
Andrews Tigrão submitted Júlio César Field via rear-naked choke in R1;
Walber Teté defeated Kell Santos via split decision;
Caião Alencar submitted Wagner Câmara via rear-naked choke in R1;
Junior Oliveira defeated Aquiles Campos via technical knockout in R3;
Rafael Viana submitted Armando Sapinho via rear-naked choke in R2;
Fernando Dias defeated Hélio Abicassiz via technical knockout in R3;
Rodrigo Otero submitted Junior Vidal via americana armlock in R2;
Danilo Noronha submitted Júnior Abedi via guillotine in R2.

Caio Alencar at World Pro tryouts / Photo: Carlos Ozório

Jair Lourenço, the leader of Natal, Brazil’s team Kimura, is confident his students will triumph at Shooto Brazil 26.

This Saturday at the Clube Hebraica club in Rio de Janeiro, flyweight Jussier Formiga (10w, 1l) and debuting light heavyweight Caio Alencar will defend their academy’s coat of arms against Maicon William and Wagner Câmara, respectively.

“Maicon is a tough guy and knows Jussier’s game but Jussier has evolved a lot since the first time they fought, mainly in his striking and wrestling. This was clear at his last performance, lat August at TPF 10 in the USA. That’s why our strategy will be to push the pace standing and on the ground, striking, getting takedowns and looking for chances to get the tapout or knockout,” Lourenço told GRACIEMAG.com.

Jair will be accompanying his fighters to the André Pederneiras-produced event, and believes his experience in the gi will work in the debuting Caio Alencar’s favor.

“Caio is already a Jiu-Jitsu champion as a black belt and has been keeping a strong pace in competition this year, having won the Norte-Nordeste absolute division, taken third in the under-92 kg division at the Abu Dhabi World Pro. I feel he’s physically well and has solid experience from competing, despite it being his first MMA fight. It will help him when it comes to controlling the adrenaline of his MMA debut,” he said in finishing.

Shooto Brazil 26
Clube Hebraica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
October 29, 2011

Jussier Formiga vs Maicon William
Julio César “Field” vs Tigrão
Aquiles vs José Maria
Gaúcho vs Armando Sapinho
Rodrigo vs Beto
Walber Tetê vs Kellis Santos
Caião Alencar vs Wagner Câmara
Fernando vs Hélio Abicassiz