Professor Sidney Silva with his son, Ian Kaleo / Personal archive photo

Last week in Hawaii, UFC middleweight star Chris Leben was promoted to blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu by his teacher Sidney Silva, as GRACIEMAG.com previously reported, here.

Having completed the term of his suspension from the UFC for doping, the knockout artist invested his efforts in Jiu-Jitsu training to please his gentle-art professor.

“Chris has a really good ground game. He has a complete notion of basic movements, and as he’s temporarily suspended from fighting and without a date for his next fight, he’s been paying special attention to his ground game, especially in the gi—something he’s been working on for about eight months,” Sidney Silva told GRACIEMAG.com.

“It took some time, but I managed to convince Chris that the true essence of Jiu-Jitsu is in the gi. Although there are a lot of naysayers, Gi Jiu-Jitsu training is essential for MMA fighters: it’s training in the gi that helps the fighter get a tight and precise ground game,” added the black belt Romulo Barros, a Rickson Gracie student.

The UFC star’s presence in the Hawaiian academy has served as a stimulus to the other students. “He’s really stoked about Gi training, and it’s rubbing off on the other students,” said the Jiu-Jitsu professor, who had to defend Leben’s promotion.

“There were folks who disagreed with giving him the belt, saying he should be promoted even higher for being a UFC fighter, having submitted Akiyama [in 2010] and all, but it’s like I explained to him: When he said he wanted to train in the gi and humbly asked what belt he should use, I said, “A white belt.” Well, at the time he was surprised by my response, but he accepted it with the utmost humility because I explained that MMA and No-Gi grappling are not the same thing as Jiu-Jitsu,” Sidney elaborated, already making predictions about the new phase the fighter is seeing.

“The guy’s great people, a warrior, and he’ll throw down with anyone. He’s at a great stage in his life, is healthy and focused on his UFC return, which should happen shortly. I feel he’s going to make the middleweight division all the more exciting,” said the wise Jiu-Jitsu professor in conclusion.

Watch Leben taking on a “Super Dave” during a break in training.

Professor Sidney Silva com o filho, Ian Kaleo. Foto: Acervo Pessoal

Na última semana, o peso médio do UFC Chris Leben foi promovido a faixa-azul de Jiu-Jitsu no Havaí, por seu professor brasileiro Sidney Silva, como o GRACIEMAG.com noticiou, aqui.

Cumprindo suspensão no Ultimate por doping, o nocauteador investiu nos treinos de Jiu-Jitsu, para satisfação do professor.

“O Chris já tem um chão bom, ele tem total noção da movimentação básica, e como está temporariamente suspenso e sem luta marcada, ele vem dando uma atenção especial ao chão, principalmente de kimono – algo que vem treinando há uns oito meses”, comentou Sidney Silva, com o GRACIEMAG.com.

“Demorou um pouco, mas consegui convencer o Chris que a verdadeira essência do Jiu-Jitsu está no kimono. Apesar de muita gente achar o contrário, os treinos de kimono são essenciais para o treinamento do lutador de MMA: é o treino de kimono que ajuda o lutador a ter um chão justo e preciso”, completou o faixa-preta de Romolo Barros (Rickson Gracie).

A presença do astro do UFC na academia havaiana tem servido como estímulo para outros alunos. “Ele está empolgadíssimo com os treinos de kimono e em troca empolga os outros alunos”, falou o professor, que precisou defender a graduação de Leben.

“Teve gente discordando da faixa, achando que ele deveria ter uma graduação maior por ser lutador do UFC, ter finalizado com estilo o Akyama (em 2010) e tal, mas é como eu expliquei a ele. Quando ele me disse que queria treinar de kimono e humildemente me perguntou que faixa deveria usar, eu disse: “a faixa-branca”. Bem, na hora ele ficou surpreso com minha resposta, mas aceitou na maior humildade, pois expliquei que MMA e a luta sem kimono não são a mesma coisa que Jiu-Jitsu”, explicou Sidney, já prevendo uma nova fase para o lutador.

“O cara é gente finíssima, guerreiro e sai na mão com qualquer um, está numa nova fase da vida, saudável e focado na sua volta ao UFC, que deverá ocorrer em breve. Acho que ele vai voltar para embolar ainda mais a categoria médio”, concluiu o sábio professor.

Veja Leben encarando um dublê, no intervalo dos treinos.

Chris Leben wearing black gi and new belt alongside his professor Sidney Silva / Publicity photo

At 31 years of age, the heavy-handed Chris Leben got promoted to blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu this week. The fighter proudly posted a photo of him at his new rank on Twitter. Leben was promoted by his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu professor Sidney Silva, a Gutenberg Melo black belt.

Watch Leben running the gauntlet, a traditional Jiu-Jitsu ceremony that not even UFC fighters escape.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRpb24XsRp8

Chris Leben de kimono preto com a nova graduação, ao lado do professor Sidney Silva. Foto: Divulgação

Aos 31 anos, o mão-pesada Chris Leben foi graduado faixa-azul de Jiu-Jitsu, esta semana. O lutador postou a foto com a nova graduação em seu Twitter, orgulhoso. O americano foi promovido por seu professor brasileiro Sidney Silva, faixa-preta de Rickson Gracie.

Confira o casca-grossa recebendo umas lapadas no corredor polonês, cerimônia típica do Jiu-Jitsu – e da qual nem casca-grossa do UFC escapa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRpb24XsRp8

Buscapé wins in Pride FC, in photo by Susumu Nagao. NOCAUTE archive photo.

All the fighters on the card for Super Cage Combat 3 were on target yesterday in Las Vegas, with the weigh-ins going by without a hitch.

Super Cage Combat 3 will take place this Friday, and the card promises fireworks.

A fighter with eight MMA wins under his Rickson Gracie black belt, Sidney Silva takes on the undefeated Cameron Diffley. “He’s really tough; he was a coach on a season of TUF and was Forrest Griffin’s Jiu-Jitsu coach, but I’m prepared for whatever comes my way,” said the Brazilian.

Now Junior Barata, a native of the Brazilian state of Ceará, will square off against the dangerous Alonso Martinez. “I thank God for this great opportunity. I’m really focused and we trained hard with Master Benkei at Finney’s Hit Squad. I expect the very best.

The card is packed with stars, with ex-UFC and WEC fighter John Alessio taking on former Pride FC fighter Luiz “Buscapé” in the main event; as well as Jay Silva, who enters a title clash with Bristol Marunde. Stay tuned to GRACIEMAG for more on SCC3.

SCC 3
Las Vegas, United States
November 4, 2011

Shorty Weikel vs Kui Goncalves
Sidney Silva vs Cameron Diffley
Blas Avena vs Shawn Fitzsimmons
Phil Dace vs Dave Terrel
Shane Nelson vs Lance Wipf
Porfirio Alves Jr vs Alonso Martinez
Dominique Robinson vs Steve Lopez
Emanuel Newton vs James McSweeney
Bristol Marunde vs Jay Silva
John Alessio  vs Luiz Firmino

Treinador de Jiu-Jitsu na academia de Wanderlei Silva, em Las Vegas, Sidney Silva tem mais uma batalha sem kimono na proxima sexta-feira, dia 4 de novembro. Faixa-preta de Rickson Gracie com oito vitórias no MMA, Sidney encara Cameron Diffley, pedreira que está invicta nos ringues, no evento Super Cage Combat 3 (SCC 3).

“Ele é um cara duro, foi o técnico de uma das edições do TUF e é ex-técnico de de Jiu-Jitsu do Forrest Grinffin, mas estou pronto para o que der e vier”, declarou o brasileiro.

O evento rola na arena do Orleans Cassino, em Las Vegas, e vem recheado de outras feras. Como exemplo, o ex-UFC e WEC John Alessio, além do paraibano ex-Pride Luiz Junior Buscapé e do brasileiro Jay Silva. Fique ligado no GRACIEMAG para saber mais sobre o SCC 3.

Superior Cage Combat 3

Las Vegas, Nevada, Estados Unidos

4 de novembro de 2011

John Alessio vs Junior Buscapé

Bristol Marunde vs Jay Silva

James McSweeney vs Emanuel Newton

Steve Lopez vs William Sriyapai

Shane Nelson vs Lance Wipf

Dave Terrel vs Phil Dace

Cameron Diffley vs Sidney Silva

Shawn Fitzsimmons vs Blas Avena

Kui Gonsalves vs Shorty Weikel

The Jiu-Jitsu coach at Wanderlei Silva’s Las Vegas academy, Sidney Silva has another No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu battle coming up this Friday, November 4. A Rickson Gracie black belt with eight MMA wins on his record, Sidney will take on the undefeated Cameron Diffley at Super Cage Combat 3 (SCC 3).

“He’s a tough guy; he was the coach on one of the seasons of TUF and used to coach Forrest Griffin in Jiu-Jitsu, but I’m ready for whatever is to come,” said the Brazilian.

The event will go down at the Orleans Casino arena in Las Vegas, and the card is packed with stalwart aces. For instance, former UFC and WEC fighter John Alessio will be there, not to mention former Pride FC fighter Luiz “Buscapé” Junior and Brazil’s Jay Silva. State tuned to GRACIEMAG for more on SCC 3.

Superior Cage Combat 3
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
November 4, 2011

John Alessio vs Junior Buscapé
Bristol Marunde vs Jay Silva
James McSweeney vs Emanuel Newton
Steve Lopez vs William Sriyapai
Shane Nelson vs Lance Wipf
Dave Terrel vs Phil Dace
Cameron Diffley vs Sidney Silva
Shawn Fitzsimmons vs Blas Avena
Kui Gonsalves vs Shorty Weikel