Jonnatas Gracie e Ronaldo Mendes, organizador do Tough Roll. Foto: Divulgação/Tough Roll

A cidade de Gold Coast, na Austrália, sediou a segunda edição do Tough Roll, evento de Jiu-Jitsu que promoveu a disputa de lutas casadas e do GP dos Médios, que reuniu oito faixas-pretas à caça do prêmio de 10 mil dólares americanos (cerca de R$ 47.500 na cotação atual). 

Na luta principal da noite, o bicampeão mundial Tainan Dalpra protagonizou uma atuação de gala contra o australiano Burak Sarman. O astro da Art of Jiu-Jitsu impressionou o público com sua técnica apurada e seu estilo calculista para dominar o combate. Tainan impôs seu Jiu-Jitsu refinado e usou posições plásticas, como o “gator roll”, para passar a guarda de Burak. O pupilo dos irmãos Mendes ainda chegou ao cem-quilos do adversário em outros momentos do confronto e depois liquidou a fatura ao estrangular com um ataque das costas. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Na entrevista pós-luta, Tainan aproveitou a oportunidade com o microfone para desafiar o americano Levi Jones, que estava presente no evento, para um duelo na próxima edição do Tough Roll.

A australiana Nikki Lloyd foi a grande surpresa da noite. Nikki derrotou a brasileira Anna Rodrigues por 2 a 0 na luta co-principal, em combate recheado de reviravoltas. Anna teve um começo avassalador, conseguiu passar a guarda, montar e quase finalizou com um estrangulamento. No entanto, a estrela da Dream Art não largou na frente porque a pontuação só começava a valer com cinco minutos de ação. A australiana cresceu de rendimento a partir da metade da luta, enquanto Anna teve uma queda no desempenho. 

Nikki marcou um ponto – equivalente a uma vantagem – ao atacar na chave de pé e depois conseguiu outro depois de quase raspar a adversária. Anna, que tinha tomado uma punição de pegada na parte interna do kimono, marcou um ponto, mas não foi o suficiente para reverter a desvantagem.

Ainda no card principal, Vagner Rocha superou Uros Culic por 3 a 0, após marcar três vantagens sobre o atleta local, em duelo sem kimono. Vagner não ofereceu brechas ao oponente e imprimiu seu estilo ofensivo para levar a vitória.

O fenômeno Cole Abate brilhou em sua estreia na faixa-preta. O craque da Art of Jiu-Jitsu teve as rédeas da luta a todo momento e foi impecável contra David Stoil. Cole raspou “Baby Dave”, quedou e finalizou com um armlock letal nos instantes finais do combate sem kimono. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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O veterano Viktor Doria superou três dedadas no olho e uma joelhada na cabeça para derrotar Paulo Lima. Doria, que operou o joelho duas vezes nesse ano, depositou sua garra e a experiência no tatame para conquistar o triunfo. Viktor perdia a luta por 1 a 0 até a reta final, até que chegou na posição de quatro apoios, girou para as costas e fisgou uma vantagem. Como foi o último marcador, Doria saiu vitorioso.

Henrique Ceconi e Anton Minenko estremeceram a arena com um confronto sem kimono de gigantes. Ceconi provou sua superioridade na luta agarrada e bateu o oponente por 2 a 0, ao executar uma queda no double-leg.

Jonnatas Gracie reina no GP dos Médios

O brasileiro Jonnatas Gracie foi o grande nome do GP dos Médios. O atleta da Atos venceu três lutas para boletar o título do torneio e faturar a premiação de 10 mil dólares americanos. Jonnatas derrotou o mineiro Servio Tulio após o lutador da Gracie Barra lesionar o ombro esquerdo ao ser quedado. Servio até fez esforço para voltar a lutar, mas não teve condições de dar continuidade ao embate. 

No decorrer de sua campanha na competição, Jonnata Gracie também derrotou Tadeu Lobato e Murilo Amaral. Do outro lado da chave, Servio finalizou Diego Queiroz com um triângulo de mão e estrangulou Grant Bogdanove com um mata-leão em pé.

Na entrevista pós luta, o aluno de André Galvão celebrou a vitória e pediu para disputar a próxima edição do Tough Roll. Já Servio, aproveitou a oportunidade para solicitar a revanche contra Jonnatas.

No combate, Jake mostrou muita habilidade em pé. Vagner esperou o melhor momento para derrubar e usar o Jiu-Jitsu, mas o jovem Jake conectou belo golpe e com Vagner no solo, avançou para o mata-leão. O valente brasuca tentou escapar, mas o justo arrocho fez com o que o mesmo acabasse apagado. Confira!

UFC Fight Night: Rockhold x Bisping
Sydney, Austrália
7 de novembro de 2014

Luke Rockhold finalizou Michael Bisping na guilhotina aos 57s do R2
Al Iaquinta venceu Ross Pearson por nocaute técnico aos 1min39s do R2
Robert Whittaker venceu Clint Hester por nocaute técnico aos 2min43s do R2
Soa Palelei venceu Walt Harris por nocaute técnico aos 4min49s do R2

Card preliminar

Jake Matthews finalizou Vagner Rocha no mata-leão a 1min52s do R2
Anthony Perosh finalizou Guto Inocente no mata-leão aos 3min46s do R1
Sam Alvey nocauteou Dylan Andres aos 2min16s do R1
Louis Smolka venceu Richie Vaculik por nocaute técnico aos 18s do R3
Chris Clements venceu Vik Grujic por nocaute técnico aos 3min06s do R1
Daniel Kelly finalizou Luke Zachrich na kimura aos 4min27s do R1
Marcus Brimage nocauteou Jumabieke Tuerxun aos 2min58s do R1

A guilhotina de Rockhold sobre Bisping. Foto: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Sem trabalho para os jurados. Assim será lembrado o UFC apresentado em Sydney, na Austrália, na última sexta-feira, dia 7 de novembro. Com 11 lutas no card e nenhum combate chegando à decisão, o card histórico foi encabeçado pela vitória de Luke Rockhold sobre Michael Bisping, por finalização, e pelo nocaute do azarão Al Iaquinta sobre Rosso Pearson no co-evento.

O evento teve a presença de dois brasileiros, Vagner Rocha e Guto Inocente, que acabaram finalizados pelos adversários Jake Matthews e Anthony Perosh, respectivamente. Confira os destaques:

Rockhold passeia e finaliza Bisping com pose

Na aguardada luta principal do evento em Sydney, Luke Rockhold entrou para resolver suas diferenças com Michael Bisping. O duelo, temperado por ofensas fora do cage, foi ditado dentro dele por Luke. Bisping até que tentou seus golpes, mas Rockhold, de guarda baixa e esperto na esquiva, mostrou que estava com o jogo de pernas em dia e quase não deixou Michael o achar no cage.

Depois de um treino de luxo no primeiro assalto, Rockhold voltou para o segundo com a cabeça na decisão. Após um chute fintado de direita no rosto de Bisping, Luke soltou a esquerda de trás com força e bateu com a canela na cabeça do cipriota. Este caiu sentado no solo, e foi estrangulado por Rockhold numa peculiar guilhotina de um só braço.

Iaquinta vence Pearson e quebra a banca

Iaquinta acerta belo chute alto em Pearson, mas fecha o duelo com socos. Foto: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

No co-evento principal, Al Iaquinta entrou como azarão contra Ross Pearson no combate válido pelos leves. No combate, como era de se esperar, duelo marcado pela troca de socos no boxe. Pearson, mais veloz e estiloso no boxe, acelerou no primeiro assalto e fez as melhores investidas. Porém, no segundo assalto, foi a hora de Iaquinta virar o jogo.

Pearson seguia com sua técnica refinada, mas com um cruzado certeiro, Al Iaquinta derrubou Ross em knockdown. O inglês rapidamente se levantou, mas Iaquinta foi implacável e acertou mais três duros golpes em cheio no queixo de Ross, que não resistiu e desabou. Nocaute técnico para o companheiro de Chris Wiedman, campeão peso médio do evento.

Confira os resultados completos:

UFC Fight Night: Rockhold x Bisping
Sydney, Austrália
7 de novembro de 2014

Luke Rockhold finalizou Michael Bisping na guilhotina aos 57s do R2
Al Iaquinta venceu Ross Pearson por nocaute técnico aos 1min39s do R2
Robert Whittaker venceu Clint Hester por nocaute técnico aos 2min43s do R2
Soa Palelei venceu Walt Harris por nocaute técnico aos 4min49s do R2

Card preliminar

Jake Matthews finalizou Vagner Rocha no mata-leão a 1min52s do R2
Anthony Perosh finalizou Guto Inocente no mata-leão aos 3min46s do R1
Sam Alvey nocauteou Dylan Andres aos 2min16s do R1
Louis Smolka venceu Richie Vaculik por nocaute técnico aos 18s do R3
Chris Clements venceu Vik Grujic por nocaute técnico aos 3min06s do R1
Daniel Kelly finalizou Luke Zachrich na kimura aos 4min27s do R1
Marcus Brimage nocauteou Jumabieke Tuerxun aos 2min58s do R1

Photo: Dan Rod

Following some trying times, fortune has begun to smile on our GMA Pablo Popovitch (Avengers team), a Rio-born Jiu-Jitsu teacher living in Florida.

After losing his mother and his Teresopolis home with everything in it in January, the 31-year-old black belt was invited to bolster the training sessions of another stalwart Jiu-Jitsu stylist: none other than Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, a three-stripe black belt – and the prince of Abu Dhabi.

The invitation came after Pablo himself made the cover of GRACIEMAG. He is currently hard at work training to defend his ADCC 2011 title, not to mention an unbeaten streak dating back four years.

So what is it Popovitch is grumbling about? Well, after watching some footage from the 2011 World Pro, there were a few issues that caught the teacher’s attention, and he took it upon himself to share them with GRACIEMAG.com readers.

“Our training camp at Avengers in Florida is underway already, with a number of our students who have been standing out lately participating – like my black belt Vagner Rocha, who took third at the Abu Dhabi No-Gi Pro at both weight and open weight, losing both by referee decision. What I’ve been noticing is that the Gi game is based mostly on grips, strength and weight, with a lot of wins coming by way of a single advantage point and sneakiness,” Pablo told GRACIEMAG.com.

“The champion, Rodolfo Vieira, really does have a tight pass game in the gi. Without the gi, in my opinion, it’s another story: I see the weaker fighter fighting on even terms – and with greater chances of using technique to win. Such was the case with Vagner, who lost to Rodolfo in a fight a lot of folks felt he won. And Vagner only weighs 77kg (170 lbs). The same deal with Rafael Mendes, who lost by judges’ decision. No-Gi, in my eyes, annuls the grip game, evening the playing field when there’s a big weight difference involved. That’s my opinion.”

Would you agree, dear reader? Get in on the debate, commenting below.

Foto: Dan Rod.

Após tempos difíceis, a bonança começa a sorrir para nosso GMA Pablo Popovitch (Avengers), professor de Jiu-Jitsu carioca radicado na Flórida.

Após perder a mãe e o lar nas cheias de Teresópolis, em janeiro, o faixa-preta de 31 anos foi convidado para reforçar os treinos de outro casca-grossa, ninguém menos que xeque Tahnoon bin Zayed, faixa-preta terceiro grau – e príncipe de Abu Dhabi.

O convite veio depois de Pablo também ganhar a capa de GRACIEMAG, ele que atualmente está treinando forte para defender seu título no ADCC 2011, além de uma invencibilidade que dura quatro anos.

Do que pode reclamar então Popovitch? Bem, ao assistir a algumas lutas do World Pro 2011, o professor notou algumas coisas, e divide com o leitor de GRACIEMAG.com.

“Nosso camp dos Avengers na Flórida está em andamento já, com alguns alunos nossos que vêm se destacando – como meu faixa-preta Vagner Rocha, que tirou terceiro no World Abu Dhabi Pro Sem Kimono, peso e absoluto, perdendo ambas por decisão dos árbitros. O que estou reparando é que o jogo de kimono está baseado muito nas pegadas, na força e no peso, com muitas vitórias na vantagem e na malandragem”, comentou Pablo com o GRACIEMAG.com.

“O campeão Rodolfo Vieira com certeza está com um jogo muito justo de passagem de guarda de kimono. Sem kimono, na minha opinião, a história é outra: vejo o mais fraco com vantagem igual – e com mais possibilidade de usar mais a técnica para tentar vencer . Tanto que o Vagner perdeu para ele sem kimono numa luta na qual muitos pensaram que ele ganhou. E o Vagner só pesa 77kg (170lbs). O mesmo ocorreu contra o Rafael Mendes, perdendo na decisão do juízes. O sem kimono, ao meu ver, anula as pegadas, dando mais equilíbrio à luta onde há grande diferença de peso. É minha opinião”.

E você, leitor, concorda? Debata abaixo.

O local do evento, o Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Fotos: Raphael Nogueira.

O suntuoso Armed Forces Officers Club & Hotel, em Abu Dhabi, cativa os lutadores de Jiu-Jitsu não só pela exuberância de suas instalações, mas também pelos pequenos detalhes. Logo na recepção, os hóspedes têm acesso a uma bancada com tâmaras, alimento recorrente no mundo árabe, assim como nas receitas da Dieta Gracie.

Foi saboreando algumas dessas tâmaras que o repórter do GRACIEMAG.com encontrou Tarsis Humpreys e Bernardo Faria. Os dois craques da Alliance estavam a caminho do restaurante onde o almoço era servido. Comeram às pressas para não perder o primeiro ônibus que levaria competidores, staff e jornalistas ao Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), a arena onde, por volta das 15h15, teve início a versão sem kimono do World Pro Jiu-Jitsu 2011.

Nem Bernardo, nem Tarsis foram muito bem nesta sexta-feira. O primeiro perdeu no peso para Rafael Lovato (7 a 0) e foi finalizado nas quartas-de-final do absoluto por Gilmar Oliveira (estrangulamento). Tarsis, por sua vez, não lutou no peso, apenas no  absoluto, categoria em que foi batido por Vagner Rocha.

A dupla que realmente brilhou ao longo do dia foi Rodolfo Vieira e Rafael Mendes. Rodolfo seguiu a consistência que esbanjou no Pan 2011. Somando os compromissos que teve no peso e no absoluto, venceu sete lutas. De todas elas, a mais acirrada foi contra Vagner Rocha, o “Ceará”, na semifinal do absoluto. Rodolfo ganhou nas vantagens, de virada, bem no finzinho do combate. Emocionante.

Rodolfo ataca Bruno Bastos na semifinal do peso. A luta terminou 13 a 0 para Rodolfo.

Já Rafa parece estar cada vez mais “abusado”. No bom sentido, claro. O que queremos exaltar é a sagacidade do lutador em enfrentar atletas bem mais pesados, sem recorrer a estratégias de fuga. Rafa vai para cima, intimida. Foi o que aconteceu quando derrotou Gilmar Oliveira (sim, o mesmo que havia finalizado Bernardo Faria).

Com a manobra mais arisca do evento até agora, Rafa pegou as costas de Gilmar e arrochou um mata-leão. Gilmar resistiu ao golpe, mas perdeu por pontos.

Neste sábado, o mais novo dos Mendes (que não passa de 65kg) vai disputar a decisão do absoluto contra a locomotiva Rodolfo Vieira (que ronda os 92kg). Quem vence esse confere? Mande sua opinião agora mesmo, no espaço que você encontra no final desta página.

Outra dupla que chamou atenção na sexta foi Xande Ribeiro e Rafael Lovato. Donos de técnicas refinadas, os dois faixas-pretas tiveram ótima atuação nos respectivos pesos. Xande está na final da categoria acima de 92kg contra José Junior. Lovato está na final até 92kg contra “a sensação do momento” Rodolfo Vieira.

No absoluto, no entanto, Xande e Lovato foram derrotados logo no início de suas  chaves.

Confira todas as finais na faixa-preta:

ABSOLUTO: Rodolfo Vieira x Rafael Mendes

ATÉ 65KG: Rafael Mendes x Guilherme Mendes

ATÉ 74KG: Davi Ramos x Rodrigo Caporal

ATÉ 83KG: Vinicius Corrales x James Harbison

ATÉ 92KG: Rodolfo Vieira x Rafael Lovato

ACIMA de 92kG: Xande Ribeiro x José Junior

Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the venue for the event / Photos: Raphael Nogueira

Abu Dhabi’s lavish Armed Forces Officers Club & Hotel is captivating to the Jiu-Jitsu fighters not just for the extravagance of its facilities, but because of the finer details. Right at the reception, guests have access to a counter replete with dates, a common part of the Middle Eastern diet, as well as the Gracie Diet.

It was while savoring some of those dates that the GRACIEMAG.com reporter came upon Tarsis Humphreys and Bernardo Faria. The two aces from Alliance were on their way to the restaurant where lunch was served. They rushed through their food to not miss the first bus taking competitors, staff and journalists to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), the arena where, at around 3:15 pm, the No-Gi version of the 2011 Jiu-Jitsu World Pro would begin.

Neither Bernardo nor Tarsis did too well this Friday. The former was routed 7 to 0 at weight by Rafael Lovato and was submitted in the quarterfinals of the absolute by Gilmar Oliveira (choke).

The pair to truly shine throughout the day was Rodolfo Vieira and Rafael Mendes. Rodolfo kept true to the form he exhibited at the 2011 Pan. Summing up his engagements at weight and open weight, he fought seven times. The most hard-fought of them all was the absolute semifinal against Vagner “Ceará” Rocha. Rodolfo came from behind to win on advantage points in the waning moments of the match. Riveting.

Rodolfo attacks Bruno Bastos in weight group semifinal. The match ended 13-0 for Rodolfo.

Now Rafa seems to be “fiestier” than ever. In a good way, of course. Praiseworthy was the fighters slickness in dealing with much larger opponents without resorting to a run-away strategy. Rafa goes on the attack, intimidates. That was the case against Gilmar Oliveira (yes, the same one who submitted Bernardo Faria).

Displaying the riskiest maneuver of the event until now, Rafa took Gilmar’s back and squeezed out a rear-naked choke. Gilmar hung on, but lost on the scorecards.

This Saturday, the youngest Mendes (who is no more than 145 lbs) will enter the absolute decider against Rodolfo Vieira (around 200 lbs), “the locomotive.” Who takes this one? Voice your prediction in the comments section below.

Another duo drawing wows this Friday was Xande Ribeiro and Rafael Lovato. Wielding well-honed techniques, the two black belts had stellar showings at their respective weights. Xande is in his over-92 kg-division final against José Junior, while Lovato is in the under-92kg final against man-of-the-hour Rodolfo Vieira.

In the absolute division, however, Xande and Lovato were beaten early on in their brackets.

Check out the black belt finals:

ABSOLUTE: Rodolfo Vieira vs. Rafael Mendes

UNDER-65KG: Rafael Mendes vs. Guilherme Mendes

UNDER-74KG: Davi Ramos vs. Rodrigo Caporal

UNDER-83KG: Vinicius Corrales vs. James Harbison

UNDER-92KG: Rodolfo Vieira vs. Rafael Lovato

Over-92kG: Xande Ribeiro vs. José Junior

Cyborg gave a free pass to "brother" Vagner in the absolute final. Photo: Dan Rod.

Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu kicked off 2011 the way he ended 2010: at the top.

At the World Pro tryouts in New Jersey the teacher living in Florida closed out with his teammates once again. But he said that won’t be happening anymore.

“The event was great, although I wasn’t training that hard because I was setting up my new academy in Florida, but I felt really good at the event. I closed out both divisions: my weight group with (Marcus Vinicius) “Bochecha” and the absolute with (Vagner Rocha) “Ceará”, he said.

“Bochecha is gold, we’ve been training together for some time and we’ve become great friends. But for sure, regardless of our friendship, we’re going to fight at upcoming events,” pondered Abreu.

“Now Ceará is my brother, truth is I ended up competing in the absolute because of him. I’m really happy he conquered this title. Now it’s all about the Abu Dhabi Pro. I hope to keep up the results and outdo myself with every day. This year will be excellent!” he says in finishing, sending his best regards to GRACIEMAG.com readers.

Cyborg deu uma moleza para o "irmão" Vagner na final do absoluto. Foto: Dan Rod.

Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu começou 2011 como terminou 2010: nas cabeças.

Na seletiva do World Pro realizada em Nova Jersey, o professor radicado na Flórida fechou mais uma vez com seus companheiros de equipe. Mas disse que isso vai acabar.

“O evento foi muito bom, e apesar de não estar treinando forte por estar organizando minha academia nova na Flórida, me senti muito bem no evento. Fechei as duas categorias, o peso com o (Marcus Vinicius) Bochecha e o absoluto com (Vagner Rocha) Ceará”, disse.

“Bochecha é um moleque de ouro, treinamos um tempo juntos e ficamos muito amigos. Mas, com certeza, e independente da amizade, iremos lutar nos próximos eventos”, ponderou Abreu.

“Já o Ceará é meu irmão, na verdade acabei lutando o absoluto por causa dele. Estou muito feliz por ele ter conquistado esse título. Agora é Abu Dhabi Pro, espero manter os resultados e me superar a cada dia. Este ano vai ser excelente!”, conclui, mandando um abraço para os leitores do GRACIEMAG.com.

Two communities are struggling with this as they try to make sense of the deaths of two of their beloved Jiu-Jitsu family members, Gracie Barra black belt Thiago da Silva Santos and Team Popovitch purple belt Reza “Ray” Payan. Both young men were lost over the 2010 holidays, one from an unfathomable and heartbreaking illness, the other from an incomprehensible and tragic murder.

Thiago da Silva “Roylerzinho” Santos, began his Jiu-Jitsu training at a GB Belo Horizonte satellite school with Danilo Felipe, a black belt under Vinicius “Draculino” Magalhaes, ten years ago. He trained there until he got his blue belt, then transferred to GBBH, and trained directly under Draculino. Thiago was called “Roylerzinho” because he looked like Royler Gracie.

Thiago loved to compete and was good at it, but his main quality was not being a great Jiu-Jitsu player. It was, instead, his kind and generous nature. “Thiago was one of the nicest, most helpful, loyal, and positive people ever to have stepped foot on this Earth,” Draculino says, “His smile was so true and genuine that it brought joy to all around him.”

Thiago moved to New York with Rafael Sapo. They were training and having fun, but Thiago soon ran out of money. Draculino invited him to stay at his house in Houston. “Thiago accepted right away, but said it would only be for a little while,” Draculino says, “He ended up connecting with us so well my family wouldn’t let him go! He learned English fast and began working at my school, Gracie Barra Texas.”

Thiago da Silva Santos

But Thiago began to sound different. His voice became nasally and he complained of a plugged nose and sore throat. “We thought the humidity in Houston was the problem,” Draculino says, “Doctors thought it was allergies or a sinus infection. He took medicine and antibiotics and felt a little better. At the same time, we applied for his work visa and he got it fast, but due to a formality, he had to go back to Brazil to get his passport stamped before he could come back to the U.S.”

Draculino told Thiago to see an ear, nose and throat specialist while he was in Brazil. “The doctor checked him out and saw that there was something wrong,” Draculino says, “He performed surgery and removed a tumor. They discovered it was Burkitt’s Lymphoma, which is a very rare, aggressive, and fast moving cancer.”

Thiago was admitted to the hospital and began treatment immediately. The first chemo session yielded good results and everyone was happy and excited, but after the thirdsession, the tumor kept growing. “It was out of control and nothing would reduce its size or strength,” Draculino says. Thiago became so weak; he was unable to endure another surgery. He was in the hospital for more than four months. Draculino gave Thiago his black belt on December 20, 2010 in his hospital bed. He had been a brown belt for two and a half years. “I didn’t give it to him because of his condition, but because it was more than well deserved,” Draculino says.

At the end of his life, Thiago was in so much pain he passed out many times. “Morphine didn’t even help,” Draculino says, “He couldn’t breath, eat or drink water. He was fed and hydrated through his veins, but he never lost the smile on his face nor his warrior spirit.” Draculino sat with Thiago at the hospital two days before he died and said he thought to himself, ‘Why is all of this happening to such a great human being?’ But it’s not for us to question God’s will. Now I know Thiago is pain free, and in a better place resting.”

Thiago passed away on December 30, 2010 at the tender age of 26, after six months of battling the cancer that claimed him. Draculino says Thiago was a great father, Jiu-Jitsu fighter, friend, “And the fiercest warrior I’ve ever met. Thiago changed everyone’s lives for the better.” He leaves behind a son, Iago, and a sister, Mariana, along with his father and mother. Draculino says Thiago’s biggest angel was his girlfriend, Katherine Osteen, who left family, work, and college behind in Houston to move to Brazil to be by his side every day at the hospital. Draculino says, “Thiago is lost, but never forgotten.”

On the other side of the nation, one short day later, another senseless tragedy was occurring. Reza “Ray” Payan, a purple belt under Pablo Popovitch (who recently experienced his own personal pain in the death of his beloved mother and the critical injury of his father after the devastating Rio mudslides), was gunned down in the street by a friend after a New Year’s Eve party.

Reza “Ray” Payan

Ray was born in Iran. During the Iran/Iraq war his family took refuge in Russia. They stayed there for a few years and then moved to Baltimore, Maryland,when Ray was eight. Ray’s father didn’t acclimate to America, so he left his family behind and went back to Iran. Ray had to grow up fast and looked out for his mom and sister any way he could.

Ray trained Jiu-Jitsu for about ten years and really enjoyed it. He trained with Minotauro in Florida and was one of his first students. He eventually landed at Team Popovitch and started training there at the same time as black belt Vagner Rocha. While Jiu-Jitsu was more like a hobby for Ray, it was a career for Rocha, who eventually opened his own school. Ray followed him and began training there. “I used to tell everybody that Ray was my brother,” Rocha says, “Everything he did, I thought was cool. He was a good, humble, honest person. He was beyond my best friend. He was my family.”

Rocha says Ray was a smart guy. He started with nothing, but he had street smarts. He became a car salesman and ended up opening his own RV business and a nice home in South Florida. “He’s been with the woman he loves, Heather, since they were fifteen years old. They’ve been together for eighteen years and have a little girl, Shiva, who’s twenty months old,” Rocha says.

Everyone came to Ray for advice and said he always had the perfect solution for their problems. “He was a good person,” Rocha says, “If you said to him, ‘I like your shirt,’ I swear to God he’d take it off and give it to you. In my gym alone there were six guys he helped get jobs. He paid for dinner for kids who couldn’t afford to eat out. He cared. If he saw things weren’t good on your side, he tried to help you. He could always make you laugh. I never saw him have a bad day.”

Rocha invited Ray to his family’s New Year’s Eve party. Ray asked if he could bring Ron, a Jiu-Jitsu friend from another school, to the party with him. Ron’s wife and child were out of town and Ray didn’t want him to be alone. “I kind of knew Ron,” Rocha says. He trained with us sometimes. He always treated me with respect. He didn’t have a lot of friends and Ray was a good friend to him over the years.”

The party was very low key. “There was hardly any drinking,” Rocha says, “It was a small family get together. We just ate and let off some fireworks.” At about 2:30 a.m. on January 1, 2011, Ray woke Heather up, who had fallen asleep with Shiva, and said they were leaving. Not long after, Rocha heard pounding on his door. “Heather was full of blood and screaming,” he says, “The street was already locked down with cops and the paramedics had already taken Ray away.”

Rocha was shocked. Heather told him that she was in the car changing Shiva’s clothes while Ray was outside talking to Ron. “He was trying to drive him home,” Rocha says, “He’d seen Ron drinking.” Ron refused the ride. According to Rocha, Heather looked out the back window just in time to see Ron with his gun out, firing three shots at Ray. “Ron ran over and started screaming at Heather then ran back to Ray and shot him twice more.” Ray didn’t make it to the hospital.

“It doesn’t make sense to me,” Rocha says, clearly distraught, “Did this really happen? It doesn’t seem real. Especially to Ray…I can’t understand. How could this happen? He was always a good friend to Ron. Everything Ray got, he asked the same for Ron. Football games, vacations…” he trails off.

At the funeral, many came forward to speak about Ray’s involvement in their lives. He helped “Craig” rebuild his life after jail when everyone else abandoned him. He gave him clothes, found him a place to stay, and a job. Today Craig owns his own business and he credits Ray with his success. “By the time the eighth guy got up to speak, it was obvious that Ray had helped everyone,” Rocha says, “The guy said, ‘You know what? I thought he was just special to me, but apparently he was special to everyone. He helped everyone. He lived every moment to the fullest. For as young as he was, he lived a great life.’”

Rocha says he’s now going to focus on what he thinks Ray would want him to do. “I’m going to help out with his daughter and keep a smile on her face for the rest of her life. I’m going to appreciate life the way it is and just take every day that’s in front of me because you never know when it’s going to be your last day. Today you’re here, tomorrow you’re gone. You need to tell people you love them. Nothing else matters.”

Foto: Divulgação.

Acontece no dia 5 de fevereiro a seletiva para o World Pro em Nova Jersey, nos Estados Unidos, e são esperados alguns grandes faixas-pretas. Entre as feras confirmadas estão Roberto Cyborg, Fabio Holonda, JT Torres, Marcus Bochecha, Lucas Lepri, Juliana Holanda, Vagner Rocha, Josh Griffiths, Roberto Traven, Renan Borges e Mark Ramos, entre outros.

Além disso, o evento ajuda a Pablo Popovitch, que perdeu recentemente a mãe, Soraya, na enchente que atingiu a Região Serrana do Rio de Janeiro. O pai de Pablo sobreviveu, mas ainda está em tratamento intensivo. Uma parcela do lucro com ingressos vai ser revertida à causa.

Para inscrições e mais informações, acesse www.abudhabiprousa.com

Photo: publicity

This coming February 5 will mark the New Jersey leg of the tryouts for the World Pro, and a number of great black belts are expected to show. Among those confirmed are Roberto Cyborg, Fabio Holanda, JT Torres, Marcus Bochecha, Lucas Lepri, Juliana Holanda, Vagner Rocha, Josh Griffiths, Roberto Traven, Renan Borges, and Mark Ramos among others.

Furthermore, the event will raise funds to help Pablo Popovitch, who recently lost his mother, Soraya, in the landslides that struck the mountain region of Rio de Janeiro. Pablo’s father survived but is still in intensive care. A portion of ticket sales will be destined to the cause.

To sign up and for further information, visit www.abudhabiprousa.com.