Neiman Gracie e o armlock vitorioso. Foto: WSOF/ Divulgação

Aos 24 anos, o faixa-preta Neiman conquistou sua primeira vitória no MMA ao melhor estilo Gracie, com uma finalização no primeiro assalto. No último fim de semana em Nova Jersey, o filho de Marcio Macarrão esticou o braço de Darren Costa durante o WSOF 5.

Neiman realizou um sonho assim não tão comum entre as crianças que conhece: “Toda criança no Brasil sonha em ser jogador de futebol, mas na família Gracie nosso sonho é subir no ringue e dar continuidade ao legado”, reflete o professor radicado em Nova Jersey.

Em conversa com GRACIEMAG, o jovem talento falou sobre a primeira vitória, os pontos a serem ajustado e as lições dos primeiro socos na cara.

GRACIEMAG: Como estava sua mente ali nos minutos que antecediam sua estreia no MMA?

NEIMAN GRACIE: Pensei em todo sacrifício que passei no treinamento, nos três meses árduos de preparação. Eu sabia que estava pronto. Acho até que poderia ter um desempenho melhor, mas como foi minha primeira luta não me soltei 100%. No mais, estou feliz com o resultado. Meu pai estava comigo no córner, e disse que nem ficou nervoso, mas acho que ele estava mentindo [risos]. Já minha mãe ficou em casa rezando por mim, a reza da dona Carla é forte!

Qual foi o detalhe para fisgar o armlock?

Meus primos e o tio Renzo me orientaram para que eu ficasse calmo e procurasse o clinche para fazer meu jogo, e não o dele. Depois que derrubei, o detalhe para não ser raspado foi manter o quadril colado no chão. Eu estava mais preocupado com o ajuste da posição do que em bater, o que fez a diferença. O armlock saiu no modo automático, no reflexo mesmo. Mas lembro sempre de deixar o dedão do adversário apontando para cima. Até brinquei com o pessoal do córner e disse que nem eu sei como o golpe saiu.

E depois da luta, qual foi a sensação?

Um sentimento de dever cumprido. Vi que todo treinamento e sofrimento valeram a pena. Fiquei feliz de realizar um sonho de infância. Toda criança no Brasil sonha em ser jogador de futebol, mas na família Gracie nosso sonho é subir no ringue e dar continuidade ao legado. Acho que sou da quinta ou sexta geração da família e estou aí representando. O Jiu-Jitsu é uma arte maravilhosa, eu me apaixonei novamente pelo Jiu-Jitsu. Se é que isso é possível. E também vi alguns pontos fortes nessa estreia, em especial a parte mental, espiritual e física. O ponto fraco foi que precisei tomar uns socos para dar uma acordada, por isso espero entrar mais ligado na próxima.

WSOF 5
Revel Resort & Casino, Nova Jersey
14 de setembro de 2013

Andrei Arlovski venceu Mike Kyle na decisão unânime dos jurados
David Branch venceu Danillo Villefort na decisão unânime dos jurados
Derrick Mehmen nocauteou Rolles Gracie aos 2min40s do R2
Georgi Karakhanyan finalizou Waylon Lowe na guilhotina aos 3min37s do R1
Rick Glenn venceu Artur Rofi na decisão unânime dos jurados
Jimmie Rivera venceu Sidemar Honorio na decisão unânime dos jurados
Richard Patishmock venceu Gregor Gracie na decisão unânime dos jurados
Ozyy Dugulubgov finalizou Andrew Osborne na chave de calcanhar aos 1min12s no R2
Neiman Gracie finalizou Darren Costa no armlock aos 3min57s no R1

Gracie family members Neiman, Gregor and Rolles took to the cage last night, with only one of the three earning a win on Saturday night at World Series of Fighting 5.

In the night’s first contest, debuting middleweight Neiman Gracie proved victorious in his first appearance as a professional MMA fighter, scoring a first-round submission win over Darren Costa.

It was Costa who scored with his hands early, but submission ace Gracie clinched up, brought the fight to the floor and rolled quickly into an armbar, forcing the tap at the 3:57 mark of the first round.

“I’m very happy to be here,” the Neiman said after the win. “This is a dream. Since I was a kid, I always wanted to fight, and finally I’m here.”

In welterweight action, Rich Patishnock joined a small fraternity of fighters who have defeated multiple members of MMA’s first family by scoring an impressive decision win over Gregor Gracie (7-4).

Gracie took the fight to the floor early, but Patishnock crawled back to his feet and punished his opponent when there. Gracie stood firm in the pocket and traded blows, but it was the constant pressure of Patishnock that saw him through to a unanimous-decision win, with scores of 30-27, 29-28 and  29-28.

Afterward, Patishnock admitted he wasn’t sure if he had executed well enough in his sprawl-and-brawl approach but was happy to get the result.

“That was my strategy,” Patishnock said. “I really didn’t think I did that well with my strategy, but that was my strategy, and I’m glad everybody thought I did it.”

In a heavyweight bout, Derrick Mehmen earned the biggest win of his career, scoring a second-round knockout over Rolles Gracie.

Rolles surprised in the opening round, largely forgoing the ground game in favor of boxing with his opponent. The unexpected gameplan worked well early but backfired in the second frame when Mehmen started to get comfortable in his striking game.

With Rolles retreating in a standup exchange, Mehmen blasted him with a clean right hand to the chin. Rolles was out on his feet, and his body slowly twirled before crashing to the canvas in a highlight likely to be seen for years to come. Mehmen was awarded the knockout win at the 2:40 mark of the second round.

In the evening’s featured bout, former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski picked up a decision win over Mike Kyle.

“It was a great fight,” Arlovski said after the win. “He’s a top fighter, and I really appreciate him for this fight.

“I guess I could have followed the gameplan more, but I did what I did. It was a good comeback from my fight March 23.”

Other fighters victorious on the card were David Branch, Georgi Karakhanyan, Rick Glenn, Jimmie Rivera and Ozzy Dugulubgov.

(Elements from this story were taken from press release)

Pôster do evento com Rolles, Gregor e Neiman Gracie. Foto: Divulgação

A família Gracie será representada em três diferentes embates numa mesma noite. O World Series of Fighting (WSOF) convocou os atletas para o evento realizado no dia 14 de setembro, realizado em Atlantic City, Nova Jersey.

Em adição a já anunciada em GRACIEMAG batalha entre Rolles Gracie e Derrick Mehmen,  Gregor Gracie enfrenta Rich Patishnock na divisão de meio-médios, e também temos a estreia de Neiman Gracie no MMA, encarando Darren Costa na divisão de médios da organização.

Gregor (7v, 3d) é bicampeão mundial de Jiu-Jitsu e retorna ao WSOF após um revés para Tyson Steele, no evento realizado em novembro do ano passado. O brasileiro, de 26 anos, venceu seis vezes por finalização na careira. Seu adversário, Paishnock (5v, 1d) estreou no WSOF superando Igor Gracie, por nocaute técnico, após interrupção médica.

Neiman, o estreante da noite, tem 25 anos e até o momento vinha focando a carreira em conquistas nas lutas agarradas antes de migrar para o MMA. Seu oponente, Darren Costa, estreou em maio, com derrota por nocaute técnico no segundo assalto.

Os Gracies lutam no evento WSOF 5, que terá no card principal o combate entre Andrei Arlovski e Mike Kyle, além do embate entre Danilo “Índio” Villefort e Dave Branch

E aí, leitor, o que você achou de ter três Gracies lutando numa mesma noite? Comente conosco!

The Gracie family will leave a significant imprint on World Series of Fighting’s next event as three different members will appear on the Sept. 14 card at Revel Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ.

In addition to a recently announced heavyweight contest between Rolles Gracie (8-1) and Derrick Mehmen (15-5), Gregor Gracie (7-3) will meet Rich Patishnock (5-1) in a welterweight bout, and Neiman Gracie (0-0) makes his professional MMA debut against Darren Costa (0-1) in a middleweight contest at “World Series of Fighting 5: Arlovski vs. Kyle.”

Rolles vs. Mehmen will take place on the evening’s two-and-a-half hour NBC Sports Network telecast, which airs live at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT.

Gregor vs. Patishnock and Neiman vs. Costa are both scheduled for the evening’s preliminary card, which streams on World Series of Fighting’s official website, WSOF.com, beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

Rolles Gracie is a third-degree black belt in Jiu-Jitsu, as well as judo. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Rolles currently resides in Holmdel, N.J., where he serves as a lead instructor at the famed Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy. Rolles has lost just once in nine career contests, and all eight of his wins have come by way of submission.

Mehmen, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, trains with one of the world’s best squads at American Top Team. A seven-year veteran of the sport, Mehmen currently boasts a three-fight win streak and has earned 10 of his 15 career wins by way of knockout.

Gregor is a two-time world champion Jiu-Jitsu practitioner who returns to the World Series of Fighting cage for a second time. The 26-year-old Brazilian suffered a disappointing TKO loss to upstart Tyson Steele at World Series of Fighting’s debut event last November and now looks for a return to the form that has seen him earn six of his seven career victories by submission.

Patishnock is a resident of Whippany, N.J., and member of the Garden State’s famed AMA Fight Club. Patishnock made his World Series of Fighting debut in March and earned a TKO win over another member of the Gracie clan, Igor Gracie, when doctors called a halt to the bout at the end of the first round. Fighting professionally for two years, Patishnock has tasted defeat just once in six contests.

Another member of Renzo Gracie’s fight team, 25-year-old Neiman Gracie, has thus far in his career focused exclusively on grappling conquests but now transitions to MMA for the first time. He meets Maryland’s Darren Costa, who made his professional debut in May but suffered a second-round TKO loss.

The man who was victorious in the featured bout of World Series of Fighting’s very first event will return once again to headline for the promotion.

Andrei Arlovski (20-10) will compete in the main event of next month’s WSOF 5 against Mike Kyle (20-9-1) in a heavyweight bout on Saturday, Sept. 14, at New Jersey’s Revel Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, according to a press release received on Wednesday. Arlovski is a replacement for the injured Anthony Johnson.

Arlovski, a former UFC heavyweight titleholder, made his World Series of Fighting debut this past November, when he earned a first-round TKO victory over Devin Cole. He returned to the promotion in March, when he suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Anthony Johnson. The result snapped a five-fight win streak for Arlovski.

Kyle is a 12-year veteran of the sport who hails from one of MMA’s most-respected fight camps, American Kickboxing Academy. A resident of San Jose, Calif., Kyle is no stranger to competing against top fighters including Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante, Gegard Mousasi, Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, Krzysztof Soszynski and Fabricio Werdum, among others.

WSOF 5 features a five-fight main card in addition to a full lineup of preliminary contests. Middleweight tournament opening-round match-ups of Dave Branch (12-3) vs. Danillo Villefort (14-4) and Elvis Mutapcic (13-2) vs. Jesse Taylor (26-9) have been booked, and additional bouts will be announced soon.

The live, two-and-a-half-hour NBC Sports Network telecast of the World Series of Fighting 5 main card begins at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT. The night’s preliminary bouts stream live on World Series of Fighting’s official website, WSOF.com, beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

Postês do evento WSOF 5. Foto: Reprodução

Uma adição de peso foi feita no card do World Series of Fighting (WSOF), que chega à sua quinta edição no dia 14 de setembro. Rolles Gracie, peso pesado da família, enfrenta Derrick Mehmen, segundo apurou GRACIEMAG.

O evento, que terá Andrei Arlovski x Mike Kyle na categoria de pesos-pesado, será apresentado em Atlantic City, Nova Jersey, ainda conta com o brasileiro Danillo “Índio” Villefort encarando Dave Branch na divisão de médios da organização.

Rolles (8v, 1d) já lutou no UFC e de suas oito vitórias, sete foram finalizando no pescoço. Em sua última luta, apertou Yusuke Kawaguchi, no mata-leão, no tradicional evento japonês Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye, no réveillon de 2013.

Já Mehmen (15v, 5d) já lutou no Bellator e Strikeforce e tem os nocautes como caro chefe de suas vitórias. Sua última passagem pelo cercado foi superando Louis DeWerdt na decisão unânime.

E você, leitor, o que achou da adição do Gracie no WSOF? Comente conosco!

Anthony Johnson (pictured) will fight Mike Kyle at WSOF 5 on Sept. 14. Photo by Samwell Ortiz.

A light heavyweight bout between Anthony “Rumble” Johnson (15-4) and Mike “MAK” Kyle (20-9-1) headlines World Series of Fighting’s return to Revel Casino Hotel’s Ovation Hall in on New Jersey’s Revel Atlantic City on Sept. 14.

The contest serves as the main event of “World Series of Fighting 5: Johnson vs. Kyle,” which airs live on NBC Sports Network and marks the promotion’s second visit to the world-class venue.

Johnson, of Boca Raton, Fla., made his World Series of Fighting debut at the promotion’s very first event and delivered a knockout finish of the D.J. Linderman. The 29-year-old Blackzilians product returned to action in March and scored a decision win over former UFC heavyweight titleholder Andrei Arlovski.

Johnson now returns to the light-heavyweight division on a five-fight win streak and quickly is establishing himself as one of World Series of Fighting’s most dynamic athletes.

Kyle is a 12-year veteran of the sport who hails from one of MMA’s most-respected fight camps, American Kickboxing Academy. A resident of San Jose, Calif., Kyle is no stranger to the spotlight and has stepped in the cage against a who’s who list of MMA’s top fighters in two weight classes, including Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante, Gegard Mousasi, Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, Krzysztof Soszynski and Fabricio Werdum.

World Series of Fighting 5 features a five-fight main card in addition to a full lineup of preliminary contests. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.

The live, two-and-a-half-hour NBC Sports Network telecast of the World Series of Fighting 5 main card begins at 9 p.m. ET. The night’s preliminary bouts stream live on World Series of Fighting’s official website, WSOF.com, beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Tickets for the fight card, which start at just $29, go on sale this Friday, July 19, at 10 a.m. ET at all Ticketmaster locations, Ticketmaster.com and charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000.

(Press Release)

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