The dust from the last event has hardly settled and Wallid Ismail has already scheduled his next Jungle Fight event. It will be on April 17 in Sao Paulo, but the Amazonas native declined to tell GRACIEMAG.com the exact location.
“It will be another installment of Jungle Fight Qualifyers. I actually prefer to call it JF Warriors, because the athletes we’ve had are more than qualified. The best example is Paulo Thiago, who counted five wins at Jungle, and is now in the UFC. That’s proof Jungle Fight is the biggest event in Latin America,” says Ismail.
Approaching the 20th Jungle event, the promoter intends to keep in place the formula that has been working for him since the inaugural show on the banks of Rio Negro river in the Amazon jungle – to always have a Jiu-Jitsu champion defending the colors of the gentle art on the card.
In fact, since 2003, every time there has been either a national, Pan-American or world champion in the Jungle Fight ring. Ronaldo Jacaré, Fabricio Werdum, Fredson Paixão, Gabriel Gonzaga, Bibiano Fernandes, Jorge Macaco, Carlão Barreto, Alexander Pimentel, Rodrigo Damm, Daniel Moraes, Sergio Moraes and Claudio Godoy have all starred in the event in the past.
“And at the qualifiers in Fortaleza, in 2009, we had CBJJ champions of the Brazilian North; what would you expect?” adds Wallid.
For an event that has featured on its roster the likes of Renato Babalu, Jose Pelé, Lyoto Machida, Vanessa Porto, Jose Aldo, Tony de Souza, Thales Leites, Alexander Cacareco and a number of others, is having a Jiu-Jitsu champion the formula to draw a crowd, or has it just been blind luck?
“Look, I still believe that Jiu-Jitsu is a huge part of MMA. Our battle now is to popularize the sport, and good Jiu-Jitsu will always have a place in the show. Secretary Walter Feldman wants us to do a Jungle a month to entertain the public for free. We will popularize MMA; you better believe the sport will surpass soccer, here,” wagers the black belt. Check out the photos at the last event by Caio Lycian.
Jungle Fight 18
Pacaembu, São Paulo, Brazil
March 20, 2010
Sergio Moraes (Alliance) submitted Etoube Manuelo (Clube da Luta-Peru) via kimura at 4:06 min of R1
Edilberto Crocotá (Champion-Bahia) submitted Pedro Iriê (Ichigueki) via guillotine at 2:11min of R1
Claudio Godoy (Center Fight) defeated Fernando Duany (Clube da Luta) via technical knockout 0.47 min into the fight
Pedro Munhoz (Gibi Thai) defeated Pablo Alfonso (Master Cuba America) via unanimous decision
Renato Moicano (Constrictor Team) submitted Marcos de Almeida (Asle) via rear naked choke at 1:27min of 3R
Eric Becker submitted Douglas Bertazini via rear naked choke at 3:42min of R3
Gil de Freitas (Barbosa) submitted Junior “Killer” (Fight Sports) via armbar at 3:03min of R2
Brazilian Low Kicks title fight:
Perpetual Ernani (RJ) defeated Marcelo Amaral (SP) via KO in 2R
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