Quick notes and results from day two

Final placements list here.

Mens semifinals. Werdum shoots and takes Saulo down. Working to pass Saulos halfguard. Cyborg pulls guard on Monson. Monson trying to pass Cyborgs open guard. Saulo almost sweeps Werdum. Werdum now stands up, tries to pass standing. Werdum on Saulos back. Scramble. Restart standing. Werdum shoots, Saulo sprawls. Both going for takedowns. Overtime and both Werdum and Saulo gets warned. Cyborg and Monsen into overtime. Cyborg shoots a single on Monson, doesnt get it.  Cyborg takes Monson down, almost getting his back. Going for an armbar, Monson slips out. Werdum gets a second warning. Monson on top in Cyborgs guard. Saulo shoots in again, gets a single leg, pushes Werdum out of the mats. Monson and Cyborg back on their feet. Cyborg shoots another single. Almost gets it. Saulo Werdum second overtime. Werdum shoots, almost gets it, Saulo turns and gives the back. Then rolls to guard. Cyborg Monson second overtime. Monson shoots singleleg, Cyborg reverses. Stays on top but ouside of the mats. Werdum almost gets another takedown, lands outside. Monsen gets back up on all four. Both back to their feet. Werdum almost getting a takedown, but Saulo spins out again. Cyborg shoots a single. Werdum gets Saulos back. Cyborg on Monsons back. Cyborg suplexes Monson. Werdum wins. Cyborg shoots another single. Cyborg beats Monson.

Xande pulls guard on Vinny Magalhaes, switches to halfguard. Glover Teixeira shoots. Vinny tries kimura from top. Rialdi shoots and gets a huge takedown. Then locks an arm triangle choke. Glover gets out. Glover shoots. Xande pulls guard again. Gets Vinnys back but Vinny escapes góes for leglock. Xande escapes and stays on Vinnys back. Rinaldi almost gets another takedown but Glover gets back to his feet. Glover shoots for single. Now Rinaldi on Glovers back.

Vinny escapes, both back on their feet. Rinaldi almost gets takedown. Xande shots a single, scramble, Vinny defends and Xande gets his back. Vinny pulls guard. Xande stands up, tries to pass. Rinaldi gets Glovers back standing, no hooks. Overtime starts on both mats. Glover gets headlock on Rinaldi. Rinaldi escapes. Vinny gets warned, Xande attacks the back. Rinaldi almost pass Glovers, gets the back. Rinaldi now mounted on Glover. Xande has both hooks in on Vinny. Glover and Rinaldi back to their feet. Xande wins. Rinaldi wins.

Avellan vs Galvão. Avellan gets a takedown. Galvão tries to sweep from his open guard.  Braulio jumps to guard and sweeps Lovato directly. Braulio attacks with leglock, Lovato defends. Avellan working to pass. Braulio goes for another footlock, Lovato taps! Lovato looks injuried. Galvão almost sweeps Avellan, but Avellan looks stable on top. Lovato gets carried of the mats by Saulo. Avellan attacks with a leglock. Switches to heelhook. Galvão refuses to tap. Gets up and gets a single, takes down Avellan! Galvão almost passing the guard.

Garcia pulls guard on Nakamura. Garcia sweeps Nakamura, mounts directly. Switches to sidemount. Galvão shoots single and Avellan counters with a kimura! Garcia taps Nakamura with his guillotine choke after about two minutes. Galvao escapes the kimura and gets the win.

Gregor Gracie jumps to guard with Popovitch on top. Cobrinha pulls guard on Rani. Cobrinha sweeps Rani. Gregor attacks with  a omoplata. Cobrinha trying to pass Ranis halfguard. Cobrinha now attacking Ranis arm. Rani gets to all four. Cobrinha gets the kimura and Rani taps!

Popovich trying to pass the guard of Gregor.  Mendes jumps to guard, Leo Vieira on top. Stands up with Mendes in closed guard. Leo opens guard trying to pass. Popovich gets Gregors back, gets rear naked, Gregors face turning blue. Popovich almost taps him as time run out. Popovich wins.  Mendes gets Leos back. Scramble, Leo pulls guard. Mendes trying to pass, attacking Leos neck with guillotine, almost gets it. Leo gets out.

Leo and Mendes in a leglock war. Both want to sit in the guard. Noone stands up.

Womens semis start. Cyborg vs Penny Thomas. Penny jumps guard, but Cyborg just pushes her away.

Mendes finally sits up trying to pass. Both stand up, Mendes going for takedown, gets sweep, Mendes on Leos back, Mendes tries to jump to get the hooks, Leo ducks, Mendes flies over! Leo passing the guard. Mendes gets Leos back. Attacks with rearnaked, atacks the arm. Gets neither. Times up, overtime. Mendes shoots in. Leo sprawls, Leo takes down Mendes. But Mendes sweeps rightback. Gets Leos back again. Both hooks in. Mendes submits Leo!

Penny locks triangle, Cyborg stands up and gets out! Cyborg almost passing the guard of Penny. Penny rolles to all four. Times up, overtime.

Hanette Staack jumps to guard. Rosangela on top. Cyborg goes for leglock. Penny escapes and gets on top, tries to get Cyborgs back but falls over. Cyborg tries to pass and hits Penny with a knee in the face.. Times up, overtime. Penny wins by two minus points to one. Rosangela stuck in Hanettes halfguard for a long time.. times up, overtime.

Sayaka jumps to a leglock on Hillary. Sayaka attacks with another leglock. Hillary gets out. Sayaka attacks arm, and Hillary taps! Luanna and Laurance Cousin jumps to guard at the same time. Cousine attacks the leg, Luanna spins out. Luanna ends up on top, working to pass. Hannete Stack wins.

Mens bronzematches starts.

Saulo enters the arena with his gijacket, shorts and blackbelt. Cousine and Luanna gets a warning each, overtime. Luanna shoots. Gets back, but not hooks. Monson trying to pass Saulos guard. Luanna gets rear naked choke, Cousin face gets blue, but gets out! back to Cousins guard. Luanna passes, but Cousin retains her guard. Cousine sweeps, almost gets Luannes back, but falls down. Luanna working t pass. Times up, second overtime. Luanna, Cousin almost gets guillotine, landing outise the mats. Monson almost gets Saulos back, but no hooks. Both get back to their feet. Both Luanna and Cousin gets warned. Luanna gets takedown but lands outside of mats. Saulo shoots single, Monson escapes. Luanna gets Cousin back and a rearnaked, this time Cousin taps! Monson on Saulos back again. Times up, overtime. Saulo shoots, Monsom sprawls and spins to Saulos back.

Vinny jumps guard against Glover Teixera. Vinny gets back up. Jumps to guard again. Executes a beautiful sweep and ends up in mount. Spins for armbar, almost gets it, switches to triangle, switches again to omoplata. Glover stands up and gets out. Both back on their feet. Vinny jumps to guard again. Attacks omoplata, Glover escapes but looks tired. Vinny shoots in and glover spins for  Vinnys back, scramble and Vinny on glovers back, both hooks in. Vinny sinks triangle and submits Glover with an armbar.

Monson beats Saulo on judges decision. Saulo emotional, grabs ruce Buffers mic and announces his retirement. To everyones surprise, Lovato enters the mat limping, with his foot in a bandage and will fight Avellan. Lovato pulls guard right away. Gregor Gracie pulls guard with Nakamura on top. Avellan attacks Lovatos injuried foot. Avellan wins.

Rani injuried, going to the hospital and Leo sick, so bronzematch will be between Ryan Hall and Jeff Glover. Glover pulls guard, Ryan passes, scramble. Back on their feet. Glover pulls guard again. Ryan attacks with a arm triangle choke, Glover escapes. Nakamura still on top in Gregors guard, not much action.

Glover sweeps Hall and goes for leglock. Nakamura now on Gregors back. Gregor escaping and working for the pass. Gets a guillotine and mount, Nakamura escapes, Gregor in sidemont. Nakamura pushes him away. Back to their feet. Gregor gets takedown and passes the guard. Gets the back. Times up, Gregor wins. Ryan and Jeff back in their feet. Times up, overtime. Glover gets takedown. On top in Ryans guard. Ryans goes for Glovers back, one hook in. Glover trying to escape, but Ryan gets second hook in the last seconds and the win, 3-2!

Womens bronzematches starts. Cousin jumps to guard against Hillary. Female Cyborg and Rosangela fights stand up. Hillary almost passing. Cyborg gets singleleg. Rosangelo gets out. Hillary passes the guard. Cyborg and Rosangela into overtime. Cousin gets back the guard, attacks with leglock. Hillary escapes and passes again. Rosangela takes down Cyborg, but Cyborg gete back up on her feet before three seconds. Hillary wins. Cyborg wins.

Mens finals. Werdum vs Cyborg. Cyborg shoots in, Werdum sprawls and spins for back but slips off. Cyborg in Werdums guard. Cyborg passes and gets Werdums back. Werdum escapes, Cyborg almost gets triangle, Werdum escapes again. Werdum now on top, putting pressure on Cyborg. Werdum stays on top in halfguard along time. Gets warned. Twice. Almost passes, Cyborg defends, then Werdum passes the guard. Cyborg escapes. Both back to their feet. Cyborg shoots, Werdum sprawls. Werdum tries to spin for the back, Cybor attacks with triangle, but doesn´t get it and returns to guard. Werdum on top, trying to pass. Cyborg looks tired. Werdum gets the pass. Werdum passive, gets minuspoints. Twice. Werdum back to halfguard and passes again. One more minuspoint to Werdum. Back to halfguard. One more minus to Werdum. Both get back to their feet. Times up, Werdum wins a strategically smart but boring fight.

Xande vs Rinaldi. Rinaldi shoots for single, takes down Xande. Rinaldi on top in Xandes halfguard. Xande looks for the sweep, but Rinaldi stays on top. Rinaldi attacks with leglock, Xande escapes and now on top. Rinaldi attacks with omoplata, Xande escapes. Xande on bottom again. Rinaldi attacks Xande with a kimura from top. Xande stays calm, escapes and sweeps. But Rinaldi sprawls out and escapes. Stays on top in Xandes guard. Rinaldis tries headlock, Xande escapes. Xande sweeps. Rinaldi attacks with leglock. Xande escapes. Rinaldi now on Xandes back, no hooks in. Xande gets back to guard. Rinaldi trying to pass, attacks with kimura. Xande escapes and sweeps. Xande now passing. Rinaldi gets back to feet. Xande on all four, Rinaldi jumps to get the back. Rinaldi attacks Xandes leg, but Xande escapes. Times up, Xande wins.

Braulio vs Galvão. Galvão sits to guard and gets a minuspoint. Braulio attacks with the same footlock he tapped Lovato with. Galvão  defends and almost sweeps Braulio, but chooses to stay on bottom. Braulio working to pass. Galvão looking for sweeps. Almost gets leglock, but Braulio escapes. Galvão gets sweep, but Braulio attacks the arm. Galvao escapes. Braulio attacks the leg, switches to footlock. Galvão escapes. Braulio attacks single leg, takes Galvão down, but no points yet. Galvão attacks Braulios arm. Scramble, Galvão gets a sweep. And working to pass, almost passes, but Braulio gets an inverted triangle, Galvão taps!

Garcia vs Popovich.  Popovich gets a takedown and is almost passing. Garcia retains guard and sweeps. Popovich with closed guard, Marcelo attacks with footlock. Popovich escapes. Garcia sweeps again. Passes and takes back. Popovich escapes! Garcia on top again. Popovich gets a sweep. Popovich on top. Popovich working to pass. Manages to neutralize Garcias bottomgame well. Popovich grabbing Garcias shorts repeatedly, eventhough its against the rules. Garcia gets omoplata. Sweeps. Garcia in Popovich closed guard, stands up, opens guard trying to pass, Popovich gets back to feet. Garcia jumps guard, gets minus. Popovich stalling but doesn´t get minus. Garcia trying to sweep. Popovich is now backing away alot. Popovich gets one minus. Popovich keeps stalling for long time but doesn´t get more minuspoints. 40 seconds left. Popovich passes Garcia guard! Garcia gets out. Back on their feet. Popovich escapes and backs away. Gets another minus. Time is up, fight should go to overtime. The judges removes the last minus they gave to Popovich. Popovich gets a controversial win.

Rubens Charles vs Rafael Mendes. Cobrinha goes for a nice armdrag and gets the takedown. Both back to their feet. Cobrinha goes for the same takedown, Mendes gets arm triangle choke. Cobrinhas face turns blue, but escapes! Mendes attacks with heelhook from guard. Both back to their feet. Cobrinha gets the same takedown, Mendes the same arm triangle choke! Noone breathes, looks like Cobrinha is going to tap, but he escapes again! Cobrinha takes Mendes down. Return to feet. Cobrinha gets another huge takedown. Mendes gets a sweep, but no points yet. Now points starts counting, Mendes on top in Cobrinhas guard. Cobrinha sweeps, scramble, Cobrinha on top, but no points for sweep. Cobrinha working to pass. Mendes attacks with sweep, but Cobrinha counters with heelhook. Mendes escpaing. Cobrinha gets calfcrunch, Mendes escapes but gets sweeped. Mendes attacks Cobrinhas leg again. Mendes gets tight kimura. Cobrinha miraculously escapes. Scramble. Back to their feet. Overtime. Both on their feet, not alot of action. Mendes shoots, Cobrinha sprawls. Again. Cobrinha shoots for single, Mendes escapes. Second overtime. Cobrinha shoots for single, gets back. Mendes still standing. Mendes rolls for leglock and escapes. Both back to thier feet. Cobringa hás Mendes in a headlock, Mendes goes to guard. Mendes almost gets a sweep. Almost gets sweep again, but Cobrinha escapes. Cobringa attacks with heelhook. Mendes escapes and gets sweep. Cobrinha stands up, Mendes gets Cobrinhas back, both hooks in! Timus up, Mendes wins by points after 40 minutes!

Womens finals start. Penny shoots in and Staack spins and gets Pennys back, both hooks in. Penny escapes, and is now on top, trying to pass. Staack is trying to get a kneebar. Almost gets it. Stays there for a long time. Penny Thomas finally taps! Staack wins by submission.

Sayaka Shioda vs Luanna Alzuguir. Sayaka attacks with leglock, Luanna trying to pass. Passes and mounts but Sayaka bridges and escapes. Sayaka now on top in Luannas guard. Luanna reverses, Sayako rolls for kneebar, but Luanna escapes.

Luanna gets guillotine., Sayaka escapes. Luanna sweeps again, is now on top trying to pass. Sayaka góes for heelhook, Luanna escapes. Both back to their feet. Luanna shoots in, goes to guard, almost gets a sweep. Luanna gets Sayakas back. Sayaka escapes, but Luanna got three points. Times up, Luanna wins!

Absolute starts. Garcia vs Bastos.  Braulio jumps to guard against Janne-Pekka, attacks the arm, Janne-Pekka taps! Garcia goes for takedown, gets reversed. Bastos on top in Garcias guard. Dean Lister jumps to halfguard, Vinny Magalheas on top. Vinny working to pass. Lister attacks Vinny with heelhook form 50/50 guard. Vinny gets out and passes Listers guard. Lister gets back to guard. Attacks with leglock, switches to sweep, Vinny goes to all four, Lister trying to get the hooks. Garcia and Bastos goes into overtime. Marcelo gets takedown on Bastos. Lister and Vinny back to their feet. Garcia passing the guard of Bastos. Lister on top in Vinnys guard. Bastos retains guard. Garcia passes again. Vinny gets omoplata. Garcia gets Bastos back. Garica gets the rear naked choke, Bastos taps!

Lister attacks with a leglock, Vinny ends up on top. Both back on their feet. Vinny shoots in. Almost gets back. Attacking with sidechoke. Lister escapes! Lister on bottom in halfguard. Vinny passing but Lister escapes to all four. Weidman controls the action standig up against Jaoude, eventhough he is much lighter. Vinny beats Lister by points. Xande pulls guard on Ricco Rodrigues. Xande attacks with sweep, ends up on Riccos back. Ricco rolls out, ends up in halfguard with Xande on top. Xande goes for kimura, gets the tap. Xande advances to the quarterfinals. Overtime between Weidman and Jaoude. Galvão pulls guard on Tom DeBlass. Weidmans almost gets the takedown, gets the back. Galavao gets the sweep. DeBlass reverses. Galvao tries to sweep from halfguard. DeBlass stable on top. Galvão gets the sweep. Weidman wins. Galvão defends a sweep passes and gets the back, both hooks in. DeBlass escapes, now trying to pass Galvaos guard, attacks with footlock. Galvão defends. Times up, Galvão wins.

Cyborg pulls guard on Avellan. Gunnar Nelson pulls guard on Monson.

Cyborg almost gets a sweep. Monson has a lot of trouble passing Nelsons guard. Cyborg attacks with a kimura. Nelson and Monson into overtime. Nelson shoots. Monson sprawls, Monson shoots and gets reversed! Nelson almost getting the back of Monson. Avellan and Cyborg goes to overtime. Monson looks tired. Avellan gets takedown. Cyborg attacks with leglock. Gets Avellans back, standing up. Cyborg throws Avellan with a suplex, gets backmount. A much smaller Nelson keeps pushing Monson from the mats. Crowd is cheering. Nelson and Monson goes into second overtime. Nelson shoots, Monson looks tired but manages to sprawl and reverse. Nelson almost gets his back again. Cyborg almost gets takedown. Monson has headlock on Nelson. Nelson esacpes. Both back on their feet. Nelson shoots and Monson sprawls and spins to his back. Nelson escapes. Monson shoots, but cant get the takedown. Nelson shoots in and gets the back. Both hooks in. Attacks the arm. Times up, Nelson wins by points and the whole arena is standing up cheering! Avellan wins.

Quarterfinals. Braulio vs Garcia. Braulio jumps guard. Garcia trying to pass. Vinny pulls guard on Weidman. Gets the sweep. But Weidman gets back to his feet. Vinny submits Weidman with flying armbar! Braulio gets a sweep on Garcia. Braulio passes the guard of Garcia. Gets Garcias back and a rear naked choke. Garcia taps!

Xande pulls guard on Galvão. Gets Galvaos back. Galvaos escapes, both back on their feet. Xande pulls guard, goes for a sweep and gets to the back of Galvão. Nelson and Avellan starts.  Xande trying to put the hooks. Nelson takes Avellan down, but no points scoring yet. Gunnar gets another takedown on  Avellan. Nelson gets headlock, switches to singleleg. Avellan shoots, takes Nelson down, but Nelson spins out and takes Avellan down. Attacking his back, one hook in.

Xande wins by points. Avellan escapes. No points. Avellan shoots in, Nelson defends. Avellan shoots for single leg, Nelson defends. Nelson shoots in, Avellan attacks the arm. Nelson gets the back, one hook in, Avellan taps to a rear naked choke!

Semifinals. Vinny Magalheas vs Braulio Estima. Xande vs Gunnar Nelson. Xande and Vinny jumps guard. Vinny sweeps. Scramble, Braulio attacks leg, Vinny defends. Xande attacks Nelson with a knnebar from guard, Nelson defends. Nelson almost passes Xandes guard. Gets Xandes back with one hook in. Braulio attacks Vinns leg again. Xande gets Nelson leg, submits him with a kneebar! Braulio almost sweeps Vinny. Vinny attacks with leglock, Braulio defends and gets Vinnys back! Gets points, but Vinny spins out. Now on top i Braulios guard. Braulio gets a sweep. Times up and Braulio wins by points.

Bronze match. Gunnar Nelson vs Vinny Magalhaes. Vinny pulls guard. Nelson almost passes Vinnys guard. Vinny attacking Nelson s leg, Nelson gets out and counterattacks with a leglock, Vinny gets out, Nelson gets singleleg, Vinny jumps guard. Vinny attacking Nelsons arm, Nelson spins out and gets Vinnys back. Vinny escapes and gets Nelsons back, Vinny suplexes Nelson, Nelson bounces up directly and goes for single. Vinny jumps to guard, Nelson goes to the back. Times up. First overtime. Nelson shoots gets Vinnys back. One hook in. Vinny escapes. Vinny goes for a firemans throw and throws Nelson. Nelson escapes back to his feet. Vinnys gets a singleleg, takes Nelson down, but Nelson jumps back up. Nelson shoots a single. Doesnt get it. Second overtime starts. Vinny gets an armdrag takedown, manages to keep Nelson down and gets the points. Times up. Vinnys beats Gunnar Nelson by points after two overtimes.

Absolute final starts. Braulio vs Xande. Xande ducks under and gets a takedown. Braulio attacks Xandes arm and gets an inverted triangle! Braulio attacks the arm again, Xande defending but is in trouble. Xandes face turning blue. Xande stands up, face turns from blue to purple. Xande manages to escape! Xande trying to pass, Braulio catches him with som kind of omoplata shoulderlock from the guard, Xande screams and submits. Xandes shoulder seems injuried. Braulio Estima is the ADCC 2009 Absolute winner!

FINAL RESULTS

MEN

Mendes wins Cobrinha

– 65.9 Kg:
Rafael Mendes
Rubens Cobrinha Charles
Jeff Glover
Ryan Hall

– 76.9 Kg:
Pablo Popovich
Marcelo Garcia
Gregor Gracie
K-Taro Nakamura

Estima wins Galvão

– 87.9 Kg:
Braulio Estima
André Galvão
David Avellan
Rafael Lovato Jr.

– 98.9 Kg:
Xande Ribeiro
Gerard Rinaldi
Vinícius Magalhães
Glover Teixeira

Werdum wins Cyborg

+ 99 Kg:
Fabricio Werdum
Roberto Cyborg
Jeff Monson
Saulo Ribeiro

WOMEN

Shioda wins "Killary"

– 59.9 Kg:
Luanna Alzuguir
Sayaka Shioda
Hillary Williams
Laurence Cousin

Penny wins Cyborg

+ 60 Kg:
Hannette Staack
Penny Thomas
Cristiane Cyborg
Rosângela Conceição

Crying, Braulio has his arm raised by hurt Xande

ABSOLUTE:
Braulio Estima
Xande Ribeiro
Vinicius Magalhães
Gunnar Nelson

*all photos by sebastianvalle

Ilir Latifi

Born in 1982
Home: Sweden
Style: wrestling
Team: Pancrase Gym
Division: under 98.9 Kg

Wrestling/ADCC record:
– Swedish national team wrestler
– ADCC 2005 European Trails winner

MMA record: 3 – 0 – 1

Ilir Latifi wins

Ilir Latifi is a powerful swedish wrestler. He trains in Pancrase Gym and nowadays he devotes himself to MMA. He became known in the world of martial arts after destroying the ring in his fight against sambo fighter Blagoi Ivanov last year. The fight was declared no-contest. After that Ilir fought and won Roman Mihocka, Luis Silva and Darko Krbanjevi.

Tomasz Szczerek

Home: Poland

Style: submission fighting

Division: under 87.9 Kg

ADCC record:

2009 European Trials – 2nd place (lost to Radek Turek)

Watch the finals of the ADCC 2009 European Trials here.

Tomasz Szcerek recently won the most prestigious grappling tournament in Poland: Grappling Arena. Check the finals:

Yoshiyuki Nakanishi

Home: Japan
Team: PRB
Division: under 98.9 Kg

MMA record: 5 – 1 – 0

Yoshiyuki Nakanishi x Shunsuke Inoue

Yoshiyuki Nakanishi is a mixed martial artist. He debuted in DEEP two years ago with a nice victory against Mamoru Nakamura. Nakanishi’s last fight was in M-1 Challenge against Akim Assenine. He won with a beautiful achilles lock in the first round.

Joel Tudor

Born in 1976
Home: California, USA
Style: brazilian jiu-jitsu
Team: Revolution
Division: under 65.9 Kg

Joel Tudor is also a brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under former world champion Rodrigo Medeiros. He has won numerous brazilian jiu-jitsu titles such as the Pan Ams and US Nationals. Due to his skill on both longboards and shortboards, on big waves and small, Tudor is widely considered to be one of the best surfers alive, and is also known for being unusually open-minded with regard to the diverse equipment that can be used for wave riding. For the past six years Joel switched his focus in surfing and has been training BJJ at Rodrigo Medeiro’s studio in Pacific Beach. Tudor regularly spars with members of Medeiros’ BJJ Revolution Team and has won numerous tournaments on his way to earning a black belt in a freakishly short period of time.

“I basically won at every level of a belt. I won almost every time I competed.”

Ronaldo Souza

Nickname: “Jacaré” (alligator)
Born in 1979
Home: Manaus – Brasil
Style: brazilian jiu-jitsu
Team: Black House
Division: superfighter

BJJ/ADCC record:
2005 – ADCC (77 – 87 Kg) Champion
2005 – ADCC (absolute) 2nd place (lost to Roger Gracie)
2005 – World Jiu-Jitsu (absolute) Champion
2004 – World Jiu-Jitsu (absolute) Champion

MMA record: 10 – 2 – 0 (90% wins by submission!)

Some people say that, at the exact moment he was conceived by his parents, Jacaré already had one of the most important virtues for becoming the greatest name in jiu-jitsu: high quality genetics. Owner of contusion-proof muscles, elastic strings, cat-like reflexes, a lumbar that resembles hydraulic suspension mechanisms, ankles as thick as his calves, forearms strong as a jeep, Ronaldo is no lab champion. He was born with all these potential resources, which have been lapidated in training all these years. That which gym-addicts try to achieve with anabolism, nature gave this descendant of blacks and Indians. The talent came as the tip. But besides body and ability, a jiu-jitsu exponent must have true warrior spirit, which life has inserted in Jacaré’s life in strange ways, especially during the athlete’s childhood and adolescence: Fighting and living have always been synonyms for Ronaldo. Conditioned for bearing adverse situation since birth, he lived in poor areas of Espírito Santo until the age of 14, when he had to abandon his parents and run away to Northern Brazil:

“I got into some heavy shit, crime and stuff, and went to live with my brother in Manaus” Jacaré told Gracie Magazine in 2003.

The stranger Jacaré got around as he could in Manaus. He worked even as a car watcher before getting acquainted with martial arts at 16, when he began training the judo-like jiu-jitsu of master Henrique Machado. Dedicating to a sport in order to overcome the difficulties of a tempestuous youth turned Jacaré into a man with an obstinate soul. He learned in practice the need to have willpower in life, of struggling for one’s desires, among other teachings that many fighters know but in theory. He knows exactly what to do at the moments of difficulty, has the instinct conditioned to react immediately, knows how to fight under pressure… Actually, he not only can, he loves doing it!

“I get stimulated when fighting under pressure. I love when somebody tells me I am going to lose. It gets me energized. Gets me motivated”

There’s a triple foundation, composed of genetics, talent and warrior spirit, of current two-time world jiu-jitsu champion. Jacaré loves jiu-jitsu and, above all, he loves the way he practises it. He goes to trainings and tournaments just as happily as a surfer attending a tournament in Hawaii. This is his final hint:

“Find in Jiu-Jitsu whatever makes you happy and invest in it.”

font: Gracie Magazine

pictures from Sherdog

Rodrigo Henriques Cavaca

Born in 1981
Home: Santos – Brasil
Division: under 98.9 Kg
Style: brazilian jiu jitsu
Team: Check Matt

BJJ ADCC record:
2009 european champion
2008 brazilian champion
2005 World Jiu Jitsu Cup
2005 brazilian champion
2004 World Jiu Jitsu Champion
2004 brazilian champion

Bio Rodrigo Henriques started training jiu jitsu in 1999. Since then he earned many great competitions including three times Brazilian Championship and the Mundials in 2004. Cavaca became famous this year after defeating Lucio Lagarto at the finals of the European Championship.

Gabriel Gonzaga

Nickname: Napão (big nose)
Born in 1979
Home: Rio de Janeiro – Brasil
Style: brazilian jiu-jitsu
Team: Team Link
Division: over 99 Kg

BJJ record:
– 2006 CBJJO World Cup Black Belt – heavyweight champion
– 2005 CBJJO World Cup Black Belt – 2nd place (heavyweight)
– 2005 CBJJO World Cup Black Belt – 3rd place (absolute)
– 2004 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship – heavyweight champion
– 2003 CBJJO World Cup Black Belt – 2nd place (heavyweight)
– 2003 CBJJO World Cup Black Belt – 2nd place (absolute)
– 2000 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship – 3rd place (heavyweight)

ADCC record:
– 2005 2nd place (over 99 Kg division)

Record of ADCC opponents:
Won: Mustapha al-Turk, Ricco Rodriguez, Marcio Cruz, Eduardo Telles
Lost: Jeff Monson, Xande Ribeiro

MMA record: 11 – 4 – 0 (55% wins by submission)

Gabriel Napao Gonzaga

Gabriel “Napão” Gonzaga holds his black belt in brazilian jiu-jitsu under Wander Braga. He is a former member of the famous Chute Boxe Academy. In 2004 Gonzaga won the Mundials which is considered to be the top BJJ competition in the world. He currently trains with Team Link in Massachusetts. Napão stunned the world on 2007 when he knocked Mirko “Cro Cop” out with a devastating head kick late in the first round after dominating him from the start. This victory earned Gonzaga a UFC Heavyweight Championship fight against the champion Randy Couture. Recently Napão delivered a beating to Chris Tuchscherer which led to a first round referee stoppage at UFC 102. He continues his quest for the top of the UFC heavyweight division!

Interview with Braulio “Carcará” Estima

Marcus Widengren: First of all, for all people out there that doesn´t speak Portuguese: What does your nickname Carcara mean and how did you get it?

Braulio Estima: Carcara it’s a name of a bird that lives around the region that I’m from, North east of Brazil. We have a saying there that the carcara gets, kills and eat the pray… and as I used to wear a gi of a brand Carcara (that nowadays doesn’t exist anymore) it became my nick name.

MW: In the jiu-jitsu world you can unfortunately encounter people with an arrogant attitude, even among certain black belts, but watching you compete I have always had the impression that you are a humble person that values sportsmanship. Do you think those qualities are important to be successful in this sport?

BE: I wouldn’t say that it is important to be successful, but this is a quality that I prize the most in a sportsman, because you need to know that you are not invincible and if you win it’s because you trained hard and deserved it. But that doesn’t mean that you are a better person than anyone else. I’ve seen many people that just because they start winning something, treat you different. I hate this.

MW: Do you have any fight or competition that was your most memorable? If so, which one?

BE: All the competitions that I’ve fought means a lot to me because i spend time training focusing and planning my strategy for it, but the pan ams in 1999 was the most memorable for me, as it was the first time that I managed to win my first fight in a tournament of the ibjjf/cbjj. I was a blue belt and even though I had been winning all my state competitions, every time that I fought in an official tournament (5 times) I had lost in the first round. In that time at the pan ams I won my first and won the whole tournament, five fights all together.

MW: Who is the toughest competitor you have met to this date?

BE: I think nowadays everyone is very well prepared and tough, it all becomes a question of who has the best strategy to win. The list is huge of the toughest ones.

MW: Do you consider yourself better with or without the kimono?

BE: I’ve spent more time training with the gi in my career so I’m more specialized in it but I think that using the right strategy I fight at the same level in both. You can only do so much in each fight, you don’t do everything you know in each one. So I think I know enough to put on a good fight either way.

MW: Many successful jiu-jitsu fighters remove their kimono and enter the MMA scene. I have read that you also have such plans. Is it because of the money or is because you want to challenge yourself, or is there any other reason?

BE: It’s a little bit of everything, but for me the part that pushes me harder to fight is that I feel the need to represent my art in MMA, and I think I’m one of the bjj representatives who should do the first step forward. I feel like the representative of my tribe.

MW: Do you have a date yet for your first professional fight? Do you know which event it will be or are you still negotiating?

BE: I’m focusing on the ADCC at the main time.

MW: Changing subject a bit, how come you moved from Brazil to Europe?

BE: Up until my brown belt I was divided in teaching, training, working and studying engineering. So I came for a try out in London for anything.  I spoke to Roger [Gracie] and Mauricio Gomes and what happened was that I went and took over the Gracie Barra Birmingham academy. Taking over the job that Mauricio started long time ago, before moving to London. I’m here for 7 years now and I’m very happy that I´m able to have as a job what is my passion and my hobby. Since I came here I could dedicate myself 100 per cent in bjj and the results came.

MW: Obviously Brazil dominates the jiu-jitsu scene around the world, but people outside Brazil are getting better and better every year. Americans for example have already managed to collect two gold medals in the most prestigious category in the Mundials; adulto black belt, thanks to BJ Penn and Rafael Lovato. You have lived in Europe now for quite a while, what do you think of the level of jiu-jitsu here? In how many years do you expect that we could have the first Mundial champion in the black belt adulto category?

BE: I’ve helped the growth of bjj in Europe and I’ve seen the project from very close. I guess in 5 years time we will have a contender to fight for medal in the main black belt division.

MW: Do you believe that Brazilian jiu-jitsu one day could become an Olympic sport? If so, do you think that the rules have to be adjusted in any way to make it more exciting to watch for people that doesn´t know the art? For example shorter fights and harder punishments for stalling?

BE: I think there will be no other way, bjj is growing so much and it´s proving its efficiency. You said everything with shorter fights and punishments, which would be the first step for a better understanding and excitement of the crowd.

MW: Have you done any special preparations for the ADCC competition, or has it been training as usual? What are your expectations for this competition?

BE: I have focused on designing my strategy for no gi according to the rules and everything. I have been doing as much training as I always do to compete in a high level competition. I can’t do anything more or otherwise I will get over trained [laughs].

I expect the ADCC to be the toughest event that I ever fought and I’m planning to be in my best physical, technical and mental shape for it.

MW: If you could give any advice to all of us that train jiu-jitsu, what would it be?

BE: Everyone passes through the ups and downs always, even us professionals. It´s normal and it´s part of the evolution of your game. Keep going, the road is full of excitement, obstacles and challenges. The best therapy for stress for sure.

MW: Any last words to your fans out there?

BE: I’m bringing about 50 people to support me at the ADCC.  I’m game to put up a show with exciting fights. I can’t wait!

MW: Thanks a lot for your time Braulio and good luck at ADCC!

ADCC LIVE!

James Brasco

Home: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida USA
Style: wrestling/brazilian jiu-jitsu
Division: under 87.9 Kg

MMA Record: 5 – 2 – 0

Bjj/Submission fighting record:

2007 World Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt Champion

5 Times N.A.G.A Champion

USA Wrestling Grappling qualifier Champion

Planet Submission Absolute Champion

2nd  Place The “Good Fight” Pro-tournament(Delaware)

2nd in the BUD CUP Absolute Division

James Brasco – Wrestling Instructor and PIAA state runner-up (127-10 HS record). Other highlights of Jimmy’s career includes: Pennsylvania State Freestyle Champion, Cadet National Freestyle Champion, 100+ wins in College (div. 1), 3 times NCAA Eastern Regional Champion, Ranked #6 by Amateur Wrestling News at 167lbs., Olympic Trial Qualifier in FS, AAU Grand National Champion(freestyle, folk style), 5 times N.A.G.A Champion, Atlantic Cup Champion and USA Trials Grappling Competitor.

“I have always had an interest in styles versus styles type fights. I always felt the wrestler had the advantage due to our toughness and strength. I started doing BJJ to see what it was about. It was interesting to learn grappling from a different perspective. So I would enter tournaments when I lived In Pennsylvania and would do really well. Actually, my first grappling tournament was the Arnold Worlds in 2001. I entered the pro division and didn’t even know what a triangle was. I won my first match against some tough judo guy from Orlando, then I was winning against this brown belt and with a minute left he put me in a triangle. I went to pick him up to slam him and the referee told me not to slam him and I had to tap. I was sooo mad [laughs]. source : www.bloodyelbow.com

• 2007 World Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt Champion
• 5 Times N.A.G.A Champion
• USA Wrestling Grappling qualifier Champion
• Planet Submission Absolute Champion
• 2nd  Place The “Good Fight” Pro-tournament(Delaware)
• 2nd in the BUD CUP Absolute Division

Superfighter announced!

A special meeting was held by the ADCC Committee to select a replacement for Roger Gracie for the Superfight in ADCC 2009. The ADCC Committee considered many top names for the position and after careful consideration they selected Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza for face Robert Drysdale.

Everyone is excited to have “Jacare” compete in Barcelona and the prospects of a very exciting action packed fight have just gone of the scale

Congratulations to Ronaldo “Jacare” and to Robert for having such a worthy opponent!

When contacted about the replacement, Drysdale stated: “I am stoked to be fighting “Jacare”, he is a super aggressive fighter and I look forward to a great fight!”

Jacare: “I can’t wait to show the world how hard I’ve been training for MMA and grappling. My last fight was disappointing with a result I didn’t expect. I can’t wait to show the world that Jacare is still a force in submission fighting!”

ADCC News

Jorge Santiago

Born in 1980
Home: Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Style: brazilian jiu-jitsu
Team: American Top Team
Division: under 87.9 Kg

MMA record: 22 – 7 – 0 (60% wins by submission)

Jorge Santiago

Jorge Santiago is a brazilian mixed martial arts fighter from American Top Team, based in Coconut Creek – Florida. He is the current Sengoku middleweight champion. Santiago holds notables wins over Jeremy Horn, Trevor Prangley, and Kazuo Misaki. Currently on a nine fight winning streak, he is ranked #7 in the world at middleweight according to Sherdog.com’s rankings.

Tom Lawlor

Nickname: Filthy
Born in 1982
Home: Florida, USA
Style: Wrestling
Team: The Jungle MMA
Division: under 87.9 Kg

Wrestling record:
3x National Collegiate Wrestling Association National Champion

MMA record: 6 – 1 – 1 (50% of victories by submission)

Tom Lawlor chokes

A Massachusetts native now making his home in Orlando, Tom Lawlor was a three-time National Collegiate Wrestling Association National Champion for the University of Central Florida. After taking jiu-jitsu classes back home in Fall River, he began in MMA. His favourite grappling technique is the d’arce choke. Tom turned pro in 2007. After winning four of his next five fights, he earned a spot in the house for the 8th season of The Ultimate Fighter. He currently have a BS in Social Studies Education from the University of Central Florida. Lawlor have also taken classes towards a MA in Sports & Fitness. He used his college degree as a High School History teacher for almost 2 years.

Karol Bedorf

Nickname: Coco
Born in 1983
Home: Szczecin, Poland
Style: submission fighting
Team: Szczecin Top Team
Division: over 99 Kg

MMA record: 5 – 1 – 0

karol bedorf x francis carmont

Karol “Coco” Bedorf is a polish heavy weight mixed martial artist. He is following a four straight victories in MMA against very good fighters like Slavomir Molnar. Karol is a choke specialist and it’s not easy to handle his 112 Kg on the ground. He started in Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki and he fought in Pro Fight, having an important victory against Mindaugas Maskvytis by rear-naked-choke.