Brazilian Fighting Scene (Edition 1)

By Ed Preuss Pictures: M. Alonso /TATAME Worlds Black Belt and BJJ Worlds 2006 In July, Brazil breathes Jiu-Jitsu. Two of the major competitions of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gather together all BJJ community in a ten days competition. On July 19 to 23, the second edition of World Black belt took place at Caio Martins gymnasium, in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro. A week later, it was time to BJJ community meet once again, at this time at Tijuca Tênis Clube, in Rio de Janeiro city. Jounal-Combat was in both tournaments and saw three champions: Alexandre Ribeiro (Gracie Humaitá), Gabriel Napão (Macaco Gold Team) and Rubens Charles Cobrinha (TT Jiu-Jitsu) winning their titles in both tournaments! Xande Ribeiro wins three gold medals Xande Ribeiro celebrating his victory over Roger Gracie, at BJJ Worlds BJJ black belt from Gracie Humaitá, Xande Ribeiro was the main name of both competitions, winning three gold medals. His first one was at Worlds Black Belt, promoted by BJJ Olympic Confederation, when rocked the heavyweight division. Until reaching the highest place at the podium, Xande submitted Luciano Silva (Franco Penteado) with an armbar and then forced Thiago Gaia (Nova União) to tap out with a choke from the back. At the final, he fought Braulio Carcará Estima (Gracie Barra) and after passing his guard twice, Xande reached the mount and from there, submitted Estima with a choke. The submission impressed BJJ master Rickson Gracie, who was at the general admission. “He did a great job against a tough fighter, He seemed to always seek for the submission. I like that. That’s real jiu-Jitsu”, Rickson said. A week later, Xande would win other two gold medals and be the great name of BJJ Worlds, promoted by BJJ Confederation. At the heavyweight division, he submitted Fábio José Romão (Alliance) and Helvécio Neto (De La Riva) with a triangle, then submitted Carlos Eduardo (Yamasaki) with a choke from the back and the at the final, submitted once again Thiago Gaia (Nova União) with a choke from the back. In the open weight division, Xande rocked Tarsys Humpreys (Alliance) by 13x0. Then submitted Rômulo Barral (Gracie Barra/BH) and Roberto Abreu (Nova Geração) with a choke from the mount. At the final, against favorite Roger Gracie, Xande was being defeated by points… until he got the score reversed in the last minute of fight, winning his second medal of the night. “I was ready to die or kill, but today it was a hunter day for me,” celebrated Ribeiro. Napão and Rubens Cobrinha unbeatable Gabriel Napão defeating Márcio Pé-de-Pano at the final of super super heavyweight division, at World Black Belt Conquering for the first time a gold medal in both competitions, Ultimate Fighter Gabriel Napão and Rubens Cobrinha also rocked their opponents and left both competitions as the number one! At World Black Belt, Napão submitted Rodnei Pires (Ryan Gracie) with a key-lock, the he defeated Márcio Corleta (Winner) by 6x0 and Léo Leite (Brasa) by 2x0, meeting Gracie Barra’s Márcio Pé-de-Pano at the final. Napão scored two advantage points trying to pass the guard and got his first medal. Then, at BJJ Worlds, Macaco Gold team’s fighter defeated José Mário by choke and scored 2x0 against Lúcio Lagarto (Gracie Barra) and did the final against Leo Leite (Brasa). The victory came by points (2x0) and it was the first time Napão became world champion. “I did my game and I defeated some of the tough fighters in Brazil. Mission accomplished!” said Napão after rocking the super-super heavyweight division. Rubens Charles defeating Armando Guedes, at the featherweight final, at World Black Belt Fighting at the featherweight division, Rubens Cobrinha did a real show at World Black Belt. After submitting all his opponents, Cobrinha did the final against the Nova União black belt Armando Guedes. Cobrinha scored two points before obliging Guedes to tap out in a tie choke. A week later, Cobrinha did attack once again and submitted all his opponents. The first one was Ricardo Fernandes, who tapped out due a choke. Then he used the same submission to defeat Japanese Toshiyuki Sato. Then it was time to Jonatas Gurgel taps out due to a choke. Then Bruno Frazzato didn’t handle a leg-lock in the feet. At the final, he fought Gracie Barr’s teacher Márcio Feitosa and won by points, after swiping and passing his guard twice. “This is my time. I dedicate this title to my teacher Fernando Tererê”, he said. Check out below the full results of both tournaments: COMPLETE RESULTS: World Black Belt July 19- 23, 2006 Caio Martins gymnasium, Rio de Janeiro Rooster: Felipe Costa (Brasa) defeated Samuel Braga (Gracie Barra BH) by points; Featherweight: Rubens Charles 'Cobrinha' (TT Jiu-Jitsu) submitted Armando Guedes (Nova União) by choke; Super featherweight: Ricardinho Vieira (Brasa) defeated Rodrigo Ranieri (Brasa) by points; Lightweight: Cláudio Calazans (Liga Jiu-Jitsu) defeated Ramon Lemos (Brasa) by points; Middleweight: André Galvão (Brasa) defeated Guto Campos (BTT) by points; Middle heavyweight: Delson Pé de Chumbo (Gracie Barra) submitted Rômulo Barral (Gracie Barra BH) by choke; Heavyweight: Xande Ribeiro (Gracie Humaitá) submitted Bráulio Estima (Gracie Barra) by choke; Super heavyweight: Rodrigo Comprido (Brasa) defeated Robert Drysdale (Brasa) by points; Super- super heavyweight: Gabriel Napão (Macaco Gold Team) defeated Márcio Pé-de-Pano (Gracie Barra) by 2 advantages; Light Absolute: Eduardo Pessoa (Nova União) closed with Rubens 'Cobrinha' (TT Jiu-Jitsu); Heavy Absolute: Márcio Pé-de-pano (Gracie Barra) closed with Bráulio Estima (Gracie Barra). XI BJJ Worlds 2006 July 26 - 30, 2006 Tijuca Tênis Clube, Rio de Janeiro Rooster: Daniel Otero defeated Evaniel Oliveira by advantages; Featherweight: Rubens Charles 'Cobrinha' (TT Jiu-Jitsu) defeated Márcio Feitosa by points; Pluma: Bibiano Ferreira didn’t need to fight the final due to opponent’s disqualification; Light: Celso Vinícius defeated Mário Reis by points; Medium: Marcelo Garcia (Alliance) defeated André Galvão (Brasa) by points; Half heavy: Bráulio Estima (Gracie Barra) defeated Delson Pé-de-Chumbo (Gracie Barra) by points; Heavy: Xande Ribeiro (Gracie Humaitá) submitted Thiago Gaia (Nova União) by choke at 4min40s; Super heavy: Roger Gracie (Gracie Barra) submitted Robert Drysdale (Brasa) by choke at 3min30s; Heaviest: Gabriel Napão (Macaco Gold Team) defeated Léo Leite by points; Absolute: Xande Ribeiro defeated Roger Gracie by advantages.