BJJ Stars: Preguiça and Erberth analyze the main event

Felipe Preguiça and Erberth Santos will face off again in the gi. Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG

BJJ Stars’ historic card is getting closer to becoming reality. On February 23, at the Hebraica Club gymnasium in São Paulo, some of the biggest names in BJJ in activity will meet for what will certainly be some breathtaking jiu-jitsu.

Despite the many great names, one duel in particular was chosen as the main one of the evening. Picking back up a years-long rivalry, Felipe Preguiça and Erberth Santos will meet again in the gi. Graciemag talked to both athletes about what they expect.

FP Team leader Felipe Preguiça will be stepping on the mat trying to increase his lead over Erberth (four wins and one loss so far). “I’m super-pumped for this fight,” Preguiça told us. “I wasn’t fighting since the 2018 Worlds. I was giving my body some time, focused on improvements at FP Team, so I was looking forward to fighting for a long time. I’m sure it will be a great fight, and I’m even more excited to be able to fight in Brazil. Having the support of my family and friends around, feeling the vibes of Brazilian supporters, which are unmatched. I’m very motivated and training a lot; I’m sure it’s gonna be a great fight.”

Erberth Santos, an IBJJF world champion and absolute runner-up, arguably faces an uphill battle. “I fought Preguiça in Copa Podio, in the Euros, in the ACBJJ and in the World Pro twice, of which I won one and he won the other,” he said. “I’m confident for this fight, because I have my experience as an advantage. When I was a purple-belt heading toward the brown and he was already a black-belt, and we fought for the first time when I was a brown-belt and he was already a black-belt. Even so, we had a very good fight. They have always been close, but I lacked the experience I have today, the ‘street smarts’ you only gain by competing in the black belt.” Erberth added: “I’m sure I’m gonna win, and there’s more: We are going to have ten minutes of a true war.”

Also on the card, which has another ten high-level superfights, there is the medium-heavyweight GP, whose matches were confirmed this week. Read on for the complete list.

BJJ Stars

Hebraica Club, São Paulo, Brazil

Feb. 23, 2019

Main card

Erberth Santos vs. Felipe Preguiça

Leandro Lo vs. Nicholas Meregali

Marcus Buchecha vs. João Gabriel Rocha

Wellington Megaton vs. Marco Barbosinha

Isaque Bahiense vs. DJ Jackson

Roberto Godoi vs. Renato Babalu

Patrick Gaudio vs. Tim Spriggs

Fernando Tererê vs. Delson Pé de Chumbo

Celsinho Venicius vs. Gabriel Rollo

Michelle Nicolini vs. Bia Basílio

Carlos Eduardo Silva vs. Ricardo Pingo

Medium-heavyweight GP

Adriano Silva (B9) vs. Diego Gavião (Guigo JJ)

Jurandir Vieira (G13) vs. Rodrigo Serafim (Alliance)

Luis Marques (LR Xtreme) vs. Diogo Almeida (Almeidas JJ)

Chico Salgado (BTT) vs. Paulo Procopio (X-Coach)