Demente sinks armbar. Photo: Raphael Costa.
It took Jiu-Jitsu world champion Ricardo “Demente” Abreu just 61 seconds before he could celebrate his first mixed martial arts win, in his first ever fight. The athlete, who’s been training with UFC star Tito Ortiz, brought the crowd to its feet with his performance at Brazilian Fighting Championship: Desafio Rio Preto this Saturday in the town of São José do Rio Preto, in São Paulo state. Ricardo, who is from the nearby town of Ribeirão Preto, defeated Marcos Wilson with an armbar that drove the four thousand spectators in the Centro Regional de Eventos arena to delirium.
“I knew he was going to try and keep me from using my Jiu-Jitsu, which is why I went after him and managed to tag him a few times, so he could see I’ve got quick hands and can hit hard too. And when he left an opening, I took him down and ended the fight doing what I do best,” said the champion of the maiden BRFC event.
Photo: Raphael Costa
Demente made a point of mentioning the confidence acquired from training for his transition to MMA with Tito Ortiz and Rafael Cordeiro.
“What can I say about training with a UFC legend and a teacher like Master Rafael Cordeiro? They helped me a lot, and that’s why this win goes out to them, too.”
Photo: Raphael Costa
But it all began in Rio de Janeiro, as the black belt recalls:
“It was at X-Gym in Rio where they got me to believe in my potential in MMA. There, with Anderson Silva’s team, they brought me confidence, taught me a lot of things. Rogério Camões, Rafael Feijão, Josuel Distak and Ronaldo Jacaré – I can only thank them. As I always say, a champion doesn’t make it on his own,” he said in finishing.
Check out the complete results from BRFC: Desafio Rio Preto:
Preliminaries:
Submission grappling
– Bruna Ribeiro (Atos JJ) defeated Bete Tavares (RFT/Rio) by 6 to 2
MMA
– Altinézio “Mineiro” (Gracie Barra/Caveirinha) defeated Cauan Cardoso (Núcleo) via technical knockout at 2:02 min of R2
Main card:
– Rodrigo Dragão (Samurai Team) defeated Sérgio Curva (Jackão JJ) via technical knockout at 3:39 min of R3
– Wellingtom Oliveira (Marcelo Nigue Team) defeated Alessandro Flor (Thriatlon Fight) via knockout at 2:07 min of R1
– Cairo Rocha (ZFT/Esporte na Veia) defeated Edvaldo Gameth (Team Master) via triangle choke at 1:14 min of R1
– Gerson Índio (Elite Fight) defeated Edgar Dayan (Gracie Barra / Cidade Del Leste / Foz do Iguaçu) via unanimous decision
– Alexandre Zaneti (ZFT) defeated Andrew Schimt (PunchSpraw) via desistance early in R3
– Johnny Iwasaki (Maximos Team) defeated Rogério Samurai (Samurai Team) via rear-naked choke at 4:35 min of R1