Jair Lourenço and Dedé with their Osvaldo Paquetá trophies (Photo by Welington Borges/publicity)
To kick off 2013 by getting rewarded for the work you’ve done is anybody’s dream. And in Nova União head coach André Pederneiras’s case it’s no different. “Dedé”, as he is known to his understudies, is currently awaiting the results of Fighters Only magazine’s MMA Awards, and this week he was decorated with another honor, in Rio de Janeiro: the inaugural Osvaldo Paquetá award.
Dedé’s Osvaldo Paquetá Award accolades pertain to the year 2012 and come in the form of the prize for best team, Nova União, as well as for best promoter, for his Shooto Brazil production. The prizes were handed out at Upper Sports Club in Rio de Janeiro, Nova União team headquarters.
Now, the black belt at the helm of team Kimura/Nova União, Professor Jair Lourenço, was given the title for best coach.
Pederneiras is now in the running for the MMA Awards prize for best coach of 2012, online voting for which wrapped up on Dec. 31. The results of the polls will be announced Jan. 11. In a conversation with GRACIEMAG.com, Dedé spoke about his nomination and said he is excited about the possibility of winning.
“I feel there were a lot of great coaches who weren’t nominated. There’s a lot of luck involved in having an athlete who’s champion on the year, which helps in getting nominated. But we’re working hard to make sure it pans out, and receiving the title would be great for us,” said Pederneiras, who counts UFC champions José Aldo and Renan Barão among his students.
“Bad Wolf” awarded
Among the winners of the Osvaldo Paquetá Awards, Jair Lourenço, who has produced such stalwart fighters as Renan Barão, Ronny Markes and Jussier Formiga, was one of the most pleased.
“First of all I’m happy to have won. I want to thank everyone who voted for me; and Dedé himself, who requested people vote for me; and the crew from Natal,” said the coach, to shouts of “Bad Wolf”, a moniker left over from his days in competition Jiu-Jitsu.
Now, Dedé, upon receiving his two awards, commented on the hard work he and his athletes have been doing.
“I’m really pleased with the awards. It caps off work that began six years ago. Now Shooto is right up there with all the other domestic MMA event. As for the team trophy, I’m happy we have continued to achieve,” said the trainer, who told GRACIEMAG.com he intends to hold 12 Shooto events in 2013.
Dedé, Jair and team Nova União (Photo by Welington Borges/publicity
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