Roberto Satoshi against Michael Langhi at 2012 European Open (Photo by Raphael Nogueira)
While everyone else is waiting around for the Heavyweight GP to come, the promoters of the Copa Pódio Jiu-Jitsu tournament are toiling away in putting together the April 28 event, when the Lightweight (under-77 kg) Grand Prix rolls into the city of Belo Horizonte, in the Brazilian State of Minas Gerais.
Among the athletes previously brought in for the Lightweight GP are Michael Langhi of Alliance and Roberto Satoshi of Bull-Terrier/Bonsai. But now there’s a heap of news to add: the promoters are putting together an unprecedented triple match-up, an idea the relentless president of the organization, Jeferson Maycá, came up with.
“The triple match will be along the same lines as the Couples Match: the first match ends, and the next match picks up with the score from the first match. The advantage over the couples match is that there’s no risk of it ending in a draw, since there will always be a tie-breaker, should one match apiece end with a submission. We haven’t decided on the teams yet, but it’s likely the teams in the triple match-up won’t have fighters competing in the Lightweight GP, forewarns Maycá.
Check out the timetable for the Heavyweight Grand Prix set for 5pm January 13, 2013, in Rio de Janeiro.
Copa Pódio – Heavyweight GP
Clube Hebraica, Laranjeiras, Rio
January 13, 2013
Manaus (Diego Borges/Checkmat) vs. Brasília (Rodrigo Reis/Tanque Jiu-jitsu)5:50: – Couples Showdown
Augusto Tanquinho (Soul Fighters) vs. Leandro Lo (Cícero Costha)
Mackenzie Dern (Gracie Humaitá) vs. Luiza Monteiro (Cícero Costha)
6:10 – GP Opening Round
Alexandre Souza (Gracie Floripa) vs. Lúcio Lagarto (Gracie Barra/Londres)
Braga Neto (Gordo JJ/Porto Velho) vs. Bruno Bastos (Nova União/USA)
Keenan Cornelius (Team Lloyd Irvin) vs. Léo Nogueira (Alliance/São Paulo)
Rodolfo Vieira (GFTeam/Rio de Janeiro) vs. Alexandro Ceconi (Ceconi Team/Criciúma)
6:45 – GP Round 2
João Gabriel (Soul Fighters/Rio de Janeiro) vs. Alexandre Souza (Gracie Floripa)
Lúcio Lagarto (Gracie Barra/Londres) vs. Braga Neto (Gordo JJ/Porto Velho)
Xande Ribeiro (Ribeiro JJ/Los Angeles) vs. Keenan Cornelius (Team Lloyd Irvin)
Léo Nogueira (Alliance/São Paulo) vs. Rodolfo Vieira (GFTeam/Rio de Janeiro)
7:20 – GP Round 3
Bruno Bastos (Nova União/USA) vs. Alexandre Souza (Gracie Floripa)
João Gabriel (Soul Fighters/Rio de Janeiro) vs. Lúcio Lagarto (Gracie Barra/Londres)
Alexandro Ceconi (Ceconi Team/Criciúma) vs. Keenan Cornelius (Team Lloyd Irvin)
Xande Ribeiro (Ribeiro JJ/Los Angeles) vs. Léo Nogueira (Alliance/São Paulo)
7:55 – GP Round 4
Braga Neto (Gordo JJ/Porto Velho) vs. Alexandre Souza (Gracie Floripa)
Bruno Bastos (Nova União/USA) vs. João Gabriel (Soul Fighters/Rio de Janeiro)
Rodolfo Vieira (GFTeam/Rio de Janeiro) vs. Keenan Cornelius (Team Lloyd Irvin)
Alexandro Ceconi (Ceconi Team/Criciúma) vs. Xande Ribeiro (Ribeiro JJ/Los Angeles)
8:30 – GP Round 5 (final round)
Lúcio Lagarto (Gracie Barra/Londres) vs. Bruno Bastos (Nova União/USA)
Braga Neto (Gordo JJ/Porto Velho) vs. João Gabriel (Soul Fighters/Rio de Janeiro)
Léo Nogueira (Alliance/São Paulo) vs. Alexandro Ceconi (Ceconi Team/Criciúma)
Rodolfo Vieira (GFTeam/Rio de Janeiro) vs. Xande Ribeiro (Ribeiro JJ/Los Angeles)
9:05 – PÓDIO Super Challenge
Guto Campos (Guetho/Porto Alegre) vs. Wancler Oliveira (GFTeam/Aracaju)
9:30 – Semifinals
1st place in Green Group vs. 2nd place in Yellow Group
1st place in Yellow Group vs. 2nd place in Green Group
9:50 – Special Match-up
Leandro Lo (Cícero Costha/São Paulo) vs. Felipe Preguiça (Gracie Barra/Belo Horizonte)
10:05 – FINALS
Third-place match
Grand finale