Leandro Brodinho was featured in the latest edition of the UFC. Photo: Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC / Zuffa LLC
Working as a coconut delivery in Brazil, the Jiu-Jitsu black belt and UFC fighter, Leandro “Brodinho” Issa turned his life around and boosted his martial arts career. Athlete from renowned team, Evolve MMA, the Brazilian Leandro was featured in the TUF 19 Finale in Las Vegas on Sunday, July 6.
After a tough striking battle standing up, Brodinho got a takedown, mounted, and looped the Chinese Jumabieke Tuerxun’s arm in a particularly nasty armbar at 3min49s of the third round. Besides the beautiful victory, the black belt was awarded with a bonus from the fight of the night performance in the tournament.
“This fight was very good to gain experience in the Octagon. I was doing well in the first round until the last minute, when I felt his strike. In the second round I was winning, but the judge took me off one point when for holding the grid. So I knew I had to knockout or submit in the last round. I was very calm all the time and always believing I could submit. Thank God I finished at the end”, says Brodinho, who further commented how he did to get the amrbar:” I had the guillotine, but my arm started to get tired. So I decided to let go and take advantage of the mount position. I started striking from the mount, rapped his arm and got the armbar. ”
Leandro Brodinho is part of the bantamweight squad, whose champion is the American TJ Dilashaw. The contender makes plans for the future as he looks at a packed and grueling category.
“It’s a crowded category, even more now with this exchange of champions and lots of new people showing up. I’m coming and I will slowly go up step by step, so one day I might be among the tops of the weight, “closes.
