Leandro Lo talks ADCC, absolute world title dream

Lo will fight as a heavyweight in the quest for his sixth world championship. Luca Atalla.

The only fighter in BJJ history to win world titles in three weight classes, five-time champ Leandro Lo is having a fantastic season. In four months he has conquered double gold in the European and the Pan, and more recently won a superfight at the American ADCC Trials against the dangerous Gordon Ryan, a student under Renzo Gracie.

“It was good having done this fight, since there is the ADCC this year and I was invited,” Lo told Graciemag. “My adversary changed on the day of the fight, as Braulio Estima suffered a lesion when he was warming up. I faced a guy who is used to fighting no-gi and has been racking up great results. But the important thing is that it all worked out and I came out with the win.”

Recovered from a knee injury, Lo has confirmed his presence at the Brazilian Nationals this weekend in Barueri. “I chose not to fight in Abu Dhabi in order to be in optimal shape for the Nationals and the Worlds,” he said.

Lo never hid the fact that his goal is to become absolute world champion, and he has been gradually gaining weight while retaining his claim to being the best in the world at each step. He started out winning the lightweight world title in 2012 and 2013, then the middleweight crown in 2014, and then the medium heavyweight gold in 2015 and 2016.

“Ever since I started consulting with a nutritionist, I’ve been feeling much better,” he said. “I managed to gain a good deal of weight and I continue to perform well. I will take part in every championship this season among the heavyweights, but my focus is the Worlds’ absolute division. That is the title I want most in my career.”

Lo is also confirmed as a contender in the IBJJF Pro League’s Heavyweight GP, scheduled for Aug. 26 in Vegas. This will be an eight-man tourney with a 40-thousand-dollar top prize. His opposition will include Roger Gracie, Marcus Buchecha and André Galvão.