Photo: publicity
He lives in Germany but got his start in Jiu-Jitsu in the Northeastern Brazilian state of Ceará. As portrayed in an article for Brazilian newspaper “O Povo,” UFC fighter Carlos Eduardo “Tá Danado” Rocha, 28, is a winner.
Read on:
“Carlos is a Brazilian who figures in the ranks of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), in the United States. Last year this Paraiba-state native made his debut in the UFC, one of the world’s biggest MMA events, on November 13, 2010, when he defeated the USA’s Kris McCray. Now, Tá Danado is getting ready for a new challenge, against the USA’s Jake Ellenberger next Saturday.
“Tá Danado was born in João Pessoa, but he never knew his parents. He spent his childhood in Fortaleza, where he lived with his grandmother and ended up on the street when she died. The youth was looked after by Dárcio Lyra, who heads Escola de Jiu-Jitsu Tradicional Dárcio Lyra (Darcio Lra Traditional Jiu-Jitsu School). The fighter was housed and fed, as well as receiving technical orientation, at Projeto Pequeno Samurai (Little Samurai Project) when he was sixteen years old. ‘I owe everything I have to that wonderful project,’ says the athlete.
“After that he was given the opportunity to travel to Germany. A German fighter invited him to teach class at a gym and fight representing a German team at European MMA events. That’s just what he did. Tá Danado accepted the offer and racked up a record of nine fights and nine wins. ‘The best part is that I won all the fights by submission,’ he added. The solid results qualified him for the UFC.
Profile
Name: Carlos Eduardo Rocha
Nickname: “Tá Danado”
Birthday: João Pessoa
Age: 28
Background style: Jiu-Jitsu
Record: 9 fights and 9 wins in European MMA (has been living in Germany for 5 years)
UFC debut: 13/11/10
Numbers: 1,250 reais is the price of the most expensive ticket for a night of MMA in Las Vegas, when the main event pits Anderson Silva versus Vitor Belfort.”