Bráulio Estima celebrates overcoming Jacaré in the ADCC 2011 supermatch. Photo: Dan Rod/GRACIEMAG.com.
If you can’t make it to Long Beach, California, on the 12th of May, you won’t get to polish up your gentle-art skills under the expert eyes of the likes of Roger Gracie, André Galvão, Robert Drysdale, Rodrigo Comprido and Ronaldo Jacaré. Nor will you get to put on a show of your own at the inaugural IBJJF Spring Open, another monumental attraction to feature at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo. But that doesn’t mean you’re excluded from the action at the Long Beach Convention Center altogether.
The all star cast on the supermatch card likely has UFC president Dana White burning with envy, and you can watch all the Gi and No-Gi action streamed live over the internet via mobileblackbelt.tv.
While the main event is a must-see, with UFC superstar Nick Diaz putting his black belt and incisive rubber-guard to a stern test in a No-Gi bout with ADCC superchampion Bráulio Estima, the rest of the card is no less riveting:
Three of the Jiu-Jitsu royal family’s top competitors will be defending the Gracie name: Pan 2012 champ with the tentacular guard Kayron Gracie will have his work cut out for him in the gi against Rafael Lovato Jr., the man who made history when he became the first black belt to win the European Open, Pan-American, Brazilian National, and World Championships all in the same year; the son of gentle-art legend Rickson Gracie, Kron Gracie will don his gi and seek revenge for his loss to Victor Estima at this year’s Pan-American Championship; while multiple world- and ADCC-title holder Kyra Gracie will have a bout of grappling with Alexis Davis, an MMA fighter on the Strikeforce roster.
Rounding out the six-match card are two intriguing rematches: Nino Schembri, a decorated world champion who is further distinguished by his knockout of Kazushi Sakuraba during Pride FC’s heyday, will be looking for redemption for his 2010 defeat at the hands of Paragon BJJ’s Bill Cooper (watch it here); and sparks are bound to fly in the No-Gi grudge match between 2007 No-Gi world champion Jeff Glover and the only four-time winner of the No-Gi World Championship, Caio Terra.
If Jiu-Jitsu or MMA is your thing, you won’t want to miss it. Pre-pay your live stream before the connections run out; click here. The action begins at 6:30 pm Pacific Standard Time on Saturday, May 12.
Supermatch card
Nick Diaz vs. Bráulio Estima (No-Gi)
Kayron Gracie vs. Rafael Lovato Jr (Gi)
Victor Estima vs. Kron Gracie (Gi)
Nino Schembri vs. Bill Cooper (Gi)
Kyra Gracie vs. Alexis Davis (No-Gi)
Caio Terra vs. Jeff Glover (No-Gi)