Leandro jubilant after becoming the first ever Lightweight GP champion: the São Paulo native will now test his mettle at middleweight. Photo: Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG.com
The 2012 season has been excellent for black belt Leandro Lo, who won the Pan, Brazilian Nationals and Jiu-Jitsu Worlds. But the Cícero Costha team representative doesn’t want to hear about slowing down, and he’s already got another mission marked for the coming 21st of July, when he takes on the Copa Pódio Middleweight GP.
“I’m really stoked to see how I do at middleweight. I’ve been lifting weights to get stronger but I’ll stick with my same old game,” he told GRACIEMAG.com. “I don’t feel like I’m putting all my titles in jeopardy. I won the World Championship that day. I won the lightweight GP on that day. When the championship wraps up, that mission is over. Now it’s time to think about new championships, new challenges, like sticking my neck out at middleweight, for instance.”
Lo denies he’s favored to win, despite the frenetic, victorious pace he’s been keeping in sport Jiu-Jitsu.
“I don’t feel I’m the favorite; I’m just one among nine,” he stated humbly. “I want to thank GRACIEMAG.com and the gang for cheering for me at Copa Pódio,” he said in closing.
Copa Pódio goes down July 21 at Clube Hebraica, Rio de Janeiro. Stay tuned to GRACIEMAG.com for further news on the tournament.
