Rodolfo Vieira (GFTeam) wins the Heavyweight GP in Rio. (GRACIEMAG file photo)
Sunday, Jan. 13 was a huge day for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with the Copa Pódio Heavyweight Grand Prix bringing the gentle art’s big boys to the biggest show thus far in 2013.
Rodolfo Vieira is the grand champion of the tournament, having won all six of the matches he was in. In the final, he outdid his old acquaintance from team Alliance Leo Nogueira by 3 advantage points to 1. It was the 11th time the two meet in a championship, according to the GFTeam standout’s figures.
Check out what transpired at the event:
Copa Pódio – Heavyweight GP
Clube Hebraica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
January 13, 2013
INTER-CITY SHOWDOWN
Manaus (Diego Borges/Checkmat) defeated Brasília (Rodrigo Reis/Tanque JJ) via armbar submission.
COUPLES SHOWDOWN
Leandro Lo defeated Augusto Tanquinho by 5 to 2;
Mackenzie Dern defeated Luiza Monteiro by 8 to 2.
Total: 10 to 7 for Tanquinho and Mackenzie
GP ROUND 1
Alexandre Souza (Gracie Floripa) defeated Lúcio Lagarto (GB) by 2 to 0;
Braga Neto (Gordo JJ) defeated Bruno Bastos (Nova União) by 10 to 0;
Keenan Cornelius (Lloyd Irvin) defeated Léo Nogueira (Alliance) by 2 to 2 on sweeps;
Rodolfo Vieira (GFTeam) tapped out Alexandro Ceconi.
GP ROUND 2
João Gabriel (Soul Fighters/Rio de Janeiro) defeated Alexandre Souza (Gracie Floripa) by 2 to 0 (takedown);
Braga Neto (Gordo JJ) defeated Lúcio Lagarto (GB) by 4 advantages to 0;
Xande Ribeiro (Ribeiro JJ) defeated Keenan Cornelius (Lloyd Irvin) by 4 to 2;
Rodolfo Vieira (GFTeam) defeated Léo Nogueira (Alliance) by 9 to 0.
GP ROUND 3
Alexandre Souza (Gracie Floripa) defeated Bruno Bastos (Nova União) by 10 to 0;
Lúcio Lagarto (GB) defeated João Gabriel (Soul Fighters) by 7 to 0;
Alexandro Ceconi (Ceconi) defeated Keenan Cornelius (Lloyd Irvin) by 1 advantage to 0;
Léo Nogueira (Alliance) defeated Xande Ribeiro by 2 advantages.
GP ROUND 4
Braga Neto (Gordo JJ/Porto Velho) and Alexandre Souza (Gracie Floripa) fought to a 2-2 advantage-point draw;
João Gabriel (Soul Fighters) defeated Bruno Bastos (Nova União) by 3 to 0;
Rodolfo Vieira (GFTeam/Rio) defeated Keenan Cornelius (Lloyd Irvin) by 10 to 0;
Xande Ribeiro (Ribeiro JJ) tapped out Alex Ceconi via armbar from triangle.
GP ROUND 5 (FINAL ROUND)
Lúcio Lagarto (Gracie Barra/Londres) defeated Bruno Bastos (Nova União) by 10 to 0;
Braga Neto (Gordo JJ/Porto Velho) swept João Gabriel (Soul Fighters) to win 2 to 0;
Léo Nogueira (Alliance) choked out Alexandro Ceconi (Ceconi);
Rodolfo Vieira (GFTeam/Rio de Janeiro) defeated Xande Ribeiro (Ribeiro JJ) by 6 advantages to 0.
SEMIFINAIS
Léo Nogueira defeated Braga Neto by 7 to 0 (pass and mount);
Rodolfo Vieira tapped out Alexandre Souza via armbar.
LUTA ESPECIAL
Leandro Lo defeated Felipe Preguiça in come-from-behind 3-2 win by passing guard with 10 seconds left on the clock.
GRANDE FINALE
Rodolfo Vieira defeated Leonardo Nogueira by 3 advantages to 1.
