Raphael Abi-Rihan controls Filipe Jerry's arm in his 2009 Brazilian Nationals campaign. Photo: Gustavo Aragão/GRACIEMAG.com.
Copa Pódio Jiu-Jitsu Championship will be holding its Middleweight GP on the evening of July 21 at Clube Hebraica, in the Laranjeiras borough of Rio de Janeiro City’s South Side.
The tournament will feature athletes weighing under 84 kg, as well as supermatches, one of which being between Caloquinha (Gracie Barra BH) and Ed Ramos (Atos), the second- and third-placed competitors from the Lightweight GP, and the other has Guto Campos (Guetho/Atos) taking on Raphael Abi-Rihan (Abi-Rihan/Carlson Gracie).
The following athletes have so far been confirmed for upcoming Middleweight Grand Prix: Leandro Lo (Cícero Costha), Rafael Formiga (Soul Fighters), Vinícius Marinho (GFTeam) and Tarsis Humphreys (Alliance).
“Besides Formiga, we’re tying to bring in an athlete not competing in Brazil, as a treat for the public, but the idea is to bring in someone who isn’t in Rio-São Paulo, to appreciate Jiu-Jitsu from other regions of Brazil. This athlete may be picked by a poll, like we did for the challenger in the supermatch,” reveals Jeferson Maycá, the event’s organizer.
What do you say, reader; who would you like to see competing in Rio de Janeiro? State your request below.
