Kayron Gracie in Panama
Put together by our GMA Hector Vasquez, a major Jiu-Jitsu event went down in Panama this past Sunday. Among the standouts, Kayron Gracie made quick work of his superfight and Marcello Salazar went to town on the competition.
“I finished with a choke while passing guard early in the match, in under a minute. And the trip was awesome, Jiu-Jitsu is growing a lot here,” remarked the Gracie.
One of the IBJJF’s head referees, Black belt Muzio De Angelis was called on to arbitrate the bouts, and later reported back to GRACIEMAG.com on how it all unfolded.
In the other superfight, former UFC fighter Sam Hoger showed up for the event injured so he was replaced with Fernando “Soluço” Di Pierro, who readily offered to take on Cristiano “Furacão” Machado. After trailing by an early takedown, Soluço rallied back for the win.
The big name to arise from the event’s open weight division was BTT representative Marcello Salazar.
“He did something I’ve never seen before in Jiu-Jitsu in my life: he won four gold medals in one go. Salazar won at weight and open weight with and without the gi; he fought really well,” remarked Muzio.
“The event was really cool and the promoters are to be congratulated,” he said in closing.