Lo vs. Keenan at the 2015 Worlds
Leandro Lo is a man with a mission. Even after four world titles in three different weight classes of the black belt division, he still wants more.
Lo talked to GRACIEMAG’s Vitor Freitas about the 2015 Worlds and his bold plans for the future.
“Since I was a kid, I always wanted to be a three-time world champion. Thank God, I won it four times now, but I still have a dream to fulfill, which is to be an open class world champion.”
In order to do that, Lo already has a strategy down: “I’m thinking of moving up to the heavyweight division. My plan is to get my weight up to 198 lb. and then see what happens. It’s still far away.”
In 2015, Lo managed to make his way to the absolute semifinals for the first time in his career. He had to pass through Keenan Cornelius in the quarterfinals, a match many consider the best one of this year’s edition of the Worlds.
Lo vs. Bernardo Faria at the 2015 Worlds
Leandro comments on how tough it was to pull off that win.
“It was an all-out-war. I really did not expect that flying triangle. He had done that once during a training session and I tapped. At the Worlds, I gave up my arm so I could escape my head. I am able to resist to attacks to my arm. I have to tell you that there was not much technique there. It was pure heart. It was a really tough fight.”
Then, along came Bernardo Faria, the same opponent Bernardo faced in the 2015 Pan, and unfortunately the outcome was similar at the open class semifinal.
“I still need to improve a lot to beat Bernardo and all the other guys who are open class champions. I need to be stronger and I need to be able to resist against their power for longer. My power runs out and theirs go on! I’m not able to hold them using only my technique once they are also very skilled and strong. I also need to get better at Jiu-Jitsu. I really want to beat those guys. I want to be a black belt open class world champion as well.”
