Starting in January, the promoters of Copa Pódio will be seeking partners in holding the Middleweight Grand Prix, expected for June or July in Rio de Janeiro.
“The rules will be the same as the Lightweight Grand Prix but the weight ceiling will be 83 kilos [183 lbs] without the gi,” reports Jeferson Maycá, who is pleased with the repercussions from the maiden Copa Pódio event last weekend.
The good news is that the lightweight champion, Leandro Lo, had his request to return to the event accepted and will be the representative from Cícero Costha’s team at the competition. The athlete sees the tourney as an opportunity to test his Jiu-Jitsu at a weight class other than the one he is usually in.
“The other news is that there will be a challenge match bearing the name of the sponsor company, where Guetho academy, represented by Guto Campos, will challenge another academy to take their berth at Pódio, which he earned by beating Tio Chico in the Grand Prix-opening super match. This challenge match will take place before the tournament final,” Jeferson told GRACIEMAG.com.
The opener for 2012 will be a rematch between Gracie Barra and Atos, represented by Cláudio Caloquinha and Ed Ramos, respectively. “We’re not sure who will be representing Atos at the Middleweight GP yet, but I liked Ed’s performance, so I decided to call on him for this super match,” said Jeferson.
The academies that earned berths in the Middleweight GP, for the points scored at the first event, were: Cícero Costha, Gracie Barra, Atos, Soul Fighters and Lloyd Irvin.
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