Bruno against Marcelo Silva in semifinal in Gramado / Photo by Ivan Trindade
Before the WPJJ trials event in Gramado, Brazil, was even over, the promoters had already counted the votes and announced the name of the number-one competitor in technical mastery of the competition. And it was of no surprise that the featherweight from São Paulo Bruno Frazatto was neck and shoulders ahead of all the other big names, as the Atos ace had gotten the finish in every one of his matches up until the semifinals.
Bruno is a hot item because of the stellar level of technique he routinely exhibits in competition. Seldom does he stall for a result, and he always displays eye-pleasing and finish-oriented Jiu-Jitsu.
His unexpected submission loss in the final took on even greater proportions than one would have imagined. His opponent, Isaque Paiva, couldn’t contain his excitement, and ran over to embrace Guilherme Paradeda, one of the promoters of the event and a witness to all the young martial artist’s efforts to make it to Abu Dhabi ever since the very first tryouts for the event, in Porto Alegre in 2009.
The celebration got him a wicked penalty: disqualification (as described in the rules) and a “win” for Bruno, to Paiva’s chagrin.
“It was a moment of emotion; we here practically adopted him since 2009, when he slept in the gymnasium for lack of means. As the new rules stand but at all the other championships the refs turned a blind eye to anyone who went outside the area to celebrate, it wouldn’t be fair to eliminate Isaque after that riveting final. I’m going to have a word with the organizers to see if Frazatto doesn’t get invited, as well,” said Fernando Paradeda, who requested referee Alvaro Bobadilla ask Frazatto what he thinks of that.
BETWEEN HONOR AND A BERTH, BRUNO CHOSE WELL
Thus there is grandeur even in defeat, as Frazatto was quick to refuse to win in such a manner; forsaking the first place and the prize. Everyone, even a well-known athlete like Bruno Frazatto, knows how difficult it is to come up with a sponsor who can pay for a trip to Abu Dhabi to compete at the WPJJ. Between paying his own way and getting an all-expenses-paid trip, Frazatto opted for one of the values a good warrior prizes the most: honor.
I’d like to deliver the message to the WPJJ organization in Abu Dhabi myself, as the most technical athlete at the Gramado Trials, Bruno Frazatto, “the beaten,” too, without a shadow of a doubt, deserves to go to Abu Dhabi.
If just because I’ll bet you want to see the rematch too, don’t you? Let the other GRACIEMAG.com readers know what you think in the comments section below.
