The GRACIEMAG at the Worlds Blog went into hibernation this Friday, but there was one unresolved issue.
It’s time to present the accounts pertaining to the forecasts made for the black belt categories.
Did blog editor Ivan Trindade have more misses than bull’s eyes, or was it the other way around?
On the Worlds Blog he placed his bets on the semifinalists, finalists and winners of each weight group from rooster to heavyweight.
What follows is the final tally of his hits and misses.
Here they go:
Correct semifinals: 10 points
Correct final: 30 points
Correct champion: 50 points
Total possible points for each division: 100 points
After adding up the points Ivan has the right to a whine, explaining what he got right and wrong.
Roosterweight
Predictions
Semifinals
Bruno Malfacine vs. Felipe Costa
Caio Terra vs. Rafael de Freitas
Final
Bruno Malfacine vs. Caio Terra
Champion
Caio Terra
Results
Semifinals
Bruno Malfacine vs. Josef Manuel
Caio Terra vs. Yusuke Honma
Final
Bruno Malfacine vs. Caio Terra
Champion
Bruno Malfacine
Score: 30pts
Editor’s whine: Of the four semifinalists I got two right, but they were no-brainers and I messed up on the two semifinals, since the opponents changed. I nailed the final, which was a sure thing, and I blew it on the champion. In good cheer, Malfacine told me my bet on the final was extra added motivation to get his fourth world title. I had a poor start.
Light Featherweight
Predictions
Semifinals
Gui Mendes vs. Samuel Braga
Samir Chantre vs. Pablo Silva
Final
Gui Mendes vs. Pablo Silva
Champion
Gui Mendes
Results
Semifinals
Gui Mendes vs. Samuel Braga
Samir Chantre vs. Ary de Farias
Final
Gui Mendes vs. Ary de Farias
Champion
Gui Mendes
Score: 60pts
Editor’s whine: Here my big mistake was not betting on Ary! The newly-promoted Atos black belt was a perfect counterpart for Gui Mendes and made it to the final, laying waste to my semifinal and final predictions. At least I got it right that Mendes would come back balls to the wall following his disappointment in 2010.
Featherweight
Predictions
Semifinals
Cobrinha vs. Tanquinho
Rafa Mendes vs. Mário Reis
Final
Tanquinho vs. Rafa Mendes
Champion
Rafael Mendes
Results
Semifinals
Cobrinha vs. Tanquinho
Rafa Mendes vs. Mário Reis
Final
Tanquinho vs. Rafa Mendes
Champion
Rafael Mendes
Score: 100pts
Editor’s whine: I nailed featherweight! I bet on Tanquinho against Cobrinha and that was one of the picks that got me the most criticism. A journalist with years of Worlds coverage experience guaranteed me that Cobrinha would submit the Soul Fighters rep. My bet on a second world title going to Rafael stemmed from the belief that it was highly unlikely Mendes would fall for the same trap from his like-last-named rival Augusto. Tanquinho told me just before the final: “I won you your bet for the semifinal, but I’ll have to break you in the decider.” Almost.
Lightweight
Predictions
Semifinals
Michael Langhi vs. Leandro Lo
Lucas Lepri vs. Celsinho
Final
Michael Langhi vs. Celso Venícius
Champion
Michael Langi
Results
Semifinals
Michael Langi vs. Kron Gracie
Gilbert Durinho vs. Jonathan Torres
Final
Kron Gracie vs. Durinho
Champion
Gilbert ”Durinho” Burns
Score: 0pts
Editor’s whine: While featherweight was my big success, lightweight was a disaster. My only consolation was that there were a lot of others who messed up along with me. Who’d have put their chips on Durinho in a division stacked with Langhi, Celso, Lepri, Kron and latest sensation Leandro Lo? Well, Gilberto did and took gold. Indeed, betting on Langhi to beat Lo in the semifinal was another that garnered me a lot of criticism, and in fact Leandro didn’t even make it to the semis, having submitted to Kron in the quarterfinals.
Middleweight
Predictions
Semifinals
Marcelinho vs. Guto Campos
Calasans vs. Lucas Leite
Final
Marcelinho vs. Calasans
Champion
Marcelinho
Results
Semifinals
Marcelinho vs. Guto Campos
Lucas Leite vs. Clark Gracie
Final
Marcelinho vs. Lucas Leite
Champion
Marcelinho
Score: 60pts
Editor’s whine: At middleweight, Claudio Calasans Jr.’s injury in the absolute on Saturday threw a wrench in my plans. Thus I got the semifinals and final wrong, which I still believe would have been the same as from 2010 had Calasans been ok. At least getting Marcelo Garcia’s fifth world title right scored me some points.
Medium Heavyweight
Predictions
Semifinals
Rominho vs. Eduardo Santoro
Serginho Moraes vs. Otávio Souza
Final
Rominho vs. Serginho
Champion
Rominho
Results
Semifinals
Rominho vs. Eduardo Santoro
Serginho Moraes vs. Rogel Monsalve
Final
Rominho vs. Serginho
Champion
Serginho
Score: 40pts
Editor’s whine: I started out well getting three of the four semifinalists right and nailing the final. In the decider, I knew it would be a tough battle but I had the feeling Rômulo ride in roughshod to bid farewell to competition with a gold. The Minas Gerais native did his all, but Sérgio did a swell job and landed a takedown in the final.
Heavyweight
Predictions
Semifinals
Bernardo Faria vs. Roberto Tussa
Rodolfo Vieira vs. Rafael Lovato Jr
Final
Bernardo vs. Rodolfo
Champion
Rodolfo Vieira
Results
Semifinals
Bernardo Faria vs. Antônio Barbosa
Rodolfo Vieira vs. Rafael Lovato Jr
Final
Bernardo vs. Rodolfo
Champion
Rodolfo Vieira
Score: 90pts
Editor’s whine: A near perfect division. I bet on the favorites and didn’t miss one. Only black belt newbie Antônio “Cara de Sapato” rained on my parade in the semifinals.
Super Heavyweight
Predictions
Semifinals
Marcus Bochecha vs. Antônio Peinado
Leo Nogueira vs. Ricardo Henrique
Final
Bochecha vs. Leo Nogueira
Champion
Bochecha
Results
Semifinals
Marcus Bochecha vs. Antônio Peinado
Leo Nogueira vs. João Assis
Final
Bochecha vs. Leo Nogueira
Champion
Leo Nogueira
Score: 40pts
Editor’s whine: With Roger Gracie not taking part in the division, I figured I’d bet on youth. I started out well with three of the four semifinalists and getting the final right. However, it was my faith in Bochech’s youth over the somewhat more experienced Leo that was my downfall. At least the winner was only decided by referees’ decision.
Ultraheavyweight
Predictions
Semifinals
Roberto Cyborg vs. Antônio Braga Neto
Rodrigo Cavaca vs. Fabiano Scherner
Final
Roberto Cyborg vs. Rodrigo Cavaca
Champion
Roberto Cyborg
Results
Semifinals
Roberto Cyborg vs. Antônio Braga Neto
Rodrigo Cavaca vs. Marcio Cruz
Final
Braga Neto vs. Cavaca
Champion
Braga Neto
Score: 10pts
Editor’s whine: To wrap up, I didn’t do so hot at ultraheavyweight. I didn’t believe in Braga Neto and paid for it. The Manaus native had his revenge on Cyborg for his loss to him in 2010 and didn’t give Cavaca a chance in the decider, stripping the São Paulo native of a second title. Serves me right.
Overall score: 430pts of 900 possible points
Final whine: I scored less than half the points possible, but I was only 20 points (or two semifinals) under 50%. I was on the mark for four of the nine champions but didn’t nail a single surprise, only getting it right on the shoo-ins. A number of Worlds Blog readers got their predictions right as well. The comments section is open for you to post your scores. Best wishes and see you next time!
