Victory at last competitions, the World Pro qualifiers. Photo: Carlos Ozório
Rodolfo Vieira is one of the fighters with the best odds for the Brazilian Nationals and Worlds. However, an injured knee, the same one that kept him out of the Worlds Pro, in Abu Dhabi, will sideline him for the next two competitions. Even so, the GFTeam representative will be watching the events closely. On the Worlds, he predicts an electrifying absolute division in California.
“It’s going to catch fire and it will be sad to be left out of it. Last year I only fought in my weight group and this year I won’t be able to. Xande Ribeiro confirmed he’ll be there and there are a lot of other beasts like Rômulo Barral, Antonio Braga Neto, Ricardo Demente… Man, there are a lot of good guys! I wanted to be in it, but I wouldn’t be fit. I’m going to stick to my physiotherapy for the time being,” says Rodolfo, who is thankful for the help in his treatment of Dr. Alan and physiotherapist Débora Jardim.
But, quickly, the fighter returns his thoughts to the absolute, a division that, for the first time, may have a three-time champion.
“There are no favorites. The biggest proof of that was Claudio Calasans in Abu Dhabi. Nobody expected him to make it. And he did, he overcame everyone, and became champion. This absolute coming up is going to go off and I’m going to be tuned in to it the whole time,” says the black belt in finishing.
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