Caio Magalhães during No-Gi training with gloves in Fortaleza / Photo by Junior Samurai/GRACIEMAG.com
A Jiu-Jitsu black belt who fights in the UFC middleweight division, Caio “Hellboy” Magalhães is one of the favorites to win gold at the Brazilian No-Gi Nationals, coming up next weekend at Rio de Janeiro’s Tijuca Tennis Club.
“I’m all set. The level is always really high. Anyone going to compete at a CBJJ competition can’t go in there any less than at their best,” Magalhães, who is signed up for the ultraheavyweight division, told GRACIEMAG.com.
“I hope to show everything I’ve been working on at training at Nova União in Rio. It’s been a really productive time for me, since every day I learn a lot from my training partners. Here I’m practically living Jiu-Jitsu and MMA 24 hours a day,” said Caio, who is also set to compete at the Copa Pódio Jiu-Jitsu tournament in 2013, where he intends to continue demonstrating his sightly and surprising sweep game.
“I like reversals. I think that because I train with a lot of lighter guys in Fortaleza and in Rio, I tend to rev things up and do a lot of positions I get from the lighter guys, who’re more flexible and quicker. When you’re doing well in training, the positions come out quicker and with the right timing,” explained Caio, before spilling the beans on his main trick.
“The trick to being good at sweeps is to have a nimble hip and do a lot of feints, sort of bluffing that you’re going to the right and then go left. That’s what works for me. But here’s one detail: being quick doesn’t mean you go lighter on the pressure. You’ve got to put pressure on like a heavyweight,” he said in closing.
What about to you, gentle reader, is Caio a candidate for the absolute title at black belt? Who’ll win the gold in the most hotly contested division this Saturday?
To check out who’s on the roster for the Brazilian No-Gi Nationals, click here.
