Muay thai sylist and Gracie Barra black belt Gustavo Ximu used both styles to good effect to beat Rick Reeves via split decision at War on the Mainland last Saturday in California.
“But I dominated the three rounds. I used my muay thai. There was a point where he managed to get me down, and I quickly latched on to his foot. He managed to get free and we went back to our feet. It was a good win,” says GRACIEMAG.com.
Over in the States Ximu had the backing of friends Renato Babalu and Fabricio Werdum, both fighters on the Strikeforce roster. Ximu has nothing but praise for how the event unfolded.
“It was really well organized, really cool. I think in November they may hold another installment and I may fight again.”
However, Ximu will see action before then. On September 11 in Niteroi, the city in the state of Rio de Janeiro where the fighter is from, he will do battle in the cage at the second installment of Fatality Arena.
“The event will feature a showdown between the teams of Thales Leites and Rafael Capoeira. I think I’ll be in the main event, an international bout. Now I’m going to take a couple of days of rest and then return to training,” he says in finishing.