2 time world absolute champion Rodrigo ‘Comprido’ Medeiros has marked his name in the history of Jiu-Jitsu. Comprido is ready to face a hige challenge this Saturday, July 11: facing Roger Gracie , greatest champion in the history of Jiu-Jitsu, with ten world titles.
The superfight will be valid for the American National IBJJF Championship, which takes place within the UFC Expo in Las Vegas, between 7 and 11 July. Another great superfight that is confirmed is between Xande Ribeiro and Márcio Pé de Pano.
In an interview with TATAME, Comprido commented on how he learned that he would be facing Roger Gracie and spoke about the details of his preparation, stressing that it would be “crazy” to defeat his opponent, to whom he has lost in three occasions.
“I heard about this superfight just before the Worlds. I started preparation with Caio Terra, in his academy, and Italo Villardo was doing my physical training. The technical part I did with my students and instructor Marcelo Cazuza, who has been helping me a lot. We looked a lot at Roger’s game and I feel prepared. I received the invitation from IBJJF, who contacted me and mentioned that Roger was thinking of going back to BJJ, and called me asking if I would be willing to fight him, and said, ‘Gee, of course (laughs).’
An opportunity that you can not refuse against a guy of an exceptional level, who has defeated me three times, so I’m crazy to beat him. He the greatest champion in Jiu-Jitsu history, who has a phenomenal technique. So to be on the mat with a guy like him is an incredible opportunity, you can not miss. But I learned several things from the mistakes I had in my past fights with him, and learned many things from the techniques that Roger applied. Today, I use the techniques that he once used on me. “
This will be Roger Gracie’s first Gi BJJ match since his one time superfight with Buchecha at Metamoris. He hasn’t been active in the Gi since 2010 when he last won double gold at the worlds and left to focus on his MMA career. Despite the downtime, the fact does not seem to be relevant to Rodrigo Comprido, who believes that his opponent will come well prepared for the fight:
“On the fight itself, I’m sure Roger will perform very well, and will be very well prepared. Although he has not been competing kimono from the time of Metamoris, and is competing in MMA, he is keeping sharp, coaching, has very good training partners, guys that are at the top of Jiu-Jitsu. So, I’m sure Roger will do well. For my part, I prepared the best I could and I am confident, focused, and I believe it will be a pretty cool fight. I will do everything to win and do not expect less of Roger. It will be an interesting fight for those who like and hopefully I will emerge victorious. Fighting an exponent as Roger, a guy with so much experience, representing the Jiu-Jitsu in various parts of the world, it is an honor for me. I am doing what I love and fighting the best fighters in the world. This type of challenge is what motivates any athlete … You have a Roger Gracie caliber of opponent, a challenge, something that forces you to improve, to do more, to do better, it’s great. I hope I can, ”
Comprido also commented on the event organized by IBJJF and the UFC, and praised the presence of Xande Ribeiro and Márcio Pé de Pano.
“I was very happy to know that Xande and Pé de Pano, who are two absolute world champions, and are two guys who fly the flag of Jiu-Jitsu, will be present. It’s nice to see IBJJF valuing athletes of that level, good to see the UFC giving an entry for us, with Jiu-Jitsu not only as a part of MMA, not only as a martial arts that makes up MMA, but also showing kimono matches, in the normal fight time, with normal rules. I find it very cool that this is happening and I am very anxious to get on the mat, fight, and then see the superfight of Xande with Pé de Pano “.
