Leandro Lo, the greatest champion in the history of Copa Podio, will do try to do the impossible: to defend his title of lightweight GP in January and then in May to win the heavyweight GP.

Lo is the only fighter to have fought GPs in three different categories. Next week, Lo will go to Porto Alegre to review with Natalie Bordignon, a nutritionist at the judo team of Sogipa, to achieve his goal: drop to 77 kg by January and then rise to 90 kg before May.

After winning the IBJJF Worlds in 2011 and 2012 at lightweight, Leandro won it in 2014 at middle weight, beating Otavio Sousa in the final on points and in 2015 at middle heavy.
He equals the feat of Vitor Shaolin (former Jiu-Jitsu world champion and MMA fighter), also three-time champion with two titles in the light and one at middle.

The fourth season of Copa Pódio, begins on January 9th at the Gymnasium Hebraica, in Rio de Janeiro.

Lo recently left his long time instructor Cisero Costha to form his new team: New School Brotherhood.

The president of Copa Pódio, Jeferson Maycá stated:

“The top three contestants from the Lightweight division will have the right to dispute the Triple Crown, that is, will be automatically qualified for the Middleweight Grand Prix, and if any of them gets on the podium in that category, they already qualify for the Heavyweight GP. The athlete, who reaches the podium during the three events of the fourth season, wins the Triple Crown, which will yield a cash prize and a contract with Copa Pódio,”

Last year, Lo came short in the heavyweight GP, losing to the much bigger Rodolfo Vieira in the final:

Lo stated:

“If I can win the Triple Crown it would be great. I have also found out that there will be a cash prize so I am training even harder to realize this achievement. I am super motivated! I am still holding back a little with my weight for the account of the Lightweight GP, but it will be good for me to move up the weight, because I have already reached about 85 kg in the past and it felt really good,” s

“My intention now is to fight in other categories and get heavier. I am 15 kg away from where I want to get to, and then it would no longer be practical if I kept going up and down in categories, therefore this will be my last Lightweight championship. I have fulfilled my role, as I fought with everyone at this weight. I am training hard to keep my title and I feel very excited, because it has been some time since I have fought as a Lightweight, and as it will be my last opportunity, I have an obligation to fight well and leave a good impression,”