The ADCC Kuwait Open delivered intense competition, but one of the most remarkable moments happened off the mats when Edmir “Eddie” Sokoli decided to share half of his third-place prize money with his opponent, Vinicius Lessa.
A Journey of Sacrifice and Determination
Event organizer Fawaz AlHazim aka“Wezzi” shared the incredible story behind Lessa’s participation. The Brazilian black belt, who had medaled at the IBJJF European Championship and secured third place at IBJJF No-Gi Worlds at the black belt adult division, faced an enormous challenge just to get to Kuwait.
“Vini called me asking if I could fix his visa… four hours before his flight! That’s impossible,” Wezzi recalled.
Securing a visa on such short notice typically takes one to two days, but Lessa was so determined that he slept at the airport, waiting for Wezzi to sort it out. Once his visa was finally approved, he caught the next available flight and landed in Kuwait, arriving straight at the venue to weigh in—without even resting from his journey.
The Battle for Third Place
Despite the exhausting travel, Lessa put on a stellar performance in both the Pro and Absolute divisions. He fought his way through the brackets before eventually losing to Robert Henek, who went on to place second in the Absolute Division.
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This set up a third-place match between Eddie Sokoli and Vinicius Lessa. However, Lessa had a flight to catch that same day, making it impossible for him to compete in the bronze medal match.
An Act of Sportsmanship
Recognizing the sacrifices Lessa made to compete in ADCC Kuwait, Eddie Sokoli made an unexpected and selfless decision.
“I saw Vini in tears after winning every match he competed in that day,” Sokoli said. “It looked like he paid so much just to get here, and this prize money means so much to him. I want us to split the third-place prize money if that’s possible.”
Wezzi, moved by Eddie’s generosity, agreed to make it happen.
More Than Just Competition
This moment embodies the true spirit of Jiu-Jitsu—respect, camaraderie, and mutual support. While victories on the mat define careers, acts of kindness and sportsmanship define character.
Eddie Sokoli’s gesture proves that Jiu-Jitsu is more than just a sport—it’s a brotherhood.
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