The following Saturday is promising exciting grappling matchups. The event will be held in Chechnya and promises to feature many top level competitors.
Decorated veteran, Barral is expected to face up against Yuri Simoes. He spoke to Tatame about the importance of Berkut event and more.
On Berkut:
“I think part of an event that is very important for the growth of Jiu-Jitsu. Events like this increasingly professionalize jiu-jitsu. I believe this is the beginning of something that will grow much further. It is very important to accept the fight and help the Jiu-Jitsu grow so the new generation can enjoy it. I think the Berkut is a very professional event, which treats athletes as we should be treated- as professionals, ” Barral said.
On preparation and competing with his students following IBJJF retirement:
“The preparation is as usual, not much changes. But it changed a little bit, I’m training less now, I’m not training as much as before, I’m doing other things now. I’m enjoying more Jiu-Jitsu and I prepared my whole life, always training, taking care of health. So it’s just another fight, a very cool event. Preparation is this and do what we like.”
“The feeling to participate in an event with my students is inexplicable, especially at the black belt level. I always fought with them in previous belts, but it’s not the same feeling. Now, fight them on the black belt, makes me younger, gives me more will, and then it leaves me with more motivation to continue fighting. Gabriel Arges, Edwin Najmi, Felipe Pena and another student of mine who is a blue belt, Peter. This year there were several events, Abu Dhabi, Pan, World where we fought together and, certainly, it gave me a lot of motivation and made me very happy to fight them. They are kids I saw grow from white belt to black.”
Barral was seen enjoying some mountain biking with his friends in recent days:
On fighting Yuri Simoes:
“It is a great representation of Jiu-Jitsu, he is a very good athlete in all aspects. It is even difficult to point out a strong point of his game, he’s good at everything (laughs). He has a very good game overall, and good drops. It’s a guy who does not give up, which means a very big heart, plays offensive… will be a very tough fight. But it’s what I always say, do not accept a fight if it was not a tough guy like him.”
The entire Berkut 3 card is:
Romulo Barral x Yuri Simões
Felipe Preguiça x Jackson Sousa
Osvaldo Queixinho x Edwin Najmi
Magid Hage x Clark Gracie
Gabriel Arges x Alan Finfou
Abdurakhman Bilarov x Erberth Santos
Yusup Saadulaev x Caio Terra
Marat Gafurov x AJ Agazarm
Daud Adaev x Samir Chantre
Muhammad Kerimov x Mahamed Aly
