Young black belt Gianni Grippo is the youngest sensation among foreign fighters.

On May 10, the American will try make Copa Podio history, fighting for the maximum title in the Lightweight Grand Prix.

The Lightweight Grand Prix will kickoff at 4 pm (New York time) and will be streamed live.

Gianni Grippo

He will be joined by Gregor Gracie who is arriving to complete the Lightweight Grand prix card.

The fighter from Rio de Janeiro, currently living in New York and focused on his MMA career, accepted the invitation from Copa Podio last Thursday afternoon. He is already under an intensive training regime with his companions from Team Renzo Gracie.

The Grand prix will include stars such as Leandro Lo, Gilbert Durinho, Gregor Gracie, Gianni Grippo and others fighters (to be confirmed soon) for the maximum title of the night on May 10, at the Botafogo Gymnasium, in Rio de Janeiro.

Durinho is certainly Leandro Lo’s biggest rival in the lightweight category. He beat the super tough São Paulo native in the three times they have faced each other, twice with Gi and once without.

On May 10, 2014, Durinho enters the fight for the maximum title of the night in the Copa Podio Lightweight Grand Prix. Is history about to change?

There will also be a NO GI CHALLENGE. Brazilian Igor Gracie was chosen as the opponent of Desert Force Lightweight Champion, Haider Rasheed.

The new contest will be launched on May 10 at the Lightweight GP and is aimed at bringing together fighters focused on MMA in a jiu-jitsu super fight, with no Gi and no time limit, until submission or the last man standing.

The event will be streamed live on the website www.copapodio.com