Fabricio Andrey has never shied away from big moves — on or off the mats.
In a recent interview, he finally addressed one of the more surprising decisions of his career: his departure from Melqui Galvao’s team.
At the time, the split raised eyebrows. Andrey wasn’t just another name on the roster — alongside Diogo Reis and Mica Galvao, he helped elevate the team’s profile on the global stage.
And when all three left at once nearly two years ago, there were all kinds of speculations.
For a long time, the reasons behind the exit remained unclear.
There was no visible drama, and both sides offered mutual respect.
Now, Andrey is offering some personal insight:
I felt like I wasn’t being valued the way I deserved it…
I think it’s about respect.
Importantly, Andrey emphasized that the decision had nothing to do with the quality of training.
Galvao, who continues to produce elite champions — including multiple ADCC 2024 gold medalists — remains one of the sport’s most respected coaches.
Andrey gave him full credit where it was due:
There was always good training… He (Melqui) was very important.
He helped me a lot. I grew up a lot (under his tutelage).
And despite leaving the team, there’s no bitterness.
Andrey was clear that relationships remained intact, even when sharing space again at major events like ADCC 2024:
I complimented him, he just fought with Diogo (Reis).
I complimented him, he hugged me.
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