Mario Sperry is a 3 Time World Jiu Jitsu Champ, 6 Time ADCC World Champ, MMA veteran.
Born in a wealthy family and coming from a military college, where he practised sports like waterpolo, volleyball, soccer and hammer throwing, Sperry started his martial arts career learning judo under master Georges Mehdi. At brown belt level, he expanded his training to Brazilian jiu-jitsu with Carlson Gracie, becoming one of his main apprentices. Mario earned his black belt in this art at the 1995 World BJJ Championships, where he entered and won the heavyweight black belt division, and it was popularly said that until that point he had not lost a single point in his earlier competition career. He gained the nickname “Zé Maquina” (“José Machine”) for his relentless performance, which later changed to “Zen Machine” in his introduction to United States.
Having had his mixed martial arts debut in 1995, Sperry debuted in United States as part of the Extreme Fighting event, where he was billed as having a 272-0 fight record. The first round of the tournament saw him face Ecuatorian fighter and Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Rudyard Moncayo, who Sperry defeated by ground and pound, but the second one would see a different outcome against Russian kickboxing and sambo specialist Igor Zinoviev. Though Sperry was able to take him down and assume dominant position, Zinoviev managed to escape to his feet every time. After ten minutes, Sperry tried to leap into a rear naked choke while Zinoviev was giving his back while holding the fence, but he slipped and fell in front of the Russian, reciving a kick to the face. Mario took Zinoviev down, but the kick had opened a deep cut and the match was stopped to give the win to Igor.
At the world BJJ championships in 1998, after winning the title for three consecutive years, Sperry became the first fighter in history to make a Gracie submit in a match when he defeated Royler Gracie in Brazil by koshi-jime or “clock choke”.
He recently was a guest a Roberto Cyborg’s academy where he is teaching intense training sessions with true Carlson Gracie spirit.
Check out how he motivates and fires up the student with his words:
Motivating them during grappling training:
