Ricardo Demente beside Tito Ortiz
Jiu-jitsu world champion, Ricardo Abreu, the newest pupil of Tito Ortiz, anyway, he will debut in MMA. The first step in his new career begins on July 9th, at the Brazilian Fighting Championship, in São José do Rio Preto (SP). Ricardo Abreu's opponent, formerly known as “Demente”, should be announced in the coming days.
An athlete from Team Punishment/Esporte na Veia, Ricardo, who turned 27 in April, has been making the transition from jiu-jitsu to MMA in California, with his own Tito Ortiz, since the end of last year, when he was invited by the MMA champion to help him on the ground, for his return to the UFC.
“Tito has been guiding me on everything inside the Octagon. And because he has an extraordinary resume, we are much more calm and confident for this fight,” he said. “But anxiety always exists, after all it is a debut in a highly contested sport and in which I want to have the same success as I had in jiu-jitsu”, highlighted the athlete, sponsored by Keiko Sports, Acquaflora Cosméticos, Wendell Audiomix, Pronto Aço and Medicate.
Strongest fighter in the world – At the qualifiers for the Abu Dhabi World Cup, Ricardo, champion of the qualifiers, was named the strongest fighter in the world by Sportv, an adjective that was already used by martial arts experts. With extraordinary strength and a highly refined technique, Ricardo continued to accumulate achievements, after three years without training. His return to the mats took place in February 2009, when he became São Paulo champion. Two months later, the Brazilian title. Then, the vice-world championship, against Roger gracie, with just four months of training. In 2009 he would also win the title of South American champion and, at the beginning of 2010, the title of European champion, in Portugal.
After winning the qualifier in Gramado, Ricardo was champion in the super heavyweight category, against Gabriel Vella, at the Abu Dhabi World Cup. Silver medal, again, after losing on points to Roger gracie at the World Championships in the United States, Ricardo won the Grapplers Quest/UFC, in Boston and was champion at the Long Island Pride, in New York.
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