If there was a breakout prospect from last weekend at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in Rio de Janeiro, it was Tayane Porfirio. The brown belt ultra heavyweight Alliance rep crushed her opponents in the combined brown-black belt division, beating seasoned black belts along the way. With plenty of conquests in the lower ranks, Tayane has arrived with a bang at the upper levels of the sport and her style and success is drawing comparisons with another famous ultra heavyweight from Alliance. We spoke to Tayane to find out more about ‘the next Gabi Garcia’. 

FloGrappling: To begin with, can you speak a little about yourself? You’re originally from Fortaleza – when did you move to Rio de Janeiro? Did you begin jiu-jitsu there or in Rio? 

Tayane Porfirio: I am from Sobral, in reality I am more of a carioca [resident of Rio]! My mother came here when I was only 2 years old, I began training jiu-jitsu here in Rio. I never thought I would want to live from jiu-jitsu, for me jiu-jitsu was never more than for fun, but it got me hooked and I’m here until today! 

FG: The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in Rio was your biggest win to date, when you won your weight category and the openweight. Which other big tournaments have you won? 

TP: 5x World Pro Abu Dhabi, 2x IBJJF Worlds, 2x IBJJF Pan Americans, 2x IBJJF Europeans, 4x IBJJF Brazilian Nationals, 2x IBJJF South Americans…  These competitions I won both weight and absolute, these are the most important. 

FG: You only got your brown belt recently, is that right? 

TP: Yes, I received my brown belt on May 30, 2015 on the podium at the World Championships. 

FG: It’s kind of obvious but there’s the comparison between you and Gabi Garcia – you’re both from Alliance, and you’re both ultra heavyweights. What do you think when people talk about you like you’re the next Gabi Garcia? 

TP: I think it’s wonderful! When I began training jiu-jitsu the only person I looked up to was Gabi. Sincerely, I am so proud when they say I’m the next Gabi, I hope to conquer even half of the titles she’s won! 

FG: Unlike her, you pull guard and try to sweep using the lasso hook in the bicep. How did you develop your game, and who was your biggest influence? 

TP: I opted to change my game by myself, I was tired of people saying that I didn’t know jiu-jitsu, I wanted to show them I could be heavy but technical. And of course, my teacher Alexandre ‘Gigi’ Paiva influenced me a lot and is always on my case. 

FG: So what else do you have planned? And what do you have in mind for the future? 

TP: I never imagined that I would even get to where I am, everything that I’m living now seems like a dream! What do I want for the future? To get the black belt, and to be a black belt world champion.

Photo: FloGrappling