Rodolfo Vieira MMA Debut Update: When and Where, Talks Striking And More
Rodolfo Vieira MMA Debut Update: When and Where, Talks Striking And More
Jiu-Jitsu and ADCC world champion Rodolfo Vieira talked exclusively to FloGrappling for an honest and open update on his progress training with American Top Team, and gave us a clearer idea of his upcoming MMA debut.
Jiu-Jitsu and ADCC world champion Rodolfo Vieira talked exclusively to FloGrappling for an honest and open update on his progress training with American Top Team, and gave us a clearer idea of his upcoming MMA debut.
Training with coaches Marcus 'Parrumpa' DaMatta, Ricardo Liborio and 'Katel' Kubis (among others) Vieira said he chose ATT over staying in Brazil as his jiu-jitsu team doesn't focus on MMA, forcing him to relocate to seek high level training.
It was after winning the 2015 ADCC World Championship that Vieira was offered an MMA contract, being signed by the Japanese promotion Real Fight Championship. It is the same MMA promotion where jiu-jitsu fighters such as Kron Gracie and Roberto 'Satoshi' Souza fought.
Though his contract is with Real Fight Championship, it is expected that Vieira will have his first MMA fight in Brazil.
Photo: Erin Herle
On the transition to striking:
Photo: Erin Herle
Training with coaches Marcus 'Parrumpa' DaMatta, Ricardo Liborio and 'Katel' Kubis (among others) Vieira said he chose ATT over staying in Brazil as his jiu-jitsu team doesn't focus on MMA, forcing him to relocate to seek high level training.
It was after winning the 2015 ADCC World Championship that Vieira was offered an MMA contract, being signed by the Japanese promotion Real Fight Championship. It is the same MMA promotion where jiu-jitsu fighters such as Kron Gracie and Roberto 'Satoshi' Souza fought.
Though his contract is with Real Fight Championship, it is expected that Vieira will have his first MMA fight in Brazil.
Photo: Erin Herle
On the transition to striking:
It was really difficult. Now I'm more accustomed to it, I'm more confident and I'm taking less shots than I used to. I'm getting better everyday, I'm more confident on my feet and this transition into takedowns. But it's really hard.
His first big punch to the face:
The first one I don't remember but I remember I took a hard shot here, a big overhand. But I felt I could take it. I didn't go down, it wobbled me a bit and I had a headache after but you get used to it and become less afraid. We keep going.
Photo: Erin Herle
On when his first fight and opponent will be:
It's February 11, and the opponent is a Serbian guy if I'm not mistaken. He has about five or six fights.
Whether he will continue to compete in jiu-jitsu while fighting MMA:
No, while I'm doing jiu-jitsu I won't fight MMA. Unless I see that MMA is not for me, which I don't think will happen, I can think about going back to jiu-jitsu. But while I'm doing MMA, no.
His ultimate goal in MMA:
My goal is to be the best, just like in jiu-jitsu. To be the best in jiu-jitsu you win the IBJJF Worlds, not some other event. So the ultimate goal is to be UFC champion. I know it's a way off, but this is the goal.