Fight to Win Pro 33Apr 29, 2017 by Averi Clements
Caio Terra's Constant Submission Training To Be Put To The Test At F2W 33
Caio Terra's Constant Submission Training To Be Put To The Test At F2W 33
If you do jiu-jitsu, you know the name "Caio Terra." And for good reason: this accomplished black belt wins nearly everything he competes in.
If you do jiu-jitsu, you know the name "Caio Terra." And for good reason: this accomplished black belt wins nearly everything he competes in, earning a combined eleven IBJJF world championships in gi and no-gi. But even though he's proven himself to be a submission expert even in point-based tournaments, Terra has never competed in a Fight to Win Pro event. Until now.
On Saturday, April 29, Terra will be going up against Jeff Curran: a UFC veteran with nearly two decades' worth of fighting experience. But Terra knows that just because Curran has spent so much time in the octagon doesn't mean he's going to be easy prey when competing in jiu-jitsu. "It's not always that you can compete against a legend in MMA. Jeff has pretty much fought in every big organization and has done amazing using his jiu-jitsu, I know this will be an amazing match, and that motivates me a lot," says Terra.
Caio Terra gets the submission at IBJJF No-GI Worlds 2015
You might think that because Curran is so accustomed to fighting MMA and Terra made a name for himself in point-based jiu-jitsu that this would be a bit of an odd matchup for a submission-only superfight. The truth, though, is that although Terra and his opponent have very different competition backgrounds, they're actually a fantastic pairing --- both of these athletes train to look for the finish rather than leaving the decision up to a scoreboard or a judge. "I have not lost a sub-only match yet, and I have never changed my training to adjust to it. In fact, in training, everyone is always looking for the submission; points don't really count," he says. "Since Jeff was fighting MMA for [over 19] years, his natural instinct is to submit or he will lose."
In other words, just because Terra made a name for himself in a world where many matches are decided by last-minute guard passes or advantage points, it doesn't mean he's going to struggle in a sub-only format like many other Fight to Win competitors have. His habit of training to go for the kill shows in his competition stats, where he has dozens upon dozens of submission wins to his name. But despite his knowledge, talent, and track record, he's prepared to be challenged by the fact that he's not completely sure what his opponent will bring to the mat.
No matter what the outcome may be on Saturday, there's no doubt that Terra won't miss a beat before getting right back to the grind. The long hours he spends training for high-stakes matches like this one are made bearable because of one simple thing: happiness.
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On Saturday, April 29, Terra will be going up against Jeff Curran: a UFC veteran with nearly two decades' worth of fighting experience. But Terra knows that just because Curran has spent so much time in the octagon doesn't mean he's going to be easy prey when competing in jiu-jitsu. "It's not always that you can compete against a legend in MMA. Jeff has pretty much fought in every big organization and has done amazing using his jiu-jitsu, I know this will be an amazing match, and that motivates me a lot," says Terra.
Caio Terra gets the submission at IBJJF No-GI Worlds 2015
You might think that because Curran is so accustomed to fighting MMA and Terra made a name for himself in point-based jiu-jitsu that this would be a bit of an odd matchup for a submission-only superfight. The truth, though, is that although Terra and his opponent have very different competition backgrounds, they're actually a fantastic pairing --- both of these athletes train to look for the finish rather than leaving the decision up to a scoreboard or a judge. "I have not lost a sub-only match yet, and I have never changed my training to adjust to it. In fact, in training, everyone is always looking for the submission; points don't really count," he says. "Since Jeff was fighting MMA for [over 19] years, his natural instinct is to submit or he will lose."
In other words, just because Terra made a name for himself in a world where many matches are decided by last-minute guard passes or advantage points, it doesn't mean he's going to struggle in a sub-only format like many other Fight to Win competitors have. His habit of training to go for the kill shows in his competition stats, where he has dozens upon dozens of submission wins to his name. But despite his knowledge, talent, and track record, he's prepared to be challenged by the fact that he's not completely sure what his opponent will bring to the mat.
The disadvantage is that there is no footage of him in a gi. If he was putting the gi on just for this match it would be an advantage for me. The problem is that Jeff has always trained with the gi, teaches with the gi every day, and has been a black belt for [fourteen years]. I have no idea what he's going to be trying on me.This bit of mystery is going to make this match all the more exciting not only for Terra himself, but for all the fans who have waited for so long to see him getting the rockstar treatment that everyone loves about Fight to Win. The promotion has featured many of today's top superstars in the sport, including Mackenzie Dern, Garry Tonon, and Andre Galvao, and Terra says he knew it would only be "a matter of time" before he joined their ranks after being impressed by a F2W event in San Jose, California. "I'm excited for this opportunity. Fight to Win is doing amazing things for the sport and I'm glad I can be a part of it," he says.
No matter what the outcome may be on Saturday, there's no doubt that Terra won't miss a beat before getting right back to the grind. The long hours he spends training for high-stakes matches like this one are made bearable because of one simple thing: happiness.
I find happiness through jiu-jitsu, and it's by training that you get better. Wanting to be there is the most important thing for any professional athlete. If you let the fire burn out, you won't ever be the same again.Terra will be stepping onto the Fight to Win Pro stage with fire in his eyes and passion in his heart. Whether his hand or Curran's is raised in victory when it's all over, no one is likely to forget this jiu-jitsu legend's first time under those famous bright lights.
Watch Fight To Win Pro 33 LIVE or On Demand ONLY on FloGrappling!
How to Watch Fight To Win Pro 33
On TV: Now available on Roku and Apple TV 4 -- download the FloSports app today.STREAMING: Available only on FloGrappling via monthly or yearly memberships. A yearly FloPRO subscription provides access to ALL FloSports sites. SIGN UP HERE
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