GF Team black belt Patrick Gaudio has always had a reputation as a dangerous grappler, and the gruesome moment he dislocated Romulo Barral's foot in the semifinal of the IBJJF 2017 World Championships earlier this month only served to strengthen his position as a destructive force. 

The medium heavyweight athlete has steadily risen through the ranks over the last couple of years, chasing behind established names such as Barral, Andre Galvao, Felipe Pena and more. 


​Patrick Gaudio vs Romulo Barral at the 2017 IBJJF Worlds. Photo: Chase Smith

This year has been the best of his career to date, with gold medals at IBJJF Pans and Brazilian Nationals and a silver at Worlds, the result of improved physical conditioning inspired by his defeat to Barral at the 2016 Worlds.

"Since then I've not stopped," Gaudio says. "I always believed that I could reach the top, and I never wanted to get tired again in the middle of the fight, as I did last year."

Gaudio is known for his intensity and his explosive style of jiu-jitsu. It served him well at Worlds, taking all the way to the finals where he would meet Andre Galvao, losing by referee's decision.

The truth is, there is no way I can be happy with the silver, but I'm not sad either. I think I did my best and the result didn't come. I'm young. I'm 23 years old, and I think I have a lot still to achieve. I just need to stay focused and believe.

​Gaudio after winning the 2017 Pans. Photo: Chase Smith

The match against Barral overshadowed Gaudio's rise to the podium, such was the shocking nature of the scene. Barral's stone face was in contrast to Gaudio's own, a twisted grimace of effort as he cranked on the Gracie Barra athlete's foot. But what went through Gaudio's mind during and after the match? 

It was a horrible situation, to get his foot and to feel everything ripping in my hands. He didn't seem to feel anything because of the adrenaline, but I hope it will never happen again. Besides being a great athlete, (he) is a great person. I hope he is healing well and returns to the mat soon.

It wasn't the first time they had competed against each other, and it probably won't be the last. They've met three times before, and this was the first time Gaudio emerged the winner. Immediately after the match, Gaudio went to Barral to check up on him. 
 
"For you to see how the guy is on another level, after the match I went back to the bullpen," Gaudio said. "I went to watch the match between Galvao and Felipe Pena, and Barral was there to corner him! I immediately went up to him and apologized that it happened, but at the same time I didn't know what to do because if I'd let go of the foot I would have lost the match. Even though I spoke with him, I want to congratulate him again for the heart he showed in the match. He proved once again why he is a legend."



It's been an up-and-down year for Gaudio. A fever and illness saw him withdraw from the Europeans after just one match (which he won via submission). Despite still not quite being 100 percent. he made it to the finals of the ADCC Trials in Brazil just two weeks later, narrowly losing to the Atos up-and-comer Kaynan Duarte.

Gaudio came so close to earning a ticket to Finland for the ADCC Worlds, and his dream is still to try and compete there.

I would like to have the opportunity to fight ADCC in Finland, I do not know if it will be possible to achieve this dream this year, but hope is the last thing to die. Let's see if there is an invitation to this event. I'm already training again, and whatever happens I'll throw myself in there.

​Gaudio in action at the ADCC Trials in Brazil. Photo: Hywel Teague