Somebody asked me a few days ago which were the biggest stories as we head into Worlds. 

A couple immediately came to mind, but the first words out of my lips were: “It has to be Nicholas Meregali.” 

The Comeback

Just a few weeks ago Meregali came out of nowhere to destroy the competition and win the Brazilian Nationals where he submitted seven out of his nine opponents. This was vintage Meregali, all fired up and crazy-eyed. Nobody summons the demon inside better than Meregali, who is one of the most intense competitors in the game. He’d competed only once this year, a super fight against Leandro Lo which he convincingly won on points by taking Lo’s back. 

Focused

Not only did he win double gold at Brazilian Nationals, but Meregali submitted Kaynan Duarte along the way, and Kaynan’s been winning everything. People– including us– are saying Kaynan could be one of the greatest ever, and Meregali reminded us there are levels to this game. 

But Meregali upset a lot of people with his performance at Brazilian Nationals. It’s interesting that one of the best-known, exciting and entertaining athletes should be so hated, so let me explain why. 

In the Zone

If you meet and talk to Nicholas Meregali on an average day you’ll find a polite, well-spoken young man eager to please and easy to get along with. The first time I met him was in 2016 at the end of season Awards banquet in Abu Dhabi the day after he won brown belt gold at the World Pro, and he made an impression on me. I found him to be a nice guy. 

I won’t go near Nicholas when he competes. There are some guys who are surprisingly approachable at tournament and there are others I give a wide berth. I won’t even look Meregali in the eye when he’s about to go on the mat. 

Sports psychologists and performance experts often talk about how high-level athletes can enter a state of extreme sensory arousal where optimal performance becomes possible. It’s a unique process for each athlete. Some listen to music and dance (Kristina Barlaan), some sing out loud (Paulo Miyao and Manuel Ribamar), some strut up and down and get their swagger on (Leandro Lo). 

He wasn’t very forthcoming when I asked him about his process– I did try– but Meregali seems to go to a dark place. His face twists, his eyes darken and he mutters to himself. He stands poised at the edge of the mat like a sprinter at the starting blocks, and explodes onto the mat when his match begins. 

This channelling of emotion often results in a gigantic release after the match is over, like a valve being opened to release pressure. Meregali has a habit of jumping up after big wins and shouting profanities and controversial statements in Portuguese– after beating Kaynan via submission, he shouted “I said it, I’m the king of this shit!” After beating Leandro in 2017, he shouted “I’m the fucking man!” 

"Eu sou foda"

These statements are not directed at anybody specific and he doesn’t direct them at his opponents, but they have upset a lot of athletes and fans who consider him to be arrogant and disrespectful. 

The 'Playboy' Paradox

Without getting too into it, there could also be another reason why Meregali isn’t well liked, especially by Brazilian fans. He’s from the south of Brazil, an area that has received a lot of German immigration for nearly 200 years, but particularly during the period between the two World Wars. It is famous for producing some of Brazil’s most stunning supermodels, such as Giselle Bundchen. 

Meregali is tall, fair skinned, blond haired and blue eyed, the opposite of the majority of Brazilians. He stands out, and regardless of his socio-economic background many Brazilians will tag him with the derogatory term “playboy”. 

Prejudice exists based on skin color much like anywhere, but in Brazil class is a more powerful divide and those on the lower end of the social strata will resent young men (usually white) who appear to be from affluent backgrounds. 

Meregali teaching a seminar in Europe

Race is a complex topic in Brazil and– forgive the pun– far from black and white. “Brazil has a long history of thinking about inequality in terms of socioeconomic class, rather than race,” writes Roth-Gordon in Racing and Erasing the "Playboy": Slang, Transnational Youth Subculture, and Racial Discourse in Brazil, 2007. “The term ‘playboy’ lexicalizes a position of extreme privilege while simultaneously highlighting their [marginalized youth] disenfranchised status.”  

The middle class are just as guilty of this, and they are quick to attack their own. “Members of the middle class use the term to describe a spoiled male youth (or man) who is comfortable in his elite lifestyle due to his family’s assets.” writes Roth-Gordon. 

It almost doesn’t matter where Meregali comes from or what his background is like– assumptions have been made and the label has been applied. Fans will dismiss him as the typical arrogant playboy, regardless of whether he is or not. 

But none of that can take away from the fact that Meregali is a fierce competitor with a magnetic appeal. And as the World Championships come around we are reminded of his memorable past performances. 

The Highs and Lows of Worlds 2017 and 2018

Meregali had one of the most thrilling World championship-winning performances in 2017, his rookie black belt year, when he beat Leandro Lo in the final. He’d been a standout brown belt competitor and had some standout performances until that point, but his win over Leandro at Worlds was huge and elevated his career to the highest levels. 

2018 was a different story. 

Meregali had all but disappeared since Worlds the year prior. He returned to tear through the competition at Brazilian Nationals in May, taking gold at super heavyweight and bronze in the absolute. Expectations were high for him to do the repeat at Worlds and there was the added bonus of a showdown with Leandro, who was desperate for revenge. 

Mahamed Aly vs Nicholas Meregali, Worlds 2018 

Then Mahamed Aly came along and ripped up the script. He and Meregali had history, with Aly coming up short to him time and time again in the colored belt ranks and even losing by submission at the 2017 Pans. Mahamed handed Meregali a stunning defeat, doing the unthinkable and passing his guard. Aly would go on to beat Lo in the gold medal match for his first black belt World title. 

Based on his performance at Brazilian Nationals it looks like Meregali is back, and he appears hungry for gold. 

What to expect at Worlds 2019

Of course the super-heavyweight division is about as tough as you can get: Mahamed Aly will be looking for his second World title and 2019 Pan champ Fellipe Andrew has a score to settle with Meregali having lost to him more than once in the last 12 months. But Meregali is a driven competitor and will be eager to add another World gold medal to his collection. 

Meregali doing what Meregali does

People know and respect Meregali for his abilities even when they dislike him for his character, or at least the character they see at tournaments. Even the strongest haters find it hard to discount his achievements. 

There are many names to watch, many stories to follow and many matches to look forward to at Worlds, but maybe none promise as much excitement as watching Nicholas Meregali.