April 11, 2012 – As you may or may not know, it was announced last week that UFC/MMA “bad boy” Nick Diaz would be participating in a grappling (BJJ) superfight at the first-ever World Jiu-Jitsu Expo being put on by Renzo Gracie and crew on May 12th. The event will take place at the Long Beach Convention Center and will also include a special gallery by legendary MMA/BJJ photographer Susumi Nagao, free seminars from BJJ stars including Roger Gracie and Robert Drysdale, a special IBJJF Spring Open Tournament, and much more.
As for Nick Diaz, his superfight was slated to be a featured attraction at the Expo ever since it was announced. The Cesar Gracie black belt has made his bones competing in MMA ever since he started in 2001. Since his debut, Nick has compiled a 26-8 record while staying at the top of the sport as Strikeforce champion from 2010-2011. He’s also beaten legends BJ Penn and Frank Shamrock along the way while establishing himself as one of the more well-rounded boxer/grapplers in the sport. Unfortunately, he failed his post-fight drug test (for marijuana metabolites) following his loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 this past February and has been on suspension ever since while proclaiming his “retirement” from the sport of MMA.
Never one to stay inactive, Diaz took on this superfight at the Expo as a means to keep his skills up to par and quell his competitive urge while staying out of MMA competition. While he hasn’t competed in BJJ in well over two years, Diaz has never been submitted in tournament competition and is known as an intense competitor. He’s beaten the likes of Jorge “Macaco” Patino in the past and, just like in MMA, has always shown that he’s willing to take on all comers.
As his saying goes, “Don’t be scared homie.”
Nowhere has that take-on-all-comers attitude been more evident than when his WJJE superfight opponent was announced yesterday.
Fighting at a weight of 180 lbs, the Stockton native will be taking on none other than Braulio Estima, one of the best Jiu-Jitsu players in the world,
For those of you that don’t know Braulio, well quite frankly, you better ask somebody. The 31 year old Birmingham, England based Gracie Barra black belt has won titles at nearly every major competition the world of competitive grappling has had to offer – including the ADCC Submission Wrestling Championship, the World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup, and CBJJ world championships. And he’s beaten a who’s who of top grapplers along the way – most recently adding Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza to that list. As for his MMA connections, he’s been touted as one of the main BJJ coaches for Nick Diaz nemesis Georges St. Pierre and is currently preparing for his own MMA debut alongside Rashad Evans and the rest of the Blackzilians camp in South Florida.
Needless to say, Estima is a top-of-the-food-chain BJJ black belt and one that will certainly offer Nick Diaz with the biggest competitive challenge he could find outside of chasing the belt in the octagon. Popular sentiment will indeed show that Diaz will be a significant underdog with nothing to lose in this one but does he stand a chance?
Watch this highlight of his opponent then chime in on our TXMMA Facebook Poll to let us know how you think this one goes down in World Jiu-Jitsu Expo on May 12th.