HOUSTON, TX, July 6, 2012 – Elbert Hebron’s Grand Prix Grappling returns to Houston next Saturday, July 14th for their latest event, entitled the Grand Prix World Jiu Jitsu Championship.
For the first time in recent memory, GPG will be holding this event on the west side of town as opposed to past locations that have included Kingwood High School and other educational facilities east of the Beltway. This time around, the event will take place at the Don Coleman Coliseum, located at 1050 s. Dairy ashford in West Houston.
Another thing to note for this event will be some featured attractions in the form of two BJJ black belt super fights featuring some of Texas’ top competitors in recent times.
Carlos Diego Ferreira (Team Ferreira) versus Erik Wanderley (Gracie Barra)
Leading off, 2011 TXMMA Black Belt of the year Carlos Diego Ferreira of Team Ferreira will be taking on Erik Wanderley of Gracie Barra.
Those familiar with Ferreira should know that he competed in a plethora of Texas-based events in 2011, winning most of hem. He also competed in the 16th US Open event held in San Jose, California last year – earning second place and only losing one tightly-contested match with heavyweight Diego ‘Nosferatu’ Herzog in the finals. More recently he has spent time off the mats to focus on his burgeoning MMA career where he currently holds a 4-0 record and and wins over Hector Munoz and Travonne Hobbs so far in 2012.
Making his arrival for an extended stat in Texas just a few months ago, Erik Wanderley holds the rank of BJJ black belt under Houston’s own Vinicius Magalhães aka Draculino. He is a BJJ champion with titles in his native Brazil including 2x Pan Am titles to go along with a 2003 black belt title at the Mundials. He most recently grappled in a superfight versus Colton Smith at the Martial Arts Mania tournament this past June.
Igor Santos (GFTeam) versus Pablo Silva (Gracie Barra)
The head Jiu-Jitsu instructor over at Paradigm Training Center, Igor Santos has been training since the age of 7 years old with Grappling Fight Team founder Julio Cesar. He’s a 5x Brazilian national champion and 6x Rio De Janeiro state champion. Igor was most recently seen winning his BJJ super fight against Spenser Gilliam of Solis Martial Arts at last month’s Martial Arts Mania tournament by a margin of over 20 points.
Taking on Igor will be Pablo Silva, a black belt under Marcelo Azevedo who is curently based out of Gracie Barra Texas where he teaches alongside his instructor’s instructor Vinicius Magalhães. He’s a regular competitor on the international scene and was seen at both the Mundials and the Pan-Ams this year. His titles include a world title at black belt in 2010 to go along with medals in the Europeans, Brazilian Nationals, and many other tournaments heading into this one.
