It’s been another great year for consistent growth in MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu,and Submission Grappling in 2012.
For us here at TXMMA.com (Texas Mixed Martial Arts), we’ve taken great joy in watching the sport (all three) continue to evolve as our mission has always been about furthering combative sports and submission grappling here in the lone star state.
Recognizing the growth, we saw the need for recognizing individuals assisting to it and also wanted to recognize outstanding achievers as well given that we cover a large part of the scene. Hence we started the TXMMA Awards in 2011 as a means to publicly recognize all these individuals.
Our process and procedure continues to evolve but our goal is to create the most fair and consistent way to have these awards – with a focus on merit as the primary factor – taking all the drama out of it and using statistical evidence as we can we find and what is provided to us as the deciding factors in placing our winners.
There’s a community piece to it also where voting and popularity factor in with the People’s Choice Awards – also a great honor – but for the official winners we definitely utilize a more-complex results-driven formula. Feel free to read more on the election process at your leisure of just trust that we do our best and check out the official results bow!
Without further ado we present to you our 2012 TXMMA Award Winners for the BJJ and Grappling Edition.
2012 TXMMA Association of the Year – Official Award
The official award this year goes to the Gracie Barra Texas contingent led by Vinicius “Draculinho” Magalhaes. The team had a very successful year including team wins at the IBJJF Houston Open and a second place finish at IBJJF Dallas. In addition, they had several team wins on the regional circuit and also sent several athletes to place and win at prestigious competitions like the Pans and Mundials. These athletes included Brandon Mullins and the Cordova brothers (Kevin and Andy) amongst others. Immediately following GB are the Nova União Texas contingent led by Bruno Bastos and the SMAA network led by Alvis Solis.
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Gracie Barra
1st runner-up – Nova União
2nd runner-up – SMAA
3rd runner-up – <TIE> Paragon Texas, Team Tooke, Alliance
2012 TXMMA Academy of the Year – Official Award
This was one of the closer categories with the 2012 individual academy consideration being a very close race between Draculinho’s Gracie Barra Texas and Alvarez BJJ led by Mr. Daniel Alvarez. Both contingents scored admirably in 2012 winning well in most competitions they entered. GB Texas scored some huge wins on the national scene as mentioned before. Likewise, Alvarez BJJ represented as well with big IBJJF wins by Alvarez, his daughter Danielle Alvarez and some of their other students as well (Cardinale, Sandhagen, Biasca, etc.) In the end the distinguishing factor here aside from IBJJF glory was the sheer output on the local circuit with Team Alvarez winning big specifically in the junior categories with team titles at NAGA, Gracie Grappling Cup, Europa, S7, AGF, and more. For that they with the 2012 distinction but congrats to all team nominated here for all their accomplishments.
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Alvarez BJJ
1st runner-up – Gracie Barra Texas
2nd runner-up – BJJ Revolution
3rd runner-up – Solis Martial Arts
2012 TXMMA Black Belt Competitor of the Year – Official Award
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Daniel Alvarez (Alvarez BJJ / Nova Uniao)
1st runner-up – Bruno Bastos (Bruno Bastos Midland / Nova Uniao)
2nd runner-up – Brandon Mullins (Gracie Barra Texas)
3rd runner-up – Carlos Diego Ferreira (Team Ferreira)
2012 TXMMA Brown Belt Competitor of the Year – Official Award
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Luis Rubalcava (Arsenal BJJ / Alliance)
1st runner-up – Raul Jimenez (Team Gaucho / Alliance)
2nd runner-up – Mike Harmon (Paragon Austin)
3rd runner-up – Robert Yamashita (Elite MMA Baytown)
2012 TXMMA Purple Belt Competitor of the Year – Official Award
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Pedro Migliano (Rilion Gracie / Gracie Elite)
1st runner-up – Jeremiah Matthews (Gracie Barra)
2nd runner-up – Brad Barnes (Bastos BJJ / Nova Uniao)
3rd runner-up – Braden Masters (Genesis)
2012 TXMMA Blue Belt Competitor of the Year – Official Award
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Cooper Cardinale (Alvarez BJJ)
1st runner-up – Kevin Cordova (Gracie Barra Texas)
2nd runner-up – Corey Bacack (GB Woodlands)
3rd runner-up – Bobby Alexander (Team Lutter)
2012 TXMMA Female (Purple+) Competitor of the Year – Official Award
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Lora Hallock (Paragon Texas)
1st runner-up – Fabiana Borges (Gracie Barra North Austin)
2nd runner-up – Lana Hunter (Soul Fighters)
3rd runner-up – Sue Ausman (Travis Lutter)
2012 TXMMA Female (White/Blue) Competitor of the Year – Official Award
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Danielle Alvarez (Alvarez BJJ / Nova Uniao)
1st runner-up – Natalie Biasca (Alvarez BJJ / Nova Uniao)
2nd runner-up – Veronica Mota (J. Messina / BJJ Revolution)
3rd runner-up – Gabriella Muller (Team Gaucho / Alliance)
2012 TXMMA Teen Competitor of the Year – Official Award
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Andy Cordova (Gracie Barra Texas)
1st runner-up – Justin Rebolloso (Alvarez BJJ / Nova Uniao)
2nd runner-up – Mark Lozano (RPBJJ)
3rd runner-up – Jay Gloria (Alvarez BJJ / Nova Uniao)
2012 TXMMA Kids Competitor of the Year – Official Award
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Dillinger Kovach (F3)
1st runner-up – John Abney (SMAA / Ground Dwellers)
2nd runner-up – Cora Sek (Team Tooke)
3rd runner-up – Jaden Two Lance (Aloiso Silva)
2012 TXMMA Referee of the Year – Official Award
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Renan Chavez
1st runner-up – Brandon Quick
2nd runner-up – Eric Lincoln
3rd runner-up – Alejandro Siqueira
2012 TXMMA Submission of the Year – Official Award
Fabiana Borges wins this year’s submission of the year award for her quick armbar victory over Christy Thomas in what was a historic first-ever female black belt superfight at the Gracie Grappling Cup. Watch the video to see more.
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Fabiana Borges (Gracie Barra) vs. Christy Thomas (Relson Gracie)
1st runner-up – Chris Spicer (Relson Gracie) vs. Nael Chavez (Enlightened Warriors)
2nd runner-up – Cruz Ybarra (BTT) vs. Jordan Burton (GB Texas)
3rd runner-up – Robert Yamashita (Elite MMA) vs. Raul Jimenez (Gaucho / Alliance)
2012 TXMMA BJJ Match of the Year – Official Award
This award will decide what the TXMMA Community saw as the most notable match that we were able to capture this year.
Clay Copeland (TPC) and Julian Vega (Elite MMA) win the official award this year for their awesome match at the 2012 IBJJF Houston Open. No need to say more. Just watch the video!
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Clay Copeland (TPC) vs. Julian Vega (Elite MMA)
1st runner-up – Carlos Diego Ferreira (Team Ferreira) vs. Rafael Lovato (Lovato)
2nd runner-up – Roman Hernandez (Arsenal) vs. Emmanuel Martinez (Atos)
3rd runner-up – Albert Hughes (Genesis) vs. Chris Westfall (Lutter)
2012 TXMMA No-GI Match of the Year – Official Award
This award will decide what the TXMMA Community saw as the most notable match that we were able to capture this year.
Brandon Mullins (GB Texas) and Jason Soliz (TX3C) win the official award this year for their finals match at the 2012 Texas Open. The two went through a very impressive field to get to the final chess match and it delivered for everyone watching in attendance. Watch it to see more.
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Brandon Mullins (GB Texas) vs. Jason Soliz (TX 3rd Coast MMA)
1st runner-up – Carlos Diego Ferreira (Team Ferreira) vs. Bill Cooper (Paragon)
2nd runner-up – Gustavo Carpio (Marra Senki) vs. Spenser Gilliam (SMAA)
3rd runner-up – Erik Wanderley (Gracie Barra) vs. Colton Smith (AFC/SMAA)
2012 TXMMA Women’s Match of the Year – Official Award
This award will decide what the TXMMA Community saw as the most notable match that we were able to capture this year.
Talented Texas grapplers Danielle Alvarez (Alvarez BJJ) and Lora Hallock (Paragon) take home the official award for their early January 2012 matchup at Tournament of Champions 9.
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Danielle Alvarez (Alvarez BJJ) vs. Lora Hallock (Paragon)
1st runner-up – Fabiana Borges (Gracie Barra) vs. Christy Thomas (Relson Gracie)
2nd runner-up – Tammy Griego (Gracie Barra) vs. Danielle Alvarez (Alvarez BJJ)
3rd runner-up – Ketra Bartek (Gracie Humaita) vs. Gabriella Muller (Tem Gaucho)
2012 TXMMA Youth Match of the Year – Official Award
This award will decide what the TXMMA Community saw as the most notable match that we were able to capture this year.
This year, Justin Rebolloso (Alvarez) and Matthew Hernandez (Paragon TX) take home the award for TOC 9 but these two met often in 2012 including other matches at NAGA Houston, Gracie Grappling Cup, etc. Definitely a great rivalry and we’re sure these two will meet again many times in the future.
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Justin Rebolloso (Alvarez) vs. Matthew Hernandez (Paragon)
1st runner-up – Julie Rodriguez (Paul Thomas) vs. Kayla Deleon (Revolution)
2nd runner-up – Cain Menn (Paul Thomas BJJ) vs. Justin Rebolloso (Alvarez)
3rd runner-up – Jay Gloria (Alvarez) vs. Austin Dill (Paradigm)
2012 TXMMA Tournament of the Year – Official Award
The judges saw this one as a very subjective vote and hence we have a repeat with the people (and the panelists) voting Fight to Win / World Grappling Circuit’s Summer Classic as the official 2012 tournament of the year.
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – 2012 Summer Classic
1st runner-up – Texas International Grappling Festival 2012
2nd runner-up – 2012 Europa Torque Tour
3rd runner-up – Gracie Grappling Cup – San Antonio
2012 TXMMA Non-Local Tournament of the Year – Official Award
Similar to the people’s choice votw, the 2012 IBJJF Houston Open runs away with the official award in 2012 with a lineup that included Andre Galvao and the Mendes brothers alongside a plethora of other young talent including out-of-towners Keenan Cornelius and Gianni Grippo.
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – IBJJF Houston Open
1st runner-up – IBJJF Dallas Open
2nd runner-up – Grapplers Quest – Houston
3rd runner-up – NAGA World Championship
2012 TXMMA Tournament Venue of the Year – Official Award
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Don Coleman Coliseum – Houston, TX
1st runner-up – Delco Center – Austin, TX
2nd runner-up – Legends Sports Complex – Spring, TX
3rd runner-up – NYTEX Sports Centre – Richland Hills, TX
2012 TXMMA Seminar of the Year – Official Award
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Deoclecio Paulo at Rubicon Fightsport
1st runner-up – Leticia Ribiero Women’s Grappling Camp
2nd runner-up – Nova Uniao Worlds Training Camp
3rd runner-up – Roger Gracie RGA Seminar
2012 TXMMA Favorite GI Brand of the Year – Official Award
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Shoyoroll
1st runner-up – Da Firma Kimono Company
2nd runner-up – Do or Die Hyperfly
3rd runner-up – DOM Fight Gear
2012 TXMMA BJJ Sponsor of the Year – Official Award
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – DOM Fight Gear
1st runner-up – Da Firma Kimono Company
2nd runner-up – Fear Tapping Out
3rd runner-up – Honor Fight Gear
2012 TXMMA YouTube Video of the Year – Official Award
In one of our “just for fun” categories, Shoyoroll x Budovideos.com x WANTVSNEED Presents: World Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2012 HL win this award as one of the consistently and constantly replayed highlights we’ve seen on YouTube in reference to the BJJ World. Watch all the others on the list also. All of them are great!
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Shoyoroll x Budovideos.com x WANTVSNEED Presents: World Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2012 HL
1st runner-up – Kurt Osiander – Escape from Side Control
2nd runner-up – Rolled Up Episode 32: Draculino – Where the old school meets the new school
3rd runner-up – Greatest BJJ Match ever! “Buchecha” Almeida vs Rodolfo Vieira 2012 worlds
2012 TXMMA BJJ/Grapping Community Service Award
Enlightened Warriors takes the official award this year for their Austin-area youth program that’s been opening a lot of young eyes to Jiu-Jitsu all while helping keep them focused on the positive aspects of martial arts as opposed to being out on the streets.
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Enlightened Warriors – Youth Program
1st runner-up – UFFL Grappling – Fight for Cash
2nd runner-up – Alvarez BJJ – Komen Race for the Cure / Mission Arlington
2012 TXMMA Lifetime Achievement Award
Carlos Machado (the first black belt who opened up in Texas) takes the well-deserved official award win this year and is now officially in the TXMMA Hall of Fame along with MMA winners Saekson Janjia (2011) and Steve Armstrong (2012). Congratulations to the pioneer Mr. Machado on his induction and best of luck for a ton more great years furthering the sport here in Texas.
2012 TXMMA Award Winner – Carlos Machado
1st runner-up – Alvis Solis
2nd runner-up – Eric Williams
3rd runner-up – Joseph D. Shelley