Now for all this about how hard it is or what type of impossible challenge it may be, one guy is actually crazy enough to try and accomplish BOTH feats within 24 hours in BJJ black belt / undefeated MMA fighter Carlos Diego Ferreira.
You heard that right. As of this moment, CDF is slated to compete in the main event of Legacy Fighting Championship 20 on May 31st (AXS TV) against well-respected UFC vet Carlos Prater and scheduled to depart early the next morning to compete in the 2013 IBJJF World Championship in Long Beach, CA that same day. And mind you, the second part of his double-header includes opponents like Clark Gracie, DJ Jackson, Magid Hage, and many others along with fellow Texans like Travis Tooke and Marcus Antelante.
This guy is crazy right?!
Who is Carlos Diego Ferreira?
To understand why he would do this, one would need to travel far back to his origins to get a better understanding of who this man is.
Born and raised deep in the Amazon city of Manaus, Brazil, Carlos Diego started training at the age of 10 with longtime coach and mentor Faustino Piña Martins Neto (Clube Piña – also home to MMA champ Bibiano Fernandes). By 18 years old he was already a black belt and wanted to use all the knowledge he gained to make a better life for himself. And so he went on to try by moving to the US, California to be exact, in 2008. Not long thereafter he moved south to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Through the past couple of years he’s made a name by winning most of the grappling competitions he’s entered. Just about everything here in Texas and also some notable finishes nationally too, including the 2011 US Nationals (2nd place in the open) and at Grapplers Quest – where he ran away with a match versus Bill Cooper.
While BJJ remains his passion, he’s also built up an MMA record that stands at 6-0 today. His road hasn’t been easy either. He’s taken on tough opponents like Joseph Daily, Danny Salinas, and fellow BJJ black belt Hecto Munoz all in his first six fights. He’s asked for no easy ones. And now he’s headed into the greatest challenge of his MMA life.
“This is only the beginning for me,” Carlos Diego says about his evolution in the fight game. “I’m still growing, I’m hungry, determined and excited to continue my journey in MMA! All I think about is training and how I can better myself every day, I’m so focused for this fight and I am more determined than ever.”
Looking at his last fight, at STFC versus Danny Salinas for their 155 lbs. belt, Carlos has learned a bit more about how to deal with adversity in the cage. He was knocked down early in that fight but went on to win by submission in the second round.
“It didn’t go as expected but I did end up submitting him and winning the title. I learn something new in every fight and (it’s all) more experience for me. I take in whatever I learned and my main goal is to improve and better myself for the next one.”
With improvement as the focus, he’s been balancing his time between his home gym and getting training hours in elsewhere specifically for this fight.
“I’m focusing on building up Team Ferreira, for the academy to grow, also working on remodeling and making good changes to the gym. Training hard every day! I also did most of my training at home with my teammates at Team Ferreira… Then did some training at Gracie Gym in Plano with Arjan Carlos Moreno working on Muay Thai and in Houston with MMA coach James Cooper and am also training at Silverback Fight Club.
His Thoughts on Legacy FC 20 and the 2013 Mundials
“Carlo Prater is a very experienced fighter snd has fought in the UFC but I know what I am capable of and I am going to bring my best come fight night. We are both BJJ black belts…I feel I’d have to watch for ground and pound from him but as for as me, I’m going to be smart, think fast, and we’ll just have to wait and see. I know it’s not going to be an easy fight but I am ready for the challenge and I’m going to do whatever it takes to win. I’m training for war!
After the fight I’m signed up for the IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Long Beach California the very next day… So I pray God keeps me safe and everything goes as planned. Maybe crazy, but like I said I’m hungry, determined and I’m going to keep fighting till I reach the top! I love BJJ and I do want to focus on that more. And as far as MMA, I am signed on a 3 fight contract with Legacy, so I’m anxious to see where that takes me…I just want to continue working hard and becoming the best fighter I can be.
I want to thank my team, Team Ferreira, coaches and all my family, friends, fans and sponsors. Without y’all none of this would be possible…they all inspire me in different ways to keep pushing and working hard towards my dreams so thank you. I will never stop pursing my dreams. I have faith that only time and God can tell what’s next for me.”