How Will Lapela's Crafty Half Guard Deal With Tanquinho's Heavy Pressure?
How Will Lapela's Crafty Half Guard Deal With Tanquinho's Heavy Pressure?
Fight 2 Win features a 170lb no-gi main event between Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes (Soul Fighters) and Marcelo Mafra (Checkmat).
Fight 2 Win features a 170lb no-gi main event between Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes (Soul Fighters) and Marcelo Mafra (Checkmat).
The F2W party will bring a stacked card to Scottsdale, Arizona with the featherweight masters title also on the line between the champion, Osvaldo “Queixinho” Moizinho (Ares BJJ) and Jose Tiago Barros (Cicero Costha).
With over two decades of jiu-jitsu under his belt August “Tanquinho” Mendes is a legit legend in the sport. Although not as active in the jiu-jitsu circuit as he was prior to shifting his focus to MMA in 2014, he is still one of the best jiu-jitsu practitioners in MMA maintaining a winning pro record (6-3), taking five of his six victories via submission.
WATCH: Augusto Mendes vs Jeff Glover
Still, he maintains consistent activity competing in jiu-jitsu even at the highest levels. He’s currently in the thick of preparing for ADCC, where he was invited to the -66kg division, and has recently been seen at the Spyder Invitational and KASAI Pro 4. As indicated by his nickname Tanquinho (“The Little Tank”), expect to see some classic pressure passing and armbars from everywhere.
Mendes will have to get through Marcelo “Lapela” Mafra to get the victory Friday night. This year we’ve seen Mafra at the ADCC Trials in Sao Paulo, and some IBJJF events. This year his focus has shifted to running his three academies. But the time off has only left him hungrier to compete. Running his Checkmat gyms provides him ample training partners and lots of mat time, both of which have been vital in his preparation for this match. Keep an eye out for his notorious half guard.
There’s also a title on the line in the co-main event. Osvaldo “Queixinho” Moizinho defends his Masters Featherweight belt against challenger Tiago Barros (Cicero Costha). Queixinho might be a Master in age (and a multiple-time Masters World champion, at that), but he is still a prominent figure in the adult division, consistently making it to the podium with the best of this generation. He’s proven he is still the highest caliber of athletes. It won’t be an easy defense as he takes on Tiago Barros, current Masters World champion and a bronze medalist at the 2019 World Championships.
WATCH: Osvaldo Queixinho Moizinho vs Josh Rodriguez
While Queixinho frequently transitions between the feather and lightweight divisions, Barros is a bit smaller, typically taking on the light-featherweights. Size could play a factor, but Barros is known for his abrasive passing that could easily neutralize any variance in size.
That’s not all. There are so many elite black belt match ups on this card:
- Tracey Goodell (CJJF) takes on Karen Antunes (Checkmat) for the 125lb Women’s Masters title
- Brenda Heller (Marcio Andre Jiu Jitsu) is making her comeback debut since having her daughter earlier this year in a 155lb gi match against Claudia Do Val (De La Riva BJJ)
- Vinicius Ferreira (Alliance) takes on Felipe Bezerra (Checkmat) in a 220lb gi match
- New black belt Jake Watson (Maracaba BJJ) looks to continue the success he’s already found in his rookie black belt year in a 185lb match against Samir Abdolkader.
Look for these and over 30 more matches this Friday on FloGrappling – watch live or on demand