In 2001, the most important grappling event in the world saw an underdog cause some serious damage among the greatest stars of the time. 1999 ADCC champion Jean Jacques Machado, several-time world Jiu-Jitsu champion Leonardo Santos, and an undefeated Japanese MMA fighter named Takanori Gomi fell victim to the American Matt Serra, whose greatest feat hitherto had been winning the purple belt division of the Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu Championship, in ’99. Serra was only stopped in the final of the under 76kg division of the ADCC 2001, as he conceded the title to Marcio Feitosa at his mentor Renzo Gracie's request.
How was it to beat Jean Jacques Machado in the ADCC 2001 when he was one of the world’s top grapplers?
At the time that was my biggest accomplishment, because at the time he was a legend of the sport – he still is – and I was pretty much an unknown. After that match everybody got a look at my skills.
So it was huge. But I remember the first time I really won something. It was in Miami, at the Pan-American Games. I defeated four Brazilians, two of them I submitted, and Renzo gave me my brown belt right there on the spot. That was also a very big moment for me, because that was the first time I competed at international level. At the time, in 1999, Americans weren’t winning that much.
Were you sad to abandon the ADCC final against Márcio Feitosa?
You know what? I wouldn’t be anywhere without Renzo guiding me, so I did it for him. If that’s what it took, then that’s what it took. Renzo took me from doing security and bouncing on the weekends to world champion in Jiu-Jitsu. So all he had to do was ask; I had no problem with it.
At the time that was my biggest accomplishment, because at the time he was a legend of the sport – he still is – and I was pretty much an unknown. After that match everybody got a look at my skills.
So it was huge. But I remember the first time I really won something. It was in Miami, at the Pan-American Games. I defeated four Brazilians, two of them I submitted, and Renzo gave me my brown belt right there on the spot. That was also a very big moment for me, because that was the first time I competed at international level. At the time, in 1999, Americans weren’t winning that much.
Were you sad to abandon the ADCC final against Márcio Feitosa?
You know what? I wouldn’t be anywhere without Renzo guiding me, so I did it for him. If that’s what it took, then that’s what it took. Renzo took me from doing security and bouncing on the weekends to world champion in Jiu-Jitsu. So all he had to do was ask; I had no problem with it.
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