Copa Podio Lightweights Grand Prix

Copa Podio Lightweight Grand Prix Competitors Announced!

Copa Podio Lightweight Grand Prix Competitors Announced!

The competitors for the fourth season of the Copa Podio Lightweight Grand Prix have been announced, with 10 of the sport's top 77kg grapplers stepping up fo

Dec 7, 2015 by Hywel Teague
Copa Podio Lightweight Grand Prix Competitors Announced!
The competitors for the fourth season of the Copa Podio Lightweight Grand Prix have been announced, with 10 of the sport's top 77kg grapplers stepping up for a chance at the title. 

Right now the honors belong to Leandro Lo, defending champion. He'll defend his position at Copa Podio champion against a roster of Brazilian and American grapplers, including: 

• Davi Ramos, ADCC 2015 77kg champion and ATOS rep
• Diego Borges, Checkmat's tough grappler from Manaus 
• Lucas Lepri, one of Alliance's most decorated champs
• Jaime Canuto, of GF Team
• AJ Sousa, representing Atos Jiu-Jitsu 
• Dillon Danis, one of Marcelo Garcia's top black belts 
• Edwin Najmi, the flying triangle master from Gracie Barra 
• Luan Carvalho, a Brazilian champion representing Nova Uniao 
• Felipe Silva, a Barbosa team member and submission specialist 

The first stage of the team challenge – Vikings vs Cabras da Peste – will also take palce, with the following matches scheduled for the event: 
• Espen Mathiesen (Norway) vs Yan Pica-pau (Fortaleza) 
• Tommy Langaker (Norway) vs Rafael Vasconcelos (Fortaleza)
• Ida Floisvik (Norway) vs Kessy Pereira (Paraiba)

Also on the event there will be a special no gi challenge for the vacant middleweight title, featuring David Vieira vs Robson Gracie. 

Supporting the action is an opening bout featuring Brazilian fighters Max Gimenis and Rafael Braga.

The Copa Podio Lightweight Grand Prix takes place on Jan. 9, 2016. You can watch it LIVE exclusively here on FloGrappling