Copa Podio is back with a Middleweight Grand Prix on July 9 in Argentina. As per usual the promotion’s premium matchmaking has laid down a very solid lineup consisting of a superb mix of veteran champions together with rising stars of the sport, the majority of whom have nothing but forward gears in their jiu-jitsu games.

Written by Andre Borges, Editor of BJJ Heroes

Following the model used earlier this year for the Copa Podio Lightweight GP, we present you with a brief assessment of each of the tournament’s athletes along with a ranking of their top and bottom capabilities.

Don’t forget you can watch Copa Podio exclusively here on FloGrappling 

Leandro Lo

Team: New School Brotherhood
Natural Weight Class: Medium Heavy (88kg - 194lbs)
Top game total: 11/15
Bottom game total: 10/15

Mr Copa Podio is back to the stage that propelled him into jiu-jitsu stardom. Lo will be gunning for the middleweight title after winning the lightweight crown for the third time in January. Like a modern day Marcelo Garcia, Leandro has revolutionized both the passing and the guard games, particularly in his use of the toreando and the spider guard, being one of the sport’s most beloved athletes.

Diego Borges

Team: Zenith
Natural Weight Class: Middle (82kg - 181lbs)
Top game total: 9/15 
Bottom game total: 10/15

Although we don’t often see Diego compete in the professional jiu-jitsu circuit, the man from Manaus is not to be taken lightly. A frequent contender in Copa Podio GPs, Diego was a lightweight runner-up back in 2013 and placed 3rd earlier this year (also at lightweight). Borges is very aggressive, fast and athletic, making these his trademark attributes.

Claudio Calasans

Team: Atos
Natural Weight Class: Middle (82kg - 181lbs)
Top game total: 9/15 
Bottom game total: 11/15

Calasans is one of the most decorated veterans in this GP (and in the world) but is also the most conservative competitor on the card. Claudio’s patience and experience of scoreboard management will make him one of the toughest men to beat, particularly by the least-experienced middleweight challengers. Expect Calasans to always do well under any circumstance, but particularly in 6 minute matches, which certainly play to his advantage. A very strong candidate to the middleweight crown.

Dillon Danis

Team: Alliance Marcelo Garcia
Natural Weight Class: Middle (82kg - 181lbs)
Top game total: 11/15 
Bottom game total: 12/15

Known and loved by the majority of grappling fans, Dillon Danis’s mission is well-known: submission! One of the most accurate finishers in jiu-jitsu’s middleweight division, the New Yorker’s berserker style might very well place him as the dark horse in this Grand Prix race.

Dan Borovic

Team: Brasa
Natural Weight Class: Medium Heavy (88kg - 194lbs)
Top game total: 8/15 
Bottom game total: 13/15

A Rodrigo Comprido brown belt, Danilo is a superb addition to this year’s Copa Podio. Another wild card played by Copa Podio, an organization that always chooses to test rising talent in their deeper waters. 

Most fans of the sport will recognize Dan for his accurate triangle choke, but rest assured he has plenty more cards up his gi sleeve, particularly from a passing position where he has shown much improvement in recent matches.

Victor Estima

Team: Gracie Barra
Natural Weight Class: Middle (82kg - 181lbs)
Top game total: 12/15 
Bottom game total: 13/15

One of the most exciting middleweights of his generation, we can always expect Victor to hunt for the submission, particularly from his closed guard, one of the most dangerous in the game today.

Victor hinted retirement at the World Championship, leaving his belt on the mat after his disappointing loss in the second round. He has since bounced back, recently winning the British Open in his weight class and the open weight division, proving that he is in shape and ready to shoot some of his devastating submissions.

Max Gimenis

Team: GF Team
Natural Weight Class: Super Heavy (100kg - 221lbs) 
Top game total: 12/15 
Bottom game total: 9/15

With a second appearance at Copa Podio is Max Gimenis. GFT’s rising star went up against Rafael Teófilo earlier this year in a superfight he won decisively with a 29 point lead, a win that would set him up for great things this year, including a Brazilian and a World title.

Known as a crushing guard passer, Gimenis is much more than that, showing a wide range of passing sequences from the top, while being savvy from the bottom as well. 

Though this will be Gimenis’ very first test against the elite of the sport, having just received his black belt earlier this month on the 6th of June, he will certainly be one of the bigger men on the mat on game day.

Nicholas Meregali

Team: Alliance Mario Reis
Natural Weight Class: Medium Heavy (88kg - 194lbs) 
Top game total: 11/15 
Bottom game total: 14/15

Like a few others on this card, Copa Podio will be the first time we will see Merengali going up against the elite of the sport. One of the most talented brown belts in recent memory, Nicholas has an aggressive and technical guard, perfect scrambles and plays well from the top with well timed toreando passing and great balance. 

Certainly one of the most anticipated debuts in the Copa Podio platform, Merengali’s only visible achilles heel will be his lack of experience when up against some of the sport’s most capable veterans. On the 9th of July we will see if this will be a factor.

Erberth Santos

Team: Ryan Gracie SP
Natural Weight Class: Super Heavy (100kg - 221lbs) 
Top game total: 13/15 
Bottom game total: 12/15

Together with Leandro Lo, Erberth is regarded by most as the favorite to win the middleweight GP title, particularly when considering his epic performances over the past few months. Talent and momentum aside, Erberth will also be one of the bigger men in the competition, an advantage he will most certainly grab with both hands when imposing his physical grappling style on his opponents.

John Combs

Team: Easton Training Centre
Natural Weight Class: Middle (82kg - 181lbs)
Top game total: 11/15 
Bottom game total: 9/15

One of the hottest prospects in American jiu jitsu at the moment, John Combs brings a ton of movement and a never say die attitude every time he enters the mats. Recently promoted to black belt by the legendary Amal Easton, John will not only be one of the least experienced competitors on the GP, but he will also give a substantial weight advantage to his opponents at Copa Podio.

Although originally a wrestler, Combs may surprise many on the stands with his bottom game, as he is known to pull guard if things aren’t going his way on the stand-up. Unpredictability is certainly one of the big cards up John’s sleeve on the 9th of July.