Gracie Barra Northridge just added another elite black belt to its roster.

Victor Silverio has been a standout of GF Team for years, going from white belt to black under the fiercely competitive team's banner. He has been running his own GF Team academy in Florida until now but confessed that the lack of regular elite training partners and running a school distracted him from being a full-time athlete.


Silverio stares down the competition at the IBJJF 2017 Pan Championships. Photo: Chase Smith

Sliverio has told FloGrappling that he is leaving GF Team under good terms and spoke with leader Julio Cesar Pereira before making up his mind.

"I'm really thankful for everything that GF Team did for me," Sliverio said. "And I'm really grateful for Romulo opening the doors of his gym for me.

I had an opportunity that I couldn't waste, and I will be a full-time athlete, something that I couldn't be in Florida.

Silverio's training predicament is swiftly removed on the mats at Gracie Barra Northridge. Romulo Barral's academy is absolutely stacked with talent, featuring Gabriel Arges, Edwin Najmi, and AJ Agazarm -- plus regular visits from Otavio Sousa, Felipe Pena, and more. It's tough to find a more elite room anywhere on the planet.


It's clear that SIlverio is joining a team that he believes facilitates the training needed to win a world championship, but what remains to be seen is how Silverio will fit in the team's competitive rotation. Gabriel Arges and Otavio Sousa are already installed at middleweight for Gracie Barra -- Silverio's normal division -- and the in-house competition doesn't get any slimmer at lightweight or medium heavy. At first glance it seems Silverio could be on the losing end of closeouts wherever he goes, but only time will tell how that plays out.

One thing is certain, however: The rolls at GB Northridge just got that much tougher.