Jonnatas Gracie is heading to Rio de Janeiro for another mission at ACBJJ 23, a superfight event set for November 13. This time, the Brazilian will wear the gi to face Islam Mamilov of Kazakhstan in a bout for the promotion’s 80kg belt. For those who follow the circuit, it’s Jonnatas’s return to a stage where he has only tasted victory.
The Brazilian built his reputation at ACBJJ in short order. He had two outings last year, and he got his hand raised in both. At ACBJJ 19, he won the 75kg gi GP, a format that requires winning more than one match in the same night. At the following edition, ACBJJ 20, he returned to the mat and beat fellow Brazilian Diego Sodré. Now, a little heavier, he has his sights on the belt in a new division.
JONNATAS GRACIE ARRIVES IN RIO WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF SOMEONE WHO HAS FACED THE UFC BJJ ELITE
Beyond his run at ACBJJ, Jonnatas has gained high-level experience in the UFC’s grappling league. Since the Fight Pass Invitational, he put together a four-match winning streak at the promotion’s events. One of the most memorable came at UFC BJJ 5, in February, in an all-Brazilian matchup against Yan ‘Pica-Pau’. Calm and more technical, Jonnatas reached the dominant positions and was declared the winner by unanimous decision.
That run earned him a title shot. At UFC BJJ 10, held in August in Las Vegas, on a card headlined by Brianna Ste-Marie and Andrew Tackett, he was booked as the challenger to American Andrew Tackett, the welterweight champion. Jonnatas asked for the fight and got it, but ran into an inspired Tackett, who kept the belt by locking in a rear-naked choke in the first round. The loss did not erase the Brazilian’s résumé, and he now returns to compete in the gi with the ACBJJ belt as his goal.
ISLAM MAMILOV, THE KAZAKH OBSTACLE ON THE ROAD TO THE BELT
Across the mat will be Islam Mamilov, representing Kazakhstan and another name from Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the kind ACBJJ often matches up with Brazilians. The bout is for the 80kg gi belt, which gives it extra weight on the card. For Jonnatas, it’s the chance to turn his winning run in the promotion into a title.
Home advantage counts too. After competing in other countries, the Brazilian will face Mamilov in front of the Rio crowd, which usually packs the city’s Jiu-Jitsu events. ACBJJ has not yet announced the start time or broadcast details.
A CARD PACKED WITH BRAZILIANS ON A NIGHT IN RIO
Jonnatas Gracie’s bout shares the card with other familiar names. In the ACBJJ 23 main event, André Galvão faces Rousimar ‘Toquinho’ Palhares under ‘Battle’ rules, which mix grappling with stand-up strikes. In the co-main event, Rodolfo Vieira takes on American Kelvin Gastelum in a no-gi bout between athletes under UFC contract. Felipe Costa, ‘Laranjinha’, an ADCC World Championship bronze medalist, is also confirmed and will fight for the 90kg No Gi belt against Russia’s Eldar Sayidov.
This article was originally published in Portuguese: read the original version.
