Our teacher Formiga was the Absolute Champion at the IBJJF New York Opens 2011!
We are extremely lucky and privileged to have such an amazing teacher, competitor and man teach and train with us!
From MMAindc.com
Rafael 'Formiga' Barbosa won his match in the lightweight division and defeated super heavy weight Guybson Sa in the finals of the adult black belt open.
NEW YORK — The IBJJF New York Open was held this past weekend at the City College of New York. Among the highlights of the event was the men’s adult black belt division open.
The finals of the open pitted lightweight winner Rafael “Formiga” Barbosa against heavyweight competitor Guybson Sa of the SAS Team.
In a classic match up of light versus heavy competitors, the two went the distance in the match for first place.
Barbosa, who fights out of the Soul Fighters/Best Way camp in Connecticut, had two other matches in the open division, which were won by choke and points. In the finals, Barbosa continued his X-guard strategy, using the sweeps to win by two points (6-4). Barbosa said, “This guy’s very good, but he’s very tall…(which is) also (good) for my game.” Barbosa also said that since his opponent had long legs, he was able to get under him and use his X-guard strategy.