Grapplers Quest: Daniel Valverde vs Vinny Magalhaes set for UFC Fan Expo

by Stefan Manojlovic on Jul 9, 2009 1:54 PM EDT

Grapplers Quest recently announced that it has added the final "super fight" to the UFC’s first-ever grappling tournament, a contest between Vinicius Magalhaes and Daniel Valverde. The tournament is slated to be a part of the UFC Fan Expo from July 10 to 11 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Magalhaes — The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8 light heavyweight finalist — is a former Mundials and Pan-American grappling champion, boasting one of the slickest ground games in the world.

His opponent, Valverde, is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach at Team Nogueira which should add some intrigue into the bout and a compelling storyline to boot.

That’s because in the time Magalhaes spent on The Ultimate Fighter, he managed to infuriate Coach Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira by talking down his jiu-jitsu and saying it wasn’t of a high standard which led to a verbal altercation between the two.

So lots of bragging rights on the line here when Valverde squares off with Magalhaes.

Grapplers Quest at UFC Fan Expo will feature talents such as Shooto legend and Japanese mainstay, Rumina "Moon Wolf" Sato, Ulysses "Useless" Gomez, Fredson Paixao and Joe Stevenson, among other notables.

Sato is known for his unorthodox submissions in mixed martial arts with victories coming by way of flying armbar, calf slicer and flying reverse triangle lock. His opponent, Gomez, is a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a highly accomplished grappler, winning many accolades during his time in competition.

In other action, Paixao — a current WEC featherweight standout — is slated to do battle with 22-time Grapplers Quest winner Jeff Glover. And the UFC’s Joe "Daddy" Stevenson is set to take on young jiu-jitsu ace Bill "The Grill" Cooper, which should present an interesting match-up.

Stevenson recently out-grappled Nate Diaz in a mixed martial arts contest at TUF 9 Finale last month to earn a decision win from the judges. Cooper should present another tough test for Stevenson on the ground -- especially in a pure grappling contest.

UFC Fan Expo is a two-day fan exposition of mixed martial arts activities that starts on Friday, July 10.

In addition to the meet and greets with legendary UFC and WEC fighters, MMA demonstrations, fan-inspired special events, training and development sessions, and other exciting opportunities and entertainment, UFC officials plan to enshrine two more of its greatest stars in the Hall of Fame, coinciding with the colossal pay-per-view (PPV) event scheduled for Saturday, July 11.

For more on UFC 100 and everything else that’s going on next weekend click here.

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Vinicius
Rumina Sato
Paixao
Cooper

Also NNR…

ADCC adds more tournaments!!!

ADCC Regionals is proud to announce a few new dates:

ADCC Texas Championships – July 24th & 25th (Houston,TX @ Legends Sports Complex)
Register here: http://www.texasregisration.com/

ADCC Las Vegas Championships – July 31st and August 1st (Las Vegas,NV @ Bally’s)
Register here – http://www.vegasregistration.com/

ADCC Northeast Championships – August 14th and 15th (West Orange, NJ @ Richard J. Codey arena)
Registration open soon

ADCC Great Lake Championships – September 11th & 12th (Grand Rapids, MI @ Delatplex Arena)
Registration open soon

ADCC Northwest Championships – September 18th & 19th (Seattle, WA @ TBD)
Registration open soon

ADCC California Championships – October TBD (Sacramento,CA @ TBD)

ADCC Denver Championships – November 13th & 14th (Denver,CO @ TBD)

We will also host ADCC Atlanta, ADCC Kansas City, ADCC Boston and The ADCC National Championships.

ADCC will also host events in Canada, stay tuned.

Don’t forget that there is a Free Seminar with ADCC Veteren Pablo Popovitch on July 24th at Legends Sports Complex from 6 – 8pm. You need to register for ADCC Texas before July 22nd to be eligible.

www.adccregionals.com

by Alpha Male 360 on Jul 9, 2009 2:46 PM EDT reply actions

ADCC in Atl? Thats the closest one to me. Anyone thinking of going to that one?

by Syn on Jul 9, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey Alpha-

Will you be going to any of the tourneys in Canada?

by OJR on Jul 9, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Not to compete since i’m still novice.Toronto BJJ got good talents that should worth the “displacement” though.If the date coincided with me be in T-Dot…maybe i’ll go!
How about you?Do you like grappling?

by Alpha Male 360 on Jul 9, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I used to wrestle and box. I have followed jeet kune do (the philosophy) for awhile now.

I have been looking for an excuse to go to Canada and this tourney might make it a possibility.

I have gone to Vancouver and I liked it. I really like Canadiens and their outlooks on life (philosophy).

I am very interested in going.

by OJR on Jul 9, 2009 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Well as soon that I’ll know the dates i’ll let you know…
If I go and it fit with both our schedule,we’ll meet in T-Dot or MTL Airport and I’ll show you around town and take care of ya!

by Alpha Male 360 on Jul 9, 2009 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice post!!! I might go to watch the one in Michigan. at I love the Valverde-Vinny match. I got Daniel there. Bill the grill should easily cook Stevenson and Paixao is a given.

Alpha – You should compete regardless. It’s really just a great experience and very fun. My teacher convinced me so I just did my first tourney two weeks ago and i’ve only been doing this since april. Got 2nd place at midwest sub hunt @ 139 lbs and under, but my division was only 5 guys and the guy who got 3rd really would have kicked my ass, like bad. Really i didn’t belong there but it was fun none the less. Side note saw Kaitlin Young killing everyone in No Gi, very surprising how good she was. Also got to talk to Greg Nelson.

Mania- nice giving dap to Sato’s flying inverted triangle, extremely overlooked mainly coz i don’t think there’s a vid of it out there.

by NameNotRequired on Jul 9, 2009 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions