Mario Sperry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mario "The Zen Machine" Sperry (born September 28, 1966) is a heavyweight martial artist from Brazil. His specialty is Brazilian jiu-jitsu, grappling and ground fighting.
| Mario Sperry | |
|---|---|
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| Statistics | |
| Nickname | The Zen Machine |
| Height | 188cm |
| Weight | 100Kg |
| Nationality |  Brazilian |
| Born | September 28, 1966 |
| Fighting out of | Brazil |
| Town of birth | Porto Alegre |
| Fighting style | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Wins | 13 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 6 |
| Losses | 4 |
| Draws | 0 |
Contents |
[edit] Career
Sperry first broke onto the sport Jiu-Jitsu scene in the early eighties. A protegee of Carlson Gracie, Mario was handed his black belt at the 1995 World Championships of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where he entered and won the heavyweight black belt division, defeating many of the sports greatest legends. Mario won again in 1996, 1997, and 1998. In late 1998 Mario Sperry became the first fighter in history to make a Gracie submit in a match when he defeated World Champion Royler Gracie in Brazil (It should be noted that at the time of his win over Royler Gracie he outweighed Royler by some 70 lbs.). He became the first World Submission Grappling Champion, a title he held for three consecutive years.
Sperry has also competed in mixed martial arts, with wins over such fighters as Vernon White and Igor Vovchanchyn. He is also one of the founders of the Brazilian Top Team, where he trained fighters such as Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira, Antonio Rogerio "Minotoro" Nogueira, Ricardo Arona, and Paulo Filho, among others.
[edit] Personal life
Mario has a daughter who was born in March 2005.[1]
[edit] Sport Accomplishments
Black Belt World Mundial Champion 1996, 1997, and 1998. Brazilian National Black Belt Heavyweight Champion 1994 and 1995. Voted Best Purple Belt in Brazil by the Brazilian Confederation in 1990. Voted Best Brown Belt in Brazil by the Brazilian Confederation 1992.
No Holds Barred Accomplishments: Vale Tudo Super Fight Champion at the Titanic Duel in Brazil 1995. Reality Super Fight Champion in Alabama 1996. Ultimate Caged Combat Overall Championship in Sidney Australia 1997. Japan's Coliseum 2000 Heavy Weight Champion (Defeated Hiromitsu Kanehara). Pride fighter from 2001 to 2006
Submission Grappling Accomplishments: Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling Competition Heavyweight and Absolute Class Champion 1998 Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling Competition Superfight Champion 1999. Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling Competition Superfight Champion 2000.
[edit] Mario Sperry Black Belts
- Alexandre Brandão
- Fernando Paradeda
- Carlão Santos
- Carlos Aveline
