Márcio Cruz

Márcio Cruz
Born (1978-04-24) April 24, 1978
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Other names Pé de Pano
Residence Lutz, Florida, United States
Nationality Brazilian
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight 206 lb (93 kg; 14.7 st)
Division Light Heavyweight, Heavyweight
Reach 82 in (208 cm)
Style BJJ, Karate, Submission Wrestling
Fighting out of Lutz, Florida, United States
Team Gracie Fusion / Team Pé de Pano / MCBJJ
Rank 4th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active 2005-present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 11
Wins 6
By knockout 2
By submission 2
By decision 1
By disqualification 1
Losses 5
By knockout 2
By submission 2
By decision 1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Márcio Cruz
Medal record
Representing  Brazil
Men's Grappling
ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship
2001 Abu Dhabi +99kg
2003 St. Paulo +99kg
2007 Trenton +99kg

Marcio Ribeiro da Cruz[1] (born April 24, 1978 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and mixed martial artist. In Jiu-Jitsu, he is a 4th degree black belt under Carlos Gracie Jr. and is a six-time IBJJF Mundials World Champion, five-time IBJJF Brazilian Nationals Champion, eight-time IBJJF Pan-American Champion and the 2003 ADCC World Champion. His nickname "Pé de Pano" was given to him by his friends at the Gracie Barra academy in Rio and it is the Portuguese version of the name of Woody Woodpecker's horse, SugarFoot. He competed in the UFC and also had a one fight stint as an alternate for the New York Pitbulls of the International Fight League.

Background

Cruz was born in Rio de Janeiro and had a brief stint with Karate when he was 12 years old before being introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu by a friend. Although he had wanted to begin training in the sport immediately, due to the lack of a nearby gym, he began learning judo. It was not until the age of 17 that Cruz began his official training in jiu-jitsu and would go on to win his first major title in only three years.[2]

Championships and achievements

Grappling credentials

Cruz is a six-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion, five-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu National Champion, eight-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Pan-American Champion and the 2003 ADCC World Champion. People he has defeated include: Ricco Rodriguez, Mike Van Arsdale, Roger Gracie, Gabriel Gonzaga, Paulo Filho, Fabrício Werdum, Xande Ribeiro, Marcelo Garcia, Saulo Ribeiro, Fernando Augusto, Jeff Monson, and Fernado "Margarida" Pontes. Since he started his mixed martial arts career, he has been training MMA with Roberto “Gordo” Correa and he fights under the Gracie Fusion team.

Mixed martial arts career

As a professional MMA fighter, Cruz has fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, defeating former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir by TKO at UFC 57. He also holds a win over Keigo Kunihara at UFC 55. He lost a split decision to Jeff Monson, whom he had previously defeated twice in grappling tournaments, at UFC 59. Cruz' second MMA loss was to Andrei Arlovski at UFC 66, in December 2006, by first round knockout.

On June 2007 in the IFL he defeated Rafael Feijao by disqualification when Feijao used an illegal kick 1:18 before the end of the 3rd and final round. In June 2008 Cruz defeated Mu Bae Choi at Sengoku 3 via submission (triangle armbar). In April 2009 he defeated UFC veteran Dan Christison by unanimous decision.

On August 22, 2009, he beat Tom Sauer via TKO in the second round. With this victory he won the World Fighting Organization Heavyweight Championship. He successfully defended his belt by submitting Dave Yost with a Rear Naked Choke in the first round on April 3, 2010.

Cruz had to withdraw from Abu Dhabi Fighting Championship with a spinal injury in May 2010.[3]

After 15 months of inactivity, Cruz faced Glover Teixeira at Clube da Luta on July 20, 2011[4][5] losing via TKO (punches) at 4:21 in the second round. Cruz weighed in at an out-of-shape 256-pounds.[6]

Cruz was scheduled to make his Light Heavyweight debut against fellow UFC veteran Gilbert Yvel on November 2, 2012 at Resurrection Fighting Alliance 4 in Las Vegas, Nevada.[7] However, Yvel was later forced to pull out of the bout due to an injury. Cruz ended up facing Joe Yager at the event and won the fight by submission.[8]

Personal life

Marcio Cruz is a christian, has been married since 2009 to Ariana Cruz and has 3 kids named, Renan, Matthew and Clara. Currently Marcio Cruz runs a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Wesley Chapel, Florida.

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 8–3 Joe Yager Submission (inverted triangle choke) RFA 4: Griffin vs. Escudero November 2, 2012 2 4:16 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Light Heavyweight debut
Loss 7–3 Glover Teixeira TKO (punches) Clube da Luta July 20, 2011 2 4:21 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win 7–2 David Yost Submission (rear naked choke) Art of Fighting 7 - Payday April 3, 2010 1 1:22 Tampa, Florida, United States Defended WFO Heavyweight Championship
Win 6–2 Tommy Sauer TKO (punches) Art of Fighting 4 - Damage August 22, 2009 2 3:43 Tampa, Florida, United States Won WFO Heavyweight Championship
Win 5–2 Dan Christison Decision (unanimous) ICF: Breakout April 11, 2009 3 5:00 Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Win 4–2 Choi Mu-Bae Submission (triangle/armbar) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 3 June 8, 2008 1 4:37 Saitama, Saitama, Japan
Win 3–2 Rafael Cavalcante DQ (illegal kick) IFL: Las Vegas June 16, 2007 3 3:42 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 2–2 Andrei Arlovski KO (punches) UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz December 30, 2006 1 3:15 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 2–1 Jeff Monson Decision (split) UFC 59: Reality Check April 15, 2006 3 5:00 Anaheim, California, United States
Win 2–0 Frank Mir TKO (punches and elbows) UFC 57: Liddell vs. Couture 3 February 4, 2006 1 4:15 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 1–0 Keigo Kunihara Submission (rear naked choke) UFC 55 October 7, 2005 2 1:02 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States

See also

References

  1. ↑ "MIXED MARTIAL ARTS SHOW RESULTS" (PDF). Nevada Athletic Commission. February 4, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 22, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Marcio Cruz “Pe de Pano”". BJJ Heroes. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Marcio Cruz & Sergei Kharitonov injured". Al Batal. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  4. ↑ Nelson, Chris (June 6, 2011). "Weekend Rundown: Teixeira Wins 10th Straight". Sherdog. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  5. ↑ Venga, Gleidson (June 17, 2011). "Teixeira-‘Pe de Pano’ Added to July 20 Clube da Luta Card". Sherdog. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  6. ↑ Pinheiro, Guilherme (July 20, 2011). "Nova Uniao's Perpetuo Wins GP, Teixeira Pounds Cruz at Fight Club". Sherdog. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  7. ↑ Whitman, Mike (August 23, 2012). "RFA 4 Heads to Las Vegas with UFC Vets Gilbert Yvel, Marcio Cruz, Tyson Griffin, Efrain Escudero". Sherdog. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  8. ↑ "Tyson Griffin vs. Efrain Escudero to headline RFA 4; Joe Yager replaces injured Gilbert Yvel against Pe De Pano". onthemat.com. October 21, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2012.


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