Márcio Cruz - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Márcio "Pé de Pano" Cruz (born April 24, 1978 in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...

, Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...

practitioner and mixed martial artist

Mixed martial arts

Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...

. In BJJ, he is a third degree black belt under Carlos Gracie Jr.. His nickname "Pé de Pano" was given to him by his friends at the Gracie Barra

Gracie Barra

Gracie Barra is one of the largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu associations, with over 400 black belts and 150 schools or affiliates worldwide. It is headed by Carlos Gracie, Jr., son of Carlos Gracie the first Gracie to ever learn Jiu-Jitsu from Japanese emigrant to Brazil Otávio Mitsuyo Maeda.- History...

academy in Rio and it is the Portuguese version of the name of Woody Woodpecker

Woody Woodpecker

Woody Woodpecker is an animated cartoon character, an anthropomorphic acorn woodpecker who appeared in theatrical short films produced by the Walter Lantz animation studio and distributed by Universal Pictures...

's horse, SugarFoot.

Grappling credentials

Cruz is a 6-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion, 5-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu National Champion, 8-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Pan-American Champion and the 2003 ADCC

ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship

The ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship is a competition involving professional athletes who have been successful at the highest levels of jiu-jitsu, wrestling, judo, sambo, shooto and mixed martial arts...

World Champion. People he has defeated include: Ricco Rodriguez

Ricco Rodriguez

Ricco Rodriguez is an American mixed martial artist and former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion. He has also competed in Pride Fighting Championship, EliteXC, International Fight League, BAMMA, World Extreme Cagefighting and King of the Cage.-Early life:Rodriguez grew up in the...

, Mike Van Arsdale

Mike van Arsdale

Mike van Arsdale is an American mixed martial artist who has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...

, Roger Gracie

Roger Gracie

Roger Gracie Gomes is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and mixed martial artist. Roger was awarded his black belt by his cousin Renzo Gracie at the behest of Carlos Gracie, Jr. whilst training in New York in 2003. He is currently a second degree black belt...

, Gabriel Gonzaga

Gabriel Gonzaga

Gabriel Gonzaga , is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who most recently competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, is a former member of Chute Boxe Academy and now fights out of Ludlow, Massachusetts as a part of Team Link...

, Paulo Filho

Paulo Filho

Paulo Fernando de Souza Leite Filho, better known as simply Paulo Filho , is a retired Brazilian mixed martial artist as well as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo practitioner, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil...

, Fabricio Werdum

Fabricio Werdum

Fabricio Werdum is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, a two-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion, a two-time ADCC world heavyweight champion and European Jiu-Jitsu champion. He holds black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and Muay Thai. Werdum has competed in Pride Fighting Championships, the...

, Xande Ribeiro, Marcelo Garcia, Saulo Ribeiro

Saulo Ribeiro

Saulo Ribeiro, brother of the equally famed Xande Ribeiro, is a 4th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. After earning a black belt in Judo, he began his training of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Rio De Janeiro under Royler Gracie, the son of Helio Gracie, at the famous Gracie Humaitá.Saulo received...

, Fernando "Terere" Augusto

Fernando "Terere" Augusto

Fernando Augusto da Silva is a former Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor, mixed martial arts fighter, and submission grappler. He is a black belt under professor Alexandre Paiva of Team Alliance. Tererê is a two-time World Champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in black belt division...

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

Ultimate Fighting Championship

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...

, defeating former champion Frank Mir

Frank Mir

Francisco Santos Miranda is an American mixed martial artist, as well as a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kenpō Karate, who competes in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and a former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion...

by TKO at UFC 57
UFC 57
UFC 57: Liddell vs. Couture 3 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 4, 2006. It was held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, and broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States.Headlining the card was an anticipated...

. He also holds a win over Keigo Kunihara at UFC 55
UFC 55
UFC 55: Fury was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on October 7, 2005 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The event was broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States, and later released on DVD....

. He lost a split decision to Jeff Monson

Jeff Monson

Jeffrey William Monson is an American mixed martial artist from Olympia, Washington. He is a 2 time winner of the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, and a No Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion. He currently holds the Heavyweight titles in the International Sport Karate Association...

, whom he had previously defeated twice in grappling tournaments, at UFC 59
UFC 59
UFC 59: Reality Check was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on April 15, 2006 at Arrowhead Pond, in Anaheim, California, and broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States and Canada....

. Cruz' second MMA loss was to Andrei Arlovski

Andrei Arlovski

Andrei Valeryevich Arlovski is a Belarusian kickboxer, mixed martial artist and a former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion.-Biography:...

at UFC 66
UFC 66
UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 30, 2006 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada .-Background:...

, in December 2006, by first round knockout.

On June 2007 in the IFL

International Fight League

The International Fight League was an American mixed martial arts promotion billed as the world's first MMA league. It was founded on January 7, 2006 and closed on July 31, 2008...

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

Dan Christison

Daniel B. Christison is an American mixed martial artist. He fought for the San Jose Razorclaws of the International Fight League....

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 belt. He successfully defended his belt by submitting Dave Yost with a Rear Naked Choke

Rear naked choke

The Rear naked choke is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponent's back. Depending on the context, the term may refer to one of two variations of the technique, either arm can be used to apply the choke in both cases...

in the first round on April 3, 2010.

Cruz had to withdraw from ADFC

Abu Dhabi Fighting Championship

is a mixed martial arts event initiated in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The promotion was initiated and organized by , a leading event management company in the region....

with a spinal injury in May 2010.

After 15 months of inaction, Cruz faced Glover Teixeira

Glover Teixeira

Glover Teixeira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who currently competes in the light heavyweight division.-Mixed martial arts career:...

at Clube da Luta on July 20, 2011losing via TKO (punches) at 4:21 in the second round. Cruz weighed in at an out-of-shape, 256-pounds.

Mixed martial arts record

|-
|Loss
|7-3
|

Glover Teixeira

Glover Teixeira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who currently competes in the light heavyweight division.-Mixed martial arts career:...

|TKO (punches)
|Clube da Luta
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|4:21
|Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
|
|-
|Win
|7-2
|

Dave Yost

Dave Yost is the auditor for the state of Ohio, winning the election in November 2010. He was the prosecuting attorney for Delaware County. He also served as the county's auditor from 1999 to 2003.-Early career:...

Tampa, Florida

Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|Defended WFO Heavyweight Belt
|-
|Win
|6-2
|

Tampa, Florida

Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|Won WFO Heavyweight Belt
|-
|Win
|5-2
|

Dan Christison

Daniel B. Christison is an American mixed martial artist. He fought for the San Jose Razorclaws of the International Fight League....

|Decision (unanimous)
|ICF

ICF

ICF is an acronym with several meanings:* Immunodeficiency, centromere instability and facial anomalies syndrome.* Insulating concrete form, building construction systems that use concrete in a permanent form made of a rigid insulation....

Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
|Win
|4-2
|

Choi Mu Bae

Choi Mu-Bae , often anglicised to Mu-Bae Choi, is a South Korean former heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler and now mixed martial artist, who is associated with Team Tackle and KPW Korea.-Mixed martial arts:...

|Submission (triangle armbar)
|World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 3

World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 3

World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 3 was a mixed martial arts event promoted by World Victory Road. The event took place on June 8, 2008 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama City, Japan.-Results:...

|
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:37
|Saitama, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|3-2
|

Rafael Cavalcante

Rafael Cavalcante is a Brazilian mixed martial artist currently competing in the Light Heavyweight division. He trains with Anderson Silva and Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira as part of the Black House camp. He currently competes in Strikeforce, where he is the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion...

|DQ (illegal kick)
| International Fight League

International Fight League

The International Fight League was an American mixed martial arts promotion billed as the world's first MMA league. It was founded on January 7, 2006 and closed on July 31, 2008...

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
|Loss
|2-2
|

Andrei Arlovski

Andrei Valeryevich Arlovski is a Belarusian kickboxer, mixed martial artist and a former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion.-Biography:...

|KO (punches to the back of head)
| UFC 66

UFC 66

UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 30, 2006 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada .-Background:...

Las Vegas, Nevada

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
|Loss
|2-1
|

Jeff Monson

| Decision (split)
|UFC 59

UFC 59

UFC 59: Reality Check was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on April 15, 2006 at Arrowhead Pond, in Anaheim, California, and broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States and Canada....

Anaheim, California

Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
|Win
|2-0
|

Frank Mir

| TKO (punches and elbows)
| UFC 57

UFC 57

UFC 57: Liddell vs. Couture 3 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 4, 2006. It was held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, and broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States.Headlining the card was an anticipated...

Las Vegas, Nevada

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
|Win
|1-0
|

Keigo Kunihara
| Submission (rear naked choke)
| UFC 55

UFC 55

UFC 55: Fury was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on October 7, 2005 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The event was broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States, and later released on DVD....

Uncasville, Connecticut

Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut. The area traditionally known as Uncasville is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

External links

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