#hugoduarte #RGI
#RGI2025 pic.twitter.com/5IavLmUf6Y
— U.S. Luta Libre (@usalutalivre)
January 9, 2025
As first reported in August 2023, former Brazilian rivals Renzo Gracie and Hugo Duarte have teamed up as partners at the Texas academy.
“The world will definitely change for the better. After years of war, one of my greatest rivals has turned out to be a very unique person and has become a great friend and business partner,” Duarte told Sherdog. com.
“Those crazy times were so important in shaping who we are today,” Gracie added. “Man is the enemy. I am honored and honored to have Hugo as my enemy, because that is what motivated me to be strong. Since he came here to the United States, One year later, we are proud to announce the first competition to bring Luta Libre and Jiu-Jitsu together.”
That tournament is the Renzo Gracie Invitational, which is also overseen by Duarte’s American Luta Libre Federation. Duarte and Gracie said the event will include GI and NO-GI competitions and will be held on April 5th at NRG Park in Houston.
“We pay $2,000 for the no-gi absolute category,” Gracie said.
According to the promoter, the rules for no-gi are similar to those for ADCC, but GI competition follows the IBJJF’s official BJJ rules. Click here for more information.
For those who are unaware of the most notable episodes of the Jiu-Jitsu and Luta Libre rivalry that took place on the streets of Rio de Janeiro in the 80s and 90s, the three chapters will always be remembered as the most violent and tense. . Luta Libre led Hugo Duarte and Rickson Gracie at Pepe Beach in 1988. A week later, about 100 Luta Libre students led by Duarte invaded Gracie Academy. And in 1997, Pentagon Combat’s historic riot during the main event between Renzo Gracie and Eugenio Tadeu led to a nearly six-year ban on Valitudo.
In both cases, Renzo Gracie and Duarte were the most important leaders of both sides. Despite 20 years of fighting and hostility, the two always respected each other.
“We always fought with honor, one on one, and the winner was always cleared and acknowledged by both sides. We hated each other, but we respected each other as warriors, and the victor was always cleared and acknowledged by both sides. The best way to end this story is in this historic tournament between these two great grapplers in today’s grappling capital of Texas. It’s about bringing the craft,” Duarte said.
