The promoter of the event of Submission, the  Super Challenge Grappling, which is sure to be the greatest event in history ever held in Brazil, Mr. Paulo Vasconcellos spoke exclusively to TATAME about the difficulties in organizing such a big tournament in Brazil and about the recent losses of such names as Roger Gracie, Robert Drysdale and Ronaldo Jacaré in the event card. Mr. Paulo clarified the way the event is to take place, he also spoke about the importance of Rickson Gracie in creation of the rules, the reasons he decided to invest in the market of fights and the plans to organize another Super Challenge with MMA rules. See bellow the entire interview.

What is the greatest challenge in promoting an event like Super Challenge Grappling?
The greatest challenge is really in putting the best ones into confrontation at a tournament without weight division in which the ego of each star has to be in the second place and the desire to compete and to pass the test should speak louder. There are few with such determination and this spirit of a warrior, but I am happy with this elite team we have managed to unite! Super Challenge Grappling has contracted the best fighters of the world. Among the first names adhered for the event were: Roger Gracie, Robert Drysdale and Ronaldo Jacaré, but later theses names were lost last week.

Does this effect the ambitions of the event which is the greatest Submission event in the history of Brazil?
In no way it does.  The names confirmed for the event guarantee it to be the greatest event in history. We need to encourage the warriors who, possessing with less victories in their Jiu-Jitsu, Submission and MMA careers, have accepted to take the test in the event being aware of their possible defeat.  Therefore I would like to tell Fabrício Werdum, Demian Maia, Jeff Monson, David Avellan, Nino Schembri, André Galvão, Tarsis Humphreys, Delson Pé-de-Chumbo, Xande Ribeiro, Rafael Lovato Jr., Yamashita and Hyotaro Endo right now that they are already winners in my eyes independently of their results because I am sure that in the case of their defeat they will not lose the brilliance of their careers but, on the contrary, this way they will enter the sports history records as the actual warriors.

What are the news awaiting for us regarding Super Challenge Grappling? What is expected from the event?
I believe all the innovations have already been announced, but the main point besides the spectacular tournament itself will be the fact of the event being broadcast live on the internet through pay-per-view and those who will not be able to watch the event live due to the personal appointments will have an opportunity to acquire the broadcast through the same system next day.

What motivated you to invest in the event like this one?
The love for this sport, the desire to witness these historical fights and mainly to try to open the way for the fighters who are not willing to fight in MMA events.  In my opinion the more we make Jiu-Jitsu, Grappling and other forms of Submission popular, the more financial benefits will these bring to all the involved, thus creating new world mania similar to that one of MMA. This way the children and the young people who are keen on this sport will be able to dedicate themselves more to the training because there won’t be any moment in their lives in which they will have to give up their dream of making the professional career that would guarantee their living and the living of their families.

To what extent is Mr. Rickson participating in Super Challenge Grappling and how did you manage to bring him to the event?
Rickson is my icon, who excels not just in sports essence but as a model of integrity and honor. He is the one who is always trying to defend the technique and determination as the unique way to victory. It was the determination in creating rules and he will be more than our special guest. He is the one responsible for arbiters’ training and for handing in of the award to the great champion. Finally he is the one to be the chancellor of the quality and seriousness of the event in great style.

Will there be drawing lots in choosing the keys or is there any criterion?  
We are still defining the criteria, but we will try to do the keys in such way to make the difficulties in the tournament increase as the event proceeds. Meanwhile, taking into account the level of the participants, there won’t be an easy game for anyone beginning with the first fight!

Is Super Challenge planning to have an MMA edition?
Yes, we have many projects for Super Challenge MMA, but we are not willing to organize another event and I don’t see the sufficiently mature market yet in order to organize an event of a greatness of Super Challenge MMA. I believe with the barrier that has already been put down through entering the open TV net son we will be able to start talking about another event of a great extent.

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