Fight Sports
Date founded2011[1]
Country of originUS
FounderRoberto "Cyborg" Abreu[1]
Arts taughtBrazilian jiu-jitsu, Grappling
Official websitefight sports global

Fight Sports is a Grappling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy and team based out of Miami, Florida. It was founded in 2011 by multiple time world champion Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu. Fight Sport's competition team includes a number of jiu-jitsu's top competitors, including many ADCC qualifiers. Fight Sports is also an internationally known Jiu Jitsu affiliation with 32 schools worldwide.[1]

History

Fight Sports started as a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) academy established in Miami in 2011 by six-time World No-Gi and ADCC champion Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu, one of the most decorated BJJ competitors in history. In July 2022, there were Fight Sports schools affiliates on four continents and over thirty schools worldwide.[1]

In June 2021 Fight Sports announced partnering with Melqui Galvao's project in Brazil, providing an exchange program between their HQ in Miami and their location in Manaus, Brazil. 18-year-old Mica Galvão announced that he was now representing Fight Sports team going forward in competitions, just like most of the Melqui Galvao-trained athletes.[2] One of the best represented teams heading to the 2022 ADCC World,[3] in June 2022 the team announced having hired wrestler Pat Downey to prepare for the Championship.[4] In January 2023 Melqui Galvao announced leaving Fight Sports to open his own academy in Jundiai, Sao Paulo, Brazil.[5]

In February 2023, three elite competitors: Andre Porfirio, Maggi Grindatti & Luccas Lira Costa announced leaving Fight Sports.[6]

Controversy

In March 2018 Marcel Goncalves, one of Fight Sports most prominent black belts and head coach of a Fight Sports affiliate in Naples, Florida, was arrested and charged with multiple counts of sexual assault of a minor.[7][8] The New York Times reported that after he came under fierce criticism, Abreu acknowledged missteps in the way he had responded to sexual abuse allegations in his organization.[9][10] Since then, Abreu has also been named in a civil suit on the same matter, where he and the Fight Sports brand have been accused of "failure to properly oversee its trainers and instructors and its failures to properly care for vulnerable minors training at Fight Sports’ gyms.[11][12]

Notable members

A list of current and former members:

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "What you need to know about the Fight Sports Jiu Jitsu Team". Jiu Jitsu Legacy. March 1, 2022.
  2. Hancock, Will (June 14, 2021). "FG MGMT & Fight Sports Announce Partnership with Mica Galvao & Diogo Reis". Fighters Choice – Supplements Developed by Fighters for Fighters.
  3. Stockton, Corey (February 7, 2022). "Grappling Bulletin: Fight Sports Dominates Trials, Sends Four To ADCC". FloGrappling.
  4. Coate, Ben (June 15, 2022). "Pat Downey named Fight Sports wrestling coach for ADCC World Championships". Grappling Insider.
  5. "Melqui Galvao Leaves Cyborg's Fightsports Association". Bjj Eastern Europe. January 4, 2023.
  6. "Melqui Galvao Leaves Cyborg's Fightsports Association". Bjj Eastern Europe. January 4, 2023.
  7. Majchrowicz, Michael (December 8, 2021). "Miami-Based Fight Sports MMA Gyms Implicated in Sex-Abuse Lawsuit". Miami New Times.
  8. Clements, Averi (August 12, 2021). "Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu & Vagner Rocha Address Claims About Interactions With Marcel Goncalves". Jiu-Jitsu Times.
  9. "Roberto 'Cyborg' Abreu Promises Changes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu". The New York Times. October 12, 2021.
  10. Burne, Kathrine. "Roberto 'Cyborg' Abreu And Vagner Rocha Respond To Fight Sports Sexual Assault Allegations". JitsMagazine. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  11. Jones, Phil. "Roberto 'Cyborg' Abreu Sued For Mishandling Sexual Assault Claims At Fight Sports". JitsMagazine. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  12. Majchrowicz, Michael. "Miami Jiujitsu Legend, Fight Sports Gyms Implicated in Child Sex Abuse Lawsuit". Miami New Times. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  13. "Aaron "Tex" Johnson". BJJ Heroes. October 12, 2018.
  14. "Sofia Amarante". BJJ Heroes. July 27, 2020.
  15. "Fabricio Andrey". BJJ Heroes. July 27, 2020.
  16. "Valdir Araújo". BJJ Heroes. July 27, 2020.
  17. "Daniel Azevedo". BJJ Heroes. July 27, 2020.
  18. "João Costao". BJJ Heroes. July 27, 2020.
  19. "Rodrigo Francioni". BJJ Heroes. July 27, 2020.
  20. "Micael Galvâo". BJJ Heroes. July 27, 2020.
  21. "Valdir Araújo". BJJ Heroes. July 27, 2020.
  22. "Maggie Grindatti". BJJ Heroes. July 27, 2020.
  23. "Jacob Mackenzie". BJJ Heroes. July 27, 2020.
  24. "Valdir Araújo". BJJ Heroes. July 27, 2020.
  25. "Natasha Quiza". BJJ Heroes. July 27, 2020.
  26. "Diogo Reis". BJJ Heroes. July 27, 2020.
  27. "Ricardo Rezende". BJJ Heroes. July 27, 2020.
  28. "Vagner Rocha". BJJ Heroes. July 27, 2020.
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