Márcio Cruz
Márcio Cruz (born April 24, 1978) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and mixed martial artist. In Jiu-Jitsu, he is a fifth 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, 2003 ADCC World Champion, two-time Abu Dhabi World Jiu Jitsu Legends Champion and UFC Veteran Fighter. 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.
| Márcio Cruz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | April 24, 1978 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Other names | Pé de Pano |
| Residence | Tampa, Florida, United States |
| 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 | Fifth degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Years active | 2005–2012 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 11 |
| Wins | 8 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 1 |
| By disqualification | 1 |
| Losses | 3 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  Brazil | ||
| Men's Grappling | ||
| ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship | ||
.svg.png.webp){kind=icon} | 2001 Abu Dhabi | +99kg |
.svg.png.webp){kind=icon} | 2003 St. Paulo | +99kg |
| 2007 Trenton | +99kg |
| Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu | ||
| World Championship | ||
| 2002 | +100 kg |
| 2002 | Absolute |
| 2003 | Absolute |
| Pan-American Championship | ||
| 2003 – California, USA | +100kg |
| 2003 – California, USA | Absolute |
| 2005 – California, USA | +100kg |
| 2005 – California, USA | Absolute |
| Brazilian National Championship | ||
| 2000 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | -100kg |
| 2000 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Absolute |
| 2001 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | -100kg |
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.[1]
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, He is undefeated at the Abu Dhabi World Jiu Jitsu Legends, he won the Championship two years in a row (2016 and 2017). Prof. Márcio Cruz won the Black Belt Absolute Division twice, being awarded two unique Champion Ring in a 2018 IBJJF Celebration. 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 Marcio Cruz BJJ team and Ring Team. His favorite Technique is Triangle Choke
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.
In 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.[2]
After 15 months of inactivity, Cruz faced Glover Teixeira at Clube da Luta on July 20, 2011[3][4] losing via TKO (punches) at 4:21 in the second round. Cruz weighed in at an out-of-shape 256-pounds.[5]
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.[6] 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.[7]
Personal life
Marcio Cruz is a Christian, has been married since 2009 to Ariana Cruz and has 4 kids named, Renan, Matthew, Clara and Aaylah. Currently Marcio Cruz runs a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Tampa, Florida and a Second Location in Carrollwood, Florida.
Mixed martial arts record
| 11 matches | 8 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 2 |
| By submission | 4 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 1 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| 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
- "Marcio Cruz "Pe de Pano"". BJJ Heroes. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
- "Marcio Cruz & Sergei Kharitonov injured". Al Batal. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
- Nelson, Chris (June 6, 2011). "Weekend Rundown: Teixeira Wins 10th Straight". Sherdog. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
- Venga, Gleidson (June 17, 2011). "Teixeira-'Pe de Pano' Added to July 20 Clube da Luta Card". Sherdog. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
- Pinheiro, Guilherme (July 20, 2011). "Nova Uniao's Perpetuo Wins GP, Teixeira Pounds Cruz at Fight Club". Sherdog. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
- 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.
- "Tyson Griffin vs. Efrain Escudero to headline RFA 4; Joe Yager replaces injured Gilbert Yvel against Pe De Pano". onthemat.com. October 21, 2012. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2012.