BJJ
icons gathered in Rio de Janeiro to honor Murilo Bustamante. | 📷:
Marcelo Alonso/Sherdog
Murilo
Bustamante’s latest Brazilian jiu-jitsu milestone became a
gathering of the sport’s past, present and future.
The former
Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion and
longtime BJJ figure was promoted to 8th-degree black belt,
receiving the red-and-white coral belt. This was celebrated at the
AABB club in Lagoa, Rio de Janeiro, with many legends in
attendance.
Several Brazilian legends attended Murilo Bustamante’s belt
promotion
Bustamante’s promotion was witnessed by major figures from both the
grappling and mixed martial arts world.
Among those in attendance were Antonio
Rodrigo Nogueira, Ricardo
Arona, Ricardo
Liborio, Ricardo De La Riva, Fernando
Pinduka, Carlos Rosado and Bebeo
Duarte. Former rivals from other academies also gathered to
honor Bustamante, including Ralph Gracie,
Leonardo
Castello Branco, Sergio Zveiter, Hélio Soneca and Vini
Campello.
Each of the guests took the opportunity to speak at the event,
highlighting Bustamante’s enormous influence on the history of
Brazilian jiu-jitsu, vale tudo and mixed martial arts.
“I’m proud to say that in the biggest battles of my career, I had
my idol and master by my side,” Rodrigo Nogueira said. “He was a
world jiu-jitsu champion and the first Brazilian to become the
undisputed UFC category champion. His greatness is reflected in
this incredible gathering of masters from different generations and
different teams. This is a true tribute to jiu-jitsu.”
Bustamante is a Carlson Gracie black belt, former UFC champion and
co-founder of Brazilian Top Team. A multiple-time BJJ world
champion, he helped shape the early days of vale tudo and mixed
martial arts before becoming one of the sport’s most respected
figures.