By: Herb Uzzi
JUPITER, Fla.

Joe Mullings, owner of The Armory Training Center in Jupiter, has set up a non-profit charity to help parts of Brazil devastated by mudslides and flooding in January.
Edson Barboza, Jr., a UFC fighter from Nova Friburgo, Brazil, has joined in on the mission

Feature on News Channel 5 - WPTV

This Edition Contains:
The Armory Wins Big at UFC 128
The Armory Nutrition Plan
Lactic Acid and It's Role in Combat Sports
The Armory Wellington Youth Excellence Program
Armory Fight Team Qualifies for ADCC DCC Pro Championships
Lindsay Flicker & The Armory Raise Funds for the St. Baldrick's Foundation
Jiu Jitsu Mania - "The place to go for original and expert content on all things jiu jitsu"
Jason Santana Fights for Amateur MMA Super Brawl Title


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Edson 'Junior' Barbosa and Luiz Cane will both be fighting at the Prudential Center in New Jersey, March 19th! So book your flights as this is going to be a great card and some great fights! Junior will be fighting Anthony Njokuani and Luiz will be fighting Karlos Vemola.

You will be seeing Junior and Luiz prepping for these fights starting next week. All the support and well wishes you can give them go a long way.

Check out this great Article on MMAJunkie.com "Marlon Moraes the next version of UFC's Edson Barboza?"

Cavaca hands out promotions from Santos to Florida
Check out the article online: http://www.graciemag.com/en/2010/12/cavaca-hands-out-promotions-from-santos-to-florida/

Buchecha: “I hope the keep the good flow”
Sunday 24th of October 2010

Outstanding fighter on the gentle art, after a year with a brown belt on his waist and the title of all championships he disputed, the super heavy Marcus “Buchecha” got the black belt by the hands of his Master Rodrigo Cavaca on the podium of World, after becoming a Jiu-Jitsu champion on the categories absolute and super heavy. And now, with only five months of black belt, the young guy of 20 years old has been conquering many important titles and making his name a huge one on the sport.

Still on the brown belt, the tough guy has a large résumé with titles of Pan Am, World Cup of WLPJJ, World No Gi in 2009, on the weight and absolute disputes, among others. As a black-belt, his greatest achievement so far is the Pan Am No GI in NYC, winning the weight and closing the absolute’s finale with Pablo Popovitch. Current living in Florida for almost five months, along with his training partner Thiago Baiano and his Master Rodrigo Cavaca, Buchecha refines his trainings to reach his professional goals.

“I’ve always trained with Cavaca and we are from Checkmat, and now we’re doing a work together with team Armony. I’m living on the United States, and I came to Florida, where I have nothing to complain about. I was nicely welcome in my new home, Armony Checkmat, and by the owner of the team, Joe Mullings, besides the fighters they have here, Edson Junior and Eduardo Guedes, apart from the ones I live with and are my friends like Raphael Chaves, Thiago Baiano and my Master Rodrigo Cavaca. Here on the United States we’re like family”, said, explaining why he moved to America. “I’ve changed because it was something I’ve always wanted, I wanted to teach here in America and live for Jiu-Jitsu, because in Brazil only the athletes themselves know how hard it is to live that way there. It was an opportunity that Cavaca and Joe have given me, and I can only thank them and make it worth”, tells the athlete.

Crawling as a black-belt, the fighter tells what his main goals are from now on. “Actually I’ve reached a few, the first was to get the black belt and the second was to teach here on the United States, now I hope I can keep the good flow I’m having on the competitions and repeat on the black belt the same conquest of the previous belts. We already are training hard here on Armony for Miami Open, in October 23. Our main goal is, for sure, World No Gi, in November 7. We’re training very hard. Cavaca is leading the trainings and pushing us a lot, and we’re doing the conditioning training with Jow, and now on this final phase we’ll intensify the trainings even more”, explains.

But the tough guy won’t stop that easily, and reveals he intends to join MMA world. “I have a wish to fight MMA, I already am training boxing with Ouali, but there’s no hush, because it’s something for the future. First of all I want to reach my goals as a black-belt and later I think it’d be a good time to make my debut”, reveals, sending his message:

“I’d like to thank to God in first place, and all who’ve helped me all the way, always giving me support to fight on the leagues, signing raffles or helping me on the trainings; to Joe Mullings, Thiago Baiano and Rafael Chaves, who’ve always been there for me, and my Master Cavaca, who has believed me on the very beginning and gave me this opportunity. I couldn’t forget Sr. Clayton and Lady Bete. If it wasn’t because of my parents supporting me on the sport, I wouldn’t be here today”, concluded Buchecha.

Check out the full article online:
http://www.tatame.com/2010/10/24/Buchecha--I-hope-the-keep-the-good-flow

www.graciemag.com


Among No-Gi Worlds favorites, Bochecha comments on Pan campaign
by Carlos Eduardo Ozório — October 5, 2010.

Winner of his weight and the open weight groups as a brown belt at this year’s Worlds, Marcus “Bochecha” Almeida has begun taking his first steps as a black belt, and successfully. The competitor was one of the standouts at last weekend’s No-Gi Pan in New York. After winning at superheavyweight, Bochecha shut out the absolute with friend Pablo Popovitch. Now, the Rodrigo Cavaca student hopes to put in a good performance at the No-Gi Worlds and the 2011 World Championship, where he may butt heads with Roger Gracie.

Tell us about your campaign at the Pan…

First I won at superheavyweight. The first match I won by WO and went straight through to the final against Bruno Bastos. That was an extremely tough final, which I won by two advantage points. In the absolute I won my first match by triangle submission and in the semifinal, again against Bruno Bastos, I defended a single-leg and managed to sink a triangle for the finish.

Why didn’t you and Pablo face off in the absolute final?

Ever since I arrived here in the United States, we’ve been training together. We trained hard for this Pan, and that’s why we opted not to do the final.

What are your hopes for next year? Do you think you’ll manage good results at the Worlds as a black belt, is that your aim?

I always expect the best. I hope to maintain my rhythm in competition and keep getting good results, since that’s what I’m training to do. Training here is really tough, and soon the gang from Brazil will be here to help out. Next year I’ll be in all the main competitions on the IBJJF calendar. For sure I’m going to fight for the title in my weight division and the absolute.


Bochecha did well as against the black belts at the World Pro qualifiers. Photo: Carlos Ozório

What would it be like to face Roger Gracie or the other top guys?

I feel it would a great challenge to face the world number-1. But beyond him, as you yourself say, there are a lot of other top guys. What’s for certain, though, is that in all my matches I go in with the same objective: to be champion.

This Pan was like my debut black belt”, Bochecha

Will you compete at the No-Gi Worlds or any other competitions in 2010?

Yes, for sure I’ll compete. Indeed, this Pan was like my debut at black belt. I competed at some smaller competitions in Florida, but this was my first big event. Thank God I debuted on the right foot! Now my focus is on the Miami Open and No-Gi Worlds. We’re already hard at training for those competitions.

What’s life in the USA like? Have you already gotten used to the pace there?

Life here is great; I’m really enjoying it. The weather here (Florida) is really similar to in Santos, and I live in a city with a beach, which is even better (laughs)! I’m teaching here and I was really well received at my new home, The Armory CheckMat. The owner of the team Joe Mullings and the other fighters, like Eduardo Guedes and Edson Junior, treat me well. I’m living with my friends Raphael Chaves and Thiago Baiano and my master Rodrigo Cavaca. Or in other words, there’s no way for the level of training to drop!

Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Well, I’d like to thank Cavaca and Joe for the opportunity to be here, making my dream come true; and my father Mr. Clayton and my mother Mrs. Bete (laughs)! If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be here today. And to thank Bulldog kimonos and, of course, GRACIEMAG.com for the opportunity.

Thanks!

Check out this GracieMAg Article on the upcoming arrival of Cavaca to the Armory team!

Check out this great article on Junior on Pro MMA Now!



Most young fighters don’t create much of a buzz two months before they make their UFC debut and step into the mixed martial arts spotlight for the first time. But Edson Mendes Junior (6-0) is no ordinary prospect.

With five knockouts and a submission win, the 24-year old Brazilian has only seen the second round only one time in his MMA career and stopped American Top Team fighter Jose Figueroa in a mere three minutes and fifty-five seconds.

In his first Octagon appearance, Junior will fight Darren Elkins at UFC 123 on Nov. 20 in Detroit, and he couldn’t be happier about the opportunity.

“It was a dream come true,” Junior told ProMMANow about the moment he learned of the UFC’s offer. “I had hoped that with hard work and some luck I would get the opportunity, but when I finally found out for sure, it was a great day.

“It is only the start though. Now I must live up to my potential and raise the level of my effort. The opportunity is great and so are the expectations.”

Joe Mullings, Junior’s manager and a partner at MMA Profit Advisor, said that they had plenty of options, with Bellator and Strikeforce also making intriguing offers.

“But our first goal was to have him in the UFC,” Mullings said.

When you look at what Junior brings to the table besides his 6-0 MMA record, it’s easy to understand why he had his pick of the major organizations.

Mullings doesn’t mince words, calling Junior an “unbelievable” athlete, with a 52-inch vertical and the ability to do multiple 405-pound deadlift reps.

Junior also has top-notch striking from an extensive Muay Thai background, including 28 professional fights in that discipline with 25 knockouts.

“He has devastating leg kicks and knockout power in both hands,” Mullings said, adding that you will find few, if any, other fighters in the lightweight division able to stop a fight with one punch from either hand. More importantly, Mullings said that Junior has carefully adapted his striking specifically for MMA.

“I had a great Muay Thai career in Brazil,” Junior said. “I was really blessed with a great coach, Anderson Franca. I had been training Muay Thai since I was 8 years old in Nova Friburgo. I have always wanted to fight MMA. I thought it would be a great challenge. The opportunities in Brazil for MMA fighters are very few. I knew that I would have to come to the United States to realize my dream of being a professional MMA fighter in the world’s largest event, the UFC.”

Coming to the U.S. to pursue his MMA career, Junior has had to adapt to a new culture as well as a new training regimen. But he credits his teammates and sparring partners at The Armory for helping the transition in both areas, including grappling ace Pablo Popovitch and Bellator fighter Eduardo Guedes.

“I have a very supportive team in Jupiter, Fla.,” Junior said. “Other fellow Brazilians, Eduardo Guedes, Rafael Chaves, Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida, Thiago Abreu, Rodrigo Cavaca, Pablo Popovitch, Ceara … all great friends as well as teammates. We live together, work together and I have really adapted well to the United States, even with a new language and a new culture.”

Of course, great striker alone doesn’t guarantee success in MMA, but Junior has spent much of the last year-and-a-half working on his ground game.

“I also trained BJJ in Brazil in preparation for my career in MMA,” Junior said. “I would spend more time on my Muay Thai, though, when I was in Brazil, because that was the focus of my career. “Since coming to the US though, I would say that almost 70 percent of my time for the past year-and-a-half has been on my grappling and wrestling. We train everyday on the ground with some phenomenal partners.”

Popovitch, a renowned Jiu Jitsu black belt and winner of the prestigious ADCC 2009 submission grappling tournament, has high expectations for Junior.


Junior celebrates his June 11 win over Marcelo Giudici (Pic courtesy of Stu Opperman/Impact Players)
“Edson will [very soon become] the 155lbs UFC Champion!!!” Popovitch said in a post on Junior’s Facebook page. “Mark my words.”

Mullings has worked with other accomplished mixed martial artists, such as Kurt Pellegrino, Hermes Franca, and Matt Wiman, so he has a pretty good eye for talent. But what could put Junior over the top is his ability to handle the pressure of the UFC and living up to the hype.

“Certain athletes will rise up to the pressure and other athletes will fold,” Mullings said, having no doubt that Junior will rise to the occasion. “I think Junior fights for himself. When that cage door closes, the calmness he shows is amazing.”

As for Junior, he also seems confident and composed to confront the task at hand.

“Even though I only have 6 MMA fights, I have 28 Muay Thai fights. Muay Thai fights are very tough on the body and mind, so I think I am ready for the UFC and the fans. I know the fans want a good fight, regardless of the fighter. My style is to go in there and be aggressive. I knock people out. I also hope to finish my fights with submissions. But I feel that if I go into the Octagon and stand in the middle of that cage and do what I love to do, the fans will appreciate it.”

Another great article regarding Edson "Junior" Barboza!
Check out the online article on Sherdog: http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/10-September-Tussles-Worth-Watching-26667


The month of September is every MMA fan’s paradise. It doesn’t matter where you are, chances of a quality event happening relatively close by are good.

The only place where things are not looking all too bright is Japan. For the first time since changing the makeup of this column earlier this year, no tussle from the Land of the Rising Sun managed to make the list. Is this a realistic picture of the MMA marketplace in Japan for the summer of 2010? And if it is, is it just a snapshot in time or a forerunner of things to come?

As always, this list does not focus on the well-promoted main event bouts you already know to watch but rather on fights from all over the planet that are worth seeing. The UFC, Strikeforce, WEC, Dream and Sengoku Raiden Championship are excluded by design.

10. Falaniko Vitale vs. Kala Hose
X-1 “Heroes,” Sept. 11 -- Honolulu, Hawaii

A classic grappler against striker confrontation will headline X-1’s 13th show. UFC veteran Vitale returned from an 18-month layoff this March to submit fellow former UFC fighter Kalib Starnes at X-1 “Champions 2.” Hose’s star rose during a five-round war with Phil Baroni in March 2008. Baroni was just coming off a successful stint in Japan and a high-profile title fight against Frank Shamrock, and “Kolohe” managed to stop “The New York Bad Ass” midway through the final round. Has Hose finally improved his submission defense enough to survive Vitale’s ground attack?

9. Igor Araujo vs. Lincon Rodrigues
Strength & Honor Championship 3, Sept. 18 -- Geneva, Switzerland

Two of the best Brazilians on the European circuit will battle each other for the SHC welterweight title. Defending champ Araujo, a longtime teammate of UFC lightweight contender Rafael dos Anjos at Gracie Barra Caveirinha in Belo Horizonte, has competed at pretty much every major show across Europe and is one of the “aces” for SHC. Rodrigues caught fight fans’ attention when he made the semifinals of a $20,000 open-weight tournament in Vienna, Austria, last year as a welterweight. The muay Thai specialist was eventually stopped by Bellator heavyweight Damian Grabowski.

8. Andreas Kraniotakes vs. Björn Schmiedeberg
Respect FC 4, Sept. 11 -- Herne, Germany

EA Sports MMA heavyweight Andreas Kraniotakes will try to bounce back from the freak knockout he suffered at WFC 10 in March. To maximize his chances against former 300-pounder Schmiedeberg, “Big Daddy” has headed off to San Diego for his first professional training camp. The five-round fight will not only headline Germany’s best MMA event at the moment, it will also be for the vacant Respect heavyweight championship. Can the “Gazelle“ extend his win streak to five and derail the Kraniotakes hype train or will the Greek-German emerge as the best heavyweight in Germany?

7. Eduardo Pamplona vs. Edilberto de Oliveira
Jungle Fight 22, Sept. 18 -- Sao Paulo, Brazil

Is there a curse on muay Thai ace Pamplona? Last month his third consecutive fight was cancelled at the last moment. Now Jungle Fight head honcho Wallid Ismail has taken matters into his own hands and made Pamplona against Edilberto “Crocota” the main event of Jungle Fight 22. Hometown hero Pamplona will have a significant home field advantage against Crocota. The question in this fight will be whether the former Minotauro student will be brave enough to stand and bang with Pamplona or rather fall back on his formidable submission skills.

6. Edson Barboza vs. Mikhail Malyutin
Ring of Combat XXXI, Sept. 24 -- Atlantic City, New Jersey

Tipped to be a future great by many experts, The Armory’s Edson Barboza will return to Atlantic City for the 31st edition of Ring of Combat. Facing the explosive striker will be former Red Devil team member and M-1 veteran Malyutin. The 28-year-old Malyutin will be the first real test for the young Brazilian, who has knocked out most of his opponents inside the first round so far. Malyutin originally comes from a boxing background, but he also has a solid submission game he has used to choke out Finland’s Niko Puhakka among others.

5. Tom Watson vs. Jesse Taylor
MFC 26 “Retribution,” Sept. 10 -- Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Tom “Kong” Watson will try to double-dip this month. While the sporting challenge will be his Sept. 10 fight against Jesse Taylor in Canada, he will receive the big payday as he takes on kickboxer-turned-tabloid star Alex Reid in his home country of England two weeks later. There just may be one thing he hasn’t reckoned with: Taylor. Even though “JT Money” has been hot and cold in recent months, he is definitely strong enough to lay a beating on Watson that could prevent a meeting with Reid. How ironic would that be after the “Reidernater” pulled out of their May fight with an injury?

4. James Zikic vs. John Phillips
BAMMA 4, Sept. 25 -- Birmingham, England

Although Reid vs. Watson is the fight that gets all the headlines for this show, the most competitive matchup on the card will be the middleweight duel between the durable James Zikic and power puncher John Phillips. Zikic, who can also boast five pro boxing matches, has gone the distance with Fabricio Werdum and Vitor Belfort in his MMA career. Welshman Phillips comes from an amateur boxing background as well. His pugilistic skills have transitioned even better to MMA than Zikic’s, as he has managed to take 11 of his total 12 career wins by way of knockout.

3. Daniel Tabera vs. Jan Blachowicz
KSW 14 “Judgment Day,” Sept. 18 -- Lodz, Poland

The final of the latest KSW light heavyweight tournament will be contested between Spanish M-1 and Bellator veteran Daniel Tabera and KSW Team member Blachowicz. Blachowicz, who has already had to turn down multiple offers from big promotions stateside because of his commitments to KSW, is seen as the next big thing to come out of Poland and the heir of Mamed Khalidov at 205 pounds. The only thing that has managed to slow down Blachowicz in his career has been his injury vulnerability. Knee and shoulder problems kept him on the shelf for all of 2009.

2. Paul Daley vs. Jorge Masvidal
Shark Fights 13, Sept. 11 -- Amarillo, Texas

A highly explosive welterweight matchup is one of the featured bouts at Shark Fights 13. The fight card is a “who’s who” of MMA free agents at the moment. Daley, the sport’s current bad boy, rebounded from his outburst against Josh Koscheck with a hard-earned third-round submission stoppage of Brazilian Daniel Acacio in July. Masvidal, equipped with plenty of experience in Strikeforce, Sengoku and Bellator and long tipped for greatness at 155 pounds, will be returning to welterweight against Daley.

1. Joe Soto vs. Joe Warren
Bellator Fighting Championships 27, Sept. 2 -- San Antonio, Texas

Anything but two regular Joe’s have an appointment for the promotion’s featherweight championship at Bellator 27. Champion Joe Soto will not only put his belt but also his undefeated record of 9-0 on the line as he takes on 2006 Greco-Roman wrestling world champion Joe Warren. In previous bouts, Soto has used his own formidable Greco-Roman background to shut down and beat up his opponents. However, none of his previous opponents had anywhere near the credentials that the Dream featherweight grand prix semifinalist brings to the table.

Check out this great article in Tatame - http://www.tatame.com.br/2010/08/25/Brasileiro-afiado-para-a-estreia-no-Bellator


Everyone knows that Brazil is a hotbed of big names in MMA, but many Brazilians still need to know is who are the "tupiniquins" raising the green and yellow flag and found the opportunity in other countries to pursue their career. One such name is Eduardo Guedes, a Black Belt in Jiu-Jitsu as well as a Brazilian Top Team graduate. Receiving his Black Belt from Masters Zen Mario, Murilo Bustamante and Bebeo. The fighter, who already has had a great career in "the gentle art" has established a beautiful course in the world of MMA and is preparing for his next fight, which will be in Bellator.

Guedes began his career in the fight world at 16 years old in Porto Alegre, with Masters Walter Mattos and Ze Mario (both Team Carlson Gracie), and then moved to Rio de Janeiro to train at Brazilian Top Team and devote himself exclusively to this challenge. "There at BTT I have made many friendships, like Rodrigo Minotauro and Rogério Minotouro, who encouraged me to fight MMA. After learning Boxing and Wrestling, I decided to venture into a career of the Mixed Martial Arts. So, years later, I came to live in America, when former UFC fighter Hermes Franca, called me to join the team The Armory, where I have been working until today, "Eduardo told TATAME straight from Florida, USA.

Living in the U.S. for four years, he is undefeated and has seven wins. And his next fight is scheduled for October 24th in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Bellator against the very tough Chris Ligouri, who is a teamate of Frank Edgar, current UFC lightweight champion. And to get another victory he is training hard with his team "The Armory" in Jupiter, Florida, and describes "Part of my grappling training with the team I train with Pablo Popovitch BJJ and Rodrigo Cavaca. My striking Coach is with Ouali (former coach of the American Top Team) and Edson Junior and physical preparation is performed by Joe Mullings, who is also the team manager. "

But when it comes to gentle art, the fighter has a great resume with more than 30 fights without defeat Submission in its category, in addition to being a Seven Time Gaucho Champion, three Time Champion of South Brasil, and a bronze in the World Brazilian champion of 2002 and for the ADCC Brazilian trials in 2005. And Guedes wants to be prepared for anything he faces. "My expectation is to fight big events, like UFC, Strikeforce or Bellator because I believe that events of this size give a good visibility in the U.S. and worldwide. I cant choose my opponents, but to fight with great names in MMA like BJ Penn, Takanori Gomi and Gilbert Melendez would be very special to my career, "said the athlete.

Our training facility and professional fighting team will be featured several times in the next few days on News in Palm Beach County. The coverage, on CBS-12 and FOX-29, will focus on the gym, the athletes who train/work here and the success the Armory Fight Team has in MMA (18-0).

The news coverage will air:
Thursday, 7/29 during the 6 p.m. news on CBS12
Thursday, 7/29 at 10:50 p.m. on FOX29
Friday, 7/30 at 10:40 p.m. (during Sports Zone) on FOX29
Sunday, 8/1 at 11:30 p.m. (during Vista BMW Sports Plus) on CBS12

Thanks for being a part of our success!

Check out this feature on http://www.thegarv.com regarding Junior!
Stay tuned for more of great things on our fight team and The Armory!

We like to feature up and coming talent here at thegarv.com and our record of spotting rising stars before they are stars is very good. We featured Jon Jones, the Miller Brothers and many more big name fighters before they hit the UFC. Now there's another fighter we have our eye on, and he's been tearing through his opponents. He's 6-0, all finishes, five KOs and a sub. Only one opponent has made it into the second round. Edson Mendes Barboza aka "Junior" moved to the United States in January of 2009. He moved to Jupiter Florida to join The Armory fight team.

read more ...
http://thegarv.com/Featured-Up-and-Comer-Edson-Barboza.html

We are excited to announce that we have opened a facility in Wellington!

We have merged with the old Xtreme Couture Gym in Wellington (same location) so there is now an Armory - Wellington!
As a current member, you will be able to train in either facility:
• Jupiter Location: 603 Commerce Way West
• Wellington Location: 3133 Fortune Way Suite #21

The Wellington facility is appox. 7,000 sq ft with a huge training mat area, cage, and fitness area. We will be expanding that space as well.
So if you live further west and would like to stop in - feel free!
If you feel like getting some exposure to some new training partners, you can do that as well!

Remember there is no extra charge to train at either location!

It is an exciting time for The Armory and we look forward to continued growth!