Ricardo Liborio

Ricardo Libório
Ricardo Libório
Born (1967-07-13) July 13, 1967
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Residence Orlando, Florida
Nationality Brazilian American
Rank      6th Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
     Black belt in Judo

Ricardo Libório is the co-founder of American Top Team (ATT) and Brazilian Top Team (BTT).

According to Fight! magazine's most recent "Power 20", which profiles the twenty "most significant power players, movers, shakers, ambassadors, and game-changers in MMA," Libório is currently ranked #13.[1]

He was nominated as "Coach of the Year" for the Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Awards in 2009.[2]

Brazilian jiu-jitsu career

Antônio Ricardo Jardim Libório was born on July 13, 1967, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His introduction to combat sports began at the age of 4, when he began studying Judo. He later took up tae kwon do and boxing. At 14, he began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[3] at the Carlson Gracie academy in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, which produced black belts such as Vitor Belfort, André Pederneiras, Walid Ismail, Mario Sperry and Ricardo de la Riva. Libório received his black belt from Carlson Gracie in 1993 at the age of 26.[4]

In 1996, Libório entered the first ever "Mundials," or World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, winning a gold medal in the super heavyweight (super-pesado) division over Leo Castello Branco, a much heavier opponent.[3] He was awarded the title of "Most Technical Black Belt" in that tournament.[5]

In 2000, Libório competed in the International Masters Mundials under his middle name, Antônio Jardim, taking gold in the meio-pesado (middle-heavy) division.[6]

Mixed martial arts career

Ricardo co-founded Brazilian Top Team in collaboration with three other Carlson Gracie students, Murilo Bustamante, Luis Duarte, and Mario Sperry.

In 2001 Ricardo was approached by American businessman and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner, Dan Lambert. Dan recruited Ricardo, and together they formed a partnership, which would eventually become American Top Team.

Liborio had his own MMA debut against renowned Ikuhisa Minowa for Japanese promotion Deep the same year. In a bout with almost no strike thrown between the contendants, Liborio opened the first round struggling to take Minowa down, but he gained half mount for a while and threatened him with an armbar, which Minowa returned with a standing kimura attempt. Ricardo dominated an uneventful second round, resuming his domain the top position and almost locking a rear naked choke at its end, and he would go on to trade submissions with the Japanese wrestler at the third and last round, being still entangled in a leglock exchange when the bell rang. As the match was stipulated to be without judges, it went to a draw.

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Draw 0–0-1 Ikuhisa Minowa Draw Deep - 1st Impact January 8, 2001 3 5:00 Nagoya, Japan

ADCC Superfight

On August 29, 2015, Libório fought former Carlson Gracie teammate, Mario Sperry, in the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship "Superfight." After 20 minutes and two overtime periods, the referees awarded the decision to Libório.[7]

Work with the visually impaired

After craniosynostosis rendered Libório's daughter, Bella, blind at 1½ years old, he developed a community outreach program through American Top Team. The academy is certified to teach judo to visually impaired students.[8]

Other accomplishments

  • Three time Brazilian National Champion
  • IBJJF World Champion 1996
  • 2nd Abu Dhabi Submission Tournament 2000.
  • 3rd Abu Dhabi Submission Tournament 1999.
  • NAGA Coach of the year in 2005.
  • Inducted into the NAGA Grappling Hall of Fame.
  • ADCC 2015 Superfight Champion masters def Mario Sperry.
  • National Coach for USA Grappling[9]

References

  1. ↑ "The 4th Annual Power 20". Fight!. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "Nominees for Fighters Only World MMA Awards 2009". Fighters Only. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Ricardo Libório". ATT.
  4. ↑ "American Top Team instructors". ATT.
  5. ↑ "USA Grappling National Coach Ricardo Liborio interviewed on Eddie Goldman's No Holds Barred". The mat.com.
  6. ↑ "Campeonato Internacional Master E Sênior 2000". IBJJF.
  7. ↑ "2015 ADCC: most favorites make it to semifinals; Liborio tops Sperry on superfight". graciemag.com.
  8. ↑ "Visually impaired kids hit the mat in martial arts lesson". Sun Sentinel.
  9. ↑ "Liborio, Levitetz take USA Grappling leadership roles; USA to host 2009 Grappling Worlds in Florida". The mat.com.
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