Marcio Cruz
Márcio Ribeirio Da Cruz is a Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter and Jiu-Jitsu practitioner skilled by Marco Ruas. His moniker Pé de Pano plainly connotes "cloth (or, towel) foot" in Portuguese, maybe alluding to the obscurity of clutching him in a leg or ankle lock due to his notorious plasticity. Marcio Cruz was born April 24, 1978 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. He has a professional MMA record of 2 – 3 – 0 (2 wins 3 losses and no draws) and is presently in association with the Gracie Barra Combat Team.
Marcio Cruz has been an instructor at Gracie Berra America for quite a while and his conditioning in transforming so greatly since he arrived to tutor and vie in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, to his foremost UFC fight, to the present is nothing short of exceptional. The GB team could easily be the number one MMA team in the next couple of years with its current progress. Not only do they have great training in techniques, but there are doctors and therapists that cover the inevitable injuries and recovery as well. It is undoubtedly very professional.
GB Combat has also been the sole reason for Marcio’s improvement in his submission skills. Marcio was treacherous when he was not in shape and prevailed in the Pan Ams the previous year, but he is outstanding with his new focus and passion. Marcio is training unbreakably and it’s continually pleasurable to survey such world class athletes. Like him or not, his mat skills are too good to be true. His numerous accolades include a Six time world champion of jiu-Jitsu, eight time pancration champion of jiu-jitsu and the Abu Dhabi 2000 champion (Over 99KG) the only Brazillian to win this category (99KG) Marcio Cruz had wrestled in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and happened to defeat erstwhile champion Frank Mir via Total Knock Out at UFC 57.
He too maintains a resounding victory above Keigo Kunihara at UFC 55, as well as a contentious split decision loss to Jeff Monson at the UFC 59. He then proceeded to lose to Andrei Arlovski in December 2006 at UFC 66, by a first round knockout encounter. It was a key comeback fight for Arlovski, as he took on the heavy underdog Marcio Cruz. Arlovski opened with an inside leg kick and then Arlovski ensued to land shots, with Cruz on the mat and it was inevitably over. It was indeed a peculiar fight, as Cruz was unable to do much on the ground, and Arlovski was able to just whale on Cruz's head, as Cruz was eventually bent over with his head on the mat. It was a TKO win for Arlovski.
By Sherdog.com Staff
Regulated mixed martial arts has experienced its first casualty. Sam asquez, who was stopped by Vince Libar
