When they first entered the IFL, Renzo Gracie's New York Pitbulls had high expectations. Not only did they have a legendary jiu-jitsu fighter at the helm, but they boasted a roster decked out with homegrown competitors from Gracie's illustrious training academies in both the U.S. and Brazil.
Many fans thought the team would make an instant impact in the league and maybe even challenge the Silverbacks for the first ever World Team Championships. As it turned out, things didn't go as planned for the New York squad. They didn't win a single team contest in their first year of competition, and they had to watch from the wings as the Silverbacks went on to claim the 2006 title.
But going into the final match of the 2007 regular season, it's a whole new story for the Pitbulls. For one thing, they're undefeated, including a dominating 4-1 victory over the Chicago Red Bears. To Gracie, the turnaround is an expected one.
"I think the fact that we are able to train more together and fix the problems that we had helps a lot," Gracie said. "Plus, experience. We had great fighters who weren't used to the rules or the environment yet. Now they are. This is like their second home and they're proving it."
One thing that separates the Pitbulls from some other IFL teams who had a rough start in the league is their insistence on keeping as consistent a roster as possible throughout their struggles.
"We see our academy and our team as a family. We're not looking to change anyone," said Gracie. "People have said that we threw (Marcio) Feitosa out because he lost, but that's not true. We would never do that. We looked at why he lost and tried to make him better. The reason he hasn't fought again is because he is very busy with the opening of a new academy."
As Gracie saw it, creating an atmosphere of unity and comfort was essential to team success.
"I could look around and pick out the best guy from all different places, but that's not what I want to do," he said. "Once you know you belong to something, you'll fight much harder. Everyone can have a bad day. I think the moment you realize that you belong to something and it's like your family, you embrace it and fight hard for it."
Considering this philosophy, it might seem odd that they've just added a new heavyweight – highly decorated Gracie Barra jiu-jitsu competitor, Marcio "Pe de Pano" Cruz – to their roster as they prepare to take on the Toronto Dragons in Las Vegas on June 16th.
While some might question the decision to add a new fighter to the team this late in the season, Pitbulls coach Gracie says the decision sprang from necessity. The team's starting heavyweight, Bryan Vetell, is still serving an injury suspension following his TKO loss in April. Gracie knew he'd need an excellent replacement to take on the Dragons' Rafael Feijao in a match the Pitbulls can't afford to lose.
A team win in Vegas gets them instant entrance into the playoffs in either the third or second position, while a loss could eliminate them. The heavyweight division may be where the match swings in one team's favor or the other, and Gracie is well aware that Feijao is no push-over.
"It's going to be a tough fight," Gracie said. "Feijao is a very tough fighter. It's going to be an interesting match."
Feijao made his debut for the Dragons in February, when he defeated the Wolfpack's Devin Cole with a highly technical and precise striking attack. Gracie knows that Feijao's standing skills aren't to be taken lightly, but he thinks he's found the man for the job in this critical match.
"I believe 'Pe de Pano' has better jiu-jitsu and better ground work. It's going to be dangerous because Feijao hits hard and picks his shots, but I do believe 'Pe de Pano' has a good chance to take him down."
But Feijao isn't the only dangerous fighter on the Dragons roster. Lightweight Wagnney Fabiano has overwhelmed his last two opponents with his aggressive ground game, earning two first-round submission victories.
"Wagnney is very good," Gracie said. "He has a very strong jiu-jitsu background, but I think [Pitbulls lightweight] Erik [Owings] is very prepared. I think even though Wagnney is very experienced, Erik never stops training. That's the beauty. Erik trains like a maniac."
Gracie clearly isn't taking Carlos Newton's squad lightly, giving them credit for assembling a qualified team with several MMA veterans. One such fighter is welterweight Gideon Ray, who looked spectacular in his debut for the Dragons in April. Fortunately for Gracie's team, he'll be facing off against one of the Pitbulls most dominant performers thus far – Brazilian Delson Heleno.
"If [Delson]'s not the best, he's one of the best," Gracie said. "His next opponent is a very tough guy, very dangerous. But I definitely believe Delson is up there. I've seen him fight guys much heavier than him and he was able to manhandle them, not just technically but physically."
The match should provide an interesting test for Heleno, just as the contest against the Dragons will determine whether the Pitbulls are genuinely playoff-ready. Gracie certainly thinks so, but said his team won't be satisfied with simply making it into the postseason.
"If you can get to the playoffs you can get to the finals. Every team in there is going to be tough. We're looking forward to facing all of them," said Gracie. "After all, fighting is our business."
