Jorge Patino “Macaco”

Macaco Patino

Jorge Patino “Macaco” was one of the most controversial fighters in Jiu Jitsu due to his bitter rivalries with Roberto Godoi, Eduardo Pamplona and Ryan Gracie in the past. “Macaco” was also one of the first BJJ fighters from Sao Paulo to transition successfully from Grappling to MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) where he has defeated big names such as Ronaldo Souza, Gabriel Vella and Gustavo “Ximu”.

Jorge Macaco Patino in Detail

Full Name: Jorge Luis Patino

Nickname: The nickname “Macaco” means monkey, the name was given by a friend of his when he was still a young child because he was always climbing up trees and jumping around.

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rickson Gracie > Marcelo Behring > Waldomiro Perez > Jorge Patino

Main Achievements (BJJ):

• 2x Pan American Champion (2000 – closed the brackets with his team mate Roberto Godoi, 2001);
• Pan American Silver Medallist (1997 – brown belt);
• Brazilian National Bronze Medallist (2000)

Weight Division (BJJ): Meio-Pesado (194.5lbs-88kg)

Association/Team: Macaco Gold Team

Jorge Patino’s Biography

Jorge Patino was born on the 8th of May, 1973 in Sao Paulo – Brazil. Jorge was always an extremely active individual, and a very sporty character. He started practicing Judo and Rugby before joining Jiu Jitsu in 1992. The reason why he joined BJJ was mainly due to the influence of his neighbour and good friend Roberto Godoi, who already trained with Waldomiro Perez (the founder of Cia Paulista).

Patino Macaco was very gifted athletically and a quick learner, and in 1994 Godoi, Perez and himself joined forces to open an academy which worked as an affiliate of Cia Paulista. The partnership lasted only one year as Godoi and Macaco split their bond with Perez to form their own academy. In that same year (1995) Patino debuted in MMA, fighting for 5 times in that year, winning the Circuito de Lutas belt. In fact, Macaco’s drive to compete really elevated this new team and placed their name on the map, making for the best possible advertising.

In 2001 Jorge Patino broke his bond with Godoi to form the Macaco Gold Team. The two had a serious argument apparently over the accounts of their shared academy which ended in serious bitterness. After both parts exchanged harsh words, they ended up meating in BJJ events with Macaco winning one of the fights by one advantage and Godoi winning the other by one sweep. It was later that they met in an MMA bout, a fight Macaco won by TKO (read more about this argument on the Roberto Godoi BJJ Heroes page).

Jorge understood by this time that he needed to sharpen his stand up skills in order to make it in the MMA world, so he joined the Muai Thai prowess team Chute-Boxe, a banner he defended while pursuing his teaching role at the Macaco Gold Team for several years.

Another one of Macaco’s most famous quarrels was the one he had for several years against the now deceased Ryan Gracie. The two had exchanged words in the past, but what really made the waters boil was when Ryan Gracie (allegedly) assaulted Patino in the back at a fighting event.

What Macaco had to say about the affair:
“Meu aluno venceu a penúltima luta da noite, enquanto eu o levei ao vestiário e o deixei dando entrevista pra televisão, tinha que passar por uma parte da platéia onde estavam alunos da Gibi Thai e da Gracie São Paulo. Simplesmente disseram que eu não passaria, e eu disse “o que?”… Nisso me agrediram pelas costas, quando eu virei e ví que era o Ryan, não pensei duas vezes, soltei um direto e um gancho, ele veio todo grogue pra cima de mim, levou mais um cruzado e outro direto nas fuças!” (source – Fight2Live)

Translation: My student won his fight, when I was taking him to the dressing room, he was approached by the media, so I left him and progressed to the room. I had to pass through the crowd where there were students from the Gibi-Thai (academy) and from Gracie Sao Paulo (Ryan’s team), they told me I couldn’t get through, and as soon as I asked “Why?” someone hit me from my back, when I turned it was Ryan and I didn’t think twice, I hit him with a jab and a hook which left him dizzy. He still came forward so I hit him again.

Macaco challenged Ryan several times, and even fought one of Ryan’s protégés, Gabriel Vella in the hope that he would accept the challenge after he defeated him, unfortunately for MMA and BJJ fans, Ryan Gracie never did take on the challenge.

Though Jorge Macaco Patino is highly regarded for his MMA wars, he has also managed to produce some of the biggest talent in MMA, fighters like Charles “do Bronx” Oliveira and Thiago Silva.

Jorge Patino vs. Joseph Aviles

Jorge Patino vs Ronaldo Souza (MMA)

Jorge “Macaco” Patino vs. Danilo Goltsman