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Marcio Cruz “Pe de Pano”

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Marcio Cruz, also known by his nickname “Pe de Pano” is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Carlos Gracie Junior who is regarded by many as one of the best ultra-heavyweight competitors in the history of the sport. During his heyday, in the early 2000s, Mario Cruz was one of the biggest stars of the Gracie Barra Academy, conquering numerous titles on the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) circuit, including world titles in 2002 and 2003. Pe de Pano fought also in mixed martial arts, reaching the pinnacle of cage fighting by competing in the UFC.

Marcio Cruz Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: Márcio Ribeiro da Cruz

Nickname: The name Pé de Pano is the name for “Sugarfoot”, the character from the 80´s cartoon show “Woody the Woodpecker” in the Portuguese-translated version of the show. Márcio Cruz was called this due to his lanky and somewhat clumsy nature, particularly as a teenager.

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Junior > Marcio Cruz

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

  • 1st Place ADCC World Championship (2003)
  • 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2002**, 2003*)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2003**, 2005**)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Brazilian Nationals (2000**, 2001)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF Brazilian Nationals (2001*)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2001**, 2012)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

  • 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (1999 purple)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (1999** blue)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Brazilian Nationals (1998 blue)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF Brazilian Nationals (1999 brown)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (1998 blue)

* Absolute
** Weight and Absolute

Favorite Technique: Triangle Choke

Weight Division: Super-heavy Weight

Team/Association: Gracie Elite Team (Formerly Gracie Barra)

Marcio Cruz “Pe de Pano” Biography

Marcio Cruz was born on the 24th of April, 1978 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Martial arts became a part of Cruz’ life when he was 12, during a short-lived experience with karate. Later in his life, while living at his grandfathers’ house as a teenager, Márcio was introduced to Jiu-Jitsu. Although he loved the sport from the get-go, once he left his grandparents’ home, he could not find another BJJ gym close by, as such he joined a Judo class.

It was in 1996 that 17-year-old Marcio managed to return to jiu-jitsu. Although often seen as an older age to make it at a professional level in this sport, Cruz placed all his efforts on his training and he reaped the rewards of his labor.

All that work combined with the raw talent running through Marcio’s veins, helped him achieve success very fast winning his first major title, the Pan American Championship in 1999 as a blue belt, followed by a World Championship in the same year this time in the Purple Belt Division. His incredible colored belt career did not stop here as the Team GB athlete went on to win the Brazilian National Championship as a brown belt at the end of that year, making this path to black belt one of the fastest recorded at the time (Marcio Cruz received his black belt in 2001).

In 2001 Marcio Cruz won the World Championships at his weight and the absolute divisions, submitting everyone on his path, being given his black belt there and then by “Carlinhos” Gracie.

Marcio Cruz has never been known to be a man that keeps his thoughts to himself. Cocky and somewhat arrogant he is one of those fighters you either love or hate and his antics against Jeff Monson, Terere and many others are well documented and have been the subject of heated forum discussions throughout the internet. Although his attitude might have been questioned by some, no one can deny he is one of the most gifted fighters the BJJ world has ever produced. Even though he may not look like the stereotypical fighter with the cauliflower ears, broad back, and tattoos, his deceiving physique and his guard is game have made him a true master of the art and a delight to watch by any BJJ lover.

Marcio Cruz Grappling Record

48 WINS
  • BY POINTS
    22 (46%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    0 (0%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    24 (50%)
  • BY DECISION
    1 (2%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    1 (2%)
  • BY DQ
    0 (0%)

24 SUBMISSIONS WINS

#214eb8
Armbar
33
8
#86e620
Triangle
21
5
#5AD3D1
Choke
13
3
#d1212a
Kneebar
8
2
#fad11b
RNC
8
2
#f58822
Knee ride
4
1
#224aba
Triangle armbar
4
1
#ff9124
Guillotine
4
1
#bf1f6c
Knee on belly
4
1
24
(100%) SUBMISSIONS
18 LOSSES
  • BY POINTS
    7 (39%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    3 (17%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    6 (33%)
  • BY DECISION
    1 (6%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    1 (6%)
  • BY DQ
    0 (0%)

6 SUBMISSIONS LOSSES

#214eb8
Footlock
17
1
#86e620
Calf slicer
17
1
#5AD3D1
Armbar
17
1
#d1212a
Flying armbar
17
1
#fad11b
Triangle
17
1
#f58822
Submission
17
1
6
(100%) SUBMISSIONS

Marcio Cruz Fight History

ID Opponent W/L Method Competition Weight Stage Year
550Sean AlvarezLPenADCCO99KG4F2001
564JJ MachadoJJ MachadoLFootlockADCCABS4F2001
574Fernando TerereFernando TerereLPts: 6x5BrasileiroABSF2001
603Marcio CorletaMarcio CorletaLPts: 2x2, AdvWorld Champ.O100KGSF2001
826Dean ListerDean ListerLPts: 3x0ADCCABSSF2003
828Fabricio WerdumFabricio WerdumLPts: 6x0ADCCABS3PLC2003
1216Gabriel NapaoLCalf slicerADCCO99KGSF2005
1329Fernando MargaridaFernando MargaridaLArmbarYamasaki CupABSSPF2005
1479Gabriel GonzagaGabriel GonzagaLPointsWorld CupO100KGF2006
1521Andre GalvaoAndre GalvaoLAdvTeam NationalsO88KGF2006
1721Rolles GracieRolles GracieLPointsADCCO99KGSF2007
2277Vinny MagalhaesVinny MagalhaesLFlying armbarADCC99KG4F2009
2730Rodrigo CavacaRodrigo CavacaLTriangleWorld Champ.O100KG4F2010
3147Rodrigo CavacaRodrigo CavacaLSubmissionWorld Champ.O100KGSF2011
3903Roberto AbreuRoberto AbreuLPts: 12x4World Champ.ABSR22012
4145Marcus AlmeidaMarcus AlmeidaLPts: 4x2World Champ.O100KGSF2012
7598Alexandre RibeiroAlexandre RibeiroLReferee DecisionUFC ExpoABSSPF2015
13757Joao RochaJoao RochaLPts: 0x0, AdvIBJJF Pro GPABS4F2017
548Van ArsdaleWKneebarADCCO99KGR12001
556Ricco RodriguezRicco RodriguezWArmbarADCCO99KG3RD2001
560Roberto TravenRoberto TravenWPointsADCCABSR12001
573Carlos AlbertoWN/ABrasileiroO100KGF2001
580Marcio CorletaMarcio CorletaWTriangleWorld Champ.ABS4F2001
623Fernando TerereFernando TerereWPts: 2x0Manaus ChallengeABSSPF2002
687UnknownWPointsWorld Champ.O100KG4F2002
689Felipe PederneirasWChokeWorld Champ.O100KGSF2002
690Luiz GuilhermeLuiz GuilhermeWKnee rideWorld Champ.O100KGF2002
693Marcus ValleWArmbarWorld Champ.ABSR12002
701Roger CoelhoRoger CoelhoWTriangle armbarWorld Champ.ABS4F2002
704Alexandre RibeiroAlexandre RibeiroWPts: 2x0World Champ.ABSSF2002
705Saulo RibeiroSaulo RibeiroWPts: 2x0World Champ.ABSF2002
721Eduardo TellesEduardo TellesWPts: 10x2Team NationalsO88KGF2002
743Alex MonsalveWKneebarTeam NationalsO88KG4F2003
758Rodrigo ArtilheiroWRNCADCC TrialsO99KGSF2003
759Fabiano SchernerFabiano SchernerWN/AADCC TrialsO99KGF2003
809Mike WhiteheadWPointsADCCO99KGR12003
811Jeff MonsonWPointsADCCO99KG4F2003
813Alex NegaoWGuillotineADCCO99KGSF2003
815Fabricio WerdumFabricio WerdumWPointsADCCO99KGF2003
816Ilir LafitiWPointsADCCABSR12003
822Marcelo GarciaMarcelo GarciaWPts: 6x0ADCCABS4F2003
838Beto FerreiraWArmbarWorld Champ.ABSR12003
840Leo. MontenegroWTriangleWorld Champ.ABSR22003
844Fabricio WerdumFabricio WerdumWPts: 7x0World Champ.ABSSF2003
845Roger GracieRoger GracieWPts: 3x0World Champ.ABSF2003
902Robert HandleyWPts: 15x0Brazil vs USAO100KGSPF2003
917Thiago CruzWArmbarPan AmericanO100KGSF2003
919Todd MargolisWKnee on bellyPan AmericanABS4F2003
922Joao SilvaWArmbarPan AmericanABSSF2003
924Fabricio WerdumFabricio WerdumWArmbarPan AmericanABSF2003
1018Alexandre RibeiroAlexandre RibeiroWReferee DecisionBest FightersABSSPF2004
1147Alexandre RibeiroAlexandre RibeiroWPts: 2x0Pan AmericanABSF2005
1207Miodrag PetkovicWRNCADCCO99KGR12005
1213Daniel SimoesDaniel SimoesWPts: 2x0ADCCO99KG4F2005
1518UnknownWChokeTeam NationalsO88KG4F2006
1718J. PietlainenWArmbarADCCO99KGR12007
1719Marcos OliveiraMarcos OliveiraWPointsADCCO99KG4F2007
1722Darren AndyWPointsADCCO99KG3PLC2007
2272Anthony PeroshAnthony PeroshWPointsADCC99KGR12009
3096Tom FlorenceWTriangleWorld Champ.O100KGRDS2011
3130Pega LeveWChokeWorld Champ.O100KG4F2011
3893Daniel RichardsWTriangleWorld Champ.ABSR22012
4136Stephen HallWN/AWorld Champ.O100KGR22012
4142Antonio PeinadoAntonio PeinadoWTriangleWorld Champ.O100KG4F2012
5138R. EvangelistaR. EvangelistaWPenIBJJF Pro LeagueO94KGSF2013
5140Gustavo PiresGustavo PiresWArmbarIBJJF Pro LeagueO94KGF2013

 

Bernardo Faria BJJ Foundations

11 Comments

  • Nightwing says:

    All I got to say Im proud to train under Pe-De-Pano For BJJ!!!

  • Dave quick says:

    Marcio is not only in the top three of all time, he is number 1 when it comes to instructing!

    I earned my Purple belt under him, and lets just say each lesson was a break thru!

  • JJParrilla says:

    You know life is funny there was a rivalry between the two but the respect was always there.It's just a shame that Terere chose a diffrent path.Master Cruz is far better in technical areas where Terere was just raw hunger from the favela. Talent is talent but hands down to Marcio Cruz on Style.

  • Nikolay says:

    Hey, Andre, Pe de Pano was born in 1978 not in 1984.

  • admin says:

    yep, you are right Nikolay. Dunno what happened there. Thanks for the head's up

    André

  • dagoberto badilla m says:

    hola amigo me gustaria invitarlo a mi academia que estoy abriendo proximamente si tiene gusto de venir aqui lo recibimos con gusto gracias….

  • luis pena says:

    I live in tampa and i dont know who would be a better technical guy to study under marcio pe de pano cruz or robson moura please help ???????????????????

    • Alonso says:

      Marcio teaches every class. I've heard Robson teaches but not every class like marcio does. Marcio also rolls with us quite often and his instruction is top notch.

  • Craig Grams says:

    Marcio Cruz is a legend among jiu-jitsu champions.
    He competed and won at the highest level for two decades. “Pe de Pano” uses his champion mindset and passes it into everything. In 2010, speaking no English, he relocated to Tampa, Florida, with a vision of Marcio Cruz Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. His competitive success continued. 10 years later, MCBJJ is one of the most dominant jiu-jitsu academies in the world. It’s tough to find a person in any professional sport who’s is a successful athlete, teacher, coach, and entrepreneur. You can find him teaching classes and learn from one of the greatest

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