Ricardo Liborio
| Ricardo Libório | |
|---|---|
 Libório at American Top Team | |
| Born |
July 13, 1967 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Residence | Coconut Creek, Florida |
| Nationality | Brazilian American |
| Team | American Top Team |
| Rank |
black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black belt in Judo |
Ricardo Libório is the head instructor and co-founder of American Top Team (ATT), a mixed martial arts school based in Coconut Creek, Florida.
At ATT's main facility, Libório helps to train a stable of UFC, Bellator, and other professional fighters, including Thiago Alves, Robbie Lawler, Antônio Silva, Nik Lentz, Mirsad Bektic, Marcus Brimage, Hector Lombard, Cole Miller, Micah Miller, Jeff Monson, Brad Pickett, Ken Stone, Gleison Tibau, Steve Mocco, Tecia Torres, Dan Cramer, Yoel Romero, Colby Covington, Muhammed Lawal, Nathan Coy, Steve Carl, Attila Vegh, Valérie Létourneau, Jorge Masvidal, Jessica Aguilar, Dustin Poirier, and Tyron Woodley.
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, 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 for Japanese promotion Deep the same year, facing veteran Ikuhisa Minowa in a special match. In a bout with barely any 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 the top position and almost locking a rear naked choke at its ending, and he would went to trade submissions with the Japanese at the third and last, being still entangled in a leglock exchange when the bell rang. As the match was stipulated without judges, it went to a draw.
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 1 match | 0 wins | 0 losses |
| Draws | 1 | |
| 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 2000
- 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.
- National Coach for USA Grappling[9]
References
- ↑ "The 4th Annual Power 20". Fight!. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ↑ "Nominees for Fighters Only World MMA Awards 2009". Fighters Only. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- 1 2 "Ricardo Libório". ATT.
- ↑ "American Top Team instructors". ATT.
- ↑ "USA Grappling National Coach Ricardo Liborio interviewed on Eddie Goldman's No Holds Barred". The mat.com.
- ↑ "Campeonato Internacional Master E Sênior 2000". IBJJF.
- ↑ "2015 ADCC: most favorites make it to semifinals; Liborio tops Sperry on superfight". graciemag.com.
- ↑ "Visually impaired kids hit the mat in martial arts lesson". Sun Sentinel.
- ↑ "Liborio, Levitetz take USA Grappling leadership roles; USA to host 2009 Grappling Worlds in Florida". The mat.com.