Total-MMA.com

by Tommy Hackett

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It’s a new day for Mario Sperry, the newest coach for the International Fight League.

The two time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion and 13 year veteran of MMA is busy creating not only a new competition team and school, but one in a new home, in a new country, and for a new organization. While plans for his Las Vegas school are being finalized, he’s imparting his wisdom to students at seminars across the US, like yesterday at Marcelo Alonso’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Seattle. The occassion marked Sperry’s fourth visit to the Emerald City to visit his old friend from the Carlson Gracie Team.

“Mario Sperry demonstrates an entry into an armlock at last night’s Seattle seminar”

Working with MMA and BJJ champions like Rodrigo Nogueira and Ricardo Arona may seem like a world apart from conducting a seminar where he may be expected to help introduce the “gentle art” to a new student. But in conversation with Sperry, the two appear to have a surprising amount in common.

“I’ve always believed that jiu-jitsu is a very simple art,” the world champion begins, taking a break as the seminar breaks between its gi and no-gi instruction.

“My jiu-jitsu was always very simple, very effective. I instruct very directly, I go straight to the point. The things I like to teach are very easy to learn. That’s why most of the students have no problem. They can be white, purple, or black belts. My goal is to make sure everyone understands the most important principles of any position. The details in the foundation are very important.”

Sperry adds that he actually hasn’t changed much of his approach to jiu-jitsu training since his first tournaments.

“I do the same things,” he continues. I’ve always believed in drills, working hard at the same positions. Make a strategy for each different opponent and it worked very well, especially in jiu-jitsu.”

He smiles when asked about his favorite moments in his long career as a teacher and fighter in jiu-jitsu and MMA, saying “it would be impolite to choose just one.”

“I’ve been very blessed to work with a lot of good fighters,” he continues. “Fighters who have the will to be champions: Rodrigo Nogueira, his brother, Ricardo Arona, Paulo Filho, Buscape, many great fighters. Those guys gave me a lot of wonderful moments. There’s so many, I wouldn’t dare say just one.”

Sperry’s quietly confident demeanor has been a constant throughout his career, earning the nickname “Zen Machine.” But he remembers an exception or two, like falling to the mat and making the sign of the cross after his US debut, a victory in the Reality Superfighting promotion, in 1995. “I’m a very religious guy, we Brazilians are very religious. Fighting for us is more than a job, it’s our lifestyle. That fight was one of my greatest moments because it was my first fight out of Brazil. I spent one month training here in America, away from my family. I really thanked God for everything.”

From the national to mundial jiu-jitsu championships, to Abu Dhabi, to fighting and training some of the best fighters in the world for what was the biggest MMA organization in the world of the day, Sperry has seemingly seen it all.

“I was in PRIDE for seven years,” he says. “I went to Japan 52 times! Sakakibara was awesome, he was a cool guy. They were very organized, a lot of discipline. They had been in the market for a long, long time.”

But the legend isn’t done yet, and he will see a chance to build another great MMA moment next month, as he captains his new team of fighters for the International Fight League. His team will face a team captained by Randy Couture, who Sperry has incidentally been training with since arriving in Las Vegas last year. Sperry describes the UFC champion as “a true gentleman. When I came to Vegas first time, right before his fight with Gonzaga, I came over to his place for a bit and helped him train for his fight. He treated me real well. The other fighters treated me really good. I felt like home.”

Regarding leading a team of fighters to face his new friends at the Xtreme Couture gym, Sperry admits, “It’s a little awkward. Actually my fighters aren’t training there. Two guys, they’re in Brazil, I’m bringing them over. I basically don’t have a team right now. But the guys there at Xtreme Couture are very professional, they’re cool. I like to be there. Sometimes I share some information. It’s a good exchange.”

Sperry won’t be fighting at that show, but he doesn’t rule out a return to the cage, either.

“I’m open for anything,” he begins. “Right now I’d like to set down my family, my life, get my family here, get a home, get the gym. My life is kind of confused right now. I’m not able to train like I’d like to. I know in two three months this will be over and I’ll be training real hard and the IFL or any other place, I’d like to fight.”

Sperry expects to have classes running at a Las Vegas location in a few months time. He’s clearly excited for the new beginning, but describes the process as a difficult one.

“I have to view the location. Two, three months ago I didn’t even know I was going to be in Las Vegas. I went to NY, Texas, did my research. I like Vegas, people really enjoy fighting; people breathe fighting. I like the weather. It’s hot, I like it!”

Sometimes it’s hard to picture the Mario Sperry seen in Paul Viele’s Day of the Zen documentary, famously walking along the beach in Rio to enjoy his country’s beautiful coast, in the middle of the desert.

“Yeah,” he says with a laugh. “I’m going to be working, it’s gonna be even better for me. When I lived in Rio, I lived right in front of the beach, right in front of one of the best spots but I could not surf, because I had to work in the day. 20 years ago, I could go surf and then train. Now, if I surf, I have to rest the whole day!”

Still, as in his principles of jiu-jitsu, the foundation remains. He says about his new home with a wink, “Hawaii’s five hours, straight flight.”