I had the opportunity to head down to the Jorge Gurgel MMA Academy in West Chester, Ohio. The first thing you notice when walking Academy is the size. I was shocked at how big the gym was and surprisingly how clean and well kept it was. Apart from the size, you can’t miss a wall plastered with Belts and Trophies. If you walk around there is memorabilia all over the walls (signed jerseys from TUF 2, Autographed pic of Brown vs May, Black Belt Certificates, Gurgel’s Blue and Brown belts, pics wth Franca, Renzo and many other MMA notables). Watching Gurgel teach a no-gi BJJ class, it was very noticeable how much of a great teacher he was. Paying close attention to every student and helping them out individually when needed. I also had the chance to sit down with Jorge Gurgel to interview him.

Mike: Could you start off by telling us a little about life in Brazil?
Jorge: I grew up in Fortaleza, Brazil, and excelled in many sports as a kid. I played Soccer, Volleyball, and Basketball. All of my friends told me that because of my size and flexibility that I should try jiu-jitsu, but I was like I am not going to pay money to have some guys sweaty crotch in my face. haha. I would rather go to the beach and surf with the hot girls...and anyways I thought I don’t need jiu-jitsu, I will just punch you in the face. My younger brother actually started in jiu-jitsu first, and after seeing Rickson Grace, I could tell that he was just so ahead of his time. You could just see it in his eyes you know? So I started jiu-jitsu at 15, and since the first day Brazilian jiu-jitsu changed my life. From that point on jiu-jitsu was everything to me. It was not a job, but a lifestyle. With the teamwork, and loyalty and everything. It helped me realize that there’s more to the world then just you.

Mike: Who did you train with?
Jorge: I trained under Marcus Aurelio. Hermes Franca also trained with us.

Mike: And when did you make the move to America, and why?
Jorge: Well I was an exchange student in Chicago at age 16 (1998), and I loved the way of life. It was a very independent way of life. When I went back to Brazil, I took a test for a scholarship. There were 56,000 kids in Brazil that applied and only the top 50 scores would get a scholarship. I was 31st, and had a full ride to a top Business school in Brazil, but that’s not what I wanted to do. I wanted to come to America and start my own jiu-jitsu school. My dad was a Chemical Engineer, and my mom was a Economics and Mathematics major, and they couldn’t understand why there oldest and SMARTEST (laughing) son would want to be a fighter. I told them that I was going to move to America to go to College (with my brother), and that it would be better for me in the long run. So I enrolled in Wright State and moved into an apartment with my brother in the Ghetto of Dayton. We had no furniture, had to sleep on the floor, had nothing! I started bussing tables up to 13 hrs a day to make some money. And then one day I was asked to teach BJJ at a school, I would get paid $8/hr and there were 8 students when I started, I was very excited to be doing this, but at times it was humiliating…because I sill needed to work bus tables. So I would finish teaching class, and change clothes and literally walk next door to the restaurant and work there for 10 hours. And a lot of times my students would come over to eat, and I would have to serve them. But every year the number of students would grow, we went from 8 to 12 to 20 to 80 students!!! At this time my parents contacted me and said that I was doing well, and asked if I would like a little help with getting my gym started. I went into the restaurant and said "I Quit!", I also dropped out of college with 1 semester left to focus on my gym/fighting, and I personally think Business School is over-rated, what you need to do is follow a plan or mentor. And go off of a trial and error basis. I have made both good and bad decisions in my 8 years with the school, and you go off those...you know what I am saying? Calculus…what the fuck? Who needs that, get a calculator if you want to do that. haha. But I am here, I have my school…and I am living my dream.

Mike: Could you quickly give us your thoughts on the fight with Aaron Riley a UFC 91?
Jorge: The thing with me is, I always think I am winning the fight (laughs). I was doing good the first round, and told the corner "I am just getting warmed up", I think I started to get a little too aggressive and fell into my old habits, of getting into a slugfest with him. I got a takedown at the end of the 2nd round which could have gone either way. The third round he landed a good neck kick, and won the round. I fought hard, and everything happens for the best. You learn from it.

Mike: What do you do in your free time?
Jorge: I don’t have free time, haha. Between teaching, seminars, training camps, fights, I have no free time…but I am not complaining. I love it! My brother will call me and be like "Hey we just went skydiving, and hiking, and white water rafting...whatever the fuck that is (laughing). And he's like what are you doing, and I go, about to go to a wrestling private class. haha…but I do love it. When I do get a little free time I like to play guitar, Rich Franklin and I have a little band and we have like to get together and play sometimes.

Mike: Cheat Food?
Jorge: Pizza, but I can’t eat bad very often. After the fight I ate like a disgusting fat pig for like 3 days straight, but then it made me feel like a fat piece of shit, haha....and I had to start eating clean again.

Mike: Final 2. If you were matchmaker for a day, what fight would you love to see?
Jorge: Well I really wanna see: Penn vs GSP II, my best friend Marcus Davis in his fight with Chris Lytle...that is gonna be a good one. Also my other Best Friend Rich Franklin in his fight with Dan Henderson…and whoever Dustin Hazelett fights next, so I can see what kind of move he pulls out of his ass this time. haha

Mike: And the finale' if they made a movie about Jorge Gurgel, who would play you?
Jorge: hmm that's a good one. I would probably have my brother play me…because everyone says that we look alike.