Romulo Barral is a name that anyone with even a passing interest in competitive BJJ is overtly familiar with. A six-time IBJJF World Champion who was a constant figure on the podium from 2006 to 2017, Barral also came away with an ADCC gold medal back in 2013. Since then, his competitive appearances have dwindled as the 38 year-old has dedicated much more of his time to training the next generation of elite talent in California, at Gracie Barra Northridge.
That all changes this coming weekend at Fight 2 Win 150, where Barral will make only his fifth appearance on the competitive mats since losing out to Gordon Ryan in the quarter-finals of ADCC 2017. Each of those five trips have been single fights instead of tournaments, with Barral going 3-2 in that time. Most recently he was seen beating Jake Shields by Decision at Third Coast Grappling 3 which coincidentally also took place in Texas, where he’ll be returning on August 21st.
Despite being old enough to enter the second Master’s division, Romulo Barral will be taking on an Adult competitor in Tanner Rice. While Rice will definitely have the advantage of youth, he’s a significantly less decorated grappler with his crowning achievement to date being a pair of silver medals at the IBJJF Pan Championship. He’s not going to be a pushover though as Rice has taken home some seriously impressive scalps in the past like Lucas ‘Hulk’ Barbosa, Adam Wardzinski, and Aaron ‘Tex’ Johnson.
