Fight Sports is one of the biggest and most successful franchises out there, but the gym has just had three elite competitors leave their mats around the same time. It’s no doubt going to be a huge loss that will be felt across the gym’s competition team, but it’s also just one of those things that tends to happen from time to time. The only unusual fact is that they’ve lost three top athletes all at once, although apparently these are all separate decisions and none of them are connected to the others.
Andre Porfirio was promoted to black belt by the founder of Fight Sports himself, Roberto ‘Cyborg’ Abreu, back at the end of 2019. He’s enjoyed plenty of success while representing Fight Sports as one of their top competitors, but Porfirio has announced his decision to leave the team on good terms. He hasn’t yet decided which team he’s going to be moving to, although someone is about to receive a huge boost to their competition squad. Porfirio made the announcement on his official Instagram account and the translation can be found here:
“Coming to communicate that I’m not longer part of Team Fight Sports anymore! Just gratitude for those years working together, had amazing moments inside the gym that will be never forgotten, got to meet great peoples that turned to be friends and I will bring with me forever… I learned how to be a real athlete, about consistency and how hard work pays off, not just on the mats but in life. Got there as a kid and today I can say that I’m leaving as a grown man, ready for the next chapter of my journey. Thanks everyone who supported me on this time together, my students that I’m so proud for, Coaches and staff from the gym and everyone evolved. Love and respect to all. Out of the comfort zone is where I always got to improve the most , can’t wait for what’s is coming next. Thanks Jesus.”
The second of the three competitors to leave Fight Sports was the most shocking; Maggie Grindatti. She has represented the team for the past six years and was in a relationship with Cyborg for a large part of that time as well, although not since 2021. This has actually ended up contributing to Grindatti leaving the team and although she hasn’t got a new team to represent just yet, she did take part in a team grappling event at Midwest Finishers 12 as part of Vagner Rocha Martial Arts. Grindatti also announced her decision to leave the Fight Sports on her official Instagram account. She made the announcement after representing them for the last time at the IBJJF Austin Winter International:
“Bitter sweet, last fight. Today I fought my last fight representing the Fight Sports Flag. Over a year ago, my relationship with Borg ended. From the beginning we both wanted to continue to be in each others lives and continue our professional relationship, athlete coach relationship and build a friendship. We kept things private in order to do so successfully. And we did a really good job for a long time and I cherish all of the lessons and knowledge and personal growth we both did during this time. And more than anything I cherish all of the good memories and moments that we shared. Today has been very emotional to say the least but I am so honored I got to fight one more time as Fight Sports. I will always be proud of my roots, I will cheer on my teammates forever and I will always carry the flag on my heart and on me.”
“I found the courage of God during the time I was at Fight Sports, because of the hard times I was passing through and this tattoo not only represents being a Fight Sports black belt but also a reminder that God is always with me. But my purpose there has been served and I trust that Gods plan is way better than my plan. Today was also special because I made a commitment once I tore my ACL that when I was back I would focus just in NOGI and make a run for ADCC 2024. And with the pressures of life, it felt good to stay focused on the goal. AND Jasmine Rocha and I started training together when we were blue belts she was 14, and I was 23. We always talked about closing absolutes together when we were black belts. And to close out this chapter making sure we accomplished that goal that meant the world to me. Thank you Jasmine Rocha I love you. Thank you to everyone who has been apart of this chapter of my journey I am forever grateful.”
Luccas Lira Costa was the final of these three to announce his decision to leave Fight Sports, and he was one of their most promising current brown belt competitors. He joined the team in 2019 but hasn’t been able to spend much time training at Fight Sports headquarters in Miami. His performances on the mats since then are what led to him being invited to compete at ADCC 2022, although he couldn’t make it in the end due to visa issues. Costa also announced his decision to leave Fight Sports in a post to his official Instagram account, and has since joined up with Dream Art:
“Through this post I want to communicate that I’m not part of Fight Sports anymore. Nothing but gratitude for everything that happened during the time I was representing the team. So many good stories and moments that I’ll never forget with people that will always be on my heart. I appreciate everyone but now it’s time for me to grow and search for something that full fills my dream.”