Pioneering Brazilian MMA coach Roberto Leitao was hospitalized with COVID-19 on October 14, and succumbed to the disease on Saturday. He was 83 years old.
A mechanical engineer and university professor, he applied extraordinary rigor to the practice of Lute Livre, the equivalent of Catch Wrestling in the USA and Europe, across 60 years. Notable students in the 1980’s and 90’s included Renato “Babalu” Sobral, Pedro “The Rock” Rizzo, Marco “King of The Street” Ruas, and 1984 Greco Roman Superheavyweight Gold medalist and UFC Hall of Famer Jeff Blatnick.
Master Leitao” founded the first Brazilian wrestling federation, the Brazilian Confederation of Associated Wrestling, in 1979, and worked at the Olympic Games in 1998 in Seoul and in 1992 in Barcelona. He trained Ruas for the pioneering fight vs. Pinduca in 1984, and was in his corner at UFC 7 on September 8, 1995, in Buffalo, NY. There Ruas heel hooked Larry Cureton, ground Remco Pardoel into submitting, and TKO’d Paul Varelans, all in one night. Leitao was in Sobral’s corner when Babalu armbarred Mikhail Ilyukhin, and decisioned Kiyoshi Tamura, before losing a decision to Dan Henderson at Rings: King of Kings on February 2, 2000, again all in one night.
MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz spoke with Rizzo, who began training with Leitao in 1991, and attributes most of his grappling knowledge to the master.
He always said people might like fighting, but no one loves it more than him. And that’s true, said Rizzo. He would always bring shorts with him everywhere he went. He was always ready in case he met someone and they were close to a gym. And if the other guy said he didn’t have shorts, he’d have a spare one so there would be no excuses. He loved training.
Cruz also spoke with Babalu, a former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion and UFC title contender, about his beloved coach.
Mr. Leitao was a very important person in my career, said Sobral. He was patient to teach me in the beginning when I didn’t know anything. He sat down and explained me everything, taught me everything. I’m so thankful. This man gives meaning to the word ‘master.’ The word ‘master’ is overused these days, people call their coaches ‘masters’ for affection, but, to me, Leitao is a master.
