Youngster Breaks Everyone With Flying Submissions — Mika Galvao
This kid right Galvão. Born in Manaus deep in the Amazon jungle. You know where the air is so thick with humidity your gi’s already soaked before you even start drilling. My buddy went there once said his gi got moldy in like two days just sitting in his bag. Anyway Mika started learnin the science of pain from his own father. Imagin that your dad is your first like human pretzel instructor. And not just BJJ either he was doing freestyle wrestling and judo from a super young age. By 15 FIFTEEN he was tapping out grown men in adult divisions. What were you doing at 15 Probably playin video games and tryin not to get caught smoking behind the school. This dude was already a terror.
➤ The Rise of the Amazonian Assassin
Fast forward to 2021. This dude is only 17 years old still technically a “miracle boy” – and he jumps into some eight-man tournament on super short notice. Like he probably just rolled out of bed still half asleep and went straight to choke out three seasoned vets. In the final he just straight-up reverse arm-barred the reigning world champ. BOOM. Done. A month later his dad gives him his black belt. Think about that gettin a black belt from your dad after submitting a world champ. That’s a family heirloom man. And then as if that wasn’t enough he goes to the adult world championship in gi and makes every single opponent tap. Every. Single. One. Youngest black belt world champ ever. It’s like somethin out of a comic book.
He even choked out the “fighting nerd” from the UFC Gordon Ryan’s nemesis Jean Silva. Dude pulled out this side triangle out of nowhere when Silva’s arm wasn’t available. It’s like he had these hidden moves tucked away in his gi like a secret snack. In the final the other guy tried to pass his guard and Galvão just turned him into a squirming fish guillotined him then switched to a triangle. Seamless. It didn’t matter what the dress code was gi no-gi he just kept eating people alive all the way to the ADCC final.
➤ The Ruotolo Rivalry (and a Gnarly Loss)
Now the ADCC. This is the big one. The Olympics of grappling essentially. Held every two years brings in all the nastiest bone-breakers from around the world. Galvão’s dad knowin the deal brings in Demian Maia to help with training. Maia man that’s a whole different level of BJJ. You know old school ADCC champ. He just reminded me of Marcelo Garcia like the best ever regardless of weight. Garcia his guard work the back attacks it’s like an anaconda squeezing you slowly. A nightmare for anyone seriously.
So Mika gets to ADCC 2022. He’s on this huge win streak everybody’s hype. His first fight he’s just going wild hitting flying takedowns galloping to the next round. Then he meets Kade Ruotolo. This guy Kade he’s a crowd favorite a real acrobatic dude got that curly hair bottomless gas tank. And those Ruotolo brothers man they’re somethin’ else. Like Keanu Reeves in The Matrix but with leg locks.
In that match early on Mika cuts the corner gets a one-leg takedown. Good position. Shifts to the legs. Jumps on a submission attempt probably thinkin he’s got it but then poof Ruotolo somehow breaks contact. It was like gold was right there you could almost touch it. But how do you not get burned when you’re wrestling the Ruotolo brothers They’re like human climbing ropes just scaling opponents finding a way to get on top and squeeze the life out of them. It’s kinda like that feelin when your internet buffers right at the good part of a fight highlight just pure agony.
Mika grabs Kade’s leg and Kade counters with a tight sweep just blocks it perfectly. Ruotolo ties up the guard then transitions to that crazy back-take system exposes the back. Mika’s in a bear trap tries to find an escape route but he makes a fatal mistake exposes his heel. And Ruotolo man he doesn’t forgive that. Chess move checkmate one move. Mika taps. Silver medal.
After that he’s like “Today was not my day” real humble about it. But you could tell that loss burned him. He went back to the mats and just destroyed everyone on home soil. Sixteen submissions in a short time. He was a man possessed. Then he jumps into the FloGrappling Grand Prix chasing that welterweight championship.
➤ World Dominance and Weirdness
In the semi-finals he gets Jacob Rodriguez a hot prospect strong wrestling base good at chokes. Mika just like throws him through the air gets a leg threatens a painful hold gets to top. Rodriguez pops back up goes for a hasty double leg and BAM! Right into another one of Mika’s traps. Crowd goes wild. Rodriguez somehow escapes. But Galvão he’s just to good too slick. He lets Rodriguez play from bottom then just stands up poses for the crowd seals the deal on points.
Finals he gets another beast Nicky Ryan Gordon’s brother black belt under Eddie Bravo. Nicky was ready for a slugfest a power fight. But Mika man he just tied Nicky up in a minute. It was like tryin to punch a ghost in a phone booth. He clinches grabs the dude and just poof he’s on Nicky’s back. Two appearances a dozen viral moments another title on the trophy wall. He even threw a challenger around playfully with a branded sweep under a flash of cans. It was like he was just showing off.
He ended 2023 with a trip to the Kazakh AI League which apparently was all about “copy paste casual undercut fence back staged disarmament fatality.” Whatever that means. But it sounds gnarly. Before the new season he visits an academy and someone’s like “Mika you are a good guy! Come to us more often.” And Mika just shoots back “I don’t think I’ll come back to me here the fifth point Nadra.” I have no idea what that means but it sounds like a cryptic martial arts challenge. Like “my butt hurts here.” Pure gold.
Then the dude still young still charging puts on his gi for the European Championship. Just rips through everyone with armbars. Nobody even lasted till a decision. Pan American Championship Another gold. Like he’s just collectin them. He avoids surgery comes into the Brazilian Championship good as new and doesn’t forget his old tricks. He’s all elbows and levers. Just a counter-punching machine giving up only two points in five fights. He even defended his FloGrappling no-gi title. Just more levers more flyin attacks more armbars. The dude’s shoulders must be made of rubber. Or somethin.
August 2024. ADCC again. The big one. First fight old teammate Levy. Mika immediately hits that patented flying hook sweep takes the back just like turns off Levy’s new hand. He just had to squeeze the air out of Levy’s neck. Quarters were one-sided too. Just dominating standing on the ground submissions galore.
Then he sees an old friend Bart in the semis. Bart worked on his mistakes apparently. Knocks Mika over with a whistle. Mika avoids gettin hit almost passes Bart’s guard. Overtime Galvão snags some points. Still a tight one but judges side with him.
Last obstacle Wagner Rocha. This old guy three-time medalist famous for his explosive temperament and like pain-based wrestling style. You’d expect an old guy to be grumpy right But Rocha like a granddad greets him with almost parental warmth. Lets him get a takedown because he knows he can get up. This unheard-of generosity though it doesn’t last. Mika gets an underhook sweeps the supporting leg. Like “no room for old men here.” But the stubborn old man gets up but without makin any amendments to the game plan comes to his senses already with a school backpack on his back and havin got out and then closed his throat effectively havin filled the experienced warrior and havin forced him to knock the cross maina with a choke from behind. Tap.
Wins ADCC. Wins everything in one calendar year. This kid 20 years old just runnin on endorphins. It’s obvious the ground skills in that family are practiced daily. They’re comparing him to Marcelo Garcia for a reason. Both of them just finish fights no points chasing. Regardless of competition level. Mika even being underweight finished heavyweights and in the absolute division. And get this the guy who beat him at the last ADCC Kade Ruotolo he didn’t even show up this time. He took a million dollars for winning some new promotion with Craig Jones instead. So the inevitable rematch… between these two titans of the “crispy science” it’s gonna be wild. Like chess on a carpet but with limbs rippin off. You know It’s gonna bring even more fans to this crazy sport.
