Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter Erberth Santos’ time competing in the BJJ Stars is done after an ugly brawl with spectators on Saturday.
Santos took on IBJJF world champion Felipe “Preguiça” Pena and suffered an apparent knee injury during the fight. As the medical staff was attending to Santos, a heckler caught Santos’s attention.
Santos then jumped to his feet and charged at the heckler in the crowd and continued to fight with other spectators.
Here’s another angle of the incident:
BJJ Stars promoter Fernando Lopes announced in an interview with MMA Fighting that Santos would be banned from competing in BJJ Stars events.
He said via mmafighting.com:
“He was provoked by someone in the crowd, who was cheering for Felipe or against him,” Lopes said. “I’m a black belt for 21 years and an athlete has to be a black belt on and off the mat to deserve a black belt in my team. I wouldn’t give a blue belt to an irresponsible man who fights in the street.”
“The event was great, getting a lot of praise, and it’s a shame that one person’s attitude can tarnish the entire work of many people in the end,” he continued. “I know how hard my partners and I worked, I left many things aside to put my passion in first place, and that can’t tarnish all the work we’ve done.”
“Preguiça” Pena was declared the winner of the fight.
