Eugenio Tadeu

{{Infobox martial artist|name=Eugênio Tadeu|image=|caption=Eugênio Tadeu on the far right, 1990s|birth_date=1965|nationality=Brazil|birth_place=Rio de Janeiro, Brazil|height={{height|ft=5|in=8 }}|weight_lb=170|weight_kg=77.11 KG|height_m=1.73|weightclass=Welterweight
Openweight|martial_art=Luta livre
Muay Thai
Capoeira|fightingoutof=Rio de Janeiro, Brazil|years_active=1984–2003|mma_win=2|mma_kowin=1|mma_subwin=1|mma_loss=3|mma_koloss=3|mma_nc=1|rank={{color box|black}} 9th Dan Black Belt in Luta Livre Esportiva}}

Eugenio Tadeu is a Brazilian grappler, Vale Tudo{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nhH4AwAAQBAJ&q=Eugenio+Tadeu+brazil&pg=PA116|title=Blood in the Cage|isbn=978-0547347226|last1=Jon Wertheim|first1=L.|date=2010-01-05|publisher=HarperCollins }} and mixed martial arts fighter.{{cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Eugenio-Tadeu-187|title=Eugenio Tadeu|work=Sherdog}} Tadeu was born in 1965.{{cite web|url=http://mmahalloffame.com/world/nomineeprofile-235.php|title=MMA HOF|work=mmahalloffame.com}} He was famous as a practitioner of Luta Livre, or Brazilian Submission wrestling{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2013/5/8/4309600/the-riot-over-renzo-gracie-vs-eugenio-tadeu|title=The riot over Renzo Gracie vs Eugenio Tadeu|author=Matthew Kaplowitz|work=Bloody Elbow|date=2013-05-08}} and was one of the last representatives of this art form.{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/8/23/2379841/ufc-134-rio-mma-history-renzo-gracie-vs-eugenio-tadeu-riot|title=Renzo Gracie vs. Eugenio Tadeu and the Show Ending Riot|author=Fraser Coffeen|work=Bloody Elbow|date=2011-08-24}}

Tadeu is notable for representing Luta Livre in Vale Tudo/MMA events. Especially on the feud between Luta Livre and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.{{Cite web |date=2007-08-07 |title=The Ur-Brazilian MMA Feud: BJJ vs Luta Livre and the Style They Never Saw Coming |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2007/08/07/luta-livre-vs-bjj/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Bloody Elbow |language=en}}

Biography

In the JJ vs Martial Arts Challenge Vale Tudo event in 1984. Tadeu defeated BJJ representative Renan Pitanguy by TKO.{{cite web|url=http://www.bjjheroes.com/bjj-culture/jiu-jitsu-vs-luta-livre|title=The Biggest Rivalry in Martial Arts History: BJJ vs Luta Livre - BJJ Heroes: the jiu jitsu encyclopedia|author=BJJ Heroes|work=bjjheroes.com}}

In 1991, he fought BJJ representative Wallid Ismail at the Desafio - Jiu Jitsu vs Luta Livre Vale Tudo event. The match saw both fighters extensively exchanging strikes, Ismail used his aggressive jiu-jitsu to takedown Tadeu and apply an early form of Ground-and-Pound, punishing him with headbutts and by throwing him outside the ring multiple times. After 16 minutes of fighting, Ismail threw him outside the ring one last time and the tired and injured Tadeu wasn't able to come back in, giving the victory to Ismail by TKO.{{Cite web |last=Sherdog.com |title=Desafio - Jiu-Jitsu vs. Luta Livre |url=https://www.sherdog.com/events/Desafio-JiuJitsu-vs-Luta-Livre-460 |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Sherdog |language=en}}

In 1988, as a retaliation for the street fight between Rickson Gracie and Hugo Duarte. Tadeu together with a group of 60-70 other Luta Livre fighters, some armed with knives and firearms, did a Dojo storm on Gracie Academy, seeking a rematch for the fight. Tadeu choose to fight Royler Gracie but the match was cancelled as police was called. A couple of days later, Rickson and Royler went to Tadeu's academy to settle the score and Tadeu fought Royler into an hour long draw.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lzdXP08P1pkC&q=Eugenio+Tadeu&pg=PT1150|title=The MMA Encyclopedia|isbn=9781554908448|last1=Snowden|first1=Jonathan|last2=Shields|first2=Kendall|date=November 2010|publisher=ECW Press }} He was scheduled to fight Ralph Gracie but this never materialized.{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2014/4/22/5367516/mma-origins-battlecade-extreme-fighting-igor-Zinoiev-ralph-gracie-maurice-smith-john-perretti|title=MMA Origins: Extreme Fighting blazes trail for MMA in the US|author=T.P. Grant|work=Bloody Elbow|date=2014-04-22}} This was because Tadeu did not submit his visa in time.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LtkDAAAAMBAJ&q=Eugenio+Tadeu&pg=PA98|title=Black Belt July 1997|work=google.com|date=July 1997}}

= Renzo Gracie fight =

His most famous fight was with Renzo Gracie. Renzo and Tadeu were long time rivals.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ttkDAAAAMBAJ&q=Eugenio+Tadeu&pg=PA159|title=Black Belt January 1998|work=google.com|date=January 1998}} The rivalry has been described as being a Hatfield vs McCoy style rivalry because in South America machismo is the rule.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h6htayfuD-YC&q=Eugenio+Tadeu&pg=PA101|title=A Fighter's Heart|isbn=9781555847357|last1=Sheridan|first1=Sam|date=2008-02-19|publisher=Grove/Atlantic }} Renzo once said "my name is not a bone to be carried in the jaw of a dog," before slapping the guy and declaring "you don't deserve my fist."{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T2xhLOS5ANsC&q=Eugenio+Tadeu&pg=PT45|title=Tapped Out|isbn=9781101535813|last1=Polly|first1=Matthew|date=2011-11-17|publisher=Penguin }} This was Renzo's last bare knuckle fight. The riot from this fight led to MMA being banned from Rio de Janeiro.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2013/9/29/4742074/renzo-gracie-eugenio-tadeu-and-the-riot-that-got-mma-banned-in-rio-de|title=Renzo Gracie, Eugenio Tadeu and the riot that got MMA banned in Rio de Janeiro|author=Guilherme Cruz|work=MMA Fighting|date=2013-09-29}} Renzo claimed he was dominating the fight, but was having issues due to the oil that was on Tadeu's body. After 15 minutes Renzo refused to rise and beckoned Tadau to grapple.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nhH4AwAAQBAJ&q=Eugenio+Tadeu&pg=PA116|title=Blood in the Cage|isbn=978-0547347226|last1=Jon Wertheim|first1=L.|date=2010-01-05|publisher=HarperCollins }} Renzo punched a fan in the face, causing more fans to riot. The fight has been ranked one of the best fights to be ruled a no contest.{{cite web|url=http://themmacorner.com/2015/02/10/the-list-greatest-fights-to-be-ruled-no-contest/ |title=The List: Greatest Fights to be Ruled No Contest |author=Blane Ferguson |work=The MMA Corner |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630171408/http://themmacorner.com/2015/02/10/the-list-greatest-fights-to-be-ruled-no-contest/ |archivedate=2015-06-30 }} The riot was featured on World's Dumbest Criminals and is listed as the #8 Worst Moment In MMA History by ESPN.

= UFC =

Eugenio Tadeu continued to represent Luta Livre, now in international events. He was invited to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he participated at UFC 16 on the organization's inaugural Welterweight tournament. Tadeu fought Lion's Den graduate Mikey Burnett and lost to TKO after a 9:46 round.{{Cite web |title=UFC 16: Battle in the Bayou {{!}} MMA Event |url=https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/ufc-16-battle-in-the-bayou |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Tapology |language=en}}