Villefort brothers take jiu-jitsu by storm

Published June 30th, 2008

By Mario Sarmento
SPORTS EDITOR

Jiu-jitsu is in Danillo and Yuri Villefort’s blood. Their father Francisco was one of the greatest jiu-jitsu artists in their native Brazil – known as “El Indio” for his Native American lineage – so it was just a matter of time before the two were introduced to the sport.

Yuri, 17, has been training for the last four years, while Danillo, 24, has been in jiujitsu and judo for the last 10. Danillo is a black belt, and Yuri is a blue belt who is four years away from Danillo’s level.

Danillo has seen his career blossom since he came to Florida a year-and-a-half ago.
“In Brazil, we have good training, but it’s not professional,” he said. “Here, we have more support, and we have more staff behind us. They help us, we have a lot of high level coaches.”

Danillo, who is a middleweight, fought briefly in the IFL. He won his only match, defeating Mike Massenzio by submission with a kneebar May 16. Danillo has recently taken a new step in his fledgling career, signing a contract to fight in the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) league. His first fight under the new banner will be televised live on the Versus channel Sept. 10 in Las Vegas.

“It’s going to be a big show,” he said. “I’m so proud to fight there, and I hope just to do what I do in the gym.”
Danillo has also opened a training center in Doral called American Top Team Doral, an offshoot of the facility in Coconut Creek. Danillo is one of several coaches at the facility, which already boasts 16 students.

Yuri helps out by coaching there 2-3 times a week, and his career too is thriving.
He followed his brother to the States because he didn’t want to stay in Brazil any longer, and he added, “I just love it.”
Danillo said that part of the allure is the fact fighters get more respect here, and they have a higher earning power. “We can just make our dream come true,” he said.

Yuri recently competed in the Jiu-Jitsu World Championships in Long Beach for the second time, finishing second. Last year, Yuri won third place at the event.

“It was tough, I trained hard for them,” he said. “One minute left, I made a mistake and that turned the whole match.”
Yuri is hoping to finally earn the gold medal next year.

A middle brother, 21-year-old Douglas, has also come over to try his hand at muay-tai, making fighting a family affair for the Villeforts.

Yuri’s next event is a World Championship no-gi in California, where he will battle wrestlers as well as grapplers Aug. 9. No-gi means a fighter does not wear the traditional judogi uniform, which an opponent can grab or manipulate. Yuri will also fight in the Florida State Championship in Orlando July 12.

“I’m hungry, I’m going to train so hard for the win,” Yuri said. “I’m going to do my best.”
Danillo’s goal is to win the WEC belt, which his friend Paulo Filho now holds.

“One day if he loses his post, I want to be there to represent jiu-jitsu and judo,” he said.
Yuri wants to be a world champion in jiu-jitsu and in grappling. Also, when he turns 18, he wants to fight in the MMA.