Preview by: Richard Burmaster
This fight puts together a Houston legend and one of the most respected BJJ practitioners in the world. When Rocky Long took his first fight in 2001, there was no such thing as amateurs, and MMA was not even a blip on the cultural landscape. With a 3-12 record since 2007, Rocky is winding down a great career and will always be known as a Houston MMA Legend. Professor Draculino has produced 25 BJJ world championships to go along with his own numerous titles in BJJ. While having a life long commitment to the marital arts, Draculino has only competed in MMA twice and his last fight was in 2005. When compared to Rocky Long’s 45 fights, this may be one of the few times Professor Draculino will not be the more experienced competitor. With the huge disparities in MMA experience, this will be a hard fight to call. Let’s break this great fight down.
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Vinicius Magalhaes | Name | Rocky Long |  |
| Draculino | Nickname | Machine Gun | ||
| 5’7″ | Height | 5’8″ | ||
| 145 | Weight | 145 | ||
| 1-1 | Record | 19-42 | ||
| Gracie Barra Texas | Gym | RockyLong MMA | ||
| Vs | ||||
| Fabio Mello (L – TKO)
Kleber Gaudino (W – Sub) |
Last Three Fights | Derrick Krantz (L – Sub)
Clint Godfrey (W – Dec.) Chris Manuel (W – Dec.) |
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| DRAW | POWER:
Neither of these two fighters has shown over their careers an overwhelming power. Rocky has not stopped an opponent by TKO or KO since 2005 and Draculino has only won via submission. |
DRAW | ||
| SPEED:
Athletes generally slow down over age thirty-five, but Draculino has always been very quick on the mat. Rocky has always been a very fast striker, but the wear and tear of his career may be catching up to him as he has seen a decline in his speed in recent fights. |
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WRESTLING: Rocky has shown well rounded skills over the years, and he has been able to hang with most of the wrestlers he has faced. Draculino has years of grappling experience at the highest level, and he will surely have some tricks up his sleeves. |
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CLINCH: Rocky loves to dirty box, and he is very effective against the cage from the clinch. Draculino is a great grappler when he can get his hands on you, and with his Judo background, he is comfortable in the clinch, but his inexperience in the cage might hurt him when pressed against the cage. |
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GROUND:
Rocky has been successful on the ground in the cage with seven submission victories to his credit. Draculino has competed with the best in the world, and he has a laundry list of titles to his name including a 4x Pan American Champion, 2x Brazilian National Champion and a 2x Silver medalist at the World BJJ championships. To say that Draculino has an overwhelming advantage on the ground would be putting it very lightly. |
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| CARDIO:
Draculino has always been in great shape, and I see no reason why he would not be for this fight as well. While he has competed in some very high level matches, his experience with cage cardio is still rather limited. Rocky has made a career out of going to decision, with 8 wins and 17 loses by decision, he has went the distance in many fights and knows what it takes to grind out a win. |
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WINNER: Rocky Long via TKO |
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SUMMARY: Rocky Long and Professor Draculino have represented MMA and BJJ with the respect and class that you would expect from two legends. It’s not often that you get to see two people with such extensive combat backgrounds square off against each other in the city they both call home. Draculino will look to get this fight to the ground quickly where he holds his best chance of winning. Rocky will look to either turn this into a kickboxing match, or he will look to clinch and wear out the Professor with dirty boxing. Draculino is a hard man to ever bet against as he almost always comes out on top, but I think Rocky’s experience will be the deciding factor in this match. Rocky has said this is his final match in Houston, and he will surely look to go out on top. |
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Rocky long via TKO… Very well put Rocky has been coming into the gym looking better and better everyday and been cross training with some of houstons best. This is going to be an interesting match up to watch and I’m sure rocky with finish this match the way the old Rocky Long did.
Damn rocky, what retirement home did you find this guy at? Im glad they didn’t show a picture, otherwise it would look like he was fighting Old Man Time.
Rocky is a true Houston MMA legend.Back in the day the only two Texas fighters I knew by name were Rocky Long and Yves Edwards. Nothing against Professor Draculino but, Rich has it right on point. Rocky’s experience will to much for him to handle. Will be a great fight for the Houston scene either way.
Draculino by submission at the end of the first round. One takedown and it’ll be over…
I do think if Drac gets the takedown its over.
i have to back my boy rocky here. He’s got great sub defense and will turn this in to a scrap. he will be able to decide where the fight goes and that gives him the edge.
Sub defense doesn’t work against someone like Draculino. His level is just so far beyond it’s crazy. In nogi he tools world champion black belts.
His only sub defense that may work would have to be punches to the face. That isn’t something he trains every day like Rocky.
I hate to say it, but the only thing Rocky is good at is losing against local talent. While he’s famous here, he’s famous like Butterbean or Josh Thompson. Fun to watch, but not much of a real threat.
great info
I hate to say it but guys like Draculino are a dying breed like Royce Gracie. I dont deny the mans skill at all and im sure he’ll put on a hell of a show but I see him falling to a man who is less experienced in his martial art specialty, But more well versed in the sport of MMA itself.
Draculino is going to kill rocky it is like putting a mouse in a room with a cat.Rocky has no chance against a fourth degree black belt.No offense rocky u are a great guy but you have to lose this one.
I hate to break it to you but a average boxer isn’t going to stop draculino..draculino gets one takedown its over,.another thing is draculino has better training partners,Frankie Edgar,almeida,romulo barral etc etc. Rocky long will get sub’d
Rich are you confident enough to put some skin on this prediction.
PM me, I have some mad money I would like to invest.
Retirement home?….Dying Breed?…I love it when people are wrong!!!!!!!!!!Ghostman I hope that you won some money!..All these “experts” will make you a very rich man….. Draku e o cara! Mestre voce e FODA!!! bicho pegou ontem!!!!!!!!!!!Parabems!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, a lot of people put their foot in their mouths on this page, huh? Much respect for Rocky for stepping in the cage, seems like a really good guy from what I’ve seen.
WAR DRACULINO!!!!!