Kimura USA master Jean Kleber trained the jiu-jitsu-MMA standout at the academy’s Brazil branch.

“We are so proud of Formiga,” said Kleber. “We should remember that Kimura is not just the US. Kimura began in Brazil and has spread to Portugal, Switzerland, and now America. We are all a big extended family.”

A reporter for the MMA news website, Sherdog, described the action, “ All three rounds started more or less the same with Kojima pursuing a conservative standup game, snapping off low kicks and grazing high kicks. When da Silva worked up enough courage to press in close for dirty boxing, knees and takedown attempts, he succeeded in stealing the first and third rounds, getting BJ down on the canvas. In the third, da Silva took Kojima’s back and threatened with chokes and punches. The performance earned him a unanimous decision.” 

In Portuguese, “formiga” means “insect” or “ant.” The fighter earned his nickname for his small size, as Shooto bantamweights weigh in at 123 pounds. That’s an ant with a big bite!