Evolve Fighter Profile: Leandro Issa
Leandro "Brodinho" Issa from the Evolve Fight Team is a BJJ Black Belt under the legendary Roberto "Gordo" Correa de Lima, the head of Evolve MMA Brazil. Professor Gordo is recognized as one of the top BJJ and MMA coaches in Brazil for producing numerous BJJ World Champions and professional MMA fighters such as Rafael dos Anjos, Antonio Braga Neto, Celsinho Vinicius, Marcio "Pe de Pano" Cruz, Delson Heleno, and many others. A BJJ World Champion, Leandro has been training 4-6 hours per day for the last 12 years in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has competed in over a thousand BJJ matches in his career. Since moving permanently to Singapore a year ago to teach and train at Evolve Singapore, Leandro has also learned the art of Muay Thai under Kru Chatri Sityodtong and the rest of the Sityodtong team in Singapore. He has also picked up boxing under WBA Boxing World Champion Yodsanan Sityodtong (also on the Evolve Fight Team). Of course, he continues to train in BJJ under BJJ World Champion Professor Rafael "Gordinho" Correa de Lima in Singapore along with the other 8 resident BJJ black belts at Evolve MMA Singapore. A professional MMA fighter, Leandro has fought around the world including Brazil, the US, China, and Singapore. Most recently, he has racked up wins in professional MMA at the Art of War Fighting Championship in China and the Martial Combat Fighting Championship in Singapore. His current professional record stands at 7-2. Leandro will be fighting for his first MMA championship belt in October at Martial Combat Fighting Championship. ESPN StarSports will be broadcasting the fight to over 350 million viewers across 24 countries. His dream is to fight and become world champion in the WEC, the top MMA organization in the world for fighters under 155 pounds.
According to Professor Roberto "Gordo" Correa de Lima, Leandro has a very bright future in MMA due to his incredible work ethic, talent, and gameness. By way of background, Leandro grew up as an impoverished and troublemaking kid in Brazil and had over 200 street fights. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu literally turned his life around and made him become a better human being on every level. Instead of getting into street fights and causing trouble in society, he learned to channel his natural aggression towards BJJ competitions. Over time, he learned the meaning of honor, humility, loyalty, respect, and courage through the lifestyle of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Not only has he has become a true martial artist, but he is a living testament to the life-changing effect that martial arts can have. As his students at Evolve will attest to, Leandro "Brodinho" is a wonderful role model, gentleman, and champion in life.
Evolve Mixed Martial Arts® is Asia's premier brand of MMA academies. Evolve MMA ranks among the best academies in the world for Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Mixed Martial Arts.
