Brazilian Vale Tudo icon Wilson “Passarito” Oliveira died on Sunday
on the age of 94.
A Brazilian judo champion within the Fifties and a former marine, Wilson
de Oliveira turned often known as “El Passarito” when he represented
Brazil in judo on the Pan American Video games in Buenos Aires in
1951.
An ideal good friend and coaching companion of Waldemar Santana,
“Passarito” was a pupil of Augusto Cordeiro in judo and Euclydes
Hatem in Luta Livre, coming from the identical lineage of capoeira and
Luta Livre fighters who got here collectively to face the Gracie hegemony.
“Passarito” confronted Carlson Gracie 3 times at Vale Tudo occasions.
The primary was on the legendary Maracanã Stadium in 1953, three
years earlier than the historic combat by which Carlson avenged his uncle,
Hélio Gracie, in opposition to Waldemar Santana.
Carlson started combating whereas sporting the gi, however after being taken
down many occasions, Helio Gracie satisfied him to take the gi off
through the course of the match. Regardless of “Passarito’s” clear
benefit, which was evident as he broke Gracie’s collarbone, the
combat led to a draw. The next yr, the rematch was
scheduled in Sao Januario stadium, and this time Carlson was a lot
extra ready and utterly dominated the combat, leaving
“Passarito” with a really bruised face. Carlson was declared the
winner in a combat known as “Savagery in Sao Januario” by
native media.
The trilogy passed off in 1958 at Maracanãzinho Stadium. On the
time, “Passarito” had been away from the ring to dedicate himself
to judo. He was satisfied by his good friend, Waldemar Santana, to
settle for Gracie’s problem. This time Carlson managed to submit him
within the fourth spherical.
With the demise of “Passarito,” solely two icons of the so-called
golden sextet of Brazilian Vale Tudo within the Fifties and Nineteen Sixties stay
alive: Euclides Pereira (81 years previous), who now lives in Brasilia,
and João Alberto Barreto (80 years previous), who was a referee at UFC 1
and resides in Rio de Janeiro. Waldemar Santana died in 1984 (age
55), Ivan Gomes died in 1990 (aged 50) and Carlson Gracie died in
2006 (age 73).
