The first arrest has been made in relation to the felony assault on Flavio Almeida at last year’s No-Gi World Championships. Lincoln Pereira, who was identified one of the two individuals who assaulted Gracie Barra black belt and executive Flavio Almeida on the sidelines of the international competition held in California, was arrested on June 21, according to court documents:
The warrant issued for Pereira’s arrest suggested that the suspect be held on $50,000.00 bail. No bail amount was listed on the formal documentation of his arrest, however.
As previously reported by Jiu-Jitsu Times, black belt and coach Ralph Gracie is the second individual wanted in relation to the assault. Gracie, whose legal team has alleged that the physical altercation with Almeida was “mutual combat,” has not been arrested at this time.
The attack, which is rumored to be the result of bad blood between Gracie and Almeida due to the expansion of the Gracie Barra gym family in the area where Ralph’s business interests are, left Almeida with head trauma and broken teeth. IBJJF has since banned Gracie and Pereira from all sanctioned events until further notice.
Gracie Barra, which employs Almeida as its North American Executive Director, has confirmed it will pursue additional legal action against Ralph Gracie in civil court in a continued effort to move jiu-jitsu away from its sometimes violent, rivalry-ridden roots.
