In all teams that he trained with, Cummins impressed everybody not only with his strength and excellent wrestling technique, but also because of his capacity to learn fast ground positions. Unlike most wrestlers that don’t like to roll, Cummins put his back on the ground many times to learn guarding, and evolved a lot in one week receiving great praises from his new idol, Mario Sperry: “He is very strong and learns fast. I hope to see him in UFC soon”.   

Jason Miller also impressed everyone for having no ego. He didn’t mind to tapping out. Actually the more he tapped the more he wanted to train. Jason also never got tired.   

Very polite and friendly Ryan Parsons and Patrick Cummins also impressed everyone. After the ground training they would always welcome anyone to ask them about Wrestling classes. In BTT for example the fighters didn’t want them to leave. “We need top wrestlers like that to improve our game. I hope they can return and stay more”, said Eder Jones.    

In Nova União, where the training had already began when we arrived, Ryan and Patrick offered to teach Wrestling positions at the end of the class to make the Jiu-Jitsu guys more comfortable. After three positions they were so comfortable that they ended up doing a “welcome baptism” for the 3 Americans. Certainly another highlight of this trip.

But undoubtably the most moving moment happened when Ryan and Cummins donated 30 Boxing Gloves (Reavgear) to the Cantagalo slum Boxing Project. “In 20 years as head of this project I never received such a great amount of material. You have no idea how many kids you’ve helped”, said a moved Claudio Coelho, that later introduced the Cantagalo slum to Cummins, Miller and Parsons

Day by day I started to see Miller, Parsons and Cummins not only as great job partners, but as real friends and that made our coverage better once we mixed training (academies) and fun (like the beach, samba, Hang Gliding and Pedra da Gávea). After all these days, besides having a great sensation of mission accomplished, I also felt like I made 3 new friends. I just have to say thank´s to EAS and Sherdog for such a great professional and personal experience.   

When me and my partner Gleidson were invited to take part in the MMA Fighters Exchange Program and the name of Jason Miller came to replace King Mo, I must confess that I got a little bit worried. The idea was for us to take the fighters to a variety of MMA academies and Miller was not exactly a popular fighter here in Brazil (after his two fights with Ronaldo Jacaré), I started to become concern about that.

When I was informed of the fighter change I had to call all six teams that would receive us and inform them about the change. The first calls proved that I was not wrong, two head coaches that first said yes (in case of Mo) didn’t like the idea of receiving Miller. “This guy is pretty much disrespectfull. My fighters don’t like him. I´m afraid about what can happen if he comes to train here”, said one of the leaders. At first I didn’t know Miller and in order to avoid problems I accept the two rejections and just took these two academies off of our schedule.

But as soon as I met Miller, Ryan and Pat at the airport, I realized it was all a big misunderstanding. Right after the training at the Minotauro Trainining Center, when we had our first lunch, I started to get to know one of the most charismatic people I´ve ever met. A mix of youthful spirit, singer, and joker all packed in the wrapper of a tough fighter.

Immediately after this lunch I called the two trainers and didn’t have any problem changing their minds.

Jason Miller himself would later prove me right. In every academy the crazy Mayhem conquered, fighters and coaches were taken with all his charisma and perpetual happiness. From Nova União and all the way through BTT fighers, to the children of Cantagalo Favela, and even affecting my quiet partner Gleidson (whom Mayhem nicknamed Silêncio), everyone adored Mayhem.

Jason Miller and Pat Cummins wasted no time continuing their fast paced and high flying fun as they set down in LAX.  After traveling over fifteen hours, Jason Miller took a moment to pilot his own craft straight through the Los Angeles terminal.

 Under the scrutinous jurisdiction of the TSA and in the absence of a 2000 ft. high cliff, Miller got airborne by manning a miniature remote controlled helicopter until he caught some turbulence just above the moving walkway.

Pat took a turn as well and both walked away unscathed from some pretty harrowing crash landings.