‘The Crank’ makes semis of jiu-jitsu tourney

Frank “The Crank” Camacho advanced to the semifinals of the 2012 Pan American Jiu Jitsu Championships and managed to save third place in the competition held on March 30 and 31 at the UC Event Center in Irvine, California.

He made it to semifinals of the purple belt middle-heavyweight division with Gi (194lbs), which drew 50 competitors and still placed in the Top 3 despite deciding to register for the event on the same day the tournament took place and joining the heavier weight division. Camacho normally competes as a middleweight (181lbs) and was originally at the venue to support some teammates who have been training as middleweights .

International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation organized the weekend event.

After the competition, Camacho returned to Las Vegas, Nevada where he is currently training under Team Lloyd Irvin/Alliance MMA, which is being featured in Ultimate Fighter Live.

Camacho’s teammate, current UFC Bantamweight champion (135lbs) Dominick “The Domin8er” Cruz (19-1), is one of the fighters featured this season on FX. Cruz opponent is Team Alpha Male’s Urijah “The Calfornia Kid” Faber (26-2), of Davis County, California.

Other fighters Camacho is working with during the camp include fellow Alliance MMA comrades Brandon “The Truth” Vera (12-5-1NC) of Sand Diego and Mike “The Hulk” Easton (12-1) of Temple Hills, MD; England’s Team Rough House-duo Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy (23-10-1NC) of Nottingham Midlands and Ross “The Real Deal” Pearson (13-5) of Sunderland-Time and Wear; Victory MMA’s Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens (20-7) of De Moines, Iowa; and Stockholm Shoot/Shooters Alexander “The Mauler” Gufstafson (13-1) of Stockholm County, Sweden. Camacho’s sensei Master Lloyd Irvin is also helping out the show as a coach.

Camacho will be appearing in a C3 Fights event in Oklahoma as a lightweight (155lbs) in early June. His opponent has yet to be named.

“I am super stoked. I have not been in the cage for three years and I am very excited to get back in the cage. It’s going to be a new The Crank in the cage,” Camacho said in an email to Saipan Tribune.

Camacho added that his judo and wrestling have improved, his Thai-boxing and striking are evolving and that he is growing as a martial artist as a whole. He also shared that this first bout is just the start of a grind he has lined up and he plans to fight more often.

For more updates and information about Camacho, visit www.crankeffect.com.