Roberto Leitao, a revered wrestling and grappling coach and a pioneer in the Brazil scene, died of COVID-19 Saturday morning in Rio de Janeiro, his family announced on social media.
Leitao, who trained the likes of Marco Ruas, Pedro Rizzo and Renato “Babalu” Sobral in the early vale tudo days in Brazil in the 1980’s and 1990’s, was admitted to a local hospital on Oct. 14, but lost his battle against the virus 45 days later.
“Master Leitao,” as he was known in Brazil, began coaching Ruas for his vale tudo bout with Fernando Pinduka in 1984.