European grappler Faris Benlamkadem has stirred controversy with pointed commentary about what he perceives as Brazilian competitors and fans rooting against non-Brazilian athletes in jiu-jitsu competition.
“This is the biggest thing that I want to point out, this guy here, bro, he is ecstatic, he is so happy to see Tainan win or to see Jose lose, right, I think probably the latter,”
Benlamkadem said in a video breaking down the match.
“And this goes back to my point that I’m always preaching: they do not want to see us win, okay, they don’t want to see the gringos win.”
Benlamkadem highlighted the reaction of a spectator wearing a Gracie Barra shirt suggesting the enthusiasm stemmed from seeing the European competitor defeated.
The criticism extended to post-match conduct, specifically the moment when Dalpra raised Nduazulu Ndilu’s hand after the victory.
“When Jose lost to me, I fr-aking hate this, I hate this with a passion, and I think most athletes do,”
Benlamkadem stated.
“I don’t know what’s the point of it. I don’t think it shows you’re being a bigger man. I think if anything, makes you more of a do-che, right, especially after the win.”
Benlamkadem questioned whether Dalpra’s actions contradicted the image of humility the Brazilian champion typically projects, noting that Dalpra had bowed before the match but then proceeded to use his opponent’s celebration.
The observations align with concerns raised by Owen Jones, who has worked with Benlamkadem and witnessed what he describes as inconsistency between stated values and actual behavior in the competitive scene.
They’re always big on this respect thing,””
Jones explained on The White Monster Podcast,
“but then all of a sudden after they win, they’re out here screaming in my face saying, ‘Yeah, this is Brazil. This is Brazil. F*** you.’ And then they’re threatening to end me and I’m getting DMs about ending me.”
Jones recounted specific incidents where Brazilian competitors directed obscenities and gestures at him and Benlamkadem before any competition occurred.
“I’m just sitting in the corner and I have the sixth place guy throwing up the middle fingers up at me saying, ‘F*** you,’”
Jones said.
“Faris walks up. They’re like, ‘F*** you, Faris. We despise you.’ And I’m like, ‘This is the respect that we’re trying to, you’re trying to say you have?’”
The Bri argues that a double standard exists in how promotional tactics are received.
For his part, Dalpra later clarified on social media that he believed the celebration was a European tradition and meant no disrespect. Nduazulu Ndilu responded graciously, explaining that his celebration represents his “Ice Man” nickname and acknowledging the gesture as fair play given that Dalpra had proven even colder in competition.
