Mica Galvao responds to CJI 2 with clip of Meregali alleging PED use at 12

Claudio Martin

The Brazilian jiu-jitsu community is buzzing after Mica Galvao‘s unexpected response to his Craig Jones Invitational 2 announcement went viral across social media platforms. Shortly after Jones confirmed Galvao as New Wave‘s wildcard selection for the 77-kilogram division, the young phenom posted a provocative video clip featuring Nicholas Meregali discussing PED allegations against Galvao.

In the resurfaced clip, Meregali makes serious accusations about PED use, stating in Portuguese:

“A child who was taking ster*ids at 12 years old. If he competes, I say, my brother, he’s good to watch compete, he’s good. The kid has incredible jiu-jitsu, however, at 12 years old he was already taking gear.”

Meregali’s comments in the video become increasingly heated as he continues:

“Because of the falseness, I won’t compete against Mica. There’s no money in the world that would pay me to compete against him, none, because I know I’d beat him.”

The clip captures raw emotion from the New Wave representative who appears visibly frustrated during the exchange.

The strategic implications of this social media warfare extend far beyond simple trash talk. Galvao’s decision to amplify these allegations comes at a crucial moment just as anticipation builds for CJI 2 at the Thomas and Mack arena in Las Vegas on August 30th and 31st. The timing suggests a calculated move to generate additional buzz around his participation.

What makes this development particularly intriguing is the broader context surrounding both athletes. Jones had described his recruitment of Galvao in characteristically dramatic fashion, claiming he

“had to trek through the mountains of Brazil to get to the core of the Amazon”

after

“157 unanswered calls.”

The promoter didn’t hold back in his assessment, calling Galvao

“the greatest most dangerous athlete the sport has ever seen.”

Industry observers note that Galvao’s social media strategy demonstrates sophisticated understanding of modern sports promotion. By sharing controversial content related to his competition he’s managed to shift conversations from simple tournament logistics to deeper questions about athletic integrity and competitive fairness.

As for Meregali, he’s still recovering from the major shoulder injury he had in 2024 and has undergone 4 surgeries. He describes his condition as ‘75%’ back however it’s unclear if this is actually the case without independent verification.

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Claudio Martin