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MANILA, Philippines - Ian Matuszak, a 20-year-old native of Westbury, New York who is battling cerebral palsy and stage-three esophageal cancer, was able to successfully accomplish an unbelievable feat despite his illnesses.
In front of approximately 200 people at the Longo-Weidman MMA Gym in Garden City, New York, Matuszak received a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from his instructors Pete "Drago" Sell and Dave Patton.
{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="5" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://instagram.com/p/8ZmiX8oHX1/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">February 28th, 2014 - October 3rd, 2015. I received my blue belt in Jiu Jitsu from Dave Patton, Pete Sell, Eric Mancini, Chris Weidman, Matt Serra and Master Renzo Gracie at my cancer fundraiser. I am overwhelmed with love. I have no words. @renzograciebjj @mattserrabjj @mattserraufc @chrisweidmanufc #TeamRenzoGracie #bjj #jiujitsu #MMA #ufc #dedication #bluebelt #dedication #disabled #davepatton #serrabjj</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Ian Matuszak (@ianmatuszak) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2015-10-04T03:08:25+00:00">Oct 3, 2015 at 8:08pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
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Sell is a former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter and black belt under Matt Serra, a one-time UFC welterweight titleholder and a third-degree black belt under Renzo Gracie of the famed Gracie Family.
{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="5" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://instagram.com/p/78r0F8oHUw/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">I would like to thank @mattserrabjj @mattserraufc for visiting me at home today. I truly have an army beside me as I get through this. Thank you all for the support. #bjj #jiujitsu #MMA #ufc #martialart #dedication #TeamRenzoGracie</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Ian Matuszak (@ianmatuszak) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2015-09-22T21:36:33+00:00">Sep 22, 2015 at 2:36pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, Patton is a multi-awarded Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and has been teaching the martial art for over 8 years.
"He trained before the cancer diagnosis at least twice weekly. He's done two tournaments. One was for people with disabilities and the other was a regular tournament,” Patton said of Matuszak’s dedication in an interview with FOX News.
Matuszak’s awarding ceremony was attended by UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman as well as other top mixed martial arts competitors such as Eddie Gordon, Al Iaquinta and Aljamain Sterling.
{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="5" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://instagram.com/p/8axEv2QTqX/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Yesterday was one of the best things I've ever been a part of. I'm beyond proud of Ian and I'm so honored to be his friend. Thank you to Chris Weidman, Matt Serra, Pete Sell, and of course Renzo and their entire team. Special thanks to Ian's wonderful family for their hospitality and to Dave Patton for taking good care of us. I STAND/SIT WITH IAN!! #fucancer #NOEXCUSES #nevergiveup #disabledathlete #paralyzedfighter #jiujitsu #bjj #AdaptiveWarrior #AdaptiveWarriorFightClub #bjjlifestyle #warriorway #wheelchairlife #TeamDeuSFight #TeamROC #RoyMarshJiujitsu #RenzoKnows #mma #motivation #ufc</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Brian Freeman (@wheelchairjitsu) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2015-10-04T13:59:44+00:00">Oct 4, 2015 at 6:59am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
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Weidman and his trainer Ray Longo are spearheading a campaign to raise money for Matsuzak's mounting medical bills at this GoFundMe page. – Rappler.com
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