CM System and its founder Cristiano Marcello, 42, of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil were honored by a panel of judges at the BRAVE Insider Podcast. For 2019, the former was named named the Team of the Year while the latter was chosen as the Coach of the Year.

One of the biggest mixed martial arts teams in the world, CM System had an unforgettable year in 2019 at the BRAVE Combat Federation. The Brazilian-based squad formed two new world champions throughout the year.

A team leader and an MMA legend, Marcello is a BRAVE CF fighter himself although he has yet to make his debut. He is busy overseeing the training of his athletes in Curitiba such as BRAVE CF Middleweight World Champion Daniel “Gaúcho” Pereira, 28, and former BRAVE CF Lightweight World Champion Luan “Miau” Santiago, 24, as well as lightweight veteran Felipe Silva, 34, of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil and featherweight standout Gabriel “Fly” Miranda, 29, of Telemaco Borba, Parana.

The last time Marcello competed was in 2014. He is hoping to make his comeback at some point in 2020.

It is the second year in a row that both CM System and Marcello received recognition from the BRAVE Insider Podcast. This show the consistency in the success they have found under BRAVE CF with the likes of Miranda, who is also looking to make a splash in 2020 and go on a run for the BRAVE CF Featherweight World Championship title.

The new year will also give a chance for Santiago to regain his championship status. After winning the title in 2019, he was surprised by arch-rival Cleiton “Predator” Silva, 33, of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil and ended up submitted, losing the BRAVE CF Lightweight World Championship belt in quick fashion.

Santiago has since bounced back with a victory over Gadzhimusa “Deadshot” Gaziev, 26, of Dagestan, Russia and will hope to battle Cleiton again soon. Meanwhile, here is a message from CM System: