Yuri Simões

Yuri Simões is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Ricardo Vieira, who is widely regarded as one of the top competitors of his generation. Simões made a name for himself while competing in the lower ranks of the sport, where he won several important competitions such as the IBJJF Mundial, World No-Gi Championship, and European Open before earning his black belt, going on to conquer the most important No-Gi tournament of all, the ADCC (2015). Yuri Simões is also the adopted brother of another BJJ star, Ary Farias.

Yuri Simoes Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Yuri Costa Simoes Martins da Silva

Nickname: “Novinho” which can mean Youngster or Brand New depending on the context. At this point, BJJ Heroes cannot assert the reason for the nickname.

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti > Ricardo Vieira > Yuri Simões

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place ADCC World Championship (2022* / 2017 / 2015)
• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2016**/2014** black)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan American Championship (2012/2014*)
• 2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2010)
• 2nd Place FIVE Grappling Super League (2015)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pan American Championship (2016)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Rio Open Championship (2010)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2011 brown, 2009** purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2011** brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2010/2011 brown, 2009** purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF South American Championship Juvenile (2007)
• 2nd Place IBJJF European Open (2011** brown)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2010 brown)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pan American Championship (2010* brown)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Drop Seoi Nage & Open Guard

Weight Division: Meio Pesado (88kg/194lbs).

Team/Association: Caio Terra Association (CTA)

Yuri Simoes Biography

Yuri Simões was born on June 18, 1990, in Rio de Janeiro – Brazil. He started practicing through his father’s influence who already trained BJJ, he was 9 years old when he first put on a kimono. Although Yuri’s first instructor’s name has been lost in the corners of his mind, his second coach, Maurício “Behring”, was truly fundamental in Simoes’s life as a competitor, it was Behring who instigated Yuri to compete and where he found his true calling.

In 2006 Mauricio Behring was shot and killed by the father of his ex-fiancé. After the shock and a natural grieving period, Yuri returned to the mats, seeking Ricardo Vieira as his new master and earning his purple and brown belt from Ricardinho at the famous Fight Zone. At Checkmat, Yuri Simoes’s career started to shine with several fantastic wins at the world’s most important tournaments. After a series of good results, Yuri Simoes spent some time in and out of Europe, namely in England where he trained and competed extensively in 2009.

In 2010 Yuri Simoes had a change of heart and switched camps moving with his brother to the rival Atos academy in Rio Claro (Sao Paulo). This move, however, was short-lived and he returned to Checkmat and Ricardinho Vieira’s guidance.

After a tremendous year of 2011 when Yuri Simoes won the Mundial, the No-Gi Worlds (weight and absolute), and the European Open, he was awarded his long-awaited black belt by the hands of his instructor on the 29^th of December, 2011. In 2013 he moved away from Checkmat, once again and joined the Caio Terra Association.

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Yuri Simoes vs JT Torres (2014)