Paulo Gazze Jr

Paulo Gazze Jr

One of the most prestigious figures in the Cia Paulista academy, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt Paulo Gazze Junior holds an extensive list of achievements in BJJ having defeated fighters such as Dean Lister (2x ADCC Champion), BJ Penn (World BJJ Champion/ UFC Champion), Fabio Leopoldo (World BJJ Champion) and in MMA where Gazze Junior has won against significant athletes such as Chris Leben (UFC fighter) and Dwayne Ortiz (Former Olympian for USA’ Wrestling team).

Paulo Gazze in Detail

Full Name: Paulo Sergio Gazze Junior

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rickson Gracie > Marcelo Behring > Waldomiro Perez > Milton Maximiliano Trombini > Paulo Gazze Jr

Main Achievements:

• US Open Champion (2004 black)
• Best of the West Champion (2005 & 2007 black)
• West Cast Submission Wrestling Champion (2004)
• 5x Sao Paulo State Champion (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999)
• 3x California State Champion (2000 brown weight & absolute, 2001)
• Pan American Silver Medallist (2008 black master)
• World Nogi Bronze Medallist (2008 black master)
• 2x Pan American Bronze Medallist (1998 purple absolute, 2000 brown)

Favourite Position/Technique: Knee Bar

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

Team/Association: Cia Paulista

Paulo Gazze Junior

Paulo Sergio Gazze Junior was born on the 12th of July, 1976 in São Paulo, Brazil. He entered the world of martial arts, like many others before him, through Judo starting when he was 4 years old at the AABB, a sports club restricted to workers of the Banco do Brasil, one of the oldest banking institutions in Latin America where his family worked. Gazze Junior also picked up some Muay Thai training at the age of 14, before drastic circumstances made him change his focus to Jiu Jitsu.

When Paulo Gazze Junior was 16 years old he had a big fight with a one of his sister’s classmates, the boy (who was a Jiu Jitsu blue belt at the time) broke both of Paulo’s arms and left Gazze just as impressed as he was injured. As soon as he recovered, Paulo decided to learn BJJ, he found out where the boy that injured him trained and joined that same class. The Jiu Jitsu academy of choice was an affiliate of Cia Paulista led by Fernando Lopes, AKA “Fepa”.

“Fepa” awarded Gazze’ blue belt, but as time went by, his coach noticed the youngster’s potential and told him he should consider training with the competition team under Max Trombini’s guidance, an advice duly accepted by Junior. In a short amount of time, Gazze became one of Trombini’s best students competing everywhere, including regular trips abroad to fight in the international circuits. The time spent abroad led Gazze Jr to think about establishing himself in California, which he did, moving to Huntington Beach on September 1998.

Paulo Gazze Jr. Competed extensively in Jiu Jitsu beating some of the biggest names in the sport, including a submission victory (by choke) against the legendary BJ Penn while adding many other victorious matches to his cartel, always followed by the close eye of his instructor Maximiliano Trombini. On June 16^th he was awarded the long awaited black belt by his master, becoming the first man to be graded as a black belt by Max Trombini, the ceremony took place at Joe Moreira’ school in the US.

MMA has also been a part of Paulo Gazze Jr. life, he competed (and defeated) big names in the sport, including UFC’s Christ Leben and killing the progress of former Olympian and MMA hopeful Dwayne Ortiz. He has also participated in several fight training camps with pros such as Mauricio Shogun (for his fight against Kevin Randleman), Tito Ortiz (for Ken Shamrock twice), Rico Rodriguez, Michael Bisping, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Cheick Kongo, Josh Barnett, Evan Tanner (R.I.P.), Brad Blackburn, Benji Radach, and many others.