Diego Borges

Diego Borges is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under José Augusto Gato, being widely regarded as one of the top grappling competitors his generation, having conquered important medals in the sport, including in the Brazilian National Championship, Copa Podio, World Championships, etc., having defeated big names of the sport such as Claudio Calasans, Clark Gracie, Dillon Danis, to name a few.

Diego Borges Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: Diego Borges Silva

Nickname: n/a

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie sr > Reyson Gracie > Osvaldo Alves > José Augusto > Diego Borges

Main Achievements:

• IBJJF World Champion (2004/2005/2006 blue junior)
• CBJJ Brazilian National Champion (2010/2011 brown)
• Copa Podio Runner-up (2013)
• IBJJF World Championship Runner-up (2011)
• CBJJ Brazilian National Runner-up (2014)
• Copa Podio 3rd Place (2016/2017)
• CBJJ Brazilian National Championship 3rd Place (2007 purple)

Favorite Position/Technique: Bow and arrow

Weight Division: Peso Médio (82kg/181lbs)

Team/Association: Zenith BJJ

Diego Borges Biography

Diego Borges was born on January 15, 1990 in Manaus – Brazil.

Borges started his martial arts training at the age of 11, through capoeira, changing his focus to jiu jitsu when he was 14 years old, influenced by his older cousins who had just started training themselves at José Augusto Gato’s academy in Manaus.

Within 7 months Borges was promoted to blue belt, competing at the 2004 World Jiu Jitsu Championship in the juvenile division, a tournament he won decisively. By the age of 16 Diego had already earned 3 world titles and was being looked at as the future of the sport’s lightweight division.

After the success at a world stage, Diego’s family moved to Boa Vista in the state of Roraima where Borges joined the academy led by the Trindade family. While training with the Trindade brothers, Diego remained in close contact with his instructor José Augusto Gato – who awarded him all belts, including his black belt in 2011 (3 days before the World Pro Cup Trials in Manaus). Later that year Carlos Holanda convinced Diego to join the Checkmat Academy, as means to have a stronger support when competing outside Roraima and Manaus.

In 2013 Diego Borges spent some time in Bulgaria, training with the country’s national wrestling squad. Working on improving his no-gi takedowns while also teaching the Brazilian style in the Eastern European country, the opportunity arose after an (unsanctioned) mixed martial arts fight, Diego took against Vladislav Kanchev in Bulgaria, a fight that ended in a draw.

After Rodrigo Cavaca and Robert Drysdale founded the Zenith Jiu Jitsu academy in 2013, Diego Borges decided to follow the duo and join the world wide grappling association.

Banner picture taken from Copa Podio’s Facebook Page.

Diego Borges vs Claudio Calasans (2011)

Diego Borges vs Eduardo Portugues