Diogo Sampaio “Moreno”

Diogo Sampaio Araujo, also known as Diogo “Moreno” is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt from the Soul Fighters academy in Rio de Janeiro. One of the hottest prospects to have come from the Soul Fighters Team, Diogo Araujo has conquered numerous important medals in BJJ, including a silver medal at the world championships and a Rio Open title.

Diogo Araujo Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: Diogo Sampaio Araújo

Nickname: “Moreno” means dark skinned, or tanned. The nickname was given to Diogo in his Water Polo days (a sport he played in his childhood) at Tijuca Tenis Club, and the reason was that there was another Diogo in the team, so as a way to distinguish them one was called “Moreno” and the other “Negão”.

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Francisco Mansor > Augusto Mendes > Diogo Araujo

Main Achievements:

• IBJJF Rio International Open Champion (2011)
• FJJR Brazilian State No-Gi Champion (2010)
• IBJJF World Championship 2nd Place (2012)
• IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championship 3rd Place (2018)

Main Achievements:

• IBJJF Rio International Open Champion (2010 brown)
• FJJR Rio de Janeiro State Champion (2003/2009/2010)
• IBJJF Pans Championship 2nd Place (2010 brown)
• CBJJ Brasileiro Championship 2nd Place (2009/2010 brown)

Weight Division: Peso Pesado (94kg/207lbs)

Favourite Technique: Sweep from Guard

Team/Association: Soul Fighters

Diogo “Moreno” Sampaio Araujo Biography

Diogo Araújo was born on the 30th of April, 1984 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He started training Jiu Jitsu much due to his father’s influence. as his father was a fan of the Brazilian Martial Art who had never found time to train.

Moreno started practicing BJJ with professor Munir at Vila da Penha, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro where Diogo grew up. He moved at a later stage to the academy of Marcos Carvalho where he met the guys that would later form the Soul Fighters team (Bruno “Tanque”, Augusto “Tanquinho”, Rafael “Formiga” among a few others). Master Carvalho graded Diogo Sampaio in his blue and purple belts, but as the Soul Fighters team started taking shape and “Tanquinho” took over the main classes and the responsibility of grading the students, it was Augusto Tanquinho also who awarded Diogo Araujo his brown belt, and his black belts. The black belt was given after winning the Rio Open in 2010 still standing on the podium.

Diogo Sampaio Araujo taught for a long time with his good friend Mario Vitor at the Evidence Academy in Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro he has since moved to the United States.

Banner picture by Mike Calimbas.