James Puopolo is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Rafael Lovato Junior who trained extensively with the Ribeiro Brothers (Alexandre and Saulo) and is widely regarded as one of the top North American submission grapplers of his generation. While competing in jiu-jitsu’s international level circuit, Puopolo earned medals in important events such as the ADCC Trials, International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World and Pan Championships.
James Puopolo Jiu-Jitsu
Full Name: James Puopolo
Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Jr > Carlos Machado > Rafael Lovato Jr > James Puopolo
Main Achievements:
- 1st Place ADCC USA Trials (2009/2011)
- 1st Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2013)
- 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2015)
- 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2016)
- 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2018 / 2019)
- 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2014 / 2015*)
- 3rd Place IBJJF European Open (2019)
Main Achievements (Colored Belts):
- 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2009 purple)
- 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2011 brown, 2009 purple)
- 1st Place US Nationals (2010** brown)
- 1st Place IBJJF American Nationals No-Gi (2008 purple)
- 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2007 blue)
- 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2011* brown)
- 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2008 purple, 2010** brown)
- 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2010, 2009 brown)
* Absolute
** Weight and absolute
Favorite Position/Technique: X-Guard, Butterfly Guard, Kneebar
Weight Division: Super Pesado (100kg/221lbs)
Team/Association: Gracie Humaita
James Puopolo Biography
James Puopolo started training Jiu-Jitsu in January 2005, shortly after he finished High School. James had played for his high school basketball team and wanted to pick up boxing, though his father influenced him to take Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instead after watching a few of the early UFC’s.
Training under Rafael Lovato Junior while maintaining a career as a math teacher, James Puopolo managed to become one of the top grapplers in the country. He also trained extensively with Ben Baxter and the Ribeiro brothers (Saulo and Xande), reaching his black belt status in October 2011 from Rafael Lovato Junior.
James Puopolo Grappling Record
60 WINS
-
BY POINTS
18 (30%) -
BY ADVANTAGES
0 (0%) -
BY SUBMISSION
40 (67%) -
BY DECISION
2 (3%) -
BY PENALTIES
0 (0%) - BY DQ
0 (0%)
40 SUBMISSIONS WINS
#214eb8
Kneebar
40
16
#86e620
Armbar
15
6
#5AD3D1
Cross choke
8
3
#d1212a
Guillotine
5
2
#fad11b
Choke from back
5
2
#f58822
Mounted X choke
5
2
#224aba
Triangle
5
2
#ff9124
Katagatame
3
1
#bf1f6c
Choke
3
1
#22c9a5
RNC
3
1
#fad223
Calf slicer
3
1
#03861f
Armlock
3
1
#039a1f
Wristlock
3
1
#03b41f
Arm in guillotine
3
1
40
(100%) SUBMISSIONS
58 LOSSES
-
BY POINTS
22 (38%) -
BY ADVANTAGES
5 (9%) -
BY SUBMISSION
26 (45%) -
BY DECISION
5 (9%) -
BY PENALTIES
0 (0%) - BY DQ
0 (0%)
26 SUBMISSIONS LOSSES
#214eb8
Armbar
19
5
#86e620
Choke from back
12
3
#5AD3D1
Toe Hold
12
3
#d1212a
Footlock
8
2
#fad11b
RNC
8
2
#f58822
Clock choke
4
1
#224aba
Inside heel hook
4
1
#ff9124
Verbal tap
4
1
#bf1f6c
Ezekiel
4
1
#22c9a5
Kneebar
4
1
#fad223
Ankle lock
4
1
#03861f
Triangle
4
1
#039a1f
Arm in guillotine
4
1
#03b41f
50/50 armbar
4
1
#03c61f
Botinha
4
1
#03d61f
Straight armlock
4
1
26
(100%) SUBMISSIONS James Puopolo Fight History
| ID | Opponent | W/L | Method | Competition | Weight | Stage | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3558 | Bernardo FariaBernardo Faria | L | Armbar | Pan American | ABS | 4F | 2012 |
| 3653 | Joao AssisJoao Assis | L | Toe Hold | Pan American | O100KG | 4F | 2012 |
| 3721 | Marcel FortunaMarcel Fortuna | L | Points | SF Open | 100KG | F | 2012 |
| 3736 | Andre GalvaoAndre Galvao | L | Clock choke | SD World Trials | ABS | SF | 2012 |
| 3906 | Rodolfo VieiraRodolfo Vieira | L | Choke from back | World Champ. | ABS | R2 | 2012 |
| 4117 | Antonio CarlosAntonio Carlos | L | Points | World Champ. | 100KG | R2 | 2012 |
| 4254 | Bernardo FariaBernardo Faria | L | Points | NoGi Worlds | 100KG | 4F | 2012 |
| 4265 | DJ JacksonDJ Jackson | L | Pts: 0x0, Adv | NoGi Worlds | ABS | R1 | 2012 |
| 4396 | Marcus AlmeidaMarcus Almeida | L | Toe hold | SD Pro Trials | O92KG | F | 2013 |
| 4512 | Orlando SanchezOrlando Sanchez | L | Adv | Pan American | ABS | R1 | 2013 |
| 4749 | R. EvangelistaR. Evangelista | L | N/A | World Champ. | ABS | RDS | 2013 |
| 4944 | Vitor OliveiraVitor Oliveira | L | Points | American Nats | ABS | SF | 2013 |
| 4953 | AJ AgazarmAJ Agazarm | L | Pts: 9x4 | American NNG | ABS | 4F | 2013 |
| 5025 | Kamil Uminski | L | Footlock | ADCC | 99KG | R1 | 2013 |
| 5095 | Ricardo RezendeRicardo Rezende | L | Toe hold | World Expo | ABS | F | 2013 |
| 5122 | Leandro LoLeandro Lo | L | Adv | NoGi Worlds | ABS | SF | 2013 |
| 5185 | Keenan CorneliusKeenan Cornelius | L | RNC | FIVE Rd Robin | ABS | RR | 2013 |
| 5186 | Jackson SousaJackson Sousa | L | Pts: 8x0 | FIVE Rd Robin | ABS | RR | 2013 |
| 5189 | Garry TononGarry Tonon | L | Inside heel hook | FIVE Rd Robin | ABS | RR | 2013 |
| 5311 | Murilo SantanaMurilo Santana | L | Points | Pan American | ABS | R3 | 2014 |
| 5408 | Thiago Declavo | L | Verbal tap | Pan American | 100KG | R1 | 2014 |
| 5521 | Jackson SousaJackson Sousa | L | Pts: 7x0 | FIVE Oregon | ABS | F | 2014 |
| 5846 | Rodolfo VieiraRodolfo Vieira | L | Choke from back | World Champ. | 100KG | 4F | 2014 |
| 5910 | Jackson SousaJackson Sousa | L | Choke from back | Dallas Open | ABS | F | 2014 |
| 6012 | Keenan CorneliusKeenan Cornelius | L | Pts: 8x2 | NoGi Worlds | ABS | 4F | 2014 |
| 6062 | Luiz PanzaLuiz Panza | L | Footlock | NoGi Worlds | 100KG | SF | 2014 |
| 6270 | Jordan Hayman | L | Points | FIVE NAIC | ABS | NA | 2014 |
| 6291 | Yuri SimoesYuri Simoes | L | Ezekiel | Long Beach Pro | O94KG | F | 2014 |
| 6766 | Leandro LoLeandro Lo | L | Pts: 13x0 | Pan American | ABS | R3 | 2015 |
| 6896 | Alexander TransAlexander Trans | L | Kneebar | Pan American | O100KG | F | 2015 |
| 7504 | Yuri SimoesYuri Simoes | L | Pts: 7x4 | World Champ. | 100KG | 4F | 2015 |
| 7632 | Evandro NunesEvandro Nunes | L | Points | American Nat. | O100KG | SF | 2015 |
| 7766 | Yuri SimoesYuri Simoes | L | Pts: 6x2 | FIVE SL | ABS | 4F | 2015 |
| 8271 | Lucio RodriguesLucio Rodrigues | L | Adv | Grand Slam LA | O94KG | 4F | 2015 |
| 8283 | Andre Campos | L | Referee Decision | Grand Slam LA | ABS | 4F | 2015 |
| 8467 | Joao AssisJoao Assis | L | Ankle lock | NoGi Worlds | 97KG | SF | 2015 |
| 9358 | Igor SchneiderIgor Schneider | L | Pts: 6x4 | Pan American | O100KG | 4F | 2016 |
| 9388 | Luiz PanzaLuiz Panza | L | Armbar | Pan American | ABS | 8F | 2016 |
| 10073 | Marcus AlmeidaMarcus Almeida | L | Armbar | World Champ. | O100KG | F | 2016 |
| 10090 | R. EvangelistaR. Evangelista | L | Pts: 6x2 | World Champ. | ABS | R2 | 2016 |
| 10880 | Joao RochaJoao Rocha | L | Referee Decision | F2W 17 | 100KG | SPF | 2016 |
| 13015 | Gabriel LucasGabriel Lucas | L | Referee Decision | F2W 35 | O100KG | SPF | 2017 |
| 13025 | Tanner RiceTanner Rice | L | Armbar | World Champ. | ABS | R1 | 2017 |
| 13217 | Joao RochaJoao Rocha | L | Pts: 4x0 | World Champ. | O100KG | 4F | 2017 |
| 14418 | Max GimenisMax Gimenis | L | Pts: 4x0 | BJJ NY Pro | 94KG | 4F | 2017 |
| 16589 | Fernando ReisFernando Reis | L | RNC | World Champ. | 100KG | 8F | 2018 |
| 16725 | Horlando MonteiroHorlando Monteiro | L | Pts: 6x2 | American Nat. | ABS | F | 2018 |
| 16871 | Max GimenisMax Gimenis | L | Points | NY BJJ Pro | O94KG | SF | 2018 |
| 16985 | Gustavo DiasGustavo Dias | L | Referee Decision | W.S.O.G. | O81KG | SF | 2018 |
| 18471 | Michael LieraMichael Liera | L | Triangle | Denver Open | ABS | SF | 2018 |
| 18692 | Kaynan DuarteKaynan Duarte | L | Arm in guillotine | NoGi Worlds | 97KG | F | 2018 |
| 18942 | Helton JoseHelton Jose | L | Pts: 0x0, Adv | European Open | 100KG | 4F | 2019 |
| 18944 | Helton JoseHelton Jose | L | 50/50 armbar | European Open | 100KG | SF | 2019 |
| 19670 | Tanner RiceTanner Rice | L | Referee Decision | Pan American | 100KG | 4F | 2019 |
| 20712 | Luiz PanzaLuiz Panza | L | Botinha | World Champ. | 100KG | R1 | 2019 |
| 20731 | Fellipe AndrewFellipe Andrew | L | Armbar | World Champ. | ABS | R1 | 2019 |
| 21857 | Vinny MagalhaesVinny Magalhaes | L | Pts: 2x0 | ADCC | 99KG | 4F | 2019 |
| 22931 | Roberto AbreuRoberto Abreu | L | Straight armlock | NoGi Worlds | O97KG | F | 2019 |
| 3535 | Felipe Matos | W | N/A | Pan American | ABS | R1 | 2012 |
| 3552 | Abmar BarbosaAbmar Barbosa | W | Pts: 9x0 | Pan American | ABS | R2 | 2012 |
| 3720 | Leo Machado | W | N/A | SF Open | 100KG | SF | 2012 |
| 3733 | Baret YoshidaBaret Yoshida | W | Pts: 5x0 | SD World Trials | ABS | 4F | 2012 |
| 3895 | Marcelo MafraMarcelo Mafra | W | Referee Decision | World Champ. | ABS | R2 | 2012 |
| 4114 | Fernando PieroFernando Piero | W | Kneebar | World Champ. | 100KG | R1 | 2012 |
| 4713 | Ronaldo Carlos | W | Kneebar | World Champ. | ABS | RDS | 2013 |
| 4734 | Alexandre CeconiAlexandre Ceconi | W | Pts: 3x0 | World Champ. | ABS | RDS | 2013 |
| 5084 | Eliot KellyEliot Kelly | W | Kneebar | World Expo | ABS | GP | 2013 |
| 5087 | Ricardo RezendeRicardo Rezende | W | Kneebar | World Expo | ABS | GP | 2013 |
| 5088 | Alessandro Ferreira | W | Armbar | World Expo | ABS | GP | 2013 |
| 5090 | T. Stevens | W | Kneebar | World Expo | ABS | GP | 2013 |
| 5094 | Nathan MendelsohnNathan Mendelsohn | W | Pts: 4x0 | World Expo | ABS | SF | 2013 |
| 5116 | Tom deBlassTom deBlass | W | Kneebar | NoGi Worlds | 100KG | SF | 2013 |
| 5117 | Eliot KellyEliot Kelly | W | Guillotine | NoGi Worlds | 100KG | F | 2013 |
| 5191 | Beneil DariushBeneil Dariush | W | Katagatame | FIVE Rd Robin | ABS | RR | 2013 |
| 5300 | AJ AgazarmAJ Agazarm | W | Choke from back | Pan American | ABS | R2 | 2014 |
| 5511 | Tom McMahon | W | Pts: 9x2 | FIVE Ontario | ABS | F | 2014 |
| 5512 | Tom McMahon | W | Kneebar | FIVE Ontario | O100KG | F | 2014 |
| 5513 | Matt McDonald | W | Kneebar | FIVE Ont. 2 NG | O100KG | F | 2014 |
| 5514 | Matt McDonald | W | Guillotine | FIVE Ont. 2 NG | ABS | F | 2014 |
| 5515 | Amir Yafawi | W | Kneebar | FIVE Ontario 2 | O100KG | F | 2014 |
| 5519 | Filip G Matos | W | Mounted X choke | FIVE Oregon | ABS | SF | 2014 |
| 5909 | Osvaldo MoizinhoOsvaldo Moizinho | W | Choke | Dallas Open | ABS | SF | 2014 |
| 6059 | Steven Patterson | W | RNC | NoGi Worlds | 100KG | 4F | 2014 |
| 6267 | Malachy Friedman | W | Armbar | FIVE NAIC | ABS | NA | 2014 |
| 6268 | Marcel GoncalvesMarcel Goncalves | W | Pts: 5x2 | FIVE NAIC | ABS | NA | 2014 |
| 6269 | Daniel AzevedoDaniel Azevedo | W | Points | FIVE NAIC | ABS | NA | 2014 |
| 6755 | Jurandir ConceicaoJurandir Conceicao | W | Pts: 7x0 | Pan American | ABS | R2 | 2015 |
| 6884 | Jose dos Santos | W | Cross choke | Pan American | O100KG | R1 | 2015 |
| 6891 | Abraham MarteAbraham Marte | W | Pts: 7x4 | Pan American | O100KG | 4F | 2015 |
| 6894 | Evandro NunesEvandro Nunes | W | Pts: 9x0 | Pan American | O100KG | SF | 2015 |
| 7606 | Kelly Eliot | W | Triangle | US No Gi Nat. | ABS | F | 2015 |
| 8011 | Ricardo FelicianoRicardo Feliciano | W | Choke from back | Santa Cruz Pro | O94KG | SF | 2015 |
| 8012 | Tanner RiceTanner Rice | W | Kneebar | Santa Cruz Pro | O94KG | F | 2015 |
| 8465 | Lucas RochaLucas Rocha | W | Kneebar | NoGi Worlds | 97KG | 4F | 2015 |
| 9378 | Manuel Diaz | W | Kneebar | Pan American | ABS | R2 | 2016 |
| 10064 | Mahamad Aly | W | Pts: 9x2 | World Champ. | O100KG | R1 | 2016 |
| 10069 | Carlos FariasCarlos Farias | W | Pts: 2x0 | World Champ. | O100KG | 4F | 2016 |
| 10072 | R. EvangelistaR. Evangelista | W | Pts: 15x0 | World Champ. | O100KG | SF | 2016 |
| 10485 | Luis Rubalcava | W | Cross choke | F2W 11 | 100KG | SPF | 2016 |
| 13211 | Felipe BezerraFelipe Bezerra | W | Armbar | World Champ. | O100KG | 8F | 2017 |
| 13380 | James Foster | W | Kneebar | F2W 39 | 100KG | SPF | 2017 |
| 13783 | Bryant Pangelinan | W | Triangle | Passion 4 | ABS | SPF | 2017 |
| 16714 | Kaio Cesar | W | Armbar | American Nat. | 100KG | SF | 2018 |
| 16715 | Wellington Perotto | W | Calf slicer | American Nat. | 100KG | F | 2018 |
| 16721 | Arin Adjamian | W | Armlock | American Nat. | ABS | 4F | 2018 |
| 16724 | Wellington Perotto | W | Kneebar | American Nat. | ABS | SF | 2018 |
| 16974 | Nathan Barreto | W | Kneebar | W.S.O.G. | O81KG | R1 | 2018 |
| 16979 | Victor Oliveira | W | Cross choke | W.S.O.G. | O81KG | 8F | 2018 |
| 16987 | Tarsis HumphreysTarsis Humphreys | W | Referee Decision | W.S.O.G. | O81KG | 3RD | 2018 |
| 17111 | Daniel Priebe | W | Armbar | Seattle Open | 100KG | F | 2018 |
| 18470 | Jeffrey Ake | W | N/A | Denver Open | ABS | 4F | 2018 |
| 18688 | Jorge Escudero | W | Kneebar | NoGi Worlds | 97KG | R1 | 2018 |
| 18691 | Eliot KellyEliot Kelly | W | Pts: 2x0 | NoGi Worlds | 97KG | SF | 2018 |
| 18941 | Marek Zbrog | W | Mounted X choke | European Open | 100KG | 4F | 2019 |
| 19669 | Rafael VasconcelosRafael Vasconcelos | W | Armbar | Pan American | 100KG | 8F | 2019 |
| 20860 | Mauro Oliveira | W | Wristlock | F2W 114 | N/A | SPF | 2019 |
| 21851 | Tex JohnsonTex Johnson | W | Pts: 3x0 | ADCC | 99KG | R1 | 2019 |
| 22929 | Fernando Ribas | W | Arm in guillotine | NoGi Worlds | O97KG | SF | 2019 |
James Puopolo vs Arman Barros
James Puopolo vs Ricardo Bufarra
James Puopolo vs Matt Owen
