Leandro Lo

Leandro Lo was one of the most accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes to have ever competed in the gi class (kimono) and a record holder for most IBJJF World titles in different weight classes (5) — light, middle, medium-heavy, heavy and open weight, a 20-year-old record broken in 2020 (more details here). A former student of Cicero Costha, Leandro Lo’s first steps towards grappling stardom were taken in April 2011 when he defeated Michael Langhi (who had been unbeaten for 3 years), on his way to the top of the podium of the UAEJJF World Pro. Since that win, Leandro Lo cemented himself as one of the best “Pound for Pound” grapplers to have ever graced a mat, with repeated wins at the World Championships, the prestigious Copa Pódio, and Pan American Championships. Lo was shot and killed at a public event in August 2022 at the age of 33 (see below for details).

Leandro Lo Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Leandro Lo Pereira do Nascimento

Nickname: n/a

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rickson Gracie > Marcelo Behring > Waldomiro Perez > Roberto Godoi > Marco Barbosa > Cicero Costha > Leandro Lo

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2012 / 2013 / 2014 / 2015 / 2016 / 2018* / 2019 / 2022)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2012 / 2014 / 2015 / 2016 / 2017** / 2018**)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2017**)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2011 / 2012 / 2017**)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals No-Gi (2011 / 2012**)
• 1st Place Copa Podio Lightweight GP (2011 / 2013 / 2014 / 2016)
• 1st Place Copa Podio Middleweight GP (2012 / 2016)
• 1st Place Copa Podio Heavyweight GP (2016)
• 1st Place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro (2011 / 2013 / 2014 / 2015)
• 2nd Place Copa Podio Heavyweight GP (2014)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2017** / 2019*)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World NoGi Championship (2012*)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2016/2014*)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2021)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2005 junior blue)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian National (2009 / 2010 brown)
• 1st Place CBJJE Brazilian Cup (2008 purple)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2006 junior blue)
• 2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2008 purple)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Weight Division: N/A

Favorite Position/Technique: Spider Guard, Toreando Guard Pass

Association/Team: New School Brotherhood

Leandro Lo Biography

Leandro Lo was born on the 11th of May, 1989 on the east side of São Paulo – Brazil. He started practicing Jiu-Jitsu through the Projecto Social Lutando Pelo Bem (PSLPB) a social project for underprivileged children in 2004, a project led by Cicero Costha.

Leandro was a natural athlete and won many important titles as a junior, such as the Mundial in 2005, medalling again in 2006. Known as a spider guard /triangle type of grappler, when he was a purple belt, Lo’s game would change due to an injury suffered when he was a purple belt, which kept him away from competitions for a few months. Not having the pressure to perform every weekend, it was during his “competition-free” phase that Lo started working on his top game, a game for which he would become known during his black belt heyday.

In 2007 the world’s biggest organization (CBJJ/IBJJF) moved its most important tournament, the Mundial, to the United States seeking worldwide recognition. With the change, many Brazilian competitors (Leandro included) lost their window, the best way to showcase their skills to a wider audience, as they did not have the means to travel to America. These grapplers were left with smaller events, most of which were won by Lo.

It was on April 14th of 2011 that Leandro finally turned a few heads his way. After winning the trials in the south of Brazil (Gramado), Lo went on to defeat two legends in the tournament’s final stage, Celso Vinicius and Michael Langhi. Langhi was widely considered the best lightweight in the world and hadn’t lost a competition in 3 years. In 2012 Leandro Lo settled his name as the best lightweight competitor in the world, after wins at the Mundial (World Championship) the Pan American, and the Brazilian Nationals. Leandro also established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the open weight divisions with a win at the Brazilian No-Gi Nationals and second place at the No-Gi World Championship.

After winning all the main competitions at lightweight, Leandro Lo went up a weight division. Fighting at middleweight did not faze his performance as he kept winning all the top grappling competitions with and without the gi.

In late September 2015, Leandro Lo and a few of his teammates severed their bonds with the PSLPB team, moving on to form their own academy, led by Lo. Jiu-Jitsu New School Brotherhood was the name of the new team.  Among the most significant athletes who left with Leandro, were: Luiza Monteiro, Helio Dias, Gustavo “Braguinha”, Ygor Schneider, Anderson Lira, and Wellington Luís.

In June 2018 Leandro was hoping to match Saulo Ribeiro’s 4 IBJJF world titles in 4 different weight classes, after coming up short in 2017.  He reached the final against Mahamed Aly but was forced to quit after a shoulder injury from a throw dislocated his shoulder. Although still scheduled to compete in the final of the open weight class against Marcus Almeida, the injury prevented him from stepping on the mat and all hope of matching Ribeiro’s record was lost. That was until Marcus chose to forfeit the title and not to challenge Leandro, this way awarding the São Paulo native his first absolute title and his 4th world title in a different weight class.

LEANDRO LO’S DEATH

Leandro Lo died on Saturday evening 06, 2022, from a gun-inflicted wound to his head. The tragic events took place at the Clube Sírio showroom, in Indianópolis a neighborhood of São Paulo, Brazil, where Leandro was attending a musical performance by the pagode-style band Pixote. According to several witnesses, the shooter, an off-duty military police officer named Henrique Velozo, approached the table where Lo and his friends were sitting and behaved wrongfully by stealing a drink from the table. Leandro confronted Mr. Velozo and the two engaged in a brief physical altercation where Lo took control of the action. Once separated by the bystanders, Lo returned to his table but Henrique followed him there and shot him in the head at close range.

Despite being immediately rushed to the hospital, Leandro was found to have irreparably lost all brain function. Henrique Velozo fled the crime scene but was later arrested by the police.

Cover picture was taken by BJJPix.

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Leandro Lo vs Claudevam Martins

Leandro Lo vs Davi Ramos

Leandro Lo vs Keenan Cornelius