Marcel Fortuna

Marcel Fortuna, also known as “Mãozinha”, is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Alexandre de Souza (Pop), and a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. Having conquered an IBJJF World title representing the Gracie Florianópolis team (2007), Fortuna would later join the famous Ralph Gracie‘s academy in San Francisco – California (2009), with whom he started his MMA career, while still keeping active within the local grappling circuit.

Marcel Fortuna Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: Marcel Fortuna

Nickname: “Mãozinha” translates to “little hand” in Portuguese. The reason behind the nickname was not totally disclosed.

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Crolin Gracie > Alexandre de Souza > Marcel Fortuna

Main Achievements:

• World Champion (2007 brown)
• Pan American Champion (2010)
• European Open Champion (2008)
• Brazilian National Champion (2007 brown)
• San Francisco Open Champion (2012)
• Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials Champion – San Diego (2012)
• World Championship Runner-up (2005 purple)
• Brazilian Championship Runner-up (2009)
• World Championship 3rd Place (2008)
• World No-Gi Championship 3rd Place (2009)
• Pan American Championship 3rd Place (2008)

Favorite Position/Technique: Armbar

Weight Division: Super Pesado (100kg/221bs)

Team/Association: Ralph Gracie Academy

Marcel Fortuna Biography

Marcel Fortuna was born on the 22nd of October, 1985 in Tubarão a small municipality in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

While growing up Marcel’s family moved throughout the state, in towns such as Criciuma and Laguna where Fortuna initiated his martial arts training, through karate and capoeira.

At the age of 16, now back in Tubarão, Marcel gave jiu jitsu a try by joining Glauco Machado’s academy (a former student of Crolin Gracie) who owned an academy near Fortuna’s high school. Glauco would promote Fortuna all the way to purple belt, a time when Marcel had to move to Santa Catarina state capital – Florianópolis, to further his studies.

In Florianópolis Marcel Fortuna joined one of the most well known gyms in the state, another affiliate of Crolin Gracie’s franchise, led by Alexandre “Pop” de Souza.

In 2007 Marcel travelled to the United States as a brown belt, to compete in the IBJJF World Jiu Jitsu Championship together with his good friend Tony Eduardo. Marcel won the prestigious tournament and his black belt, tied by Bruno “Mamute” at the request of Alexandre de Souza.

After the World Championship Tony Eduardo continued travelling around the globe while Marcel returned to Florianópolis to finish his degree. In 2009 Eduardo returned to Brazil for a short while, though long enough to convince Marcel to move with him to California. There, in San Francisco, Fortuna settled and joined Ralph Gracie’s gym with the objective of pursuing a career in mixed martial arts (MMA), a career he initiated in 2011.

Marcel Fortuna vs Jarrod Bunch