Micael Galvão

Micael Ferreira Galvão, commonly known as Mica Galvão, is a professional grappler who holds the rank of black belt in jiu-jitsu under his father, coach Melqui Galvão, as well as a black belt in Luta Livre Esportiva (Brazilian catch-wrestling) under Master Totonho Aleixo. Although well known for his achievements in jiu-jitsu’s international tour, a circuit Galvão dominated from the teen, junior, and juvenile age groups, on to the adult divisions his first major break towards worldwide notoriety happened back in January 2019, shortly after earning his blue belt, a time when (then) 15YO Mica beat IBJJF Manaus Open adult black belt champion Leandro Rounaud via submission at a super-fight in Copa Podio’s Orange League. In 2024, Mica Galvão also achieved the sport’s Super Grand Slam (honorary title) by winning all 4 major tournaments of the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) and the ADCC in one season, the World, Pan, European, Brazilian Nationals, and ADCC World Championship. He was only the second athlete in the history of jiu-jitsu to achieve this deed in one single year.

Mica Galvão Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Micael Ferreira Galvão

Nickname: “Mica” short for Micael.

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Royler Gracie / Rolker Gracie > Augusto Monteiro > Ronnie Melo > Melquisedeque Galvão > Micael Galvão

Main Achievements:

• Who’s Number One 170 lb Champion (2023)
• IBJJF Grand Slam Winner (2024)
• Super Grand Slam Winner (2024)
• 1st Place ADCC (2024)
• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2022 / 2024)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2024)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Championship (2024)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2022 / 2024)
• 1st Place ADCC Balneário Brazil Trials (2021)
• 1st Place AJP Abu Dhabi World Pro (2021)
• 1st Place AJP Grand Slam, LDN (2023)
• 1st Place AJP Grand Slam, RJ (2021)
• 1st Place 3CG MW Grand Prix (2021)
• 2nd Place ADCC (2022)
• 2nd Place WNO Championship (2021)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship NOGI (2021 brown)
• 1st Place AJP World Pro (2021 brown)
• 1st Place AJP World Pro Qualifier BR (2021 brown)
• 1st Place AJP Grand Slam, AD (2020 purple, 2021 brown)
• 2nd Place WNO Championship (2021)

Main Achievements (Junior / Juvenile):

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship Juvenile (2019**)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship Juvenile (2019**)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open Juvenile (2019**)
• 1st Place IBJJF South American Championship Juvenile (2019**)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals Juvenile (2019**)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals Junior (2015)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals Teen (2016)

* Absolute
** Weight and Absolute
202 Stripped of title by USADA due to PED use

Favorite Position/Technique: Well-Rounded

Weight Division: Peso Médio (82,30 kg / 181.5 lbs)

Team/Association: Melqui Galvão JJ

Mica Galvão Biography

Micael Galvão was born on October 08, 2003, in Manaus, the capital city of the Brazilian state of Amazonas.

With a father as heavily invested in jiu-jitsu as black belt Melqui Galvão, grappling appeared naturally in Mica’s life. His first experiences came through playful games around the mats as a 2-year-old, being gradually weaned into jiu-jitsu training with his first tournament participation taking place at the age of 4.

When he was 10 years old, Mica Galvão added Luta Livre Esportiva (LLE) to his daily activities, a Brazilian style of catch wrestling in which Galvão would earn the rank of black belt in March 2021.

A natural-born competitor, Mica Mica competed in a variety of grappling styles over the years, particularly as a teenager, a time when he entered LLE, judo, wrestling, and beach-wrestling tournaments as well as bodybuilding contests.

A big advocate for animal welfare and a vocal opponent of animal farming, Micael Galvão opted to become a vegetarian in 2019. A lifestyle he described to BJJ Heroes in an interview performed in May 2021 as beneficial towards his athletic career.

MICA GALVÃO PROMOTIONS:

JIU-JITSU:
– DECEMBER 3, 2018: Blue Belt – 15YO
– NOVEMBER 16, 2019: Purple Belt – 16YO
– OCTOBER 22, 2020: Brown Belt – 17YO
– JULY 09, 2021: Black Belt – 17YO

LUTA LIVRE ESPORTIVA:
– MARCH 19, 2021: Black Belt – 17YO

NOTE REGARDING MICA GALVÃO’S RECORD

Traditionally BJJ Heroes have only accounted for adult black belt records as they signify an athlete’s entry into our sport’s elite ranks. Mica Galvão, however, is a special case as he’s been competing in the pro-grappling circuit since his teens/brown belt days. This has left BJJ Heroes with a delicate predicament of defining when to start accounting for his match records.

Considering the level of opposition Galvão overcame early on in his career, we believed it would be beneficial to have his matches against pro-athletes included on his profile from his brown belt onwards.

Who is Mica Galvão by Riccardo Ammendolia