BJJ Fighter Database

Ricco Rodriguez is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Jean Jacques Machado, and an important figure in the history of the sport, being the first U.S. national to earn an ADCC gold medal (1998), and the 2nd American to earn a world title in Jiu Jitsu (1997). Rodriguez was also an important figure in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) where he became the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion, though his career is also a controversial one, being the first MMA fighter ever to be suspended by the athletic commission for the use of cocaine.

Elan Santiago is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under the illustrious Mauro Chueng, being known in the world of grappling for his incredible work as a coach, where he developed competitors such as Lucas Lepri, Tiago Rocha, Gabriel Goulart, Rodrigo “Akilis” and many others. Santiago is also recognized as a pioneer in the Brazilian region of “Triângulo Mineiro” and for his involvement with the social project of “Sonho do Beija-Flor”.

Tanner Rice is a jiu jitsu black belt under “Cobrinha”, who became known as the first American born athlete to be promoted by the respected Alliance coach. Rice earned the rank at the age of 19, after winning the 2012 IBJJF world title, being at the time the youngest US native to achieve this deed. Later that year, in his black belt debut, Rice defeated two of the sport’s biggest names cementing his name as one of the most talented athletes in his division.

Hiago George is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under the illustrious Cícero Costha as well as Fabio Medeiros, being also one of the most accomplished featherweight competitors of his generation. Hiago made a name for himself competing mainly in the Brazilian grappling circuit, where he conquered numerous important titles.

Karen Antunes is a jiu jitsu black belt under Mayko Araújo, being also one of the top athletes in the sport’s female lightweight class. Antunes paved her way to the big leagues of the sport in the lower belt divisions, where she conquered 3 IBJJF world titles among many other important placements. However, it was her performance at the prestigious Five Super League tournament on August 2015

Isaac Doederlein is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Rubens Charles “Cobrinha”, who also trained extensively with Wellington “Megaton” Dias during his first years in the sport. Doederlein made a name for himself in the sport’s lower belt divisions, from blue belt onwards, making use of a highly dynamic ground game, one that earned him numerous medals and loyal fans across the grappling globe.

Mansher Khera, also known as “Munch” is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt of Sikh descent, being the first grappler produced from white to black belt by the legendary Marcelo Garcia. Khera arrived at the black belt division midway through 2015 being already regarded as one of the hottest prospects in the sport, mainly due to his incredible lower belt campaigns where he earned four World No-Gi titles (2013 and 2014 weight + absolute). He immediately cemented his status as one of the top lightweights in the world with solid performances at tournaments such as the IBJJF Boca Raton Open and the World No-Gi Championship.

Wander Braga is a Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ) black belt under Jorge Pereira, being one of the most well known competitors in the BJJ and vale-tudo (NHB) circuit during the mid 1990’s and early 2000’s decades. Wander Braga is also revered for his coaching success, having co-founded the famous Big Brother team and formed high calibre grappling competitors such as Gabriel Gonzaga.

Ataíde Junior is a judo and Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Armando Wridt, being the founder of Constrictor Team, a grappling academy that has produced high level jiu jitsu and mixed martial arts (MMA) competitors such as Rani Yahya, Paulo Thiago, Francisco “Massaranduba” Trinaldo, Renato Moicano, Adriano Moraes and many others.

Gabriel Arges is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Romulo Barral and Felipe “Preguiça”, who also trained extensively with Marcelo “Uirapuru”, competing for the Gracie Barra Academy. Arges made a name for himself in the lower belt divisions of the sport, particularly during his purple and brown belt campaigns (2013-2015) where he conquered important titles such as IBJJF World Champion (Gi/No-Gi), European Open Champion, as well as Pan America and American National Champion.

Steve da Silva, commonly known as “Suga Pop” is a legendary figure in the music and dance industries as well as in the sport of Brazilian jiu jitsu, a martial art for which he was one of the pioneering black belts in the Northern Hemisphere, helping promote the Nova Uniao Academy on US soil.

Tomoyuki Hashimoto, also known as “Passport”, is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Yuki Nakai, and one of the top rooster weight grapplers of his generation. Hashimoto made a name for himself in the sport competing in the lower belt divisions, while representing the Carpe Diem Academy of Japan for whom he won a World Jiu Jitsu title and the prestigious Dumau Challenge. In 2015, shortly after being awarded his black belt, Hashimoto cemented his status of elite jiu jitsu athlete by conquering a gold medal at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour.

Adriano Moraes, also known in the fight world as “Black Diamond”, is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under the illustrious Ataíde Junior of Team Constrictor, with whom he became also one of the top mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters of his generation, having competed in important organizations such as Shooto Brazil and One FC, conquering the flyweight (125lbs) belt of the Singapore-based promotion in 2014.

Gazzy Parman is a pioneer for women’s jiu jitsu and a black belt under John Lewis. A unique character in the female competitive grappling scene throughout the 2000’s decade, Gazzy’s outspoken demeanor and competitive accolades made her a fan favorite across the globe.

Lucas Pinheiro, also known as “Bad Boy” is a jiu-jitsu athlete of Brazilian Indigenous descent, who was awarded the rank of black belt by …

Reylson Gracie is a 9th degree red belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu, and one of the most well respected representatives of the Gracie self defence style, being the son of Gracie jiu jitsu founder Carlos Gracie (Sr) and one of its pioneers in the United States where he raised awareness to the his family’s trade. Reylson is also an important figure in the development of jiu jitsu’s vocabulary, having created the names for several techniques, as well as a visionary in this martial art’s gi fashion, being the first producer of coloured gi’s (kimonos). Reylson is also the father of the well known MMA and BJJ fighter Rodrigo Gracie.

Nic Ruben is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Eduardo “Teta” Rios, being one of the most accomplished grappling competitors in the European continent. Earning medals at important tournaments such as the World No-Gi Championship, European Open or the Pan American No-Gi Championship, Ruben flew the Frontline Academy flag high (a team he co-founded) while raising awareness to the Norwegian jiu jitsu scene.

Felipe Silva, commonly known as “Bocão” is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Rogério Poggio and Pitoco Jordan, being known as one of the most active competitors of the Infight Jiu Jitsu Academy throughout the 2000’s & 2010 decade. Bocão also became one of the main coaches of the team, later joining the United Arab Emirates school system as a grappling coach.

As the sport of Brazilian jiu jitsu expands to all corners of the Earth, more talent is generated by countries we not often relate …

Paulo Rezende, commonly known as “Paulão” Rezende, is a 4th degree Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Leonardo Castello Branco, being an iconic figure of the sport particularly in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, from where he has developed some of the best grapplers the world has laid eyes on, such as Marcelo Garcia, Reinaldo Ribeiro, Rodrigo Ranieri and Matheus Diniz to name a few.