BJJ Fighter Database

Venla Luukkonen is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Pedro Duarte, of the Jyväskylän Fight Club (Hilti BJJ Jyväskylä) in Finland, being the first black belt world champion to emerge from this Northern European country. Before winning the 2014 IBJJF World Championship at black belt, Venla Luukkonen was already regarded as one of the top female grapplers of her generation, having consistently medalled in jiu jitsu’s top tournaments throughout her lower belt career.

Dean Liebenberg, commonly known as “Cu Vermelho” is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Carlos “Portugues” Vieira, being regarded as one of the top representatives of the Cia Paulista academy in Australia. A former rugby player, Dean excelled in the sport of jiu jitsu, medalling in important international grappling events such as the Pan Pacific Championship, Pan American Championship, European Open and World Championship.

Beneil Dariush is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Romulo Barral, who was regarded as one of the top grappling prospects in the world before his change in career focus to mixed martial arts (MMA). A World Champion and World No Gi Champion in the lower belt divisions of BJJ, with wins over big names such as Kron Gracie, Beneil Dariush quickly climbed up the ladder of success in MMA, reaching the sport’s ultimate promotion – the UFC.

Yago de Souza is one of the top grappling competitors of his generation as well as a black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu under Cicero Costha. Yago earned his reputation in the lower belt divisions, where he earned the world championship, European Open, Brazilian National Championship as well as the South American Championship.

New Jersey born Tom DeBlass, is a well respected member of the grappling community both as a competitor as well as an instructor, having earned his Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Ricardo Almeida and produced high level athletes from his Ocean County Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy. DeBlass has also competed in MMA, with stints at the UFC and Bellator.

Antonio Passos, commonly known as Tony Passos, is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Moacir “Boca” Omena and Ricardo De La Riva, although he became better known as one of the louder voices of the Atos Jiu Jitsu team, a grappling camp he joined by the end of 2011. Passos is also recognized as one of the top jiu jitsu coaches in the United States, a country he moved to in 2004.

One of the best grapplers of her generation, Luiza Monteiro is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Rodrigo Cavaca, who’s career in the sport is commonly associated with the Projecto Social Lutando Pelo Bem team of Cicero Costha. One of the top athletes in jiu jitsu’s women’s division, Monteiro conquered numerous medals in a variety of weight classes, from featherweight to medium heavy.

Born in New Jersey, USA, Dillon Danis is an accomplished Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Marcelo Garcia of the Alliance Academy, being part of a fruitful generation of grapplers produced by the well respected Marcelinho, from his New York based gym. Dillon Danis made a name for himself at the start of 2014 through his incredible brown belt campaign that year.

Edwin Najmi is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Romulo Barral of the Gracie Barra academy (Northridge branch), a gym that has produced many talented grapplers, including Beneil Dariush, Pedro Araújo, Gabriel Larges, to name a few. One of the most talented grapplers of his generation, with a crowd pleasing submission orientated jiu jitsu style, Edwin Najmi climbed the belt ranks, stacking wins at the sport’s most revered tournaments, such as the World Championship, European Open and Pan American Championship.

Dominyka Obelenyte is a lithuanian-american grappler, being the first female Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under the legendary Marcelo Garcia. Regarded as a true grappling phenomenon since her early teens Dominyka Obelenyte proved her star quality by consistently winning at the highest level of the sport, being one of the youngest ever world champions in an adult division (14 years of age), a deed only surpassed by Luzia Fernandes.

Carlos Rollyson is a Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ) coral belt (7th degree) who earned his black belt from Master Carlson Gracie, having also a black belt in judo, which he achieved while training under Takise Ueda. After the passing of his BJJ mentor, Rollyson decided to leave the Carlson Gracie Academy, joining the multiple time world champion team, Alliance Jiu Jitsu. Carlos Rollyson is also one of the most high ranked jiu jitsu figures in South Florida.

André Motta is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under André Pederneiras of Nova Uniao, being one of the team’s top grappling competitors throughout the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, alongside legendary black belts such as Victor “Shaolin” Ribeiro, Robson Moura, Leo Santos and many others. Throughout André Motta’s career, he was mostly known for his incredibly technical spider guard game, a game that earned him many praises and medals, a guard that was only passed once in his career as an adult black belt.

Rosângela Conceição, is a historic Brazilian jiu jitsu figure, being the very first female world champion in the sport. Conceição is also a legendary figure in judo and freestyle wrestling having been part of the Brazilian national Olympic squad for both sports, being regarded as the most accomplished female wrestler ever produced by the south american country.

Vinícius Cruz, is a historic figure in Brazilian jiu jitsu, having medalled on multiple occasions in important tournaments such as the Copa Company, the World Championship, the Pan American Championship and many others. A former member of the Carlson Gracie Academy, Vinícius Cruz is often associated with the “loop choke”, a technique he perfected during the 1990’s applying it often in competition.

Carlos Rosado is a Brazilian jiu jitsu red belt, the highest grade possible in BJJ, being not only the youngest man to ever receive the honour in the sport, but also the only red belt ever awarded by the late Master Carlson Gracie. Regarded by many as the best student from Carlson Gracie’s first generation of black belts, Carlos Rosado is also the founder of the Rosado Jiu Jitsu Academy.

João Pedro “Somalia” is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Jonathas “Monteirinho” Couto and Eduardo “Jamelão” Conceição of Checkmat academy. Somalia burst into the grappling scene after winning two world titles at brown belt, later becoming a Pan American champion on his first year as a black belt, cementing his name as one of the top grapplers of his generation.

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Luan Carvalho is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Master Cláudio Joanino of the Nova União academy in Macaé. One of the rare examples of a competitor who reached success at black belt, having gone through his coloured belt career in obscurity, Luan turned a few heads his way after his 2015 Pan American Championship performance where he defeated the decorated veteran Rodrigo Caporal. Carvalho would carry on in good form that year winning the Rio Fall Open and at the Brazilian Nationals, defeating two former champions, Michael Langhi and Juan Caio Kamezawa while cementing his name as one of the top lightweights of his generation.

One of the main figures of the Alliance academy during the 1990s, Felipe Neto, also known as Zicro, was the first black belt to accompany Romero Cavalcanti to the United States, helping Master Jacaré establish the Alliance HQ on American soil. Zicro would later open his own Alliance branch in Florida.

Gabriel Rollo is one of the top lightweights in the Brazilian jiu jitsu lightweight division of his generation, having medalled in important grappling tournaments such as the South American, World, Pan American Championships as well as the European Open. Learn more about this Checkmat black belt here.