The middle weight division in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (also known as peso medio) is the sports most significant weight division, it is also one of the most stacked talent wise in BJJ.
Joao “Johnny” Faria is a Brazilian Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt with plenty of experience in Nogi as well. A Flavio Behring black belt, Johnny has won several important competitions since arriving in the USA in 2006 such as the Pan American and the World Nogi Championships.
Tom Abdo is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under former world BJJ Champion Luiz Guilherme “Guigo”. Though not a regular competitor, Tom Abdo has also achieved great success in tournaments with several titles in the Sao Paulo State Championships and even a Silver Medal at the Jiu Jitsu World Cup.
Andre Quiles is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under the Leozinho Vieira with strong ties to the MMA team Chute Boxe, for whom he fought many. Quiles has won several important titles in Jiu Jitsu, such as Sao Paulo State Champions (7 times) and South American Championchip.
Guga is a BJJ black belt from the Checkmat academy with several important medals under his belt, such as the Rio Open and the World Cup as a black belt, and a world title in the brown belt division, Luis Gustavo is one of the most successful competitors from the fightzone camp in Rio de Janeiro.
Ricardo Cavalcanti is one of the most successful BJJ instructors to have moved to the United States from his native Brazil. A true old school black belt, having earned his stripes under Carlson Gracie, Ricardo today coaches at his academies – Team Cavalcanti – spread out through the Nevada territory.
Raised amongst the Gracie family, Gregor Gracie is the half brother of Rolles and Igor Gracie (both sons of the late Rolls Gracie). Gregor is also one of the top Jiu Jitsu fighters of his generation to fight in MMA. With medals in some of the hardest grappling tournaments in the world (BJJ Mundial, Brazilian Nationals, Nogi Worlds and ADCC) this Renzo Gracie black belt has taken time off his busy schedule to successfully dipped his toes into the fashion industry.
A Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, Shinya Aoki is one of the most entertaining MMA fighters in the world. The Japanese superstar who has won numerous mixed martial arts bouts by submission, was forged in the Paraestra gym and is a decorated BJJ black belt with many important titles to his name
Daniel Garcia, also known as “Neguinho”, is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Rodrigo Feijão from the Nova União team. A World Cup …
Vinicius Corrales is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Fernando Paradeda from Porto Alegre, Brazil. One of the best fighters in the southern region of the country, Corrales made a dent into BJJ’s landscape after reaching the final of the World Pro Cup in Abu Dhabi in 2011, ha had also won that year the Nogi (without kimono) aspect of that same competition (WPC).
Daniel Valverde is an accomplished Judo and Jiu-Jitsu black belt from the state of Bahia in Brazil, having been 10x state champion in Judo …
Adam Shahir Kayoom is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under American Top Team founder Ricardo Liborio. An experience mixed martial arts (MMA) competitor, Kayoom …
Marcos Escobar is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Leonardo Castello Branco, having competed and medalled in several important tournaments such as the Pan American, the Brazilian National Teams championship and the Brazilian Cup. He has also been one of the propellers of BJJ in the Asian Continent since 2005.
Chico Mendes is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under the legendary Leo Vieira and a representative of the Checkmat Academy in the United Kingdom. Mendes has …
Keith McKenzie is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Marco Canha from Checkmat. Mckenzie is one of the very first Scottish Nationals to …
Rodney Ellis is an Australian black belt in jiu-jitsu under the legendary instructor, André Pederneiras of Nova Uniao. Ellis became one of Australia’s top …
Jake Shields is well known for his career as a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, an occupation he built with a style strongly …
Gabriel Goulart is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt from the Alliance team. A close friend of Lucas Lepri, Gabriel Goulart started training due to the influence of the 2007 BJJ lightweight world champion, and his talent has shined through on many occasions having been pointed out as one of the biggest up and comers by Jiu Jitsu’s media in 2010 being rewarded with his belt by his master Fabio Gurgel still in 2010.
Huanderson Pavão is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 3rd degree black belt and Luta Livre master from the Grapple Fight Team (former Gama Filho). An …
One of the world’s premiere grapplers, this BJJ black belt and Submission Wrestling expert from Rio de Janeiro has been based in the United States since the mid 1990’s where he has evolved into one of the most famous and accomplished Nogi fighters of today, as the wins at the ADCC (2009) and Nogi World Championships (2010, 2007) would certify.
Adriano Silva is one of the top Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitors of his generation who fought most of his career for the “Equipe Barbosa” …