One of the biggest shocks of the 2016 Abu Dhabi World Pro was the arrival of a relatively unknown grappler in the finals of the black belt absolute division. 

Jose Ferreira da Silva Junior, better known as Jose Junior, is a 4-time Brazilian champion, 2-time Pan champion and 2-time European champion, an ADCC veteran and a 2011 World Pro silver medallist. 

From a small town around 100km outside of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Junior has been living in the United Arab Emirates since 2009. He works as part of the program that administers the teaching of jiu-jitsu in the school system in the UAE. 

Now 31 years old, Jose Junior flies under the radar due to living in Abu Dhabi. He rarely competes outside of Europe or the Middle East but as he showed at the 2016 World Pro still has the skills to mix it up with the best in the world. 

Watch Jose Junior in action in the black belt absolute division of the 2016 World Pro 

• Jose Junior def Jackson Sousa – watch video
  
• Jose Junior def Luiz Panza – watch video
  
• Jose Junior def Ricardo Evangelista – watch video
  

Learn more about Jose from this 2011 video profile from BJJ Hacks