Two of jiu-jitsu's top black belts used their grappling skills to win at Shooto Brazil 74 on Sunday night. Rodolfo Vieira and Bruno Malfacine, who both train MMA with American Top Team in Florida, notched submission victories at the Rio de Janeiro event.

Malfacine made a super-successful MMA debut fighting at 125lb, beating fellow 0-0 fighter Romario Garcia by armbar only 1:34 into the first round. A fast start saw the nine-time world champion Malfacine take top position after a takedown. Garcia reversed from bottom mount, but Malfacine locked up an arm from closed guard to get the tap.

Vieira had a tougher test in what was his second career MMA fight, going almost the full three five-minute rounds against Fagner Rakchal before winning via arm-triangle choke with only 13 seconds left in the fight. Rakchal tested Vieira's stand-up defense and defended many of his takedowns. Vieira attacked for many submissions including a close armbar, but the finishing sequence was a classic MMA strategy: Vieira hit a single leg, threw some shots from top position, and isolated the arm for the choke to move to 2-0 following the win.


Bruno ​Malfacine gets the submission. Photo: Leonardo Fabri


​Rodolfo Vieira (blue shorts) aims for Fagner Rakchal. Photo: Carlos Arthur Jr


​Rodolfo Vieira tries for a takedown against the fence. Photo: Carlos Arthur Jr