picture of Athlete Profiles

Find out more about the top figures in jiu-jitsu today: athletes, competitors, coaches and more.

  1. Felipe Pena

    Felipe Pena

    Nov 1, 2017

    Felipe Pena, also known by his nickname "Preguica", is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt world champion from Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Born on October 19, 1991, Pena represents the Gracie Barra team in competition.
  2. Rafael Lovato Jr.

    Rafael Lovato Jr.

    Nov 6, 2017

    Rafael Lovato Jr is a jiu-jitsu black belt and one of the most successful American jiu-jitsu practitioners of all-time. Born on June 25, 1983, Lovato Jr. represents Six Blades Jiu-Jitsu. He is an IBJJF World champion and professional MMA fighter having captured the Bellator middleweight title.
  3. Ethan Crelinsten

    Ethan Crelinsten

    Sep 17, 2019

    Ethan Crelinsten is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt from Montreal Canada. Born on May 14, 1994, he is known as a no-gi competitor, Crelinsten is a veteran of events such as ADCC, WNO, KASAI, Jitzking, Polaris and more. He trained extensively with coach Firas Zahabi at the TriStar gym, going from white to brown belt under the supervision of Zahabi.
  4. Gordon Ryan

    Gordon Ryan

    Nov 1, 2017

    Gordon Ryan– born July 8, 1995– is a jiu-jitsu black belt from New Jersey best known as a no-gi submission specialist, a five-time ADCC World champion, and the Tezos WNO heavyweight champion.
  5. Yuri Simoes

    Yuri Simoes

    Nov 2, 2017

    Yuri Simoes is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and MMA fighter from Rio de Janeiro. He is a two-time ADCC champion in different weight classes, winning gold in 2015 at -88kg and 2017 in the -99kg division. Born on June 18, 1990, Simoes trains under coach Caio Terra in San Jose, CA and represents Brasa CTA. He is four-time IBJJF World No-Gi champion, winning double gold in 2014 and 2016. In 2020 he made his professional MMA debut with ONE Championship.
  6. Kaynan Duarte

    Kaynan Duarte

    Apr 19, 2019

    Kaynan Duarte is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt from Pederneiras, Sao Paulo. Born on January 24, 1998, Duarte trains under Andre Galvao and represents the San Diego-based Atos team. He is the 2019 ADCC champion in the +99kg division.
  7. Kade Ruotolo

    Kade Ruotolo

    Nov 30, 2019

    Kade Ruotolo is the WNO 155lb champion. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor from California he was born on January 22, 2003. Ruotolo trains out of San Diego, CA under coach Andre Galvao and represents the Atos team. He is the twin brother of Tye Ruotolo.
  8. Ffion Davies

    Ffion Davies

    Dec 31, 2019

    Ffion Davies is a jiu-jitsu black belt from Wales. The reigning WNO 125lb champion, she was the first UK-born ADCC medalist, and also the first IBJJF black belt No-Gi World champion from the UK.
  9. Jacob Couch

    Jacob Couch

    Nov 2, 2020

    Jacob Couch is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt from Hazard, Kentucky nicknamed 'The Hillbilly Hammer'. Couch trains under coach Heath Pedigo and represents Pedigo Submission Fighting. Couch shot to fame when he first appeared in Episode 3 of the Daisy Fresh: An American Jiu-Jitsu Story documentary series.
  10. Mayssa Bastos

    Mayssa Bastos

    Oct 16, 2017

    Mayssa Bastos is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt champion grappler. She is the WNO 115lb champion, and has won gold medals at the IBJJF World gi and no-gi championship  multiple times. She is a black belt under Julio Cesar of GF Team and trains primarily at Unity Jiu-Jitsu in New York.
  11. Mica Galvao

    Mica Galvao

    Mar 4, 2020

    Micael Galvao, popularly known as "Mica", is a jiu-jitsu competitor from Manaus, Brazil. Born on October 8, 2003, Galvao is known for his early success in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and no-gi grappling. As a teenager, Galvao submitted black belts in both gi and no-gi tournaments. He is a 2021 Abu Dhabi World Pro champion in the 77kg black belt division. His father Melqui Galvao runs Fight Sports Manaus.
  12. Fabricio Andrey

    Fabricio Andrey

    Nov 2, 2020

    Hailing from Manaus in Brazil, Fabricio Andrey is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Melqui Galvao. Born on March 5, 2000, Andrey received his black belt in August 2020. Andrey formerly represented Alliance and is now part of Fight Sports.
  13. Kennedy Maciel

    Kennedy Maciel

    Nov 6, 2017

    Kennedy Maciel is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who competes in the featherweight division. The son of two-time ADCC champion Rubens 'Cobrinha' Charles, Maciel is often nicknamed "Cobrinha Jr.". Maciel is a 2019 ADCC silver medalist and a 2020 IBJJf Pan No-Gi champion. He was born in Sao Carlos, Brazil on January 2, 1997. He lives and trains in Los Angeles, CA and represents the Alliance team.
  14. Nicky Ryan

    Nicky Ryan

    Nov 6, 2017

    Nicky Ryan– born June 27, 2001– is a jiu-jitsu black belt from New Jersey known as a no-gi grappler who made history as the youngest male athlete to compete at the ADCC World Championships.
  15. Andre Galvao

    Andre Galvao

    Nov 6, 2017

    Andre Galvao is a jiu-jitsu black belt and champion grappler with ADCC and IBJJF World Championship titles. Co-founder of the Atos team, Galvao is head coach at the San Diego Atos HQ to many world champions. His athletes have also gone on to win the ADCC World Championships, and the IBJJF World Championships. The Atos team is considered one of the top teams in the world of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.