Success for Unity Team at No-Gi Worlds: Four Finalists, Four Gold Medals

Success for Unity Team at No-Gi Worlds

Unity team founder Murilo Santana spent more time in the coach's chair during the black belt finals of the 2021 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship than anybody else. He was matside to see four of his athletes take gold: 

  • Mayssa Bastos, the light-featherweight champion who claimed her second IBJJF World No-Gi black belt gold medal after winning in 2018
  • Diego “Pato” Oliveira, who took gold in the featherweight division after beating Gabriel Sousa  
  • Jeferson Guaresi, medium-heavyweight champion after earning a win versus Pedro Rocha via technical penalty 
  • Devhonte Johnson, who emerged the champ in the stacked super-heavyweight division.

All four of the above won gold just months after doing the same at the IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championships, signaling consistency in the team's performance at major no-gi events. 

It is important to note that while Santana works closely with and coaches all four of the above, only Guaresi and Johnson officially represented Unity in the tournament. Santana enjoys good relations with other teams and has worked extensively with GF Team black belt Bastos and PSLPB Cicero Costha rep Oliveira at his New York gym, although he has never required them to switch allegiance.