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Brazilian MMA legend Anderson Silva began learning Taekwondo at 12. He holds the record of the longest reign by any UFC title-holder, being the middleweight champion from 2006 to 2013, and also has a record of 16 consecutive wins. He also has black belts in multiple martial art forms.
Rafael dos Anjos is a Brazilian-American mixed martial artist. A former UFC Lightweight Champion, dos Anjos is renowned for his aggressive approach, which often takes his opponents by surprise. Characterized by his strong takedown capabilities and physical strength, dos Anjos holds victories over popular martial artists like Robbie Lawler and Benson Henderson.
Brazilian professional mixed martial artist Lyoto Machida is currently signed with Bellator MMA. He competes in the light heavyweight division. He was previously associated with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The son of Shotokan karate master Yoshizo Machida, Lyoto began his training when he was just three. He has an MMA record of 26 wins from 36 matches.
Brazilian MMA fighter Royce Gracie, part of the renowned Gracie family of mixed martial artists, won the UFC 1, UFC 2, and UFC 4 championships. He made the Brazilian jiu-jitsu, or the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, popular, and holds the 7th degree red/black coral belt in the art.
Amanda Nunes is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist currently associated with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is the current UFC Women's Featherweight Champion. She is also a former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest female mixed martial artists of all time. She is openly lesbian.
Brazilian-American MMA fighter Wanderlei Silva, or The Axe Murderer, is known for his stints with the UFC and the Japanese Pride Fighting Championships. He set a Pride record for the longest winning streak. He has also participated in Bellator MMA contests and heads the MMA training organization Wand Fight Team.
Brazilian grappler and mixed martial artist Demian Maia is regarded as one of the greatest grapplers in MMA history. He currently fights for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) as a Welterweight. He began training in judo as a child and started practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a young man. Today, he is a fourth-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Brazilian MMA fighter Bethe Correia, also known as Pitbull, initially studied accounting but soon realized she wasn’t cut out for an office job. She has had a long stint with UFC and is known for her grappling skills. Her retirement bout in 2021 was postponed due to an appendix surgery.
Rorion Gracie is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Grand Master. Born into the famous Gracie family, which is credited with inventing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Rorion Gracie is credited with co-founding the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A multi-talented personality, Gracie is counted among the men responsible for introducing Brazilian Jiu-jitsu to the world.
MMA fighter Rousimar Palhares grew up amidst poverty in his village shanty before moving to Rio de Janeiro to train in martial arts at 15. He excels in his signature submission technique of heel hook but was banned by UFC twice for not releasing after the opposition had signaled submission.
Son of Grandmaster Helio Gracie, Royler Gracie boasts of a 7th degree red/black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, an art that was developed by his family. Also an MMA fighter, he later coached at the Rio de Janeiro-based Gracie Humaitá Academy and then moved to his own academy in San Diego.
