Rodolfo Vieira

Rodolfo Vieira (born September 25, 1989) is a Brazilian submission grappler, mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) practitioner.

A four-time Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion, seven-time Abu Dhabi World Pro champion, two-time Pan American and European Champion as well as ADCC Submission Grappling World Champion, Vieira is regarded as one of the best heavyweight BJJ competitors of his generation.

His sister is 4 x BJJ World champion Ana Carolina Vieira.

Vieira won the 2009 Abu Dhabi World Cup Brazilian north trials as a brown belt (in a mixed brown and black belt division).

He won his division at the Abu Dhabi World Cup with a victory over two-time world champion Braulio Estima, whilst still a brown belt, this earned him the nickname "black belt hunter".

After being promoted to black belt, injury sidelined him throughout most of 2010.

He returned in 2011 winning his division and the absolute at the Pan American Championships also winning double gold at the Abu Dhabi World Cup and the IBJJF World Championships, facing Bernardo Faria in five out of the six finals.

Vieira competed at the 2011 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship where he defeated Joseph Lee Blaize and Antonio Peinado but lost to Dean Lister, in the semi-finals (by heel hook).

In 2012 after winning double gold at the European Championships and the World Cup, he suffered a defeat to Marcus Almeida in the absolute quarter-finals of the IBJJF World Championship, Vieira won his weight class for a second time after defeating Xande Ribeiro.

In 2013 he competed at the Copa Podio in Brazil, where he won his weight division and the absolute.

He then competed at the Abu Dhabi World Cup, where he won his weight division but came second in the absolute after losing to Marcus Almeida.

At the 2013 IBJJF World Championship, Vieira retained his title in the −94 kg weight class but lost to Almeida in the final of the absolute.

In 2014 in an effort to defeat Marcus Almeida Vieira put on more weight and moved up to the −100 kg weight class, at the 2014 Abu Dhabi World Cup he won his weight class defeating Luiz Panza in the final, but again was defeated by Marcus Almeida in the absolute final.

Having transitioned to MMA in 2015, Vieira joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2019 where he competes in the middleweight division.

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Vieira started training under Arlans Maia when he was 13.

A few years later as a purple belt he joined Gama Filho team (now Grappling Fight Team) under Julio Cesar Pereira.

Vieira made his professional debut, as a light heavyweight, against Daniyar Zarylbekov at Arzalet Fighting Globe Championship 1 on February 10, 2017.

He won the fight by a first-round rear-naked choke submission.

Vieira was scheduled to face Fagner Rakchal at Shooto Brazil 74 on August 27, 2017.

He won the fight by a third-round submission.

Vieria made his ACB and middleweight debuts against Alexander Neufang at ACB 82 on March 9, 2018.

Vieria won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.

Vieria made his second appearance with the promotion against Jacob Holyman-Tague at ACB 88 on June 16, 2018.

He won the fight by a first-round submission.

Vieria was scheduled to face Vitaliy Nemchinov at ACA 96 on June 8, 2019.

Vieria won the fight by a first-round submission.

Vieira was signed by UFC in June 2019.

Vieira made his debut at UFC, facing Oskar Piechota, at UFC on ESPN+ 14 on August 10, 2019.

He won the fight via an arm-triangle submission in round two.

On December 11, 2020, Vieira returned to grappling competition to headline a Who's Number One event against Kaynan Duarte.

Vieira was submitted with a rear-naked choke at 2:28.

Vieira's Jiu-Jitsu style displays a very diverse set of skills, allied with a fast pace guard passing style, great cardio and huge physical prowess, making him the most dominant heavyweight in Jiu-Jitsu's recent years by completely dominating most of his fights.

His recurrent matches with Marcus Almeida are among Jiu-Jitsu's most famous rivalries.

Vieira faced Saparbek Safarov on March 7, 2020 at UFC 248.

He again won the fight via an arm-triangle submission in the first round.

Vieira was scheduled to face Markus Perez on October 11, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 179.

However, on September 21, Vieira pulled out due to rib injury that was sustained in training, forcing him to rest and not be able to prepare for the fight.

Vieira was scheduled to face Anthony Hernandez on January 16, 2021 at UFC on ABC 1.

However, Hernandez pulled out due to a positive COVID-19 test and they were rescheduled for UFC 258 on February 13, 2021.

After a competitive first round Vieira became fatigued and was submitted via guillotine choke in round two.