Diogo Sampaio Araújo
“Moreno”
Source: underdogmma.comDiogo “Moreno” Araújo built confidence on the competition mats while developing a teaching career from Rio to the United States.
Biography
Sources for this profile
Underdog Mixed Martial Arts, West Hartford, Connecticut: the gym’s own instructor page for its head coach in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Promotional copy, no byline, no date. Read 20 September 2026.(opens in a new tab)
Underdog MMA names him its head coach in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and writes his ring name as Moreno.
Where in the source: Diogo “Moreno” Araujo is the head Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach at Underdog MMA.
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By the gym's account he was born in Rio de Janeiro and trained in Brazil before he moved to the United States.
Where in the source: Born in Rio de Janeiro, he began his BJJ career in Brazil before moving to the United States.
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Underdog MMA describes Araujo as a black belt under Rafael “Formiga” Barbosa.
Where in the source: A black belt under Rafael “Formiga” Barbosa
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International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation: official final results for the World Master 2018 championship, published by the federation on 25 August 2018. Primary register, no editorial text.(opens in a new tab)
The federation dates the final results of its 2018 World Master championship to 25 August 2018.
Where in the source: World Master IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2018 Final result Aug/25/2018
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In the black belt Master 1 medium heavy bracket at 195.00lb the table puts him second, after Vitor Henrique Silva Oliveira, and registers him for Soul Fighters BJJ.
Where in the source: Male / Master 1 / Black / Medium Heavy (195.00lb) 1 Vitor Henrique Silva Oliveira GF Team 2 Diogo Sampaio Araujo Soul Fighters BJJ
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BJJ Heroes, Diogo Sampaio Moreno(opens in a new tab)
Diogo Sampaio Araújo is also known in competition as Diogo “Moreno” Araujo.
Where in the source: Introduction, Full Name and biography heading.
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He was born on30April1984 in Rio de Janeiro.
Where in the source: Biography opening.
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His father, a jiu-jitsu enthusiast who had not found time to train himself, encouraged him to take up the art.
Where in the source: Biography opening.
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He began with Professor Munir in Vila da Penha, then moved to Marcos Carvalho’s academy and met future Soul Fighters members there.
Where in the source: Biography second paragraph.
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Carvalho awarded his blue and purple belts; Augusto Tanquinho Mendes later took responsibility for the main classes and awarded his brown belt.
Where in the source: Biography third paragraph.
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He received his black belt on the podium after winning the2010Rio Open.
Where in the source: Biography third paragraph.
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He taught alongside Mario Vitor at Evidence Academy in Tijuca before moving to the United States.
Where in the source: Biography final paragraph.
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IBJJF, World Championship2012(opens in a new tab)
He won silver in the adult men’s black-belt medium-heavy division at the2012World Championship, representing Soul Fighters BJJ Barra da Tijuca.
Where in the source: Male/Adult/Black/MediumHeavy188.60lb:1RomuloClaudioBarral,2DiogoSampaioAraujo,3RafaelLovatoJr and RodrigoPinheiroBreves; nextHeavy.
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Graciemag, Campeão do Rio Open ensina, 8 August2014(opens in a new tab)
He won the2014Rio Open medium-heavy division after four matches, including a close semifinal against Alberto Ramos and a final against Victor Neves.
Where in the source: Opening and first two answers.
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He credited Augusto Tanquinho’s advice to stay a step ahead: setting the pace could force opponents to expose openings.
Where in the source: First answer.
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Against Neves, he described sweeping, attempting the back, recovering from underneath, then sweeping again, passing and reaching knee-on-belly.
Where in the source: Second answer.
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He identified confidence as a longstanding competitive difficulty and said deliberate mental work and improving results gradually strengthened it.
Where in the source: Third answer.
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Facing Romulo Barral in the2012World final made him believe dedication and sacrifice could bring him into the leading group; he remembered Barral already being a champion while he was a purple belt.
Where in the source: Final answer.
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Graciemag, Copa Podio full results,9September2013(opens in a new tab)
At the2013Copa Podio middleweight Grand Prix, Moreno beat Davi Ramos, Kit Dale and Alexandro Ceconi in his group, then defeated Paulo Miyao4–2 in the semifinal.
Where in the source: Yellowgroup rounds1/2/4 and SEMIFINALS; complete event report read.
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Felipe Pena beat him twice at that event: by triangle in the group stage and4–2 after taking his back in the final.
Where in the source: Round5 and THE FINAL GP.
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Graciemag, Entrevista com Felipe Preguiça e Diogo Moreno,10September2013(opens in a new tab)
After the final, Moreno said Pena’s strong opening pace and back attack had nearly made him submit, but the crowd encouraged him to continue trying to escape.
Where in the source: 0:47–1:34, Moreno speaking before interviewer turns to Pena.
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Graciemag, Aprenda5conceitos,19May2015(opens in a new tab)
His weight-class and open-class wins at the2015Zurich Open earned the ranking points needed to enter that year’s World Championship.
Where in the source: Opening three paragraphs.
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In2015 he named Bruno “Tanque” and Augusto “Tanquinho” as the two teachers who had promoted him to black belt, and said Tatu Escobar was helping him in Brazil after they moved to America.
Where in the source: Point3: Respeite seu professor.
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He advised staying open to technical evolution while retaining basics, and discussing recurring problems with training partners so both could improve.
Where in the source: Points1and2.
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He varied partners and deliberately started in uncomfortable positions to develop defence and composure under pressure.
Where in the source: Point5.
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He valued drills and specific training but considered repeated realistic sparring central to his own progress.
Where in the source: Point4.
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Reid Connell, FloGrappling,18May2017(opens in a new tab)
By May2017 he had moved to Dallas and was working full-time with Bruno Mendes while preparing for the World Championship.
Where in the source: Diogo Araujo Talks Competition Mindset section, complete paragraph.
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Octagon Martial Arts Studio, About Us(opens in a new tab)
Octagon Martial Arts Studio in Dallas lists Diogo “Moreno” Araujo as its head Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach.
Where in the source: Named instructor roster and Dallasaddress.
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Octagon Martial Arts Studio, Class Schedule(opens in a new tab)
Octagon’s schedule assigns him children’s gi classes, fundamentals and all-levels gi sessions across the week.
Where in the source: FullMonday–Saturday schedule; named DiogoMoreno rows.
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Lineage
No teaching connections are shown on this page.
Open lineage