Fabio Gurgel
Fabio Gurgel is a Brazilian coral belt, Alliance co-founder and four-time world champion who also coaches the team.
Biography
Sources for this profile
IBJJF news, 'Fabio "The General" Gurgel Discusses Jiu-Jitsu as a Profession'(opens in a new tab)
Gurgel coached IBJJF Hall of Fame members Rubens 'Cobrinha' Charles, Bruno Malfacine, Gabi Garcia, Luanna Alzuguir and Marcelo Garcia.
Where in the source: Opening paragraph > list of coached competitors
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Gurgel is a four-time World Champion as a competitor.
Where in the source: Pursuing Jiu-Jitsu as a Profession > 'four-time World Champion as a competitor'
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Alliance was started in 1993.
Where in the source: Lessons Learned from Alliance Co-Founder > 'We started Alliance in 1993'
Accessed:
Portal do Vale Tudo (Marcelo Alonso), '25 anos do 1o Mundial', 28 January 2021(opens in a new tab)
In the absolute division of the same 1996 World Championship Gurgel lost to Amaury Bitetti on referee decision (combatividade).
Where in the source: Absoluto > 'Amaury Bitetti venceu Fabio Gurgel (combatividade)'
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At the first World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in 1996 Gurgel won the black belt heavyweight final against Murilo Bustamante 5-0, scoring a takedown and a guard pass.
Where in the source: Final dos pesados > 'Desta vez Gurgel foi melhor aplicando uma queda e uma passagem (5x0) e garantindo o ouro'
Accessed:
fabiogurgel.com.br, 'A historia da Alliance em 30 capitulos' (first-person account)(opens in a new tab)
Gurgel describes the 1996 heavyweight win over Murilo Bustamante as his first world title, taken 5-0.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #7 > 'Cheguei a final com meu amigo Murilo Bustamante e consegui meu primeiro titulo apos um vitoria por 5 x 0'
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The following year Gurgel took a second consecutive world heavyweight title and finished runner-up in the absolute division.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #8 > 'eu consegui o bi campeonato no peso pesado e fui vice campeao no absoluto'
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Alliance was founded by Romero 'Jacare' Cavalcanti together with Fabio Gurgel, Fernando Gurgel, Alexandre Paiva, Roberto Traven, Francisco Canepa, Leonardo Castello Branco and Vinicius Campelo.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #4 > 'a primeira formacao de fundadores da Alliance era composta por: Romero Jacare Cavalcanti, Fabio Gurgel, Fernando Gurgel, Alexandre Paiva, Roberto Traven, Francisco Canepa, Leonardo Castello Branco e Vinicius Campelo'
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The idea behind Alliance was to bring all of Jacare's students together under a single banner, and it came together in 1993.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #4 > 'Finalmente em 1993 tivemos a ideia de juntar todos os alunos embaixo de uma so bandeira'
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The first World Jiu-Jitsu Championship was held in January 1996 at the Tijuca Tenis Clube gymnasium in Rio de Janeiro and was organised by the CBJJ; the IBJJF was only founded in 1997.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #7 | O primeiro mundial > 'teriamos o primeiro mundial de Jiu jitsu organizado ainda pela CBJJ, (1997 seria fundada a IBJJF)' and 'o ginasio do Tijuca Tenis Clube'
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Gurgel prepared for the first World Championship on just three weeks of training, having decided to enter while on holiday in Hawaii.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #7 > 'Eu estava de ferias no Hawaii quando decidi que deveria lutar, teria apenas 3 semanas de treino apos minha chegada ao Brasil'
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Gurgel trained for UFC 11 in the United States for two months under Rickson Gracie in Marina Del Rey, alongside Roberto Traven and boxing coach Claudinho Coelho; Rickson was unable to corner him on the night and Gurgel's own master Jacare cornered him instead.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #7 > 'fiz meu treinamento todo nos EUA sob a tutela do mestre Rickson Gracie' ... 'tive a noticia que o Rickson nao poderia me acompanhar em meu corner'
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Gurgel says he lost the UFC 11 decision to Jerry Bohlander without taking a single punch, with Bohlander holding the fence for much of the 15 minutes.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #7 > 'ele segurou na grade para nao cair ... ao final os juizes deram a vitoria para ele, mesmo eu nao tendo tomado um soco se quer, perdi a luta'
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A rematch with Jerry Bohlander was set for January 1997 and Bohlander travelled to Brazil for a media day, but 15 days out, in the first week of the year, Gurgel was informed that his opponent had not signed the contract. Offered either a substitute superfight or a three-fight, eight-man tournament, he chose the tournament without hesitating.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #8 > 'uma possivel revanche ... estava finalmente assinada, ele veio ao Brasil, fizemos o "media day"' and 'porem a 15 dias da luta, na primeira semana do ano fui informado que meu adversario nao havia assinado o contrato' and 'Escolhi sem pestanejar o torneio'
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Gurgel says he picked Mark Kerr as his likely finalist the moment he saw him at the WVC 3 rules meeting, and later called their 30-minute final the most instructive fight of his career.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #8 > 'lembro de ter comentado, e com ele que vou fazer a final, Mark Kerr era o nome dele' and 'essa luta talvez tenha sido a de maior aprendizado em minha carreira'
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The WVC 3 final against Mark Kerr was broadcast on TV Bandeirantes in Brazil and repeated dozens of times, but Gurgel says the exposure did not translate into new students; his academy had about 300 at the time.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #8 > 'com transmissao pela TV Bandeirantes e dezenas de reprises' and 'eu tinha uma faixa de 300 alunos na epoca'
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At the 1997 World Championship, held in June, Gurgel took his second consecutive heavyweight title and finished runner-up in the absolute division, losing to Amaury Bitetti after the bout finished 1-1 on advantages.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #8 > 'eu consegui o bi campeonato no peso pesado e fui vice campeao no absoluto, fiz uma luta boa contra meu arqui rival Amaury Bitetti e a luta terminou empatada em 1 x 1 em vantagens'
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Gurgel says the referee who awarded the 1997 absolute decision to Bitetti told him the reason was that Gurgel had already won his weight division.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #8 > 'ouvi: dei pra ele porque voce ja havia ganhado a categoria!!!'
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In 1998 Alliance won its first team world title, decided in the purple belt absolute division by Fernando Terere, while Gurgel lost a World Championship final for the first time, to Saulo Ribeiro.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #9 > 'Fomos campeoes mundiais pela primeira vez e pela primeira vez eu perdi uma final de mundial para o Saulo Ribeiro'
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In 1999 Alliance won a second consecutive team world title, sealed by Rodrigo 'Comprido' Medeiros finishing Roberto 'Roleta' Magalhaes with a footlock in under a minute in the absolute final; Gurgel himself lost the semi-final to Murilo Bustamante, his first World Championship outside the finals.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #10 > 'Conquistamos o bicampeonato mundial pela IBJJF' ... 'perdi a semifinal para Murilo Bustamante, o que significou minha primeira vez fora das finais do mundial' ... 'aplicou um bote certeiro em uma chave de pe e finalizou a luta com menos de 1 minuto'
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Before the 1999 World Championship Alliance ran a ten-day training camp for around 50 athletes at Sitio Santa Filomena in Campo Limpo Paulista - something Gurgel says had never been done by a jiu-jitsu team before.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #10 > 'Isso nunca tinha sido feito em uma equipe de jiu-jitsu' and 'ficaria junta por 10 dias antes do mundial ... aproximadamente 50 atletas'
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Gurgel competed at the second ADCC in Abu Dhabi in 1999 alongside Roberto Traven, losing his second match; Traven won the absolute division that year.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #10 > 'a segunda edicao do ADCC aconteceria no segundo semestre, e eu e Traven fomos convidados' ... 'Perdi na minha segunda luta, mas Traven foi campeao absoluto naquele ano'
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In 2000, aged 30, Gurgel won his third world title at the Tijuca Tenis Clube, beating Ricardo Arona in the final on an advantage from a takedown plus three points for a guard pass.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #11 > 'cheguei a final contra o super talentoso atleta da nova geracao, Ricardo Arona' ... 'conquistei os 3 pontos da passagem para me sagrar tricampeao mundial'
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As a tune-up for the 2000 World Championship Gurgel entered the Rio de Janeiro state championship and beat Ricardo Liborio 2-0 on a takedown in the heavyweight final.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #11 > 'Nos enfrentamos na final da categoria peso pesado, e eu consegui vencer por 2x0 com uma queda'
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In 2001, aged 31, Gurgel won his fourth and final world title at black belt and retired from the World Championship as a four-time champion.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #12 > 'Em 2001, conquistei meu ultimo titulo mundial' and 'Conquistei meu quarto titulo mundial na faixa preta' and 'Deixar de competir como tetracampeao mundial'
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The 2001 final was an all-Alliance meeting with Rodrigo 'Comprido' Medeiros; teams normally closed out a division without fighting, but because Sportv was televising the finals live the two staged a pre-agreed demonstration match.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #12 > 'Normalmente, as equipes fechavam as categorias sem lutar ... como as finais seriam transmitidas ao vivo pela Sportv, decidimos lutar em uma demonstracao acordada previamente'
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Gurgel notes that Alliance never won the team title in the years he won individually, and vice versa, but says he never left the Tijuca venue without a title while he competed.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #12 > 'mantendo o tabu de que quando eu vencia individualmente, o time nao conquistava o titulo, e vice-versa ... nunca sai sem um titulo do Tijuca enquanto competi'
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Gurgel says he retired from competition in order to prove himself as a teacher and team coach rather than as an athlete.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #12 > 'Deixar de competir como tetracampeao mundial visava provar minha capacidade como professor e tecnico de uma equipe de jiu-jitsu'
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Gurgel's Sao Paulo academy went bankrupt at the end of 1998 after the landlord doubled the rent, forcing him to close it and move the group a few kilometres away into the larger Projeto Acqua gym, which he elsewhere places in Vila Olimpia.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #10 > 'O proprietario do imovel decidiu dobrar o valor do aluguel, o que me levou a falencia. Tive que fechar minha academia e transferir todo nosso grupo para o Projeto Acqua, uma academia maior localizada a poucos quilometros de distancia'; the Vila Olimpia location is stated separately in CAPITULO #11 > 'eu havia mudado para dentro do Projeto Acqua, uma grande academia na Vila Olimpia'
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After betting on private lessons and delegating group classes, Gurgel's academy fell from about 200 students to just over 80; he responded by returning to group teaching and taking 10 to 12 classes a day, a routine he kept for many years.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #11 > 'Minha academia, que chegou a ter 200 alunos, diminuiu para pouco mais de 80' and 'cheguei a dar entre 10 e 12 aulas por dia'
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Gurgel's 1998 proposal for a written Alliance statute and a central fund - modelled on the Abada capoeira group led by Mestre Camisa - was rejected by the meeting. By Gurgel's own account the participants thought he wanted to control the team; they accepted the idea of a single coordinator but elected a purple belt to the role. He later judged that writing the plan almost entirely alone had been his mistake.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #9 > 'o plano for rechacado, acharam que eu queria controlar o time e derrubaram a proposta por completo, concordaram que deveriamos ter um coordenador unico, porem elegeram um faixa roxa' and 'o fato de eu ter escrito o plano praticamente sozinho foi um erro'
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Gurgel had trained with Rickson Gracie since 1989 and organised a seminar for him in Sao Paulo in 1995. In Gurgel's telling, Rickson raised that his brother Royler was uneasy about the relationship; Gurgel offered to concede rather than face Royler, and says Rickson then added that in return no student of their school would fight Gurgel - an undertaking Gurgel says he never asked for.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #9 > 'Rickson de pronto concordou e emendou, "se voce nao luta com o Royler, nenhum aluno abaixo de nossa escola luta com voce" eu nunca pedi isso mas concordei'
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Gurgel later organised a Sao Paulo seminar for Royce Gracie, attended by Helio and Rorion Gracie, at a time when the family was internally divided. He writes that nobody explained this to him at the time, and that he now understands Rickson took the view that he should not have organised it.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #9 > 'eu claro nao tinha a menor ideia e isso nunca me foi falado ou explicado, mas hoje entendo que o Rickson entendia que eu nao poderia ter organizado o seminario do Royce'
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Saulo Ribeiro, then a student of Royler Gracie, entered Gurgel's division and the two met in the 1998 World Championship final. Gurgel writes that because he had asked for nothing he expected nothing, but that the arrangement lapsed at that point and a natural distancing followed between him and Rickson - adding that he holds Rickson in enormous admiration, respect and gratitude, and that their paths simply separated.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #9 > 'O Saulo era aluno do Royler, se inscreveu na minha categoria' and 'Como eu nao havia pedido nada, nao esperava nada mas ali o acordo se acabou e houve a partir daquele episodio um distanciamento entre eu e o Rickson natural, tenho por ele uma enorme admiracao respeito e gratidao ... mas nossos caminhos se separaram'
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Marcelo 'Marcelinho' Garcia joined Gurgel's Sao Paulo team ahead of the 2002 season, moving to the city together with Tati Tognini.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #12 > 'fortalecemos nossa equipe de competicao com a chegada de Marcelinho Garcia, que havia se mudado para Sao Paulo junto com a Tati Tognini'
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Gurgel moved his operation to Sao Paulo and set up Master Alliance there, later relocating the academy to Rua Leopoldo Couto Magalhaes in Itaim, where it grew from 60 to 250 students in six months.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #5 > 'montamos a Master Alliance em Sao Paulo'; CAPITULO #6 > 'em 6 meses passamos de 60 alunos para 250'
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Gurgel won the Brazilian national championship in both his weight class and the absolute division in 1995.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #6 > 'O ano era 1995, eu acabara de vencer o campeonato brasileiro no peso e no absoluto'
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Alliance opened a new Sao Paulo headquarters in December 2010. Of 2010 Gurgel writes that Alliance was the only team to win all the Grand Slam championships in the same year, calling it an unprecedented feat; he does not enumerate the events at that point. Where he does enumerate a complete Grand Slam, for 2011, it is four events: European, Pan American, Brazilian and World.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #19 > 'a Alliance era a unica equipe a vencer todos os campeonatos do Gland Slam no mesmo ano' and 'Inauguramos a nova sede da Alliance Sao Paulo em Dezembro de 2010'; CAPITULO #20 > 'outro Grand Slam completo com Europeu, Panamericano, brasileiro e Mundial'
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Rubens 'Cobrinha' Charles won the 2007 World Championship, but Alliance finished second in the team standings that year.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #16 > 'Embora Cobrinha tenha conquistado o mundial de 2007, a Alliance ficou em segundo lugar'
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Alliance won the 2008 Pan American a few months before the World Championship, which Gurgel read as the sign that a return to the top was close.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #17 > 'O grande sinal que estavamos proximos do retorno ao topo do podio foi a vitoria no Pan Americano de 2008'
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At the 2008 World Championship, by then held in California, Alliance produced two black belt champions and two runners-up: Cobrinha secured his third world title, and Sergio 'Serginho' Moraes - unknown in the United States and drawn against Kron Gracie in the first round, whom he beat with a choke from the back - became the second champion and clinched the team title after a nine-year wait. Gurgel writes simply that 'Alliance was back'.
Where in the source: CAPITULO #17 > 'fizemos 2 campeoes na preta e 2 vice campeoes' ... 'Cobrinha assegurou seu 3o titulo mundial' ... 'Serginho era nosso segundo campeao na preta e assegurava nosso titulo por equipes depois de 9 anos de espera' ... 'a Alliance estava de volta'
Accessed:
IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation), Hall of Fame page(opens in a new tab)
His full registered name is Fabio Duca Gurgel do Amaral.
Where in the source: Hall of Fame > male inductee entry 'FABIO DUCA GURGEL DO AMARAL'
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Fabio Gurgel is a member of the IBJJF Hall of Fame.
Where in the source: Hall of Fame > male inductee entry 'FABIO DUCA GURGEL DO AMARAL'
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fabiogurgel.com.br, Gurgel's official site(opens in a new tab)
Gurgel began practising jiu-jitsu at the age of 13.
Where in the source: Um exemplo de 'Trajetoria do Heroi' > 'Fabio Gurgel do Amaral comeca aos 13 anos praticar o Jiu Jitsu'
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Gurgel holds a 7th-degree red-and-black coral belt.
Where in the source: Profile block > 'Mestre Faixa Coral [vermelha e preta] 7o grau'
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Gurgel is co-founder and CEO of Alliance Jiu-Jitsu and coach and leader of the team.
Where in the source: Profile block > 'Co-founder e CEO da Alliance Jiu Jitsu' / 'Tecnico e lider da equipe Alliance Jiu Jitsu'
Accessed:
Sherdog Fight Finder, fighter profile(opens in a new tab)
Fabio Gurgel was born on 18 January 1970 and is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Where in the source: Fighter header > 'BRAZIL / RIO DE JANEIRO / FABIO GURGEL' and 'AGE 56 / JAN 18, 1970'
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Gurgel is listed at 6'0" (183 cm) and 205 lbs (93 kg), competing as a light heavyweight, with Brazilian jiu-jitsu as his style and Alliance as his association.
Where in the source: Fighter header > HEIGHT / WEIGHT / CLASS / STYLE / ASSOCIATION rows
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Gurgel's professional mixed martial arts record is 3 wins and 2 losses; all three wins came by TKO and both losses by unanimous decision.
Where in the source: Fighter profile > WINS 3 / LOSSES 2 summary block above 'FIGHT HISTORY - PRO'
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Gurgel's first recorded professional fight was a win over Denilson Maia by TKO (submission to punches) at 9:55 of round one, at the Desafio: Jiu-Jitsu vs. Luta Livre event on 26 September 1991.
Where in the source: FIGHT HISTORY - PRO > row 'WIN Denilson Maia | Desafio - Jiu-Jitsu vs. Luta Livre | Sep / 26 / 1991'
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Gurgel lost to Jerry Bohlander by unanimous decision after 15 minutes at UFC 11: The Proving Ground on 20 September 1996, refereed by John McCarthy.
Where in the source: FIGHT HISTORY - PRO > row 'LOSS Jerry Bohlander | UFC 11 - The Proving Ground | Sep / 20 / 1996'
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At World Vale Tudo Championship 3 on 19 January 1997 Gurgel beat Patrick Smith (TKO, retirement due to fan interference, 0:50) and Michael Pacholik (TKO, submission to punches, 4:50) before losing the tournament final to Mark Kerr by unanimous decision after 30 minutes.
Where in the source: FIGHT HISTORY - PRO > three rows dated 'Jan / 19 / 1997', event 'WVC 3 - World Vale Tudo Championship 3'
Accessed:
Sherdog, Marcelo Alonso, 'UFC, WVC pioneer to receive documentary about career', 5 June 2026(opens in a new tab)
Gurgel received his BJJ black belt at the age of 19 from master Romero Cavalcanti.
Where in the source: Rock the doc > 'personal aspects like Gurgel receiving his BJJ black belt as a 19-year-old from master Romero Cavalcanti'
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Gurgel describes his own career as: taking part in the 1991 vale tudo confrontation against luta livre, fighting at UFC 11, and being a four-time jiu-jitsu world champion.
Where in the source: Rock the doc > quote 'I was part of the 1991 vale tudo fight against luta livre, then I fought in UFC 11, [and] I was a four-time jiu-jitsu world champion.'
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Gurgel is a 7th-degree BJJ coral belt.
Where in the source: Rock the doc > 'The 7th degree BJJ coral belt continued'
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By 2026 Alliance had 300 schools in 32 countries and more than 60,000 students, according to Gurgel.
Where in the source: Rock the doc > quote 'today we have 300 schools in 32 countries and more than 60,000 students'
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Gurgel says of his own legacy that he has trained hundreds of champions and that Alliance is 'the longest-running partnership and the most successful academy'.
Where in the source: Rock the doc > quote "I've trained hundreds of champions, we created the longest-running partnership and the most successful academy"
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A documentary about Gurgel's career entered production in 2026, initiated by former WVC producer Frederico Lapenda and directed by Jorge Wolney Atalla, after film producers failed to buy the rights to the WVC 3 final.
Where in the source: Rock the doc > 'It is currently in production with involvement from the defunct WVC organization and its direction by Jorge Wolney Atalla' + Gurgel quote about Lapenda
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Gurgel and Mark Kerr met again backstage at the 30th edition of the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in California in 2026, roughly thirty years after their WVC 3 final.
Where in the source: Opening paragraphs > 'The two came together backstage at the 30th edition of the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship on Saturday in California'
Accessed:
fabiogurgel.com.br, 'Faixa Coral' (first-person)(opens in a new tab)
Gurgel received his black belt on 23 October 1989 and was the first black belt ever graduated by Romero 'Jacare' Cavalcanti.
Where in the source: Faixa Coral > 'Tive a honra de ser o primeiro faixa preta graduado por ele em 23/10/1989'
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Gurgel calls the coral belt 'a symbol' that 'represents entry into the universe of the sport's masters'.
Where in the source: Faixa Coral > 'A faixa coral e um simbolo, representa a entrada no universo dos mestres do esporte'
Accessed:
Graciemag (Redacao), 'Fabio Gurgel reaches 6th degree in the black belt', 23 October 2013(opens in a new tab)
Gurgel was promoted to 6th degree black belt on 23 October 2013 by Alexandre 'Gigi' Paiva at Alliance headquarters in Sao Paulo, with master Romero 'Jacare' Cavalcanti present - exactly 24 years to the day after receiving his black belt.
Where in the source: Fabio Gurgel reaches 6th degree in the black belt > quote 'I received the sixth degree in my black belt tonight from the hands of my friend Gigi.'
Accessed:
Graciemag, Marcelo Dunlop, 10 July 2025(opens in a new tab)
At the 1991 Desafio: Jiu-Jitsu vs. Luta Livre, the 21-year-old Gurgel beat Denilson Maia in Grajau with what became known as his 43 punches from the mount, with Helio Gracie in his corner.
Where in the source: Article body > 'o lutador de 21 anos' and 'com seus celebres 43 socos da montada' ; place name is Grajau (Rio de Janeiro), confirmed at Graciemag
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Before the 1991 Desafio bout Carlson Gracie told Gurgel not to leave the ring if he won quickly, saying he would take the microphone and call Hugo Duarte out for a second fight the same night. After the win the celebration and the ring invasion made the double-fight suggestion impossible. Gurgel later said he never knew whether it was a show of faith or a genuine demand.
Where in the source: Article body > 'Ô bicho, depois que você vencer rápido, nem desce do ringue' and 'Após a vitória de Gurgel e do Jiu-Jitsu ... a festa e a invasão do ringue inviabilizaram a sugestão'
Accessed:
IBJJF, results archive, 1996 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship(opens in a new tab)
IBJJF's published results for the 1996 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship list Fabio Gurgel first in Adult / Black / Male / Heavy for Alliance, with Murilo Bustamante (Carlson Gracie) second.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Heavy > place 1 "Fabio Gurgel" / Alliance, place 2 "Murilo Bustamante" / Carlson Gracie
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IBJJF, results archive, 1997 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship(opens in a new tab)
IBJJF's published results for the 1997 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship list Fabio Gurgel first in Adult / Black / Male / Heavy for Alliance, ahead of Daniel Simoes (Gracie Barra), with Ricardo Herriot (Gracie Barra) and Roberto Godoi (Godoi Macaco) sharing third.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Heavy > place 1 "Fabio Gurgel" / Alliance, place 2 "Daniel Simoes" / Gracie Barra, place 3 "Ricardo Herriot" / Gracie Barra and "Roberto Godoi" / Godoi Macaco
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In the same championship's Adult / Black / Male / Open Class, IBJJF lists Amauri Biteti (Protesto) first and Fabio Gurgel (Alliance) second, with Royler Gracie and Jose Mario Sperry sharing third. This is his only documented World absolute podium in this period.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Open Class > place 1 "Amauri Biteti" / Protesto, place 2 "Fabio Gurgel" / Alliance, place 3 "Royler Gracie" / Gracie Humaita-Iate and "Jose Mario Sperry" / Protesto
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IBJJF, results archive, 1998 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship(opens in a new tab)
IBJJF's published results for the 1998 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship list Saulo Ribeiro (Gracie Humaita) first in Adult / Black / Male / Heavy and Fabio Gurgel (Alliance) second, with Murilo Bustamante (Carlson Gracie) and Bruno Severiano (Gracie Barra) sharing third.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Heavy > place 1 "SAULO RIBEIRO" / GRACIE HUMAITA, place 2 "FABIO GURGEL" / ALLIANCE, place 3 "MURILO BUSTAMANTE" / CARLSON GRACIE and "BRUNO SEVERIANO" / GRACIE BARRA
Accessed:
IBJJF, results archive, 1999 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship(opens in a new tab)
IBJJF's published results for the 1999 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship list Fabio Gurgel (Alliance) third in Adult / Black / Male / Heavy, behind Murilo Bustamante (Carlson Lagoa) and Paulo Filho (Carlson Lagoa), with Leonardo Dalla sharing third.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Heavy > place 1 "Murilo Bustamante" / Carlson Lagoa, place 2 "Paulo Filho" / Carlson Lagoa, place 3 "Fabio Gurgel" / Alliance and "Leonardo Dalla" / Jorge Pereira
Accessed:
The IBJJF's 1999 black-belt men's open-class results place Alliance's Rodrigo Medeiros first and Gracie Barra's Roberto Magalhães second. The table spells the winner's surname 'Madeiros'; match reports identify him as Rodrigo 'Comprido' Medeiros.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Open Class > 1 Rodrigo Madeiros / Alliance; 2 Roberto Magalhães / Gracie Barra; 3 Antonio Nogueira / De La Riva; 3 Jose Mario / Carlson
Accessed:
IBJJF, results archive, 2000 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship(opens in a new tab)
IBJJF's published results for the 2000 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship list Fabio Gurgel first in Adult / Black / Male / Heavy for Alliance, ahead of Ricardo Arona (Brazilian Top Team), with Rodrigo Medeiros (Alliance) and Roberto Godoi (Godoi/Macaco) sharing third.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Heavy > place 1 "Fabio Gurgel" / Alliance, place 2 "Ricardo Arona" / Brazilian Top Team, place 3 "Rodrigo Medeiros" / Alliance and "Roberto Godoi" / Godoi/Macaco
Accessed:
IBJJF, results archive, 2001 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship(opens in a new tab)
IBJJF's published results for the 2001 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship list Fabio Gurgel first in Adult / Black / Male / Heavy for Alliance and Rodrigo Medeiros (Alliance) second, with Fabio Leopoldo and Jefferson Moura (both Gracie Barra) sharing third.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Heavy > place 1 "Fábio Gurgel" / Alliance, place 2 "Rodrigo Medeiros" / Alliance, place 3 "Fábio Leopoldo" / Gracie Barra and "Jefferson Moura" / Gracie Barra
Accessed:
Portal do Vale Tudo, report by Luciano Andrade and Marcelo Alonso, archived 14 May 2025(opens in a new tab)
Portal do Vale Tudo identifies the deciding 1999 black-belt absolute final as Rodrigo Medeiros against Roberto 'Roleta' Magalhães, says Medeiros finished him in seconds with a 'kimura de pé', and says the win secured Alliance's team title.
Where in the source: EMOÇÃO ATÉ O ÚLTIMO SEGUNDO > 'final do absoluto preta entre Rodrigo Medeiros e “Roleta”' and 'certeira kimura de pé e finaliza Roleta em questão de segundos'
Accessed:
Graciemag Newsroom, 'Relembre a façanha inédita de Rodrigo Comprido no Mundial 1999', 6 July 2023(opens in a new tab)
Graciemag identifies the same 1999 final as Rodrigo 'Comprido' Medeiros against Roberto 'Roleta' Magalhães and describes a finish in roughly 20 seconds with a 'chave americana de pé', a lock on the foot.
Where in the source: Article body > 'Comprido liquidou a fatura em coisa de 20 segundos' and 'chave americana de pé'
Accessed:
Greatmats, 'Setting BJJ Records: Greatmats Rodrigo Comprido Medeiros Series', 30 June 2017(opens in a new tab)
In a first-person interview about the 1999 final against Roleta, Rodrigo 'Comprido' Medeiros says he and his coach planned a footlock, he saw Roleta's exposed foot, applied the lock and Roleta tapped. Greatmats says the match lasted 18 seconds.
Where in the source: Setting BJJ Records > 'I had talked with my coach about doing that foot lock' and 'the adjustment on the foot lock was so good'; page introduction names the Roleta final
Accessed:
Competition results
| Year | Event | Result | Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-94 kgGiVerified | 1st place | -94 kgGiVerified |
| 2000 | IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-94 kgGiVerified | 1st place | -94 kgGiVerified |
| 1997 | IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-94 kgGiVerified | 1st place | -94 kgGiVerified |
| 1996 | IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-94 kgGiVerified | 1st place | -94 kgGiVerified |