João Zeferino
“The Brazilian Samurai”
Source: ufc.comJoão Zeferino connects jiu-jitsu teaching with an MMA career shaped by work on wrestling, striking and the demands of different weight classes.
Biography
Sources for this profile
ESPN: MMA fighter card for Joao Zeferino, bio tab. Editorially maintained statistics panel, no byline, no visible update date. Read 20 September 2026.(opens in a new tab)
ESPN’s fighter card sets down Brazil, the welterweight class, a birth date of 15 January 1986, Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu as the team, the ring name The Brazilian Samurai, an orthodox stance and a reach of 69 inches.
Where in the source: Joao Zeferino Brazil Welterweight Birthdate 1/15/1986 Team Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Nickname The Brazilian Samurai Stance Orthodox Reach 69"
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ESPN’s card lists 26 wins, 10 losses and no draws, with a KO/TKO tally of four wins and four losses, and a submission tally of 17 wins and no losses.
Where in the source: Stats W-L-D 26-10-0 (T)KO 4-4 SUB 17-0
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Sherdog Fight Finder: fighter profile with full bout history. Editorially maintained database, no byline. Read 20 September 2026.(opens in a new tab)
Sherdog places his origin in Florianopolis in Santa Catarina, Brazil, carries the same ring name, and gives the same birth date of 15 January 1986.
Where in the source: Brazil Florianopolis, Santa Catarina Joao Zeferino " The Brazilian Samurai " AGE 40 / Jan 15, 1986
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Sherdog files his association as Rangel Farias Team / Team Zeferino, and his class as welterweight.
Where in the source: ASSOCIATION Rangel Farias Team / Team Zeferino CLASS Welterweight
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Sherdog counts it differently: 28 wins, of which five came by knockout, 17 by submission and six by decision, against 11 losses.
Where in the source: Wins 28 KO / TKO 5 18% SUBMISSIONS 17 61% DECISIONS 6 21% Losses 11
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The newest bout in its history is a win over Raffael Cerqueira by unanimous decision at Liga Monstro Combate 1 on 6 June 2026.
Where in the source: win Raffael Cerqueira Liga Monstro Combate - LMC 1 Jun / 06 / 2026 Decision (Unanimous)
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UFC Fans (ufc-fr.com): French-language fighter card with a short biography of its own. The card states its own update date, 11 November 2023. Read 20 September 2026.(opens in a new tab)
The French UFC portal gives his date of birth as 15 January 1986.
Where in the source: Naissance 15/01/1986
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The same portal dates his first professional bout to 26 November 2005, a decision win over Bruno Amorim at Floripa Fight 1.
Where in the source: Il a fait ses débuts professionnels en MMA en remportant la victoire par décision contre Bruno Amorim à l'FF - Floripa Fight 1 le 26 novembre 2005.
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It dates his first UFC bout to 18 May 2013, a decision loss to Rafael Natal at UFC on FX 8.
Where in the source: Il a fait ses débuts à l'UFC en perdant par décision contre Rafael Natal à l'UFC on FX 8 - Belfort vs. Rockhold le 18 mai 2013.
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UFC: the promotion’s own athlete page. Primary source for roster status and UFC figures. Read 20 September 2026.(opens in a new tab)
The UFC’s own athlete page carries him in the welterweight division under the ring name The Brazilian Samurai, with the roster status Released.
Where in the source: Released "The Brazilian Samurai" Joao Zeferino Welterweight Division
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Renzo Gracie Middletown, Middletown, New York: the academy’s own instructor page. Promotional page, no byline or publication date; footer states © 2023 and Established in 2012, neither dating the instructor text. Original extraction read 20 September 2026; metadata checked 1 October 2026.(opens in a new tab)
A Renzo Gracie academy in Middletown, New York keeps a page for him offering private lessons with membership, in the gi and without it.
Where in the source: João Zeferino Available for private lessons with membership Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu No Gi
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That academy states his rank as a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Where in the source: João Zeferino is a 2nd degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt
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The undated Renzo Gracie Middletown instructor page describes Zeferino as a second-degree black belt.
Where in the source: João Zeferino is a 2nd degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt
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The site signs itself Renzo Gracie Middletown, established in 2012, with a 2023 copyright line.
Where in the source: © 2023 Renzo Gracie Middletown Established in 2012
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The same page says he was head jiu-jitsu coach for Anthony “Showtime” Pettis.
Where in the source: Joao Zeferino was Anthony "Showtime" Pettis' Head Jui-Jitsu Coach
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BJJ Heroes: João Zeferino, full biography and profile, undated(opens in a new tab)
BJJ Heroes identifies João Zeferino as born on 15 January 1986 in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, and as a black belt under Alexandre de Souza of Gracie Floripa.
Where in the source: João Zeferino Biography; first paragraph; introductory paragraph
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He began jiu-jitsu in 2002 at age 16 at Ataque Duplo, stayed through purple belt, trained with Claudio Arrais for a year from 2005, and moved to the Gracie Barra team led by Alexandre de Souza in 2006.
Where in the source: Biography: He started training Jiu Jitsu in 2002; In 2005; In 2006
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The early biography says he took up boxing to prepare for MMA and also trained yoga and judo to support that career.
Where in the source: Biography final paragraph: Joao also picked up boxing
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Christian Stein and Dann Stupp, MMA Junkie, 18 May 2013: What you do not know about UFC on FX 8 main-card fighter Joao Zeferino(opens in a new tab)
In his May 2013 interview, Zeferino said he had served as Roufusport’s head jiu-jitsu instructor during spells in 2009 and 2011, working with Anthony Pettis, Erik Koch and Ben Askren.
Where in the source: paragraph beginning The 27-year-old Zeferino said
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The interview credits Ben Askren with helping Zeferino strengthen his wrestling during his Roufusport experience.
Where in the source: same Roufusport paragraph: really helped Zeferino strengthen his wrestling game
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Asked about staying longer at Roufusport, Zeferino said Brazil remained his base because of family ties and the training partners and coaches available in Florianópolis.
Where in the source: I had offers to stay longer; It is my base
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When a place opened on the May 2013 UFC card, Zeferino was already preparing for another fight; managers Alex Davis and Isaias Pele proposed him, and he entered on a seven-fight winning run.
Where in the source: opening paragraphs: already training for another bout and in fight shape
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Zeferino recalled beating Rafael Natal on points in a 2008 Brazilian jiu-jitsu championship semifinal at brown belt.
Where in the source: I faced him ... at brown belt in 2008; I beat him by points in a semifinal
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Carlos Eduardo Ozorio, UFC, 2 September 2013: João Zeferino quer dar a volta por cima em Belo Horizonte(opens in a new tab)
Before his second UFC appearance in September 2013, he contrasted a full preparation with the three weeks he had for his debut, saying insufficient preparation time rather than debut nerves had been the problem.
Where in the source: Na outra luta tive apenas três semanas; O que faltou mesmo foi tempo de preparação
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For that second appearance he said he strengthened muay Thai, conditioning and wrestling, brought in wrestling partners, and divided training between Florianópolis and the Nitrix centre in Balneário Camboriú.
Where in the source: Peguei forte no muay thai; Trouxe um pessoal do wrestling; dividi o treino
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Carlito Costa, Udesc Cefid, 18 November 2013: Programa de extensão Esportes de Contato da Udesc promove seminário com atleta do UFC(opens in a new tab)
On 13 November 2013 he taught jiu-jitsu techniques used in MMA at Udesc’s Cefid centre in Florianópolis, in a seminar for participants in its Esportes de Contato extension programme.
Where in the source: seminário foi realizado em 13 de novembro; No seminário, abordou técnicas de jiu-jitsu usadas no MMA
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André Santos / Graciemag, 26 April 2010: Moacir leva o absoluto no Sul-Brasileiro(opens in a new tab)
At the 2010 Sul-Brasileiro, Graciemag’s black-belt results list Zeferino, representing Gracie Florianópolis, second in the open class and joint third at medium heavyweight.
Where in the source: Confira os resultados completos da faixa-preta; Meio-Pesado 3º João Zeferino; Absoluto 2 João Zeferino
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In the open-class final, the report describes Zeferino pulling half guard and sweeping Moacir Mendes, who levelled the score before passing and adding knee-on-belly points to win 7–2.
Where in the source: open final narrative paragraphs, before medium-heavy semifinal
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Danny Segura, MMA Fighting, 21 November 2015: WSOF 25 results(opens in a new tab)
At WSOF 25’s one-night lightweight tournament, he heel-hooked Brian Foster in the quarterfinal and Jorge Patino in the semifinal. Foster re-entered after Mike Ricci withdrew injured and beat Zeferino with strikes in their rematch in the final.
Where in the source: full tournament report through Zeferino vs. Foster 2
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Nevada Athletic Commission: Mixed Martial Arts Show Results, 2 April 2016, page 1(opens in a new tab)
The Nevada commission’s 2 April 2016 result sheet names him João Gustavo Zeferino, gives 15 January 1986 as his birth date, and records Jon Fitch winning their vacant WSOF welterweight title bout by unanimous decision.
Where in the source: page 1, second bout, Fitch—Zeferino row, date-of-birth and results columns
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Jason Burgos, Sherdog, 14 August 2018: The Evolution of Joao Zeferino(opens in a new tab)
In 2018, Zeferino described himself as a late-maturing fighter, recalling Duke Roufus’s advice that fighters develop at different rates.
Where in the source: opening through Me personally ... I matured later
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He credited boxing coach Lenny Wilson and muay Thai coach Jamie Crowder with improving his striking, which he then felt had caught up with his grappling.
Where in the source: paragraph beginning Zeferino has delivered; I feel like definitely
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He said wrestling had been his weak area, and that after fighting Jon Fitch in 2016 he began working on it more, while continuing to work hard on grappling and striking.
Where in the source: Wrestling used to be my weak spot, but after I fought Jon Fitch [in 2016]
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Having fought at middleweight and lightweight, he described the lightweight cut as difficult and said he was more comfortable competing at welterweight, with better eating and a focus on improving.
Where in the source: Another facet; My life used to suck at lightweight; I am training to get better
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Adriano Albuquerque, Combate/ge, 17 June 2021: PFL interview with João Zeferino(opens in a new tab)
Combate’s 2021 interview recounts that a knee injury ended his first PFL playoff opportunity after he qualified second, and that in 2019 a win after entering in the second regular-season round did not yield enough points to qualify.
Where in the source: third-season paragraph after first quotations
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Ahead of Jason Ponet in June 2021, he stressed taking the tournament one bout at a time and explained that his film study had identified opportunities in Ponet’s takedown defence and ground game.
Where in the source: E é assim ... uma luta de cada vez; Pelo que vi dele, estudei algumas lutas antigas
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IBJJF: athlete results, João Zeferino(opens in a new tab)
IBJJF’s athlete page identifies João Zeferino as a black belt representing João Zeferino Academy.
Where in the source: ATHLETE RESULTS: João Zeferino / João Zeferino Academy / Black
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His IBJJF athlete page records Master 2 black-belt no-gi heavyweight gold at the 2024 and 2025 Brasileiro Sem Kimono and the 2025 Sul-Americano, and silver at the 2025 World No-Gi Championship.
Where in the source: expanded NO GI MASTER2 > Heavy
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The same page lists adult black-belt no-gi heavyweight gold at the 2024 and 2025 Floripa Winter Open, adult open-class gold at the 2024 Floripa Fall Open, and Master 2 super-heavyweight gold at the 2026 Floripa Winter Open.
Where in the source: NO GI ADULT > Heavy / Open Class; NO GI MASTER2 > Super Heavy
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IBJJF Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu Sem Kimono 2023: final results(opens in a new tab)
The 2023 Brazilian No-Gi Championship results list João Gustavo Zeferino of Drava Jiu-Jitsu first in both male Master 2 black-belt heavyweight and open class.
Where in the source: MALE / MASTER 2 / BLACK / HEAVY (91.50KG) and OPEN CLASS
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AJP Tour: Joao Zeferino Academy, Florianopolis; public club entry, undated(opens in a new tab)
AJP’s public club entry places João Zeferino Academy in Florianópolis and identifies João Zeferino as the person in charge.
Where in the source: club heading; Florianopolis Brazil; Person in charge Joao Zeferino
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BJJ Camp Finder: BJJ in Paradise, Florianopolis; commercial listing, undated(opens in a new tab)
BJJ in Paradise’s Florianópolis listing names Zeferino as instructor and advertises private and group jiu-jitsu training, beginner and advanced options, no-gi sessions and Saturday open mats.
Where in the source: Summary; What is Included; Instructors; Agenda
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