Micael Ferreira Galvão
“Mica”
Source: flograppling.comThe Manaus grappler who took his black belt at 17 and in 2024 won all four IBJJF majors and the ADCC World Championship in the same year.
Biography
Sources for this profile
Wikipedia, 'Micael Galvão' (article last edited 6 January 2026).(opens in a new tab)
In September 2021 he lost the WNO Championship final to Tye Ruotolo by split decision.
Where in the source: Section 'Black belt career – 2021', final sentence.
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In November 2021 he became the youngest competitor to enter and to win the male black belt division at the Abu Dhabi World Pro, submitting all his opponents at 77 kg.
Where in the source: Section 'Black belt career – 2021', second paragraph.
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Micael Ferreira Galvão was born on 8 October 2003 in Manaus, Brazil.
Where in the source: Section 'Early life and education', first sentence.
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His father, Melqui Galvão, is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Luta Livre and coached him; Micael entered his first jiu-jitsu competition at the age of four.
Where in the source: Section 'Early life and education', first paragraph — 'Coached by his father'.
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At ten he began training Luta Livre Esportiva, the Brazilian catch-wrestling style, and he also trained judo and freestyle wrestling.
Where in the source: Section 'Early life and education', first paragraph, sentences after the first competition.
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His Luta Livre trainer was Totonho Aleixo, who promoted him to Luta Livre black belt a few months before July 2021.
Where in the source: Infobox 'Trainer' row, and section 'Black belt career – 2021', first sentence.
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At the 2015 Amazon Jiu-Jitsu Championship, aged 11, he won by submission against all of his opponents.
Where in the source: Section 'Early life and education', second paragraph, sentence on the 2015 Amazon championship.
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In July 2015 he travelled outside Brazil for the first time to compete at the American National Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Las Vegas.
Where in the source: Section 'Early life and education', second paragraph, last sentence.
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As a youngster on the regional circuit he became known for submitting older and heavier opponents in superfights; as a 13-year-old green belt he submitted a 25-year-old brown belt.
Where in the source: Section 'Early life and education', third paragraph, opening sentences.
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He was promoted to purple belt after turning 16 and to brown belt in October 2020.
Where in the source: Section 'Early life and education', paragraph beginning 'After turning 16'.
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In May 2021 he beat Dante Leon, a World No-Gi black belt champion and ADCC veteran, by unanimous decision at FloGrappling's Who's Number One.
Where in the source: Section 'Early life and education', paragraph on 2021, sentence on Who's Number 1.
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In June 2021 he began representing Roberto 'Cyborg' Abreu's Fight Sports team, which partnered with his father's project in Manaus; that month he also submitted three black belts in one night to win the Third Coast Grappling 7 grand prix.
Where in the source: Section 'Early life and education', last two paragraphs (Fight Sports partnership; Third Coast Grappling 7).
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In April 2022 he won the BJJ Stars 8 middleweight grand prix, beating Leandro Lo on a decision, advancing past Mauricio Oliveira by injury forfeit and submitting Lucas 'Hulk' Barbosa with a bow-and-arrow choke in the final.
Where in the source: Section 'Black belt career – 2022', paragraph on BJJ Stars 8.
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At the 2022 ADCC World Championship at 77 kg he beat Dante Leon, Renato Canuto and Oliver Taza and lost the final to Kade Ruotolo, taking silver.
Where in the source: Section 'Black belt career – 2022', last sentence of the paragraph — 'losing to Kade Ruotolo'.
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In November 2023 he defended the WNO welterweight title against Kody Steele with a rear-naked choke, and in February 2024 he retained it against Kenta Iwamoto by submission.
Where in the source: Paragraph on his first WNO welterweight title defence (Kody Steele), and section 2024 (Kenta Iwamoto).
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At the start of 2024 he announced a move up to middleweight.
Where in the source: Section '2024', first sentence.
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In August 2024 he beat Davi Ramos on points in the main event of BJJ Stars 13.
Where in the source: Section '2024', sentences on BJJ Stars 13: Vikings Edition.
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In the ADCC 2024 absolute division he submitted Elder Cruz in the opening round and was submitted by Dante Leon in the quarter-final.
Where in the source: Section '2024', final sentence.
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FloGrappling, athlete page 'Mica Galvao'.(opens in a new tab)
Micael Galvão, known as "Mica", is a jiu-jitsu competitor from Manaus, Brazil, born on 8 October 2003.
Where in the source: Athlete profile, opening bio paragraph under the name heading.
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He is popularly known by the nickname "Mica".
Where in the source: Athlete profile, first sentence of the bio — 'popularly known as "Mica"'.
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He is a jiu-jitsu competitor from Manaus, Brazil, in South America.
Where in the source: Athlete profile, opening bio sentence naming his home city.
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Jits Magazine, Diogo de Souza, 'Mica Galvao Joins The Brazilian Army', 5 April 2025.(opens in a new tab)
In April 2025 he announced that he had joined the Brazilian Army as a sergeant through a public selection process, saying he had always represented Brazil on the mats and now also did so in uniform.
Where in the source: Translated Instagram statement quoted in the article — 'Sergeant Micael Galvão, of the Brazilian Army'.
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FloGrappling, Chase Smith, 'Teenage Phenom Mica Galvao Awarded Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt', 9 July 2021.(opens in a new tab)
At 17 he was awarded his jiu-jitsu black belt by his father, Melqui Galvão, at their academy in Manaus, in July 2021.
Where in the source: Article standfirst under the headline, dated Jul 9, 2021.
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Under IBJJF rules he could not compete at black belt until he turned 18 that October; he had likewise been promoted to purple belt at 16, before he could enter adult divisions.
Where in the source: Second paragraph, parenthesis on IBJJF rules — 'cannot compete at the rank until 18'.
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On receiving the belt he wrote that at 17 he had a responsibility to give his best to represent it and to set a good example for the new generation.
Where in the source: Quoted Instagram statement near the end of the article.
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BJJ Eastern Europe, 'Flashback: When a 15 yr Old Mica Galvao Submitted a BJJ Black Belt IBJJF Manaus Champion'.(opens in a new tab)
In an Instagram post he wrote that when he was 13 his father took him out of school so he could train jiu-jitsu full-time, adding that he was not telling others to do the same.
Where in the source: Quoted Instagram post, first two lines — 'dropped me out of school'.
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As a 15-year-old blue belt in 2019 he submitted Leandro Rounaud, a former adult black belt champion of the IBJJF Manaus Open.
Where in the source: Paragraph after the quoted post — 'submitting Leandro Rounaud'.
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IBJJF, official results, European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2019.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2019 IBJJF European Championship he won both the juvenile 1 blue belt heavy division and the juvenile blue open class, beating Tye Ruotolo in the open class final.
Where in the source: Results, divisions 'Male / Juvenile 1 / Blue / Heavy (79.30kg)' and '… / Open Class Heavy' — 1st place rows.
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IBJJF, official results, Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2019.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2019 IBJJF Pan Championship he won the juvenile 1 blue belt heavy division and the juvenile blue open class.
Where in the source: Results, divisions 'Male / Juvenile 1 / Blue / Heavy (175.00lb)' and '… / Open Class Heavy' — 1st place rows.
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IBJJF, official results, Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu 2019.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2019 Brazilian National Championship (Campeonato Brasileiro) he won the juvenile 1 blue belt super-heavy division and the juvenile blue open class.
Where in the source: Results, divisions 'Male / Juvenile 1 / Blue / Super Heavy (84.30kg)' and '… / Open Class Heavy' — 1st place rows.
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IBJJF, official results, World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2019.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2019 IBJJF World Championship he won the juvenile 1 blue belt ultra-heavy division and the juvenile blue open class, representing Alliance.
Where in the source: Results, divisions 'Male / Juvenile 1 / Blue / Ultra Heavy' and '… / Open Class Heavy' — 1st place rows, team column.
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FloGrappling, Hywel Teague, 'Tye Ruotolo vs Mica Galvao at IBJJF Worlds is a Real Possibility', 26 May 2022.(opens in a new tab)
He and Tye Ruotolo had competed against each other since the juvenile ranks, first meeting at IBJJF events such as the Kids Pans, and met in a juvenile blue belt final at the 2019 Europeans.
Where in the source: Paragraphs on how the rivalry was born — 'since the juvenile ranks'.
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In April 2022, as a black belt, he won the IBJJF Brazilian National Championship.
Where in the source: Paragraph on the lightweight division entrants — 'winning the Brazilian National Championship last month'.
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Wikipedia, '2022 ADCC World Championship'.(opens in a new tab)
He won the -77 kg division of the first ADCC South American Trials in Balneário Camboriú in February 2022, qualifying for the 2022 World Championship.
Where in the source: Table 'Qualifiers', row '1st South American Trials', column '-77 kg'.
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In the 2022 ADCC -77 kg division, Kade Ruotolo took gold, Galvão silver for Fight Sports, and Dante Leon bronze.
Where in the source: Table 'Results – Men', row '-77 kg'.
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Jits Magazine, 'Who's Number One 20: Night Of Champions Full Results And Review', 2 October 2023.(opens in a new tab)
At WNO 20: Night of Champions in October 2023 he won a four-man tournament for the vacant WNO welterweight title, beating Jacob Rodriguez by decision and submitting PJ Barch with a flying armbar in 47 seconds in the final.
Where in the source: Results list, 'Men's Welterweight Tournament' block — 'Flying Armbar (0:47)'.
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IBJJF, official results, European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2024.(opens in a new tab)
He won the adult male black belt middleweight division at the 2024 IBJJF European Championship, with Andy Murasaki second.
Where in the source: Results, division 'Male / Adult / Black / Middle (82.30kg)' — rows 1 and 2.
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IBJJF, official results, Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2024.(opens in a new tab)
He won the adult male black belt middleweight division at the 2024 IBJJF Pan Championship, again with Andy Murasaki second.
Where in the source: Results, division 'Male / Adult / Black / Middle (181.60lb)' — rows 1 and 2.
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IBJJF, official results, Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu 2024.(opens in a new tab)
He won the adult male black belt middleweight division at the 2024 Brazilian National Championship.
Where in the source: Results, division 'Male / Adult / Black / Middle (82.30kg)' — row 1.
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IBJJF, official results, World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2024.(opens in a new tab)
He won the adult male black belt lightweight division at the 2024 IBJJF World Championship; Andy Murasaki was second and Luiz Paulo Carneiro Medeiros and Pedro Henrique Maia Costa third.
Where in the source: Results, division 'Male / Adult / Black / Light (168.00lb)' — rows 1, 2, 3, 3.
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IBJJF, Danny O'Donnell, '2024 IBJJF Worlds Black Belt Results and Recap', 5 June 2024.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2024 Worlds he submitted his first three opponents, then beat Pedro Maia in the semi-final and Andy Murasaki in the final on points, completing a year in which he won the Europeans, Pans, Brasileiros and Worlds; he was listed for Melqui Galvão Jiu-Jitsu.
Where in the source: Recap paragraph on Mica Galvao, and the 'ADULT MALE BLACK LIGHT' list below it.
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Jits Magazine, Jackson Williams, 'Mica Galvao Becomes Second Person Ever To Win Super Grand Slam', 18 August 2024.(opens in a new tab)
He won the first three 2024 IBJJF majors at middleweight and then dropped to lightweight to win the World Championship.
Where in the source: Second paragraph, last sentence — 'dropping down in weight'.
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At ADCC 2024 (-77 kg) he submitted Luiz Paulo, beat Oliver Taza on points and PJ Barch by decision, and submitted Vagner Rocha in the final, completing the 'super grand slam' of all four IBJJF majors and ADCC in one year; only Rubens 'Cobrinha' Charles, in 2017, had done it before.
Where in the source: First paragraph ('only the second person') and fourth paragraph (bracket path).
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Earlier in 2024 he had to choose between the ADCC World Championship and the Craig Jones Invitational with its million-dollar prize, and he cited the super grand slam as his main reason for staying with ADCC.
Where in the source: Third paragraph — 'million-dollar grand prize'.
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FloGrappling, Joe Harrington, 'Mica Galvao Wins Super Grand Slam At 2024 ADCC World Champions', 18 August 2024.(opens in a new tab)
He won the ADCC 2024 -77 kg final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas by submitting Vagner Rocha, 22 years his senior, with a rear-naked choke about 90 seconds from the end, becoming the second person after Rubens 'Cobrinha' Charles (2017) to win the super grand slam.
Where in the source: Paragraphs after the video — 'about 90 seconds left'.
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Wikipedia, '2024 ADCC World Championship'.(opens in a new tab)
In the 2024 ADCC -77 kg division he took gold for Melqui Galvão Jiu-Jitsu, ahead of Vagner Rocha and PJ Barch.
Where in the source: Table 'Results – Men', row '-77 kg'.
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BJJ Eastern Europe, 'Mica Galvao Chooses To Compete at ADCC Despite CJI Invitation', 13 June 2024.(opens in a new tab)
In his own statement he said that at the start of 2024 he had planned to earn as much as possible for a stable life and to support his family by staying off the IBJJF circuit, but fans persuaded him to compete in the gi and build his legacy.
Where in the source: Quoted statement, first paragraph — 'build my legacy'.
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He said he chose ADCC over the Craig Jones Invitation because he wanted to do what only Cobrinha had done, winning the major gi events and the biggest grappling event in the same year, and that he would have entered both had the dates allowed.
Where in the source: Quoted statement, second and third paragraphs.
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Jits Magazine, Diogo de Souza, 'Mica Galvao Promoted To First Degree BJJ Black Belt', 12 July 2024.(opens in a new tab)
In July 2024 he received the first degree on his black belt from his father, Melqui Galvão, described then as the only coach of his career.
Where in the source: First sentence of the article.
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In the statement announcing the degree he said he received his Luta Livre black belt in March 2021 and his jiu-jitsu black belt in July 2021, that winning the World Pro at brown belt earned UAEJJF recognition of his black belt, and that the rules of the time kept him out of the 2021 IBJJF Worlds.
Where in the source: Translated Instagram statement, opening sentences through the one on the 2021 IBJJF Worlds.
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IBJJF, athlete results page 'Micael Galvâo'.(opens in a new tab)
The IBJJF athlete page lists him as a black belt.
Where in the source: Athlete header under the name — rank line 'Black'.
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As of September 2026 the IBJJF athlete page lists his academy as Thyago Martins BJJ Academy.
Where in the source: Athlete header — academy line under the name.
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IBJJF, official results, New Jersey Spring International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2026 (updated Jun/21/2026).(opens in a new tab)
In June 2026 he won the adult male black belt medium-heavy division and the black belt open class at the IBJJF New Jersey Spring International Open, registered for Thyago Martins BJJ Academy.
Where in the source: Results, divisions 'Male / Adult / Black / Medium Heavy (195.00lb)' and 'Male / Adult / Black / Open Class' — 1st place rows.
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Jits Magazine, 'BJJ Stars 15 Full Results And Highlights', 27 April 2025.(opens in a new tab)
In April 2025 he won the BJJ Stars 15 middleweight no-gi grand prix, beating Jon 'Thor' Blank and Elijah Dorsey by decision and submitting Roberto Jimenez with an armbar in the final.
Where in the source: Results list, grand prix section — 'Final'.
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Jits Magazine, 'Who's Number One 28: Mica Galvao vs Jonnatas Gracie Full Results And Highlights', 14 June 2025.(opens in a new tab)
In June 2025 he moved up to beat Jonnatas Gracie by decision for the WNO middleweight title, becoming only the second person to hold two WNO belts at once, after Diego 'Pato' Oliveira.
Where in the source: Main-event paragraph — 'two of the promotion's belts at once'.
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Jits Magazine, Diogo de Souza, 'Mica Galvao Reveals Plans For Transition To Olympic Wrestling', 8 October 2024.(opens in a new tab)
In an October 2024 interview with Combate he said he wanted to compete in wrestling as the most direct route to the Olympics; he held a brown belt in judo and found wrestling more familiar and easier to combine with jiu-jitsu.
Where in the source: Two quoted interview passages in the article.
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