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Murilo Santana

Murilo Santana is a Brazilian black belt who won the 2013 No-Gi Worlds absolute title and now coaches Unity Jiu-Jitsu in New York.

Biography

Murilo Santana is a Brazilian black belt from the state of São Paulo who leads Unity Jiu-Jitsu in New York and is known for his no-gi world championship career. By his academy's account, he started training with Mario Yamasaki in São Paulo and earned his black belt while training with the Yamasaki Academy. He later moved to the team led by Marcos Barbosa. IBJJF results record middleweight titles for Santana at the Brazilian nationals in 2007, 2010 and 2012. He also took bronze at the gi World Championships in 2007 at middleweight and 2008 at medium-heavy, competing for Yamasaki Academy on both occasions. At the 2009 Brazilian no-gi nationals he won the open class; at the No-Gi Worlds he placed third at middleweight that year and at medium-heavy in 2010. He placed fourth in the Absolute division at the 2011 ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship. Graciemag's May 2013 preview listed him in the medium-heavy division for Barbosa JJ at that year's gi World Championship. Later in 2013 he won the absolute division at the IBJJF World No-Gi Championship. Graciemag reported four wins and three submissions in his run and described the final against Leandro Lo as resolved by a gentlemen's agreement; a later piece by the same magazine names Lucas Leite as his semifinal opponent. In 2014 he took silver at medium-heavy at the gi World Championship. He reached the open-class final again at the 2016 No-Gi Worlds in Daly City, California, beating Marcel Gonçalves on points and armbarring Jared Dopp of the United States on the way, before losing the final to Yuri Simões on penalties. He has led Unity Jiu-Jitsu in New York since at least 2016, and still runs its pro training practice and teaches its most popular evening class. His academy also lists a 2007 CBJJE world title, a 2011 win at the ADCC Brazilian SP trials and a 2020 Houston Winter Open title.

Sources for this profile

  • Redação Graciemag, Graciemag, 3 November 2013(opens in a new tab)

    • Murilo Santana won the absolute division at the 2013 IBJJF World No-Gi Championship.

      Where in the source: Headline "2013 Worlds No-Gi: champions crowned on Sunday of thrills"; running prose near the end: "The absolute, as informed this Saturday, was decided in a gentlemen's agreement between Leandro Lo and Murilo Santana. Santana got the gold". Read as rendered page text in browser.

      Accessed:

    • Graciemag reported that Santana was crowned absolute champion at the 2013 No-Gi Worlds with, in the publication's words, 'four wins, three submissions'.

      Where in the source: Same paragraph, the clause after the result: "Santana got the gold to crown his four wins, three submissions run." Running prose, not a results table. Read as rendered page text in browser.

      Accessed:

    • Graciemag reported that the 2013 No-Gi Worlds absolute final between Santana and Leandro Lo was resolved by a gentlemen's agreement.

      Where in the source: Running prose: "The absolute, as informed this Saturday, was decided in a gentlemen's agreement between Leandro Lo and Murilo Santana." The phrase is Graciemag's own. Read as rendered page text in browser.

      Accessed:

  • ADCC Federation, official event results page for the ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship 2011(opens in a new tab)

    • Murilo Santana placed 4th in the Absolute division at the 2011 ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship.

      Where in the source: Page heading 'OFFICIAL RESULTS' / '2011 RESULTS'; the results table whose Weight Class cell reads 'Absolute', row '4th — Murilo Santana'

      Accessed:

  • Redação Graciemag, Graciemag, 6 November 2016(opens in a new tab)

    • Santana reached the open-class final at the 2016 IBJJF World No-Gi Championship in Daly City, California, and lost it to Yuri Simões; Graciemag records the result as 'Yuri Simões def. Murilo Santana by penaltys'.

      Where in the source: Headline 'Yuri Simões defeats Murilo Santana to win his second No-Gi Worlds'; adult black belt open-class result line

      Accessed:

  • Redação Graciemag, Graciemag, 6 November 2016(opens in a new tab)

    • On his way to the 2016 No-Gi Worlds open-class final, Santana beat Marcel Gonçalves on points and then armbarred Jared Dopp of the United States.

      Where in the source: Paragraph beginning 'In the other bracket, 2013 absolute champ Murilo Santana beat Marcel Gonçalves on points'

      Accessed:

  • FloGrappling, 15 March 2017(opens in a new tab)

    • Murilo Santana is the head coach of Unity Jiu-Jitsu in New York and runs the classes at the gym.

      Where in the source: Headline "Photo Essay: The Real Experience Of Training At Unity Jiu-Jitsu", dated Mar 15, 2017; the one caption that names him reads "Unity jiu-jitsu head coach Murilo Santana (seated, white gi top) runs the classes at the gym." Read as rendered page text in browser.

      Accessed:

  • Unity Jiu-Jitsu, About Us page (self-published by his own academy)(opens in a new tab)

    • Murilo Santana is from the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

      Where in the source: About Us section, sentence 'Murilo Santana is from the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil.'

      Accessed:

    • According to his academy, Santana started training with Mario Yamasaki in São Paulo and earned his black belt training with the Yamasaki Academy.

      Where in the source: About Us section, sentences 'He started training with Mario Yamasaki (the famous UFC referee) in Sao Paulo' and 'earning his black belt training with the Yamasaki Academy'

      Accessed:

    • Santana later competed for the team led by Marcos Barbosa.

      Where in the source: About Us section, sentence 'Santana decided to move to the Equipe Barbosa, a team led by Marcos Barbosa'

      Accessed:

    • Unity Jiu-Jitsu's self-published 'Main Achievements' list attributes to Santana Brazilian National titles in 2007, 2010 and 2012, the 2013 IBJJF No-Gi world title, a 2007 CBJJE world title, the 2011 ADCC Brazilian SP trials, a 2020 Houston Winter Open title, and third places at the 2007 and 2008 gi Worlds.

      Where in the source: About Us > Murilo Santana > 'Main Achievements'; the page's lines for the 2007/2010/2012 Brazilian Nationals, 2013 No-Gi Worlds, 2007 CBJJE Worlds, 2011 ADCC Brazilian SP trials, 2020 Houston Winter Open, and 2007/2008 gi World third places. The panel is collapsed by default; read the rendered page markup.

      Accessed:

  • Redação Graciemag, Graciemag, 17 May 2013(opens in a new tab)

    • Santana was entered in the medium-heavy division for Barbosa JJ at the 2013 IBJJF World Championship.

      Where in the source: Headline 'Honor the Veterans: 10 warriors over 30 that can do damage at the 2013 Worlds'; seventh list entry, 'Murilo Santana — Medium-heavy, Barbosa JJ'

      Accessed:

  • Redação Graciemag, Graciemag, 13 April 2016(opens in a new tab)

    • Graciemag, writing in April 2016, calls Santana the leader of Unity Jiu-Jitsu, and reports that he beat Lucas Leite in the semifinal on his way to the 2013 No-Gi Worlds open-class title.

      Where in the source: Dated 13/04/2016; body: "The leader of Unity Jiu-Jitsu had its greatest moment as a competitor at the 2013 World No-Gi championship", and later "he made his way to the open class semifinal against Lucas Leite". Read as rendered page text in browser.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, results archive, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2007(opens in a new tab)

    • At the 2007 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship, Murilo Santana placed third in the Adult / Black / Male / Middle division, competing for Yamasaki Academy.

      Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Middle > "1 Lucas Leite Brasa / 2 Andre Galvao Brasa / 3 Murilo santana Yamasaki Academy / 3 Gustavo Campos Sul JJ" (the page prints the surname lowercase)

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, results archive, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2008(opens in a new tab)

    • At the 2008 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship, Murilo Santana placed third in the Adult / Black / Male / Medium Heavy division, competing for Yamasaki Academy.

      Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Medium Heavy > "1 Andre Galvao Brasa / 2 Braulio Estima Gracie Barra / 3 Murilo Santana Yamasaki Academy / 3 Marcel Lousada Brasa"

      Accessed:

  • Unity Jiu-Jitsu, "Adult Programs", undated academy page(opens in a new tab)

    • Unity Jiu-Jitsu own programme page says its Pro Training practice is run by Santana.

      Where in the source: Under the heading "Pro Training": "Practice run by No Gi Open Weight World Champion, Murilo Santana." Read from the page markup in browser; the programme panels are collapsed by default.

      Accessed:

  • Unity Jiu-Jitsu, "What is Jiu Jitsu", undated academy page(opens in a new tab)

    • The academy's own page says Santana gives the instruction in its 6:30pm class, which the page calls its most popular.

      Where in the source: Section on the evening classes: "The 6:30pm class is our most popular class" and "Instruction is given by Murilo Santana, a black belt open weight world champion with many years of teaching experience." The page treats the separate "introduction lesson" as preparation for the regular class. Read from the page markup in browser.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu 2007, athlete results(opens in a new tab)

    • Santana won the Adult / Black / Male / Middle division at the 2007 Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu for Barbosa JJ.

      Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Middle: "1 Murilo Santana Barbosa Jj; 2 Robert Fonseca Asle/Behring; 3 Orlando Zanetti Godoi Jj Club; 3 Adriano Silva Barbosa Jj".

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu 2008, athlete results(opens in a new tab)

    • Santana placed third in the Adult / Black / Male / Open Class division at the 2008 Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu for Barbosa JJ.

      Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Open Class: "1 Alexandre de Souza Gracie Florianopolis; 2 Antonio Braga Neto Gordo JJ; 3 Murilo Santana Barbosa JJ; 3 Augusto Ferrari Barbosa JJ".

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2009, athlete results(opens in a new tab)

    • At the 2009 Brazilian National No-Gi Championship, Santana won the Adult / Black / Male / Open Class and took second in the Middle division for Barbosa JJ SP.

      Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Middle: "1 TIAGO ALVES; 2 MURILO SANTANA". Adult / Black / Male / Open Class: "1 MURILO SANTANA; 2 NILSON RICARDO; 3 TIAGO ALVES; 3 KLEBER PAULINO".

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi IBJJF Championship 2009, athlete results(opens in a new tab)

    • Santana placed third in the Adult / Black / Male / Middle division at the 2009 World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi IBJJF Championship for Barbosa JJ.

      Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Middle: "1 lucas leite Check Mat Bjj; 2 carlos diego ferreira amazonas bjj; 3 daniel moraes Relson Gracie; 3 murilo santana Barbosa JJ".

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu 2010, athlete results(opens in a new tab)

    • Murilo Silva Ferreira Santana won the Adult / Black / Male / Middle division at the 2010 Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu for Barbosa JJ.

      Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Middle: "1 Murilo Silva Ferreira Santana Barbosa JJ; 2 Tiago Alves Barbosa JJ; 3 Luis Gustavo Campos Checkmat Bjj; 3 Victor Del Corso Bonfim Evolve Gordo Jiu-Jitsu".

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi IBJJF Championship 2010, athlete results(opens in a new tab)

    • Santana placed third in the Adult / Black / Male / Medium Heavy division at the 2010 World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi IBJJF Championship for Barbosa JJ.

      Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Medium Heavy: "1 Pablo Popovitch The Avengers; 2 Daniel Moraes Relson Gracie; 3 Kleber de Oliveira Paulino Gracie Barra; 3 Murilo Santana Barbosa JJ".

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu 2012, athlete results(opens in a new tab)

    • Murilo S. de Santana won the Male / Adult / Black / Middle division and placed third in the Open Class at the 2012 Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu for Barbosa JJ e MMA.

      Where in the source: Male / Adult / Black / Middle (79.50kg): "1 Murilo S. de Santana; 2 Gabriel Rollo da Silva Pontes; 3 Giderson Barros Ferreira; 3 Gustavo Junqueira". Male / Adult / Black / Open Class: "1 Nivaldo de Oliveira Lima; 2 Antônio Carlos de F. Barbosa Jr; 3 Murilo S. de Santana; 3 Rômulo Claudio Barral".

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2014, athlete results(opens in a new tab)

    • Conflicting accounts

      Murilo S. de Santana placed second in the Male / Adult / Black / Medium Heavy division at the 2014 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship for Barbosa Jiu-Jitsu USA.

      Where in the source: Male / Adult / Black / Medium Heavy (188.60lb): "1 Rômulo Claudio Barral; 2 Murilo S. de Santana; 3 Gustavo Ramos Campos; 3 Thiago Sá Fortes Silva".

      Accessed:

Competition results

Recorded tournament results, newest first
YearEventResultDivision
2011ADCC 2011Source: adcombat.comAbsoluteNo-giVerified4th placeAbsoluteNo-giVerified

Lineage

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Trained under

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