Ricardo Evangelista
Ricardo Evangelista combined teaching and a physical-education degree with a competitive career that took him from Rio to Abu Dhabi and Texas.
Biography
Sources for this profile
BJJ Heroes, Ricardo Evangelista.(opens in a new tab)
Ricardo Ferreira Evangelista was born in Rio de Janeiro in1986.
Where in the source: Biography opening and Full Name
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Baraúna and Bruno Cunha guided his early belt progression before he joined the Gama Filho academy in northern Rio; Júlio César Pereira and Marcus Bello awarded his black belt in October2007.
Where in the source: Final biography paragraph
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BJJEE written interview,27June2013.(opens in a new tab)
In a2013 interview, Evangelista recalled starting jiu-jitsu at fifteen with Alexandre Baraúna after encouragement from friends, and winning his first tournament in2001 after two months of training.
Where in the source: Question2
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He said he had taught since2005 and earned a physical-education scholarship through jiu-jitsu, combining school and gym teaching with training and competition.
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His2013 European trip combined seminars at GFTeam affiliates in London, Paris and Germany with competition, supported by Gabriel Rainho and the German team.
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After another quarter-final exit at the2013 Worlds, he described fatigue from the open class and running out of time to stabilise a late guard pass in his weight division.
Where in the source: Question3
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Graciemag,1October2019.(opens in a new tab)
Evangelista graduated in physical education in2009 after four years of study; after two further years combining school work and training, he began pursuing a professional competitive career in2011.
Where in the source: Second paragraph and first quoted recollection
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Looking back in2019, he said completing his degree before committing to full-time competition mattered to him, and that dedicated training time and physical preparation supported his career.
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In2019 he led a Renzo Gracie school in Lake Houston, Texas; he argued that improving closed guard required practising its variations and accepting mistakes during training.
Where in the source: Opening and closed-guard quoted advice
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Graciemag,BJJ Pro League interview.(opens in a new tab)
After moving to Abu Dhabi, Evangelista credited training with Igor Silva with adding variations to his closed guard.
Where in the source: First question and answer
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He had discussed moving into MMA with Júlio César before leaving Brazil, but said his teacher asked him to enter more jiu-jitsu tournaments first.
Where in the source: Second question and answer
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Graciemag,24March2020.(opens in a new tab)
InMarch2020, Evangelista said six months in the United States had allowed him to adapt to a new training routine after living in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.
Where in the source: First interview quotation
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Describing his Houston Winter Open match with Roberto Jimenez, he said he found a foot-lock opening when Jimenez attempted a leg drag and left his foot exposed.
Where in the source: Technical interview answer
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Fury FC official results,19April2021.(opens in a new tab)
At Fury FC45 in2021, Evangelista defeated John Clay by first-round TKO from ground strikes.
Where in the source: Undercard,Evangelista versus Clay
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Graciemag written interview,26April2023.(opens in a new tab)
ByApril2023 he had a3–1 professional MMA record and was training with Rafael Alves and coach Bob Perez at Main Street Boxing & Muay Thai.
Where in the source: Introduction and first question
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He described learning boxing and wrestling to defend himself and reach the ground as the central challenge of MMA, alongside connecting striking to grappling and adjusting to its faster rhythm and different rules.
Where in the source: Question about adapting jiu-jitsu toMMA
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Evangelista said he devoted his training to MMA when a bout was booked, returning more intensively to the gi between camps.
Where in the source: Question about competing in both sports
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Teaching at Renzo Gracie Mont Belvieu in2023, he said competing helped him demonstrate focus and discipline to students, while teaching required an individual approach to each learner.
Where in the source: Last three questions
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Raízes official academy homepage.(opens in a new tab)
Raízes Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Crosby describes itself as Evangelista’s first United States affiliate, with Alex Black, Jeff Gaspar and Evangelista leading its team.
Where in the source: About Our School / Our History / Our Affiliation
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IBJJF,Ricardo Evangelista athlete page.(opens in a new tab)
The IBJJF athlete page lists Evangelista as a black belt with Team Evangelista USA.
Where in the source: Athlete Results header
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IBJJF official event results.(opens in a new tab)
At the2003 Worlds, Evangelista took juvenile male blue-belt super-heavyweight silver for Carlson Gracie UGF.
Where in the source: JUVENILE / BLUE / MALE / SUPER HEAVY
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IBJJF official event results.(opens in a new tab)
He won adult male black-belt super-heavyweight at the2011 Brazilian Championship.
Where in the source: ADULT / BLACK / MALE / SUPER HEAVY
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IBJJF official event results.(opens in a new tab)
He won adult male black-belt ultra-heavyweight at the2015 European Championship.
Where in the source: MALE / ADULT / BLACK / ULTRA HEAVY
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IBJJF official event results.(opens in a new tab)
He won the same adult black-belt ultra-heavyweight European division again in2018.
Where in the source: MALE / ADULT / BLACK / ULTRA HEAVY
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IBJJF official event results.(opens in a new tab)
At the2015 Worlds, he earned adult male black-belt ultra-heavyweight silver and open-class bronze.
Where in the source: MALE / ADULT / BLACK / ULTRA HEAVY and OPEN CLASS
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IBJJF official event results.(opens in a new tab)
He won adult male black-belt ultra-heavyweight silver at the2019 Worlds.
Where in the source: MALE / ADULT / BLACK / ULTRA HEAVY
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IBJJF official event results.(opens in a new tab)
He won adult male black-belt ultra-heavyweight gold at the2019 Pan Championship.
Where in the source: MALE / ADULT / BLACK / ULTRA HEAVY
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IBJJF official event results.(opens in a new tab)
At the2026 World Master Championship he won male Master2 black-belt ultra-heavyweight gold and open-class silver.
Where in the source: MALE / MASTER2 / BLACK / ULTRA HEAVY and OPEN CLASS
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Graciemag original event report,24April2016.(opens in a new tab)
Evangelista won the2016 Abu Dhabi World Pro men’s black-belt over94kg division, defeating Victor Honório in the final.
Where in the source: Black belt / MALE / +94kg
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