Roosevelt Sousa
A volleyball player turned foot-lock specialist, Roosevelt Sousa sold water in João Pessoa to reach Abu Dhabi and won the 2025 ultra-heavyweight world title.
Biography
Sources for this profile
GRACIEMAG, 'From water vendor to world champion: an FS brown-belt's story', Redação Graciemag, 2 September 2019 (article marked as based on a press release).(opens in a new tab)
As a blue belt with little money to enter the sport's biggest tournaments, Sousa sold bottled water on the streets of João Pessoa, Paraíba, to pay his way to competitions.
Where in the source: Opening paragraph, after the photo of him holding a cooler with a sign asking for help — 'sell water'
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With the money he raised he travelled to Abu Dhabi and won at the UAEJJF World Pro; GRACIEMAG wrote that this gold transformed his career.
Where in the source: Second body paragraph — 'UAEJJF World Pro'
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Sousa told GRACIEMAG that at the time he could not afford the bus fare to get to training, that this demotivated him and he thought about quitting, and that after the World Pro win other opportunities opened and led him to the United States.
Where in the source: First quoted paragraph — 'take a bus'
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In September 2019 GRACIEMAG reported that Sousa, then 26 and a brown belt, had started training about six years earlier and was living and training at Roberto Cyborg's academy, Fight Sports, in Miami, Florida.
Where in the source: Second body paragraph and the quote after it — 'Roberto Cyborg's academy'
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In the 2019 season, as a brown belt, Sousa won IBJJF titles at the American National, the Orlando Open and the San Diego Open.
Where in the source: Paragraph after the medal photo — 'Orlando Open'
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Sousa said he had come out of a very bad period in Brazil and found a very tough training environment at Fight Sports in which he improved a lot; GRACIEMAG noted that, although an ultra-heavyweight, he had a sharp guard game and good transitions to the back from top or bottom.
Where in the source: Second quoted paragraph and the closing paragraph — 'bad phase in Brazil'
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GRACIEMAG, 'A No-Gi Pan champion, brown-belt sensation wants to repeat feat at No-Gi Worlds', Redação Graciemag, 10 October 2019 (article marked as based on a press release).(opens in a new tab)
GRACIEMAG dated his water selling in João Pessoa to 2017 and reported that two years later, aged 26, he was in Miami living as a professional athlete under Roberto Cyborg.
Where in the source: Opening paragraph — 'in 2017'
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In late September 2019 Sousa won the IBJJF No-Gi Pan as a brown belt, and he told GRACIEMAG that the intense training Roberto Cyborg did for ADCC had improved his wrestling.
Where in the source: Second and third paragraphs — 'late September'; his quote on Cyborg's ADCC training
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GRACIEMAG, '"Shielded", Roosevelt Sousa wants to train like never before to win ADCC', Redação Graciemag, 16 June 2022.(opens in a new tab)
In June 2022 GRACIEMAG reported that Sousa, then 29 and a black belt with Fight Sports, had qualified for ADCC 2022 in Las Vegas in the over-99 kg division by winning the ADCC trial in Balneário Camboriú over four matches, two of them by heel hook and one by calf slicer.
Where in the source: First two paragraphs — 'ADCC trial in Balneário Camboriú'
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For his ADCC 2022 camp at Fight Sports in Miami, Sousa said he was learning from Roberto Cyborg and Vagner Rocha, and that wrestler Pat Downey would coach the team's wrestling during the camp.
Where in the source: Last three paragraphs — 'our wrestling coach'
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IBJJF, athlete results page 'Roosevelt Sousa' (current federation listing).(opens in a new tab)
The IBJJF athlete page for Roosevelt Sousa lists him as a black belt.
Where in the source: Athlete card under 'ATHLETE RESULTS', belt line below the team name — 'Black'
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The IBJJF athlete page lists Roosevelt Sousa's team as Fight Sports.
Where in the source: Athlete card under 'ATHLETE RESULTS', line below the name — 'Fight Sports'
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IBJJF, 'Roosevelt Sousa GP Super Fight Interview: "I've Been Working Hard to Become One of the Best Black Belts in the World"', undated interview published before the IBJJF FloGrappling Grand Prix of 28 October 2022.(opens in a new tab)
Sousa received his black belt in 2020, and his first IBJJF major as a black belt was the 2022 Pan Championship, where he entered both the ultra-heavyweight division and the absolute and won two bronze medals, submitting two opponents with foot locks.
Where in the source: First two paragraphs — 'received his black belt in 2020'; 'two bronze medals'
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Sousa told the IBJJF he had been doing foot locks since white belt and was still refining the position; his advice was not to rush it, but to work slowly, controlling and adjusting the body until the finish.
Where in the source: Second paragraph, his quoted advice — 'since white belt'
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In 2022 Sousa trained with his team at Fight Sports Miami and said he was always learning from Roberto Cyborg, Vagner Rocha and Viktor Doria, adding that the team learned much more than just jiu-jitsu.
Where in the source: Third paragraph, his quote about Fight Sports, naming Cyborg, Vagner Rocha and Viktor Doria
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IBJJF, 'Roosevelt Sousa GP Super Fight Interview: "I Will Play As I Always Do, Always Looking For The Submission."', undated interview published before the IBJJF Absolute Grand Prix of 18 November 2022.(opens in a new tab)
Sousa lost a super fight at the IBJJF FloGrappling Grand Prix to Fellipe Andrew, then ranked number one; he called Andrew a great champion who made the most of the best moments of the match.
Where in the source: First paragraph — 'Coming off a super fight'; his quote on Andrew
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IBJJF, 'Roosevelt Sousa Is Confirmed For The Crown's Ultra-Heavyweight Division', by Danny O'Donnell, published 12 October 2023.(opens in a new tab)
According to the IBJJF, Sousa won major colored-belt titles, including at the No-Gi Worlds, the Pan No-Gi, the Brasileiro and the American Nationals, before his black belt promotion in mid-2020.
Where in the source: Body paragraph — 'promotion in mid 2020'
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In October 2023 the IBJJF described Sousa as a submission hunter known for one of the best straight ankle locks in the sport, with black belt bronze medals at the No-Gi Worlds and the Pans, and reported that at the 2023 Pan No-Gi he submitted two of his three opponents on the way to his first major championship gold.
Where in the source: Body paragraph — 'straight ankle locks'; 'two of his three matches'
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IBJJF, '2023 Pan & World No-Gi Champion Roosevelt Sousa Joins No-Gi GP Lineup', by Danny O'Donnell, published 18 January 2024.(opens in a new tab)
In 2023, which the IBJJF called the best year of his career, Sousa won his first major black belt title at the Pan No-Gi in Fort Worth, Texas, in October, then took ultra-heavyweight gold and open class silver at the No-Gi Worlds in Las Vegas.
Where in the source: Opening paragraph — 'taking gold in Fort Worth'; 'silver in the absolute'
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IBJJF, 'The IBJJF Crown Recap: Six New Champions Crowned In Epic Event!', by Danny O'Donnell, published 22 November 2023.(opens in a new tab)
At the IBJJF Crown in November 2023, Sousa's only match was against Erich Munis for the ultra-heavyweight title; Munis won 2-2 on advantages, five to none. The IBJJF noted it was their third meeting at black belt and the third decided on advantages.
Where in the source: Section on the ultra-heavyweight Crown match between Munis and Roosevelt — 'third time the match was decided on advantages'
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IBJJF, 'Black Belt Bracket Breakdowns | 2026 World Championships', by Kaelan Crisosto, published 30 May 2026.(opens in a new tab)
In its preview of the 2026 World Championships, the IBJJF listed Roosevelt Sousa as the reigning ultra-heavyweight World Champion.
Where in the source: Male section, 'Ultra-Heavyweight' title list — 'World Champion: Roosevelt Sousa'
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The IBJJF wrote that Seif-Eddine Houmine had won the ultra-heavyweight World title in 2024.
Where in the source: Male section, 'Ultra-Heavyweight' paragraph — 'capturing his title in 2024'
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FloGrappling, 'IBJJF World Championship Live Black Belt Bracket Finals Updates/Results', by Joe Gilpin, 2 June 2025.(opens in a new tab)
Sousa won the men's black belt ultra-heavyweight title at the 2025 IBJJF World Championship (gi), beating Gutemberg Pereira in the final on advantages after a long referee review of late sweep attempts by both men.
Where in the source: Live updates, 'Men's Ultra-Heavy' final entry — 'After a long review'
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On the way to the 2025 World final, Sousa beat Helder Jose and Seif-Eddine Houmine, then won his semifinal against Luis Cantereira after passing to his back and attacking the neck.
Where in the source: Results list 'Men's Ultra-Heavy' (Elimination Round Two, Quarterfinals) and the semifinal live entry — 'back off a pass'
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In the open class at the 2025 IBJJF World Championship, Sousa beat Dory Aoun in the first round and lost to Luis Cantereira in the second.
Where in the source: Results list 'Men's Open Class', Elimination Round 1 and Elimination Round 2
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A União (João Pessoa), 'Atleta paraibano de jiu-jítsu vai disputar Mundial em Abu Dabhi', by Rachel Almeida, 2 April 2017, Esportes, p. 21 (PDF edition, section C).(opens in a new tab)
In April 2017 the Paraíba newspaper A União reported that Roosevelt Souza, a state, Brazilian and South American champion, would compete at the World Pro in Abu Dhabi (18–23 April 2017) and was paying his own costs, unlike the 55 qualifiers whose trip was funded by the federal government.
Where in the source: Sports section front page (p. 21), lead article on the World Pro trip, first paragraph — 'arcando com todos os custos'
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A União described Roosevelt Souza as a native of Paraíba who would represent Brazil at the 2017 World Pro in Abu Dhabi.
Where in the source: Same article, headline and first paragraph — 'paraibano'
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According to A União, he came to jiu-jitsu from volleyball: he had played indoor and then beach volleyball without much success, and after getting to know Olympic beach volleyball champion Ricardo Alex Santos he was invited to a class taught by Iuri Alves, who had just arrived from Bahia. After that first class he wanted no other sport and gradually gave up volleyball.
Where in the source: Second article on the same page, on how he found the sport, first two paragraphs — 'professor Iuri Alves'
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A União reported that after three months of training he won his first competition, the Copa João Pessoa, and said it felt as if he had found his place; by April 2017 he had won the Paraíba state title eight times and national titles twice.
Where in the source: Main article, second paragraph, with the count of state and national titles — 'três meses de treino'
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Iuri Alves, described by A União as his professor and master, said that in under three years of jiu-jitsu Roosevelt had won many titles, that he was always focused, dedicated and persistent, that he was one of the most complete athletes Alves knew despite his limited experience, and that the two had dreamed of one day becoming world champion together.
Where in the source: Main article, the column with the professor's comments, next to the pull quote — 'mestre do competidor'
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In 2017 he trained and did his physical preparation at the R1 Body Center academy at Clube Cabo Branco in João Pessoa, and said that, competing in a very heavy weight class, he followed a nutrition plan.
Where in the source: Paragraph on his training routine, naming R1 Body Center and Clube Cabo Branco
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He told A União that jiu-jitsu was the most important thing in his life and a way to help his family and to change the lives of street and low-income people through sport; his biggest dream was to be world champion at every belt and to have his own academy and a social project.
Where in the source: Closing paragraph, his quote on his biggest dream — 'todas as faixas'
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Lance!, 'Roosevelt Sousa e Nathalie Ribeiro são campeões no King of Mats e Queen of Mats', Florianópolis, 3 December 2021.(opens in a new tab)
On 2 December 2021, at an AJP event held at Florianópolis International Airport, Sousa won the heavyweight Abu Dhabi King of Mats title; he opened with an early foot lock on Gerard Labinski and won the final against Wallace Costa 1-0 in golden score. The podium list shows him as representing Brazil.
Where in the source: Section 'Abu Dhabi King of Mats – Peso Pesado' and the podium list — '1º – Roosevelt Sousa (Brasil)'
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The RŌL Radio, hosted by Thomas Rozdzynski, episode #279 'Roosevelt Sousa', 28 January 2026 (show notes).(opens in a new tab)
In January 2026 The RŌL Radio podcast introduced Sousa as head coach at Sanctum Jiu-Jitsu and a two-time ADCC veteran.
Where in the source: Episode #279 'Roosevelt Sousa', show notes, introduction line — 'head coach at Sanctum Jiu-Jitsu'
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MMA Sucka, '2022 ADCC World Championships Day 2 Results', by Nate Freeman, 18 September 2022.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2022 ADCC World Championships, Sousa lost the men's +99 kg semifinal to Gordon Ryan by heel hook at 0:11 and took the bronze medal when Felipe Pena chose not to compete in the bronze medal match.
Where in the source: Results list — Semifinal Round, 'Men +99kg', and Final Round, 'Bronze Medal Match' under 'Men +99kg'
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Felipe Castello Branco, MMA Sucka, report on Felipe Pena's 2026 ADCC absolute title, 15 September 2026.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2026 ADCC World Championship in Kraków, Poland, on 12–13 September, Sousa reached the absolute final and lost to Felipe Pena by rear-naked choke.
Where in the source: Section on Pena's second absolute title — 'defeating Roosevelt Sousa via a rear-naked choke'
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FloGrappling, 'Roosevelt Sousa betting on his leglocks and mind games to win at The Crown', by Carlos Arthur Jr., 18 November 2023.(opens in a new tab)
In November 2023 FloGrappling described Sousa as a Brazilian living in Miami who would represent Fight Sports in the ultra-heavyweight division of the IBJJF Crown.
Where in the source: Introduction, paragraph on where he lives now — 'the Brazilian currently lives in Miami'
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Sousa told FloGrappling he learned a straight foot lock as a white belt, used it to win gold at the Brasileiro, saw that he had a knack for it, and kept learning details and adjustments from different people over the years until he had built his own style.
Where in the source: Answer to the question on his foot and leg attacks — 'straight footlock as a white belt'
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Comparing leg-lock games, Sousa said American athletes study jiu-jitsu a great deal, buy online courses and specialise, while Brazilians handle the mechanics more instinctively; in his view a good Brazilian might use five or six foot lock variations where Americans use around twenty.
Where in the source: Answer to the last question, on Brazilian and American leg attacks — 'around twenty'
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Sousa said that for a period he lived in Abu Dhabi for almost two years, in contact with his master Iuri Alves, who lives there, and that he came back to live in the United States because it is the great power in competition; he also said that besides his game, what set him apart was the mental side and his resolve to win.
Where in the source: His answers to the second and third questions — 'my master Iuri Alves'
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GRACIEMAG, 'Antes do ADCC, Roosevelt Sousa vence Yuri Simões no Fight to Win', by Vitor Freitas, 4 August 2022.(opens in a new tab)
On 29 July 2022, accepting the match at very short notice, Sousa beat two-time ADCC champion Yuri Simões by judges' decision in an eight-minute, submission-only bout at Fight to Win 207 in Dallas, after attacking his feet three times, including from 50/50.
Where in the source: Second to fourth paragraphs — 'Fight to Win 207'; 'decisão dos juízes'
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Lineage
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Open lineage