Ruan Tiago Alvarenga
Ruan Alvarenga grew up in his father’s academy, trained with Marcelo Garcia and developed a career combining grappling and teaching.
Biography
Sources for this profile
BJJ Heroes, Ruan Alvarenga(opens in a new tab)
Ruan Tiago Alvarenga is the Divinópolis grappler taught by his father Iran Brasileiro Alvarenga and later by Marcelo Garcia.
Where in the source: Full name, introduction and biography
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BJJ Heroes gives his birth as July 1998 in Divinópolis, Minas Gerais.
Where in the source: Biography opening
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The biography dates his formal start at his father’s academy to age four.
Where in the source: Biography opening
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His early no-gi influences included his father’s student Rousimar Palhares and watching Marcelo Garcia’s ADCC matches repeatedly on DVD.
Where in the source: Biography middle paragraphs
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Marcelo and Tatiana Garcia helped arrange and support his first American training stay as a purple belt.
Where in the source: Biography penultimate paragraph
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His father promoted him to black belt on 18 January 2021.
Where in the source: Biography final paragraph
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Marina Alves, De pai para filho, GloboEsporte, 22 July 2013(opens in a new tab)
He grew up around the mats of the academy his father ran at home in Divinópolis.
Where in the source: Paragraph after Iran’s transition to coaching
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Iran said he encouraged his children without forcing them into the sport, and that Ruan trained because he wanted to.
Where in the source: Iran quote beginning Sempre incentivei
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His father recalled having to tell the young Ruan to train less rather than pushing him to do more.
Where in the source: Iran quote about interventions
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Marina Alves, Após ouro no brasileiro, GloboEsporte, January 2014(opens in a new tab)
In January 2014 he was preparing for Portugal, which he described as his first competition trip outside Brazil.
Where in the source: Ruan quote beginning Vai ser a primeira vez
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He expected separation from his family to be difficult but drew confidence from previous domestic competition travel.
Where in the source: Same first international trip quote
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GloboEsporte, Atleta de MG segue passos de ídolo, 31 May 2016(opens in a new tab)
He arrived in New York in April 2016, aged 17 and a purple belt, to prepare with Marcelo Garcia for that year’s Worlds in California.
Where in the source: Opening and Em Nova York section
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He described training with Garcia as realizing a longstanding ambition and an opportunity to learn from every session.
Where in the source: Ruan quote about Marcelinho
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Iran welcomed the chance for his son to train among accomplished black belts and described Garcia as a trusted second father during the stay.
Where in the source: Iran’s assessment of New York camp
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Ruan said Garcia, Bernardo Faria and Matheus Diniz helped him communicate while he struggled with English.
Where in the source: Em Nova York, Ruan quote
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He reported two demanding training sessions a day in New York and felt his jiu-jitsu improving.
Where in the source: Em Nova York, same quote
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IBJJF, World No-Gi Championship 2018 official results(opens in a new tab)
He won the 2018 IBJJF World No-Gi male adult purple-belt featherweight title for Alliance International.
Where in the source: MALE / ADULT / PURPLE / FEATHER (149.00LB), first place
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ADCC, South American Trial, 30 March 2019(opens in a new tab)
He won the male under 66 kg division at the 30 March 2019 ADCC South American Trial in São Paulo, qualifying for that year’s Worlds.
Where in the source: Official results Male-66kg and qualifying winners list
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IBJJF, Pan No-Gi Championship 2019 official results(opens in a new tab)
He won the 2019 IBJJF Pan No-Gi male adult brown-belt featherweight division for Alliance.
Where in the source: MALE / ADULT / BROWN / FEATHER (149.00LB)
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Vitor Freitas, Ruan Alvarenga ajusta erros, VF Comunica, August 2023(opens in a new tab)
In 2023 he said he was becoming more patient and strategic while retaining an aggressive style, after recognizing that unchecked aggression had cost him matches.
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He was preparing at his father’s Minas Gerais academy and credited training there for his principal titles.
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He described Garcia’s New York school as a second home and planned another visit to train, teach seminars and exchange knowledge.
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Gabriel Almada, Ruan Alvarenga celebra fase no grappling, VF Comunica, 2023(opens in a new tab)
Later in 2023 he said his motivation and competitive confidence had returned after a period of feeling out of rhythm.
Where in the source: Ruan comenta recuperação da confiança
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He recalled his mother approaching local businesses to seek support for his early competitions, and said that effort continued to motivate him.
Where in the source: Full quote after family motivation paragraph
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He explained his 2023 partnership with manager Viktor Doria as a way to leave organizational worries with someone he trusted and concentrate on training and teaching.
Where in the source: Futuro promissor section, complete quote
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IBJJF, Brasileiro Sem Kimono: champions share thoughts, 2023(opens in a new tab)
IBJJF reported that he won the 2023 Brazilian No-Gi lightweight title with three victories.
Where in the source: Ruan Alvarenga: Lightweight Champion
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Despite winning without conceding points, he said he wanted to improve positional adjustments after losing a back position in his opening match.
Where in the source: Ruan full post-event quote
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RedeTV Faixa Preta, Ruan Alvarenga garante ritmo intenso, 10 September 2025(opens in a new tab)
Before BJJ Stars 17 he said he would use the R$100,000 prize, if he won, to improve his father’s growing academy in Divinópolis.
Where in the source: Final athlete quote
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Graciemag, Ruan Alvarenga celebra triunfo, 27 September 2025(opens in a new tab)
He won the under 70 kg no-gi Grand Prix at BJJ Stars 17 in São Paulo on 20 September 2025, earning R$100,000.
Where in the source: Opening and complete event results
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His route was a decision over Lucas Cantó, a medical-stoppage win over Kalebe Pereira and a decision over Meyram Maquiné in the final.
Where in the source: GP No Gi up to70kg quarterfinal, semifinal and final headings
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He credited his success to understanding the rules and managing his effort early while remaining attentive to Maquiné’s attacks in the final.
Where in the source: Post-tournament quotes
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After the win he planned light training and a return to his regular teaching routine.
Where in the source: Final post-tournament quote
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Jorge Agora, Atleta divinopolitano é campeão Sul Americano NoGi, October 2023(opens in a new tab)
A 2023 report identifies him as Rayan Melo Ferreira’s coach; he described helping the young athlete develop both in sport and in life.
Where in the source: Paragraph quoting Ruan after Rayan’s result
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Pantera Negra, Nossos Faixas Pretas(opens in a new tab)
Pantera Negra lists Ruan Alvarenga among its black belts.
Where in the source: Nossos Faixas Pretas, Ruan Alvarenga row
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Pantera Negra’s current roster lists Ruan Alvarenga as a second-degree black belt.
Where in the source: Ruan Alvarenga /2ºGrau row
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Pantera Negra, Nossas Filiais(opens in a new tab)
Pantera Negra names him as the responsible professor at its headquarters and Esplanada branch in Divinópolis.
Where in the source: Nossas Filiais, Matriz and Esplanada cards
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His current listed teaching base includes Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Where in the source: Matriz and Esplanada branch cards
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John Wolcott, ONE Fight Night 46 results, 15 August 2026(opens in a new tab)
He defeated Meyram Maquiné by unanimous decision in a featherweight submission-grappling match at ONE Fight Night 46 in August 2026.
Where in the source: Alvarenga Out-Scrambles Maquine section
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ONE reported one recognized submission catch for each man, with the judges favoring Alvarenga’s greater aggression.
Where in the source: Same full bout report
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Fachrul Sidiq, Ishiguro–Alvarenga added to ONE Fight Night 48, 15 September 2026(opens in a new tab)
ONE identifies Alvarenga as a Brazilian competitor.
Where in the source: Opening and Alvarenga paragraphs
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Lineage
No teaching connections are shown on this page.
Open lineage