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Saulo Ribeiro

Saulo Ribeiro is a Brazilian-born black belt, five-time adult gi world champion, and co-founder of Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu.

Biography

Saulo Ribeiro is a Brazilian-born jiu-jitsu black belt who represented Gracie Humaitá, helped build Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu with his brother Xande, and won five adult gi world titles. He grew up in Manaus, the capital of Amazonas, in the same city and generation as Xande, Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza, and Wallid Ismail. In a 1999 interview, Ribeiro said he began judo at 14 and moved to jiu-jitsu at 16. He also said that he trained with Royler Gracie in Rio de Janeiro, taught daily, and ran a branch school in Tijuca. A Crítica reported that he had received his black belt only months before the inaugural IBJJF World Championship in 1996 and was among its medalists. The federation's published results do not name him, but the adult black-belt divisions list only first and second place, leaving that medal claim unresolved by the official record. Ribeiro won adult black-belt world titles at middleweight in 1997, heavyweight in 1998, medium heavyweight in 1999, super heavyweight in 2000, and medium heavyweight again in 2002. The five wins therefore spanned four weight divisions. In 2001, Fernando “Margarida” Pontes finished ahead of him in both the medium-heavyweight and open-class divisions. Ribeiro returned to the open-class final in 2002, placing second to Márcio Cruz; Xande shared third place in that division. In ADCC competition in Abu Dhabi, Ribeiro placed second at under 99 kilograms behind Jeff Monson in 1999, won the under 88-kilogram division ahead of Ricardo Libório in 2000, and placed second at that weight behind Sanae Kikuta in 2001. He won under 88 kilograms again at the Ibirapuera Gymnasium in São Paulo in 2003, with Ronaldo Souza second. ADCC Latin America's account of that final says Ribeiro scored with a single-leg takedown before taking Souza's back. The ADCC Federation lists Ribeiro in its Hall of Fame. He also won the adult black-belt medium-heavyweight division at the 2008 IBJJF No-Gi World Championship, ahead of Gregor Gracie. Teaching ran alongside competition. Xande Ribeiro later described the brothers forming an association around schools using their name and approach, then bringing their teaching together in San Diego at the University of Jiu-Jitsu. In a 2013 interview, Saulo contrasted his earlier classes in Toledo, Ohio, with the San Diego program he and Xande developed for children, women, self-defense students, and competitors. He said students there learned to count in Portuguese and practiced eight basic takedowns. The school and association are part of this documented history; the available sources do not establish how either operates now. With Kevin Howell, Ribeiro wrote Jiu-Jitsu University, published in 2008 by Victory Belt Publishing in Las Vegas (368 pages; ISBN 978-0-9815044-3-8). The publisher described its more than 200 techniques as a progression from white to black belt. Ribeiro continued to compete in the masters divisions. Official IBJJF results, under his registered name Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho, place him first at Master 2 super heavyweight in 2012, 2013, and 2014, then at Master 3 super heavyweight in 2015 and heavyweight in 2016. He also won the Master 2 open class in 2012 and 2013 and the Master 3 open class in 2015. In the 2016 heavyweight final in Las Vegas, he beat Cristiano Santos Lazzarini 2–0 with a seoi-nage takedown; a contemporary report said he competed for six minutes with one arm after a suspected torn biceps in the semifinal. BJJ Heroes reports that Robson Gracie awarded him the fifth degree on his black belt in August 2015. That dated report does not establish his current degree. In 2019, Ribeiro won the Master 3 heavyweight division at the European IBJJF Championship; FloGrappling reported that he finished two of his three matches by submission. The IBJJF also lists him in its Hall of Fame.

Sources for this profile

  • FloGrappling (FloSports), "World Master IBJJF Past Champions & Names To Know", by Margaret Nassuna, 21 August 2026(opens in a new tab)

    • Saulo Ribeiro won a black belt weight-class title at the IBJJF World Master Championship in five consecutive years: Master 2 super-heavyweight in 2012, 2013 and 2014, Master 3 super-heavyweight in 2015, and Master 3 heavyweight in 2016.

      Where in the source: Year block "2012" > "Master 2/Male Black Belt Champions" > line "Super-Heavy: Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho"; same line under year blocks "2013" and "2014" (Master 2) and "2015" (Master 3/Male Black Belt Champions); year block "2016" > "Master 3/Male Black Belt Champions" > line "Heavy: Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho"

      Accessed:

    • Saulo Ribeiro also won the open-class black belt division at the IBJJF World Master Championship three times, in 2012 and 2013 at Master 2 and in 2015 at Master 3.

      Where in the source: Year blocks "2012" and "2013" > "Master 2/Male Black Belt Champions" > line "Open Class: Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho"; year block "2015" > "Master 3/Male Black Belt Champions" > same line

      Accessed:

  • Internet Archive library catalogue record, quoting the book's cover copy(opens in a new tab)

    • In "Jiu-Jitsu University" Ribeiro set out a system of more than 200 techniques organised as a progression from white belt to black belt.

      Where in the source: Catalogue record > publisher's cover description "shares with the public for the first time his revolutionary system of grappling, mapping out more than 200 techniques that carry you from white to black belt"

      Accessed:

    • Saulo Ribeiro is the author, with Kevin Howell, of the instructional book "Jiu-Jitsu University", published by Victory Belt Publishing of Las Vegas in 2008 (ISBN 978-0-9815044-3-8, 368 pages).

      Where in the source: Catalogue metadata block > fields "Publisher: Victory Belt Publishing, Las Vegas", "Publication date: 2008", ISBN and page-count fields

      Accessed:

  • ADCC Federation (adcombat.com), official results archive, event dated 11 April 2001(opens in a new tab)

    • At the 2001 ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship in Abu Dhabi, Saulo Ribeiro took silver in the -88 kg division, behind gold medallist Sanae Kikuta.

      Where in the source: Heading "2001 RESULTS" > weight-class table "-88kg" > rows "Gold | 1st | Kikuta Sanae" and "Silver | 2nd | Saulo Ribeiro"

      Accessed:

  • ADCC Federation (adcombat.com), ADCC Hall of Fame page(opens in a new tab)

    • Saulo Ribeiro is listed among the inductees on the ADCC Federation's official ADCC Hall of Fame page.

      Where in the source: ADCC Hall of Fame gallery: archived 17 December 2024 page video overlay has data-bg URL ending ADCC-Hall-of-Fame-Saulo-Ribeiro.jpg; the current page uses the gallery image label.

      Accessed:

  • ADCC Federation (adcombat.com), official results archive, event dated March 2000(opens in a new tab)

    • Saulo Ribeiro won gold in the -88 kg division at the 2000 ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, ahead of Ricardo Libório in second place.

      Where in the source: Heading "2000 RESULTS" > weight-class table "-88kg" > rows "Gold | 1st | Saulo Ribeiro" and "Silver | 2nd | Ricardo Liborio"

      Accessed:

  • FloGrappling (FloSports), "FloSports Announces 'The Ups And Downs Of The Manaus Boys'", by Michael Sears, 17 February 2023(opens in a new tab)

    • Saulo Ribeiro was born and raised in Manaus, the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas, in the same city and generation as his brother Xande Ribeiro, Ronaldo "Jacaré" Souza and Wallid Ismail.

      Where in the source: Body text > sentence "Legends of the sport such as Saulo and Xande Riberio, Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza' and Wallid Ismail were born and raised in Manaus."

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, official published results archive, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2001(opens in a new tab)

    • IBJJF published results for the World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2001 list Saulo Ribeiro second in Adult / Black / Male / Medium Heavy, behind Fernando Pontes of Brazilian Top Team. Pontes therefore beat him in two finals at the same championship, this one and the open class.

      Where in the source: ADULT / BLACK / MALE / MEDIUM HEAVY > 1 Fernando Pontes, Braz. Top Team; 2 Saulo Ribeiro, Gracie Humita; 3 Roberto Correa; 3 Flávio Almeiida. The federation spells the team "Humita" in this category.

      Accessed:

    • IBJJF published results for the World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2001 list Saulo Ribeiro second in Adult / Black / Male / Open Class, behind Fernando Pontes of Brazilian Top Team, with Marcio Da Cruz and Rodrigo Medeiros sharing third.

      Where in the source: ADULT / BLACK / MALE / OPEN CLASS > "1 Fernando Pontes Braz. Top Team 2 Saulo Ribeiro Gracie Humaita 3 Márcio Da Cruz Gracie Barra 3 Rodrigo Medeiros Alliance". Read in the browser in the rendered results table on ibjjf.com, with the whole division block quoted rather than searched for by name.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, official published results archive, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 1999(opens in a new tab)

    • IBJJF published results for the World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 1999 list Saulo Ribeiro first in Adult / Black / Male / Medium Heavy, competing for Gracie Humaita, with Roberto Magalhaes of Gracie Barra second.

      Where in the source: ADULT / BLACK / MALE / MEDIUM HEAVY > "1 Saulo Ribeiro Gracie Humaita 2 Roberto Magalhães Gracie Barra 3 Ze Marcelo Carlson Lagoa 3 Amauri Bitetti Carlson". Read in the browser in the rendered results table on ibjjf.com, with the whole division block quoted rather than searched for by name.

      Accessed:

  • Graciemag, Redação Graciemag, 3 June 2020(opens in a new tab)

    • Saulo Ribeiro reached the open-weight (absolute) final of the 2001 IBJJF World Championship, where he was beaten by Fernando "Margarida" Pontes.

      Where in the source: Heading "8. Fernando 'Margarida' Pontes (2001)" > sentence "conquistou seu maior título da carreira, no absoluto em 2001, ao superar na final o altamente técnico Saulo Ribeiro"

      Accessed:

    • Alexandre "Xande" Ribeiro is Saulo Ribeiro's younger brother, and also came from Manaus.

      Where in the source: Heading "3. Alexandre 'Xande' Ribeiro (2006/08)" > sentence "Irmão mais novo do craque Saulo Ribeiro, Xande desceu de Manaus, a capital do Amazonas, disposto a igualar os títulos do irmão"

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, official published results archive, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2000(opens in a new tab)

    • IBJJF published results for the World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2000 list Saulo Ribeiro first in Adult / Black / Male / Super Heavy, competing for Gracie Humaita, with Daniel Simoes of Gracie Barra second.

      Where in the source: ADULT / BLACK / MALE / SUPER HEAVY > "1 Saulo Ribeiro Gracie Humaita 2 Daniel Simoes Gracie Barra 3 Gabriel Napao Big Brothers 3 Renato Ferro Brazilian Top Team". Read in the browser in the rendered results table on ibjjf.com, with the whole division block quoted rather than searched for by name.

      Accessed:

  • FloGrappling (FloSports), by Hywel Teague, 26 August 2016(opens in a new tab)

    • At the 2016 IBJJF World Master Championship in Las Vegas, Saulo Ribeiro won the Master 3 black belt heavyweight final against Cristiano Santos Lazzarini of Gracie Barra, taking the match 2-0 on a seoi-nage takedown and competing for six minutes with one arm after a suspected torn bicep sustained in the semi-final.

      Where in the source: Headline "Despite Serious Injury, Saulo Ribeiro Wins Fifth Masters Worlds Title" > opening sentences "Saulo Ribeiro won his fifth consecutive IBJJF Masters World title today in Las Vegas in spite of a serious injury. The legendary competitor won the Masters 3 black belt heavyweight division, beating Cristiano Santos Lazzarini of Gracie Barra in the final."

      Accessed:

  • ADCC Federation (adcombat.com), official results archive, event dated 24 February 1999(opens in a new tab)

    • At the 1999 ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship in Abu Dhabi, Saulo Ribeiro took silver in the -99 kg division, behind gold medallist Jeff Monson.

      Where in the source: Heading "1999 RESULTS" > weight-class table "-99kg" > rows "Gold | 1st | Jeff Monson" and "Silver | 2nd | Saulo Ribeiro"

      Accessed:

  • A Crítica (Manaus), opinion section, by Almério Augusto, 2 February 2026(opens in a new tab)

    • Saulo Ribeiro had been promoted to black belt only months before the first IBJJF World Championship in 1996, where he was among the medallists.

      Where in the source: Body text > parenthetical "Saulo Ribeiro (que foi graduado à faixa preta meses antes do evento e também foi medalhista)"

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, official published results archive, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 1997(opens in a new tab)

    • IBJJF published results for the World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 1997 list Saulo Ribeiro first in Adult / Black / Male / Middle, competing for Gracie Humaita/Iate, with Antonio Shembri of Gracie Barra second.

      Where in the source: Heading "RESULTS WORLD JIU-JITSU IBJJF CHAMPIONSHIP 1997" > "ADULT / BLACK / MALE / MIDDLE 1 Saulo Ribeiro Gracie Humaita/Iate 2 Antonio Shembri Gracie Barra 3 Rony Rustico Gracie Barra 3 Alexandre Paiva Alliance". Read in the browser in the rendered results table on ibjjf.com, with the whole division block quoted rather than searched for by name.

      Accessed:

  • ADCC Federation (adcombat.com), official results archive, event dated 17 May 2003(opens in a new tab)

    • Saulo Ribeiro won gold in the -88 kg division at the 2003 ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship at the Ibirapuera Gymnasium in São Paulo, Brazil, with Ronaldo Souza taking silver in the same division.

      Where in the source: Heading "2003 RESULTS" > weight-class table "-88kg" > rows "Gold | 1st | Saulo Ribeiro" and "Silver | 2nd | Ronaldo Souza"; venue line "Ibirapuera Gymnasium, R. Abílio Soares, 1300 - Paraíso, São Paulo - SP, 04001-001, Brazil"

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, official published results archive, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2002(opens in a new tab)

    • IBJJF published results for the World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2002 list Saulo Ribeiro first in Adult / Black / Male / Medium Heavy, competing for Gracie Humaita, with Eric Wanderlei of Gracie Barra second. This is the second of his two titles in that division, the first being 1999, which is why five titles span four weight classes.

      Where in the source: ADULT / BLACK / MALE / MEDIUM HEAVY > 1 Saulo Ribeiro, Gracie Humaita; 2 Eric Wanderlei, Gracie Barra; 3 Marcel Louzado; 3 Givanildo Santana.

      Accessed:

    • IBJJF published results for the World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2002 list Saulo Ribeiro second in Adult / Black / Male / Open Class, behind Marcio Cruz of Gracie Barra, with his brother Alexandre Ribeiro sharing third in the same division.

      Where in the source: ADULT / BLACK / MALE / OPEN CLASS > "1 Marcio Cruz Gracie Barra 2 Saulo Ribeiro Gracie Humaita 3 Alexandre Ribeiro Gracie Humait[a]" - the row is cut off in the rendered table at the point the next division block begins. Read in the browser in the rendered results table on ibjjf.com, with the whole division block quoted rather than searched for by name.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, official published results archive, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 1996(opens in a new tab)

    • IBJJF published results for the World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 1996 do not name Saulo Ribeiro anywhere. That absence cannot settle the medallist claim: all ten adult black belt divisions on that page record first and second place only, with no third place in any of them, while 19 of the 30 blue, purple and brown belt divisions do record third places. A black belt bronze in 1996 would therefore not appear on this page. The page academy results section is also empty.

      Where in the source: 1996 RESULTS: ten ADULT / BLACK / MALE categories each show places 1 and 2 only, no 3. Example HEAVY: 1 Fabio Gurgel; 2 Murilo Bustamante. No "Saulo" in rendered results. Of 30 lower-belt adult male categories, 19 show third places.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, official published results archive, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 1998(opens in a new tab)

    • IBJJF published results for the World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 1998 list Saulo Ribeiro first in Adult / Black / Male / Heavy, competing for Gracie Humaita, with Fabio Gurgel of Alliance second.

      Where in the source: ADULT / BLACK / MALE / HEAVY > "1 SAULO RIBEIRO GRACIE HUMAITA 2 FABIO GURGEL ALLIANCE 3 MURILO BUSTAMANTE CARLSON GRACIE 3 BRUNO SEVERIANO GRACIE BARRA". The 1998 page prints every name in capitals. Read in the browser in the rendered results table on ibjjf.com, with the whole division block quoted rather than searched for by name.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, official 2012 results, World Master championship(opens in a new tab)

    • The 2012 Master & Senior World Jiu-Jitsu Championship records Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho first in both Male / Master 2 / Black / Super Heavy and Male / Master 2 / Black / Open Class, for Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu.

      Where in the source: SUPER HEAVY > 1 Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho, Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu; 2 Roger Dias Coelho. OPEN CLASS > 1 Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho; 2 Erik Wanderley Jabbur.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, official 2013 results, World Master championship(opens in a new tab)

    • The 2013 World Master IBJJF results list Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho first in Male / Master 2 / Black / Super Heavy and Open Class, representing Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu.

      Where in the source: SUPER HEAVY > 1 Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho; 2 Roberto Godoi. OPEN CLASS > 1 Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho; 2 Fabio Leopoldo e Silva Neto.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, official 2014 results, World Master championship(opens in a new tab)

    • At the 2014 World Master IBJJF Championship, Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho placed first in Male / Master 2 / Black / Super Heavy for Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu; the open-class title that year went to Roberto Godoi.

      Where in the source: MASTER 2 / BLACK / SUPER HEAVY > 1 Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho; 2 Roberto Godoi. MASTER 2 / BLACK / OPEN CLASS > 1 Roberto Godoi.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, official 2015 results, World Master championship(opens in a new tab)

    • At the 2015 World Master IBJJF Championship, Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho won both Male / Master 3 / Black / Super Heavy and Open Class for Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu.

      Where in the source: MASTER 3 / BLACK / SUPER HEAVY > 1 Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho; 2 Roberto Godoi. OPEN CLASS > 1 Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho; 2 Carlos Eduardo Farias.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, official 2016 results, World Master championship(opens in a new tab)

    • The 2016 World Master IBJJF results place Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho first in Male / Master 3 / Black / Heavy for Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu, with Cristiano Santos Lazzarini second.

      Where in the source: MASTER 3 / BLACK / HEAVY > 1 Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho, Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu; 2 Cristiano Santos Lazzarini, Gracie Barra; 3 Charles Faria Correa; 3 Givanildo Santana do Nascimento.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, official published results archive, World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi IBJJF Championship 2008(opens in a new tab)

    • Saulo Ribeiro won the Adult / Black / Male / Medium Heavy division at the 2008 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship for Gracie Humaita, ahead of Gregor Gracie.

      Where in the source: ADULT / BLACK / MALE / MEDIUM HEAVY > 1 Saulo Ribeiro, Gracie Humaita; 2 Gregor Gracie, Gracie Barra; 3 Igor Gracie; 3 Marcello Salazar.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, official European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2019 results(opens in a new tab)

    • Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho won Male / Master 3 / Black / Heavy at the 2019 European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship for Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu, with Lúcio Charlytow N. F. Segundo second.

      Where in the source: MASTER 3 / BLACK / HEAVY (94.30KG) > 1 Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho, Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu; 2 Lúcio Charlytow N. F. Segundo, Gracie Barra; 3 André Luiz Novais; 3 Francisco Mauricelio A. Mariano.

      Accessed:

  • FloGrappling, Chase Smith, 23 January 2019(opens in a new tab)

    • FloGrappling reported that Ribeiro won the 2019 European Master 3 heavyweight division after three matches, two of which he finished by submission.

      Where in the source: "Watch all of Saulo & Xande Ribeiro’s Matches from Euros" > "Saulo had finished two out of three opponents to earn his gold medal".

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, Hall of fame page, accessed 8 October 2026(opens in a new tab)

    • The IBJJF includes Saulo Mendonça Ribeiro Filho on its Hall of Fame page.

      Where in the source: Hall of fame > "SAULO MENDONÇA RIBEIRO FILHO".

      Accessed:

  • A Crítica, Marcelo Guilherme interviewing Alexandre Ribeiro, 8 November 2025(opens in a new tab)

    • In a 2025 interview with A Crítica, Xande Ribeiro said that he and Saulo combined their teaching spaces, moved to San Diego and founded University of Jiu-Jitsu, which served as the base of Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu.

      Where in the source: University of Jiu-Jitsu > "decidiram então se mudar para San Diego ... e fundaram a University of Jiu-Jitsu, considerada então como o quartel-general da Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu".

      Accessed:

    • Xande Ribeiro described building an association around academies using the Ribeiro brothers’ name and teaching approach before they created their San Diego university.

      Where in the source: "começar o processo de criação de sua associação, que passaria a monetizar as academias que usavam o nome e método dos dois irmãos"; subsequent "University of Jiu-Jitsu" section.

      Accessed:

  • Artemis BJJ, Can Sönmez interview with Saulo Ribeiro, conducted June 2013, published 5 September 2014(opens in a new tab)

    • In a 2013 interview, Saulo Ribeiro contrasted his earlier teaching in Toledo, Ohio with teaching at University of Jiu Jitsu in San Diego, saying that in California he and Xande developed programmes for children, women and students seeking self-defence as well as competitors.

      Where in the source: "Are there any differences between how you taught BJJ in Toledo and how you now teach BJJ in San Diego?" > "my brother and I offering information about self defence for women, for kids".

      Accessed:

  • Artemis BJJ, Can Sönmez interview with Saulo Ribeiro, conducted June 2013, published 14 September 2014(opens in a new tab)

    • Ribeiro said the University of Jiu Jitsu teaching programme required students to count in Portuguese and learn eight basic takedowns, reflecting the traditional martial arts values he wanted to teach.

      Where in the source: "That’s why here at the University, everybody has to count to ten in Portuguese. They have to know the eight basic takedowns".

      Accessed:

  • BJJ Heroes, Saulo Ribeiro profile, accessed 8 October 2026(opens in a new tab)

    • BJJ Heroes credits Saulo and his younger brother Alexandre Ribeiro with founding Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu and identifies the Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu Association as one of Saulo’s team affiliations.

      Where in the source: Intro > "Saulo and his younger brother Alexandre Ribeiro founded Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu"; profile table > "Team/Association: Gracie Humaita and Ribeiro Jiu-jitsu Association".

      Accessed:

    • BJJ Heroes reports that Robson Gracie awarded Saulo Ribeiro the fifth degree on his black belt in August 2015.

      Where in the source: Biography > "In August 2015, Saulo Ribeiro received the 5th degree on his black belt from the hands of Robson Gracie".

      Accessed:

  • Chris Onzuka, interview with Saulo Ribeiro at Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy, Honolulu, 19 May 1999(opens in a new tab)

    • In a 1999 interview, Ribeiro said he began judo at 14, moved into jiu-jitsu at 16, and held black belts in judo, jiu-jitsu and Kyokushinkai karate.

      Where in the source: "Tell me about your martial arts background" > "I started in Judo, when I was 14 years old. Then, at 16, I pass for Jiu-Jitsu" and "I am black belt Judo and black belt Jiu-Jitsu, and black belt Karate"; "What style of Karate?" > "Kyokushinkai".

      Accessed:

    • In the same 1999 interview, Ribeiro said he taught jiu-jitsu daily, trained with Royler Gracie at Gracie Humaita in Rio and had his own branch school in Tijuca.

      Where in the source: "Where do you train and where are your academies?" > "I train in Rio de Janeiro, with Royler Gracie at his academy Gracie Humaita. I have my own school in Tijuca"; "I keep my body warm teaching Jiu-Jitsu everyday".

      Accessed:

  • ADCC Latin America, "ADCC Hall da Fama: O tradicional Saulo Ribeiro", 17 February 2026(opens in a new tab)

    • ADCC Latin America’s retrospective says Ribeiro won the 2003 under-88 kg final against Ronaldo Souza after scoring with a single-leg takedown and taking the back; it also identifies the 2000 and 2003 titles as his two ADCC golds.

      Where in the source: "O segundo ouro chegou no ADCC 2003" > "fazendo boa entrada no single-leg e depois chegando nas costas com os dois ganchos encaixados"; opening > "ouro ... 2000 e 2003".

      Accessed:

Competition results

Recorded tournament results, newest first
YearEventResultDivision
2009ADCC 2009Source: adcombat.com+99 kgNo-giVerified4th place+99 kgNo-giVerified
2005ADCC 2005Source: adcombat.com-88 kgNo-giVerified3rd place-88 kgNo-giVerified
2003ADCC 2003Source: adcombat.com-88 kgNo-giVerified1st place-88 kgNo-giVerified
2002IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-88 kgGiVerified1st place-88 kgGiVerified
2001ADCC 2001Source: adcombat.com-88 kgNo-giVerified2nd place-88 kgNo-giVerified
2000ADCC 2000Source: adcombat.com-88 kgNo-giVerified1st place-88 kgNo-giVerified
2000IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-100 kgGiVerified1st place-100 kgGiVerified
1999ADCC 1999Source: adcombat.com-99 kgNo-giVerified2nd place-99 kgNo-giVerified
1999IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-88 kgGiVerified1st place-88 kgGiVerified
1998IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-94 kgGiVerified1st place-94 kgGiVerified
1997IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-82 kgGiVerified1st place-82 kgGiVerified

Lineage

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Trained under

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