Wallid Ismail
“Paraíba”
Source: bjjheroes.comA Carlson Gracie pressure passer from Manaus who beat Ralph, Renzo and Royce Gracie, fought vale tudo in Japan and went on to create Jungle Fight.
Biography
Sources for this profile
Sherdog, fighter profile "Wallid Ismail" (Fight Finder).(opens in a new tab)
Sherdog's fighter profile gives Wallid Ismail's date of birth as 22 February 1968.
Where in the source: Profile header, AGE row — "FEB 22, 1968"
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Sherdog lists his professional mixed martial arts record as nine wins and three losses; four of the wins came by submission, three by knockout or technical knockout and two by decision.
Where in the source: Record summary panel beside the header — wins 9, losses 3, with method breakdown
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In 1996 he won three fights by rear-naked choke: against Dennis Kefalinos at Universal Vale Tudo Fighting 1 (5 April), against Katsumi Usuda at Universal Vale Tudo Fighting 2 (24 June), and against Usuda again at U-Japan (17 November).
Where in the source: Fight history table (pro), rows for UVF 1, UVF 2 and U - Japan
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His only UFC fight on Sherdog's record is a unanimous-decision loss to Kazuo Takahashi at UFC 12 on 7 February 1997.
Where in the source: Fight history table (pro), row for UFC 12 - Judgement Day
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At the International Vale Tudo Championship he beat Johil de Oliveira by TKO (submission to punches) at IVC 3 on 10 December 1997, and Gary Myers by unanimous decision after a single 30-minute round at IVC 5 on 26 April 1998.
Where in the source: Fight history table (pro), rows for IVC 3 and IVC 5
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In PRIDE he lost to Akira Shoji by TKO (punches) at Pride 4 on 11 October 1998, beat Shungo Oyama by technical submission with an arm-triangle choke at Pride 15 on 29 July 2001, and lost to Alex Stiebling by unanimous decision at Pride 19 on 24 February 2002.
Where in the source: Fight history table (pro), rows for Pride 4, Pride 15 and Pride 19
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The last two fights in his Sherdog record are wins in 2002: a TKO (punches) over Kazunari Murakami at UFO – Legend on 8 August, and a unanimous decision over Yasuhito Namekawa at Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2002 on 31 December.
Where in the source: Fight history table (pro), top two rows (UFO - Legend; Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2002)
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Sherdog's fighter profile lists his location as Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Where in the source: Profile header, location lines above the name
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Sherdog, event page "Desafio - Jiu-Jitsu vs. Luta Livre".(opens in a new tab)
At Desafio – Jiu-Jitsu vs. Luta Livre, held on 26 September 1991 at the Grajaú Country Club in Rio de Janeiro, Ismail beat Eugenio Tadeu by TKO (injury) at 16:18 of the first round; Murilo Bustamante and Fábio Gurgel also won on the same card.
Where in the source: Event header (date and venue line) and fight card, match 1
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JitsMagazine, Kian Rogers, "Wallid Ismail And Carlson Gracie Jr Promoted To Coral Belt In BJJ", 12 January 2024.(opens in a new tab)
Wallid Ismail and Carlson Gracie Jr. were promoted to coral belt together on 6 January 2024 in a ceremony at Clube Botafogo in Rio de Janeiro, marking three decades as black belts.
Where in the source: Article body, first paragraph — "promoted to coral belt together in the same ceremony"
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Ismail and Carlson Gracie Jr. had been promoted to black belt on the same day in 1993 by Carlson Gracie Sr., and had been friends and training partners for a long time before that.
Where in the source: Article body, first paragraph — "originally promoted to black belt on the same day in 1993"
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JitsMagazine, Diogo de Souza, "Throwback: Watch Wallid Ismail Defeat Royce Gracie", 22 May 2023.(opens in a new tab)
Ismail met Royce Gracie in a jiu-jitsu superfight on 17 December 1998 under special rules with no points and no time limit, refereed by Hélio Vígio.
Where in the source: First and third paragraphs — "no points and no time-limit"
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According to JitsMagazine's breakdown of the match, Royce put Ismail down early with a trip and later a throw, but Ismail worked out from deep half guard, drove Royce onto his back and attacked with over-under passing and heavy top pressure; when Royce turtled to stop the pass, Ismail held him down, found a collar grip and finished with a clock choke that left Royce unconscious, and the referee stopped the bout.
Where in the source: Match-breakdown section after the embedded video, first to third paragraphs — "set up a clock choke"
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JitsMagazine writes that Ismail was introduced to jiu-jitsu by Ary Almeida and then moved to Rio de Janeiro to train under Carlson Gracie, and that, unlike Royce, he had to struggle for years to be able to learn the sport.
Where in the source: First paragraph — "introduced to the sport by Ary Almeida"
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Before meeting Royce, Ismail had beaten Ralph Gracie and Renzo Gracie.
Where in the source: Second paragraph, last sentence — "defeated both Ralph Gracie"
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BJJ Heroes, "Wallid Ismail" (fighter facts and biography).(opens in a new tab)
BJJ Heroes writes that after the Royce fight he was among the very first jiu-jitsu fighters in Brazil able to live solely from prize money and sponsors.
Where in the source: Biography, paragraph after the Royce fight — "live off BJJ"
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BJJ Heroes says his nickname 'Paraíba' was given to him by his Carlson Gracie team-mates, a name often applied in Rio to people who come from elsewhere in Brazil.
Where in the source: Fact list at the top of the page, Nickname line — "Paraíba"
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BJJ Heroes gives his birth date as 23 February 1968 and his birthplace as Manaus, in the Brazilian state of Amazonas.
Where in the source: Biography section, first sentence
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According to BJJ Heroes, he began jiu-jitsu in Manaus in 1980 under Ary Almeida, competing for that team in local events, and in 1984 travelled two days and two nights by bus to Rio de Janeiro to train under Carlson Gracie.
Where in the source: Biography, second and third paragraphs — "under Ary Almeida"
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BJJ Heroes writes that Carlson Gracie let him train without paying because he had no money, and that the young Ismail already had an unbreakable desire to succeed.
Where in the source: Biography, paragraph on Carlson taking him in
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BJJ Heroes says that at his first tournament in Rio, after about three months under Carlson and able only to pass the guard, he spread a rumour that he was a judo champion from Manaus, so opponents pulled guard rather than risk his throws and he could use his passing.
Where in the source: Biography, paragraph on his first Rio tournament — "famous Judo guy"
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BJJ Heroes writes that for the 1991 jiu-jitsu versus luta livre challenge Ismail, then a brown belt, kept asking Carlson Gracie for a place until he agreed; he was the only fighter on the card below black belt and won by TKO after 16 minutes.
Where in the source: Biography, paragraph on the 1991 challenge — "only non-black belt"
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BJJ Heroes recounts a brown-belt match in a local tournament in which Ismail was behind 9-0 and caught in a deep armbar that hyperextended his arm, but refused to tap, escaped and won on points.
Where in the source: Biography, paragraph on a brown-belt match — "down 9×0"
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- Conflicting accounts
BJJ Heroes credits Ismail with a brown-belt win over Ralph Gracie (2-0) at the Rio Sport Center, and with a 6-0 points win over Renzo Gracie in a 1993 superfight at 82 kg, by then as a black belt.
Where in the source: Main Achievements list, fight-history table, and biography paragraph — "Rio Sports Centre"
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BJJ Heroes writes that Royce Gracie agreed in 1998 to face him in jiu-jitsu with no time limit and no points, at a charity event called Jiu-Jitsu Contra a Violência, listed as the II Oscar de Jiu-Jitsu Contra a Violência; it records the result as an absolute-weight superfight won by clock choke.
Where in the source: Main Achievements list, fight-history table, and biography paragraph on the 1998 challenge
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BJJ Heroes' fight-history table records two jiu-jitsu losses: to Jean Jacques Machado by referee decision in the 82 kg final of the Atlântico Sul in 1991, and to Roberto 'Roleta' Magalhães 4-0 in the 88 kg semifinal of the 1996 World Championship.
Where in the source: Fight-history table at the end of the page, rows for JJ Machado and Roberto Roleta
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BJJ Heroes lists guard passing as his favourite technique, the middle and medium-heavy divisions as his weight classes, and the Carlson Gracie Academy as his team from the 1980s into the early 2000s.
Where in the source: Opening paragraph and fact list (favourite position, weight division, team/association)
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BJJ Heroes writes that in the early 2000s he ended his MMA career and, with Carlson Gracie's approval, opened an academy called Brazil Dojo together with Antonio Inoki; after launching Jungle Fight in his native Manaus in 2003 he found it hard to run both, dropped Brazil Dojo and focused on the event, which he brought to Rio de Janeiro in 2008.
Where in the source: Biography, the two paragraphs on his years after MMA, before the manager line — "Brazil Dojo"
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New Japan Pro-Wrestling (njpw.com), "Wallid Ismail at Inoki Dojo 12/17/02", fighter interview, page 1; Internet Archive copy of 29 March 2006.(opens in a new tab)
In a New Japan Pro-Wrestling interview recorded at the Inoki Dojo on 17 December 2002, Ismail said he started jiu-jitsu in the Amazon region in 1980, moved to Rio de Janeiro around 1984 or 1985, and trained with Carlson Gracie all his life.
Where in the source: Interview dated 12/17/02, first answer — "I started in Amazon in 1980"
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In the same 2002 interview he described Carlson Gracie as being like a father to him, having started with him young and trained with him all his life.
Where in the source: Answer about Carlson Gracie — "Carlson is like my father"
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In the 2002 interview Ismail described himself as a black belt and an eight-time Brazilian champion.
Where in the source: First answer, self-description after the training history
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Ismail said he first met Antonio Inoki about three years before the interview; when he met him again on a flight he asked to represent him, and Inoki invited him to train at the Inoki Dojo.
Where in the source: Answer on how he found the Inoki Dojo — "I want to represent you"
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He said Inoki told him to relax and save his fighting for the moment he faced an opponent in the ring, and that such advice helped him control his emotions.
Where in the source: Answer about Inoki's advice — "control my emotions"
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New Japan Pro-Wrestling (njpw.com), "Wallid Ismail at Inoki Dojo 12/17/02", fighter interview, page 2; Internet Archive copy of 28 November 2006.(opens in a new tab)
The second page of the 2002 interview presents Ismail as one of the Inoki Dojo coaches teaching jiu-jitsu techniques; he said that training with New Japan wrestlers such as Nagata had changed his view of professional wrestling.
Where in the source: Page 2, first question and answer — "INOKI DOJO coach teaching Jiu-Jitsu techniques"
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Extra (Editora Globo), Combate Extra, "Nos 18 anos de Jungle Fight, presidente Wallid Ismail avisa: 'É só o começo'", 14 September 2021.(opens in a new tab)
The first Jungle Fight was held on 13 September 2003 at the Ariaú Amazon Towers, a hotel in the middle of the Amazon rainforest; Ismail promoted it with the support of Antonio Inoki and two Manaus partners, Mário Jr. and Amin Aziz, and its initial aim was to draw attention to the Amazon.
Where in the source: Opening paragraph of the article (Portuguese) — "chamar a atenção para a Amazônia"
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Ismail recalled that the first show was staged literally in the jungle, that Japanese guests came and trees were planted, that it led SporTV's ratings and was broadcast live to Japan, and that its success meant the organisers could not stop.
Where in the source: Second paragraph, Ismail's quoted recollection — "plantamos árvores"
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On the first Jungle Fight card, Jorge 'Macaco' Patino knocked out Ronaldo 'Jacaré' Souza in the main event, Lyoto Machida beat Stephan Bonnar and Fabrício Werdum beat Gabriel 'Napão' Gonzaga.
Where in the source: Paragraph below the first-edition photo — "nocaute de Jorge Patino Macaco"
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According to Extra, Jungle Fight became the leading league for exporting Latin American fighters to the UFC; over its first 18 years it toured all five regions of Brazil, staged one edition in Europe (Jungle 7, in Slovenia), and featured fighters such as José Aldo, Fabrício Werdum, Lyoto Machida, Charles do Bronx and Deiveson Figueiredo.
Where in the source: First and fourth paragraphs — "principal liga de exportação de lutadores latino americanos"
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Extra reports that Jungle Fight's circular cage was created by the architect Frank Gehry, and that editions were staged in the rain at Praia da Costa in Vila Velha, inside the Mangueira and Rocinha samba schools, under the Madureira viaduct and in Cidade de Deus.
Where in the source: Second-to-last paragraph — "cage circular"
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Graciemag, "O dia em que Wallid Ismail virou um grande campeão de judô", 29 October 2013.(opens in a new tab)
In Graciemag, Ismail told how, facing a strong judo-trained thrower and uncomfortable on his back, he let it be known that he was a big judo champion in Manaus; the opponent grabbed his gi and pulled him into guard, and since he only knew how to pass, he won comfortably.
Where in the source: Article (Portuguese), Ismail's quoted account — "Ganhei com sobras"
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Graciemag, "When monsters collide: Roleta vs. Wallid", 8 January 2010.(opens in a new tab)
Graciemag recalls that at the first World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Rio de Janeiro in February 1996, Ismail was one of the leading fighters of the Carlson Gracie academy and met Roberto 'Roleta' Magalhães of Gracie Barra, a newly promoted black belt, in the middleweight semifinal.
Where in the source: Article body, second and third paragraphs — "one of the top fighters from the Carlson Gracie academy"
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Graciemag, "Pre-US Open era classic: Wallid vs. Jean Jacques", 18 July 2011.(opens in a new tab)
Graciemag recalls a match between Ismail and Jean Jacques Machado at the Atlântico Sul, a leading jiu-jitsu event of the early 1990s co-promoted by Cláudio França, from a time when brown and black belts competed in the same division.
Where in the source: Article body — "brown and black belts competed together"
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Graciemag, "Wallid Ismail comenta fechamento da escola Carlson Gracie: 'O legado continua'", 5 August 2015 (quoting an interview with Portal do Vale Tudo).(opens in a new tab)
Speaking in 2015 about the closure of the Carlson Gracie school in Copacabana, Ismail said that when he arrived in Rio by bus it was there that he was taken in; he slept there many times and practically lived there, and he called it not an academy but a headquarters.
Where in the source: Article (Portuguese), Ismail's first quoted answer — "era um quartel general"
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Jungle Fight (junglefc.com.br), "História".(opens in a new tab)
Jungle Fight's official history says Ismail was born in Amazonas, left Manaus as a teenager to try his luck in Rio de Janeiro, sought out Carlson Gracie's academy and asked for a chance to train there.
Where in the source: HISTÓRIA page, first paragraph under the president heading — "ainda adolescente"
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Jungle Fight's official history states that Ismail was eight times Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion and that his 1991 fight against Eugenio Tadeu was broadcast live by Rede Globo.
Where in the source: HISTÓRIA page, second to fourth paragraphs — "transmitida pela Rede Globo ao vivo"
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Jungle Fight's history says Ismail created the promotion in 2003, sees sport as a tool for social inclusion, and stages events with a 'social card' that brings in fighters from the comunidades, Brazil's low-income neighbourhoods; it lists among fighters who passed through Jungle Fight UFC champions Charles do Bronx, Fabrício Werdum, Lyoto Machida, José Aldo and Renan Barão, as well as Deiveson Figueiredo and Paulo Costa.
Where in the source: HISTÓRIA page, the two paragraphs under the 2003 heading — "ferramenta de inclusão social"
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Graciemag, "A voz do mestre: a aula de sangue nos olhos de Wallid Ismail", 11 September 2014.(opens in a new tab)
In advice first published in Graciemag's 200th issue, Ismail said he was never very skilful and won through willingness and training, that nobody trained more than he did at the Carlson Gracie academy, and that he was living proof that willpower beats skill.
Where in the source: Article (Portuguese), first and fifth quoted tips — "nunca fui muito habilidoso"; "força de vontade supera habilidade"
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Ismail explained that with short legs and little flexibility he played a pressure game and won by passing; he never felt comfortable playing guard, and if he ended up underneath he would turn to his knees and roll to bring the opponent under him so he could keep passing, never stopping and keeping a frantic pace.
Where in the source: Article (Portuguese), second and third quoted tips — "eu virava de quatro apoios"; "O passador não pode parar"
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Ismail said he competed very heavy, had lived on a diet for 30 years, and considered himself one of the first athletes in Brazil to follow orthomolecular nutrition.
Where in the source: Article (Portuguese), fourth quoted tip — "alimentação ortomolecular"
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BJJEE, "Wallid Ismail & Carlson Gracie Jr. Promoted To Coral belts in Jiu-Jitsu", 11 January 2024.(opens in a new tab)
BJJEE reports that the coral belts Ismail and Carlson Gracie Jr. received on 6 January 2024 are equivalent to the seventh degree, that red belt Fernando Pinduka tied Ismail's belt, and that Ismail gave an emotional speech of gratitude to Carlson Gracie.
Where in the source: Article body, first and second paragraphs — "equivalent to achieving the rank of seventh degree"
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Graciemag, "6 dicas de Wallid Ismail para você confiar mais no seu Jiu-Jitsu", 19 June 2018.(opens in a new tab)
In a 2018 Graciemag interview, Ismail urged jiu-jitsu athletes to think and act as professionals with full dedication, never as amateurs, punning that the amateur athlete 'loves pain'.
Where in the source: Article (Portuguese), fifth tip — "O atleta amador, ama a dor"
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Graciemag, "On his birthday, remember Carlson Gracie by hearing the testimonies of his affectionate pupils", 13 August 2014.(opens in a new tab)
Graciemag names Ismail among the leading jiu-jitsu figures produced by the competition team Carlson Gracie built at his school in Copacabana, alongside Ricardo de la Riva, Murilo Bustamante, Mario Sperry, Ricardo Libório and Vitor Belfort.
Where in the source: Article body, paragraph on Carlson's Copacabana school
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Sherdog, Marcelo Alonso, "MMA Roots: A year and a half before Pride 1", 20 May 2026.(opens in a new tab)
Sherdog's Marcelo Alonso describes Universal Vale Tudo Fighting 1, held on 5 April 1996 at the Komazawa Olympic Gymnasium in Tokyo, as featuring eight Brazilian fighters, with Ismail and Carlos Barreto representing jiu-jitsu, coached by Carlson Gracie with Ricardo Libório in the corner.
Where in the source: Article body, third and fourth paragraphs — "eight Brazilians from three distinct groups"
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At UVF 1, Ismail faced Australian Dennis Kefalinos, who had nine knockouts in twelve wins, and had the fastest fight of the night: he took him down, mounted, landed punches and finished with a rear-naked choke at 2:10 of the first round; later he celebrated Barreto's win in the ring with Carlson Gracie and Libório.
Where in the source: Article body, paragraphs on the jiu-jitsu fighters — "fastest fight of the night"
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Sherdog, Marcelo Alonso, "MMA Roots: Wallid Ismail beats Johil de Oliveira in one of the last great jiu-jitsu vs. luta livre showdowns", 30 June 2026.(opens in a new tab)
Sherdog's Marcelo Alonso writes that IVC 3, on 10 December 1997 at the Maksoud Plaza Hotel in São Paulo, matched Ismail against luta livre's Johil de Oliveira, then unbeaten in 11 fights, for the inaugural IVC middleweight belt; Ismail, coming off his UFC 12 loss, wore wrestling shoes, took de Oliveira down, struck from top for almost five minutes, took him down again after a restart and forced him to give up at 9:48, after which the two embraced.
Where in the source: Article body, paragraphs on the middleweight superfight — "inaugural IVC middleweight belt"; "the two embraced"
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Tatame, "Jungle Fight: great plans for 2005", 5 January 2005; Internet Archive copy of 3 April 2010.(opens in a new tab)
In January 2005 Tatame described Ismail as Jungle Fight's promoter and a BJJ black belt; he said Antonio Inoki had authorised five Jungle Fight events for 2005, with three planned in Manaus and plans to take the show to Las Vegas and Japan.
Where in the source: Article "Jungle Fight: great plans for 2005", first paragraph — "event's promoter and BJJ black belt"
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Graciemag, "Jungle Fight: Wallid 'back to his roots'", 13 October 2010.(opens in a new tab)
Before a 2010 Jungle Fight in Belém, Ismail told the local newspaper O Liberal that the first big star the promotion produced was Lyoto Machida from Belém, who went from Jungle Fight to become UFC champion, and that the first Jungle Fight belt had gone to Yuri Marajó, also from Pará.
Where in the source: Article body, Ismail's quoted interview — "the first big star we produced"
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Graciemag, "Jungle Fight in Mangueira hills: 'Fighting is the way of edifying these kids'", 29 November 2011.(opens in a new tab)
Jungle Fight 34 was staged on the court of the Mangueira samba school in Rio de Janeiro in November 2011; the school's president, Ivo Meirelles, told Graciemag he saw MMA as a sport and an opportunity for young people from the favela.
Where in the source: Article body — "Jungle Fight 34, in Mangueira"
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Graciemag, "Jungle Fight completa 10 anos e comemora com evento em São Paulo", 11 September 2013.(opens in a new tab)
Marking Jungle Fight's tenth anniversary with its 58th edition in São Paulo in September 2013, Ismail said his greatest pride was that the promotion stood for credibility, and compared it to the Copa Libertadores, whose champions get a chance at the World Cup.
Where in the source: Article (Portuguese), Ismail's quoted statement — "o Jungle é a Libertadores da América"
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Graciemag, "Jungle Comunidade realiza nova edição em 2015 com inscrições pela internet", 28 November 2014.(opens in a new tab)
Graciemag reported in November 2014 that Jungle Comunidade SP, a partnership between Ismail and São Paulo sports secretary Celso Jatene, would hold a new edition on 17 January 2015 to give fighters from the city's poor communities a chance; Ismail said sport was the best form of social inclusion and that he believed in the talent in the favelas.
Where in the source: Article (Portuguese), first to third paragraphs — "a melhor forma de inclusão social é através do esporte"
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Portal do Vale Tudo, "Jungle Fight celebra 23 anos com estreia em Niterói, três cinturões e duelo internacional", 14 September 2026.(opens in a new tab)
In September 2026 Portal do Vale Tudo identified Ismail as president of Jungle Fight, which was marking 23 years with its 155th edition, the promotion's first in Niterói, on 3 October 2026; Ismail spoke of sport as a tool for social inclusion and for creating opportunities for children and young people.
Where in the source: Article (Portuguese), opening paragraph, the paragraph introducing Ismail, and his second quote — "presidente do Jungle Fight"; "ferramenta de inclusão social"
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Portal do Vale Tudo, "Wallid Ismail aponta falha de Deiveson e afirma: 'Focado, ele é imbatível'", 13 August 2021.(opens in a new tab)
In August 2021 Portal do Vale Tudo described Ismail as the manager of Deiveson Figueiredo, and reported him pressing the UFC for an immediate rematch for his fighter.
Where in the source: Article (Portuguese), lead paragraph — "seu atleta"
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Sherdog, Marcelo Alonso, "Wallid Ismail: Paulo Costa Will Remain at Middleweight for Next UFC Appearance", 3 January 2022.(opens in a new tab)
In January 2022 Sherdog identified Ismail as the manager of UFC middleweight Paulo Costa.
Where in the source: Article body, second paragraph — "Costa’s manager, Wallid Ismail"
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BJJEE, "The Best Pressure Passers in Jiu-Jitsu Past & Present", 31 March 2024.(opens in a new tab)
BJJEE includes Ismail in a 2024 list of the best pressure passers past and present, describing his competitive game as aggressive and effective pressure passing that blended physicality and technique.
Where in the source: List entry "Wallid Ismail" — "very aggressive and effective pressure passing game"
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