Rodolfo Vieira is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu=Jitsu under Master Julio César Pereira, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest BJJ practitioners of all time. Needless to say, his student Rodolfo Vieira also holds the same distinction and has gone on to become one of the most decorated BJJ competitors of all time. Now, he competess as a mixed martial artist and made his move in the year 2015 to American Top Team to train under some of the greatest mixed martial artists in his pursuit to become a champion in the world of MMA.
Rodolfo Vieira currently competes in the UFC’s middleweight division. Vieira started training at the young age of thirteen under coach Arland Maia and would later move to the Gamha Filo team to train under Julio Cesar Pereira where he would eventually receive his black belt.
Rodolfo Vieira’s BJJ accomplisments
- 1st Place IBJJF World Championship in 2011 (weight and absolute) / 2012 / 2013 / 2014
- 1st Place ADCC World Championship in 2015)
- 1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship in 2011 (weight and absolute)
- 1st Place Copa Pódio Grand Prix in 2014 / 2013
- 1st Place IBJJF European Open in 2012 weight and absolute)
- 1st Place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro in 2014 / 2012 and 2011 (weight and absolute)
- 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship in 2012, 2013, 2014 (Absolute)
Rodolfo Vieira is mostly known for his impeccable knee slide pass, and also mixed his ability to pull of armbar and choke from the back with ease. He is a four-time BJJ World Cup champion and a seven-time World Cup (Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu=Jitsu Championship) champion.
Rodolfo Vieira’s rivalry with Marcus Almeida
Rodolfo Vieira’s rivalry with Marcus Almeida is one for the ages. Both the BJJ practitioners squared off against each other on the biggest stage on several occasions, with Marcus Almeida getting the better of Rodolfo Vieira on multiple occasions in the later years. However, when both first started, it was Rodolfo Vieira who triumphed over the fellow BJJ ace.
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Rodolfo Vieira submitted Marcus Almeida the first three times the BJJ practitioners shared the mat. Vieira submitted Almeida in the Pan Championship back in 2011 via choke, and later via armbar in the World Championship in the same year. The third time these both shared the mat was in 2012, in the World Cup yet again, with Rodolfo Vieira submitting Marcus Almeida via bow and arrow choke.
However, Vieira lost to Almeida in the quarter-finals of the World Championship in the year 2012, and once again dropped a loss based on points and once again dropped a loss to Almeida in the finals of the World Cup in the year 2013, settling for a silver.
History would repeat itself in the year 2014, with Rodolfo Vieira once again dropping a loss based on points in the absolute final of the World Cup in the year 2014 and then in the finals of the World Championship in the same year.
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