Top 10 BJJ Men Competitors 2019

This article is now out of date! You should check out our list of the Top 10 Men’s BJJ competitors for 2021!

Brazil’s female BJJ competitors are more than dominant in almost every single weight class, but the list
of top 10 BJJ men competitors in 2019 includes some outstanding names from all around the globe. The
first place belongs to the competitor from Moldova!
It’s awesome because it puts other states on the world’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu map, but don’t be surprised.
Many Brazilian coaches moved to the USA or other parts of the world where they can earn a lot of
money and show their superb entertaining skills to the younger generations.

1. Eldar Rafigaev

Eldar Rafigaev is the most famous Eastern European grappler, and the greatest name on the list of BJJ
men competitors from “The Old Continent”.
He was born on April 14, 1987, in Chisinau, Moldova, and his moniker is “Yakuza”. This master of leg
locks (prefers kneebars) is a real phenom off his back because he can swiftly transition from defense
into offense and end the fight.
Rafigaev is a Jungle BJJ fighter, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Fernando Araújo, who weighs around 100 kg and successfully takes part in both gi and no-gi competitions. The list of his achievements
includes:

•  2nd Place IBJJF European Open (2019 Master);
•  1st Place IBJJF Paris Spring Open (2019);
•  1st Place IBJJF Poznan Open (2019);
•  1st Place IBJJF Rome Open (2019);
•  1st Place IBJJF Masters European Open (2019).

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5fZ40Kh8-B/

2. Fellipe Andrew Leandro Cavaca

Fellipe Andrew Leandro Silva was born on October 24, 1994, in Caruaru, Brazil. He competes at -208 lbs
weight class. Andrew is a black belt under Rodrigo Cavaca who defends the honor of Zenith JJ academy
in gi competitions. This all-around fighter scored some notable results in 2019:

•  2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2019);
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2019);
•  1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2019);
•  1st Place IBJJF American Nationals (2019-weight and absolute).

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5TLuZgpriT/

3. João R. Bordignon Miyao

João R. Bordignon Miyao is currently a more successful competitor from his brother Paulo. Joao was
born on May 11, 1991, and he’s training mostly at Unity BJJ, competes at -64 kg division and scores awesome results in both gi and no-gi competition.
Miyao is a black belt under Cicero Costha, and here are the most intriguing achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2019);
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2019);
•  1st Place KASAI Pro 6 Grand Prix (2019);
•  2nd Place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro (2019);
•  3rd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2019).

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3s9lMdApkh/

4. Gordon Ryan

Gordon Ryan is a New-York native, a member of Danaher Death Squad (DDS), known mostly for his no-gi achievements. He usually goes for a submission win at all costs in the tournament. Ryan earned the black belt under John Danaher, but he is the first Garry Tonon’s student to achieve the ranking.
This super-heavyweight grappler is very dangerous of his back. He was born on July 8, 1995. Here is the
list of 2019 achievements:

• 1st Place Kinektic 1 (2019);
• 1st Place ADCC World Championship (2019).

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3V15Ywpuka/

5. Lucas Daniel Silva Barbosa

Lucas Daniel Silva Barbosa is a black belt under Andre Fabiano, born on January 13, 1992. Known under
the moniker of “Hulk”, Barbosa is one of the most entertaining BJJ men competitors to watch, who built
his superb reputation because of his fabulous pressure guard-passing. Barbosa competes at -88 division, under Atos Jiu-Jitsu banner. Here are the most important achievements of this amazing warrior:

•  1st Place UAEJJF Grand Slam, Abu Dhabi (2019);
•  1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2019 – weight and absolute).

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3PtEgfA6KA/

6. Marcus Vinícius Oliveira De Almeida

Marcus Vinícius Oliveira de Almeida is a CheckMat Academy competitor, a black belt under legendary
Rodrigo Cavaca. “Buchecha” (big cheeks) is his moniker, and you can blame his coach Cavaca because of
that, who called him that way due to his thickness and prominent cheeks at the beginning of his career.
Almeida was born on January 8, 1990, and one of BJJ men competitors with the most dangerous choke
from the back. This gi expert competes at a super-heavyweight division. Here are his 2019 achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3BgWiOl9Al/

7. Leandro Lo Pereira do Nascimento

Leandro Lo Pereira do Nascimento is one of the most dominant lightweight names on the list of BJJ men
fighters. He did an incredible thing by winning the IBJJF world title in four different weight classes. Lo is a black belt under Cicero Costha, who competes under the Ns Brotherhood banner.
Leandro is a spider guard specialist, born on May 11, 1989, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He weighs between 76
and 96 kg, and his greatest 2019 achievement is 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (weight and
absolute).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnsNJpihiyM/

8. Josh Hinger

Josh Hinger is one of the most technical names on the list of BJJ men competitors, known for his
amazing Hingertine, a variation of the Guillotine. A black belt under Andre Galvao and a member of Atos Jiu-Jitsu Academy, Josh competes at -82kg division at both gi and no-gi competitions.
He was born on May 28, 1982, in Whittier, California, USA. The list of his achievements includes:

• 1st Place ADCC West Coast Trials (2019);
• 3rd Place ADCC World Championship (2019).

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3uySh0lMu7/

9. Horlando De Jesus Monteiro

Horlando de Jesus Monteiro is a representative of the Kimura/Nova União academy. Now here is a very
interesting fact – Monteiro is a BJJ black belt under Gustavo Dantas, Jair Lourenco, Marcelo Pinheiro,
and Bruno Moreno!
Monteiro was born on January 20, 1995, in Imperatriz, Maranhao, Brazil. “Nando” is a triangle choke
specialist, extremely dangerous off his back, who competes at -88 kg weight class. In 2019, Horlando
won the 3rd Place at CBJJ Brazilian Nationals.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4A1PZlB7oy/

10.Alexandre Faria Molinaro

Alexandre Faria Molinaro exploded in 2017 and 2018 when he won many super-difficult tournaments.
He is a black belt under André Vasconcelos (Alemão), who defends the honor of Carlson Gracie
Association in -76kg weight class.
Molinaro was born on June 3, 1996, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This open guard expert scored one huge
achievement in 2019, that’s the 3rd Place at IBJJF European Open.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4A4zsXpwJ8/