Devhonte Johnson, commonly known as "Bones", is an American
grappler
Grappling, in hand-to-hand combat, describes sports that consist of gripping or seizing the opponent. Grappling is used at close range to gain a physical advantage over an opponent, either by imposing a Grappling position, position or causing ...
and
Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ; pt, jiu-jitsu brasileiro ) is a self-defence martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting (ne-waza) and submission holds. BJJ focuses on the skill of taking an opponent to the ground, control ...
black belt competitor and coach. A multiple time IBJJF World,
Pan American
Pan-American, Pan American, Panamerican, Pan-America, Pan America or Panamerica may refer to:
* Collectively, the Americas: North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean
* Something of, from, or related to the Americas
* Pan-Amer ...
and
European
European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to:
In general
* ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe
** Ethnic groups in Europe
** Demographics of Europe
** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe ...
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson ( ) is the largest City (New Jersey), city in and the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, Passaic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. During his senior year in Eastside High School he started training
Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ; pt, jiu-jitsu brasileiro ) is a self-defence martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting (ne-waza) and submission holds. BJJ focuses on the skill of taking an opponent to the ground, control ...
(BJJ) under Coach Edson Carvalho with whom he stayed until purple belt.
In 2015, Johnson joined Unity Jiu Jitsu in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
training under head instructor Murilo Santana. During this time, Johnson started competing winning the
IBJJF World No-Gi Championship
The World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship (commonly known as the Worlds or Mundials) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ; pt, jiu-jitsu brasileiro ) is a self-defence martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground ...
and the Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship at every belt level. Johnson specializes in the Lasso Guard and Stack Pass techniques. While teaching at Unity HQ in Manhattan Johnson opened his own Unity Jiu-Jitsu affiliate in New Jersey.
In 2018 Johnson participated in numerous competitions as brown belt, winning the IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, IBJJF World No-Gi Championship, IBJJF European Open Championship as well as the IBJJF Pans No-Gi Championship.
Black belt career
In August 2019, Johnson was awarded his black belt by Santana, that same year Johnson opened his own gym, ''Bones BJJ'' in
Clifton, NJ
Clifton is a city in Passaic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Criss-crossed by several major highways, the city is a regional commercial hub for North Jersey and is a bedroom suburb of New York City in the New York Metropolitan Area. As ...
. In 2021 he won Pan No-Gi and World No-Gi titles for the first time at black belt. In 2021 Johnson was ranked No. 1 in the IBJJF no-gi super heavyweight division.
Johnson was invited to compete in the BJJ Stars 10 Absolute Grand prix on 22 April 2023. He defeated Gutemberg Pereira by decision in the opening round before losing to eventual champion Erich Munis on points in the quarter-final.
Johnson is booked to compete against Vinicius 'Trator' Ferreira in the main event of Place of Peace Invitational 3 on August 13, 2023. He won by decision. Johnson competed in an 8-man tournament at Blue Collar FC: American Dream Conference on September 1, 2023. He lost his opening round match to Roosevelt Sousa. Johnson then entered the super-heavyweight division of the IBJJF No Gi Pan Championship 2023 on October 1, 2023, and won a silver medal.
Johnson competed in the ADCC North American East Coast Trials 2023 on October 15, winning a bronze medal in the under 99kg division.
Johnson agreed to represent Acai Republic in the over 91kg division at AIGA Champions League Final 2023 on December 13 and 14, but did not compete.
Fight history
Championships and accomplishments
Main Achievements (black belt level):
* IBJJF World Championship No-Gi Champion (2021)
* IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi Champion (2021)
* IBJJF Houston Open Champion (2021)
* IBJJF European Open No-Gi Champion (2019)
* IBJJF Washington DC Open Champion (2019)
* 2nd place IBJJF European Open No-Gi (2019)
* 3rd place IBJJF World Championship (2021)
* 3rd place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2018)
* 3rd place IBJJF Pan Championship (2020 / 2021)
* 3rd place IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi (2019)
Main Achievements (colored belts ):
* IBJJF World Champion (2017 purple / 2018 brown)
* IBJJF World No-Gi Champion (2014 blue / 2015 purple / 2016 purple / 2017 brown)
* IBJJF Pans Champion (2016 purple / 2017 purple)
* IBJJF Pans No-Gi Champion (2014 blue / 2016 purple / 2018 brown)
* IBJJF European Open Champion (2017 purple / 2018 brown)
* IBJJF American Nationals No-Gi Champion (2017 brown)
* IBJJF NY Summer Open Champion (2017 brown)
* IBJJF NY Summer Open No-Gi Champion (2017 brown)
* IBJJF New York Fall Open No-Gi Champion (2018)
* 2nd place IBJJF World Championship (2016 purple)
* 2nd place IBJJF Pans Championship (2018 brown)
* 2nd place IBJJF European Open (2017 purple / 2018 brown)
* 3rd place IBJJF World Championship (2016 purple)
* 3rd place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2015 purple)
* 3rd place IBJJF Pans Championship (2015 purple)
* 3rd place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2018 brown)
Instructor lineage
Mitsuyo Maeda
,Virgílio, pp. 22–25
a Brazilian naturalized as Otávio Maeda (),Virgílio, p. 9
was a Japanese ''judōka'' (judo practitioner) and prizefighter in no holds barred competitions, also being one of the first documented mixed martial artists of t ...
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Carlos Gracie
Carlos Gracie (September 14, 1902October 7, 1994) was a Brazilian martial artist who is credited with being one of the primary developers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Along with his younger brother Hélio Gracie and fellow students Luis França and ...
Mario Yamasaki
Mario Yamasaki (born in São Paulo, Brazil on April 22, 1964) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts referee licensed in many states, most recognizable from his duties with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), as well as founder and chief instru ...
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Murilo Santana
Murilo is a village, atoll, and municipality in the state of Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia.
It is located 9 km to the NE of Nomwin Atoll and 101 km to the NNE of Chuuk Lagoon. Its population is over a 1,000 people. Together w ...