Matheus Oliveira Diniz (born 8 April 1993) is a Brazilian submission wrestler 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 ...

(BJJ) black belt competitor. His most notable achievement is winning the 2019

ADCC World Championship The ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship, is an international submission wrestling, submission grappling competition, organised by the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC). The inaugural tournament was held in Abu Dhabi, UAE in 1998. It has been ...

in the Middleweight division as well as being a medalist at the IBJJF World Championships in both Gi and

No-Gi Submission wrestling, also known as Submission grappling, Submission fighting a form of competition and a general term for martial arts and combat sports that focus on clinch and ground fighting with the aim of obtaining a submission through the ...

formats.

Background

Diniz was born on 8 April 1993 in

Uberlândia Uberlândia () is a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. It is the second largest municipality in the state of Minas Gerais after the state capital Belo Horizonte. Its population in 2020 was 699,097, making it the fou ...

, State of

Minas Gerais Minas Gerais () is a state in Southeastern Brazil. It ranks as the second most populous, the third by gross domestic product (GDP), and the fourth largest by area in the country. The state's capital and largest city, Belo Horizonte (literally ...

, Brazil. During his early years, his family moved to Formiga. When Diniz was 10, he started learning

Capoeira Capoeira () is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, music and spirituality. Born of the melting pot of enslaved Africans, Indigenous Brazilians and Portuguese influences at the beginning of the 16th century ...

, before switching in 2008 to Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) under coach Rodrigo Ranieri. After receiving his blue belt, Diniz moved to

Poços de Caldas Poços de Caldas is a municipality in the south of Minas Gerais state, Brazil, in the microregion of the same name. Its estimated population in 2020 was 168,641 inhabitants. The city is known for its hot springs. History Poços was founded in 1 ...

to train under Paulo Rezende who awarded him his purple and brown belts. As a purple belt Diniz won silver during the 2012

IBJJF World Championship The World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship (commonly known as the Worlds or Mundials) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament held once every year by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. It is widely considered to be the most important and ...

in the medium heavy division. Diniz became acquainted with Marcelo Garcia who invited him to come to

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 ...

to train at his academy. In April 2015, Garcia promoted Diniz to Black Belt.

Grappling career

2018-2019

On 16 September 2018, Diniz faced Craig Jones at the main event of Grapplefest 2 that was held in

Liverpool, UK Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a populat ...

. The match went to a decision with Jones winning by referee decision. Diniz competed at the 2019 ADCC World Championship in the middleweight division. He defeated Pedro Marinho, Gabriel Arges and

Josh Hinger Josh Hinger (born May 28, 1982) is an American submission grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt competitor as well as former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. Hinger is three-time champion at the World No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champ ...

to reach the finals. In the finals, he defeated Craig Jones by winning on points to become champion.

2020-2022

On 2 October 2020, Diniz was invited to compete in the main event of Who's Number One against

Gordon Ryan Gordon Ryan (born July 8, 1995) is an American submission grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu 1st degree black belt, considered to be the greatest no–gi grappler of all time due to his accomplishments and dominance. Ryan is a Five–time ADCC W ...

. Diniz lost the match by submission, a heel hook. This match against Ryan was later awarded ''Match of the Year'' at the Jitsmagazine 2020 BJJ Awards. He was then invited to compete in the middleweight grand prix at BJJ Stars 4 on 14 November 2020. Diniz lost his opening round match against Otavio de Souza on advantages. On 26 June 2021, Diniz faced Lucas Barbosa at the co-main event of BJJ Stars 6. Towards the end of the match, as Barbosa was ahead on points, Diniz managed to lock his arm underneath Barbosa's chin. When the bell rang signalling the end of the match, Barbosa was left unconscious from the choke. After debate, it was determined that Barbosa went unconscious after the bell and therefore had won via points. The decision was considered controversial and attracted debate. He then competed in the main event of the inaugural Road to ADCC event on 17 July 2021, against

Kaynan Duarte Kaynan Casemiro Duarte (born January 24, 1998) is a Brazilian submission grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt competitor. Duarte is a two-time champion at both the ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship and World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu ...

. He lost the match after being submitted with a heel hook. Diniz was invited to compete in the 88 kg division of the

2022 ADCC World Championship The 2022 ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship was a two-day no-gi submission grappling event that took place on 17-18 September 2022 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. History The tournament was originally scheduled ...

on 17 September 2022. He defeated Roberto Dib Frias 3–0 on points in the opening round before losing by submission to the eventual champion,

Giancarlo Bodoni Giancarlo Bodoni is an American submission grappler and Brazilian jiujitsu black belt competitor from Miami, Florida. A multiple time World, Pan and European championships medallist in colored belts, Bodoni is the 2021 Pan No-Gi heavyweight ch ...

2023 onwards

Diniz competed at the IBJJF New York Open 2023 on 5 August and won gold in the ultra-heavyweight division. Diniz then won the no gi super-heavyweight division at the IBJJF Nashville Fall Open 2023 on 12 November 2023.

Championships and accomplishments

Brazilian jiu-jitsu / Submission wrestling

List of achievements at black belt level: * ADCC Submission Fighting World Champion (2019) * IBJJF Pan-American No-Gi Champion (2015 absolute) * Kasai Pro 185 lbs Grand Prix Champion (2018) * 2nd place

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 ...

(2015) * 2nd place IBJJF Pan-American Championship (2022) * 2nd place IBJJF Pan-American No-Gi Championship (2015) * 3rd place

(2019) * 3rd place

(2015, 2016, 2017) * 3rd place IBJJF Pan-American Championship (2017, 2018) List of achievements in lower belts divisions: * IBJJF World No-Gi Champion (2013/2014 brown) * IBJJF Pan-American Champion (2015 brown) * 2nd place IBJJF World Championship (2012 purple, 2014 brown) * 2nd place IBJJF Pan-American Championship (2015 brown absolute)

Instructor lineage

Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda →

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 ...

Sr. →

Helio Gracie Helio may refer to: * Helio AU-24 Stallion * Helio (wireless carrier), a defunct American wireless communications provider (2005–2010); originally a joint venture between SK Telecom and EarthLink, purchased by Virgin Mobile USA in 2008 * ...

→

Rolls Gracie Rolls Gracie (; 1951–1982) was a Brazilian martial artist. He was a prominent member of the Gracie family known for their founding of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and considered by some the family's best ever fighter. He was teacher of Rickson Gracie, Ca ...

→

Romero "Jacare" Cavalcanti Romero Cavalcanti (born October 22, 1952) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master and the founder of Alliance Jiu Jitsu. He is one of the six men who were promoted to black belt by Rolls Gracie prior to his fatal 1982 hang gliding accident.Fabio Gurgel Fabio is a given name descended from Latin ''Fabius'' and very popular in Italy and Latin America (due to Italian migration). Its English equivalent is Fabian. The name is written without an accent in Italian and Spanish, but is usually accented ...

→ Marcelo Garcia → Matheus Diniz

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Diniz, Matheus 1993 births Living people ADCC Submission Fighting World Champions (men) Brazilian practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu Brazilian submission wrestlers People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu Sportspeople from Uberlândia World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship medalists World No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship medalists People from Formiga, Minas Gerais Sportspeople from Minas Gerais