Editor’s Note: We run occasional guest posts from members of the jiu-jitsu community, and would love to run more. If you would like to submit one, please e-mail us. This post is the first in a series of four posts where Revolution BJJ black belt Daniel Frank evaluates the best sport jiujitsu competitors of each decade, starting the 1990s — and culminating in a post that crowns the greatest of all time. We will post a new entry every two or three days leading up to the final.

By Daniel Frank

The greatest of all time is a difficult moniker to bestow upon anyone or anything. Whether we are talking about astronauts, ant hills, or automobiles it is a designation that is earned, but not without severe competition and also not without intense debate.

In Brazilian jiujitsu the greatest of all time is a title that is very hard to define due to all of the factors that determine the result. There is a long list of factors, including: gi competition, no-gi competition, tournaments, super fights, mixed martial arts, belt levels, gender, era, longevity, and talent of the competition.

This article is meant to determine the greatest male, black belt, gi competitors in the 1990’s, 2000’s, 2010’s, and of all time. Major International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) competition results were analyzed along with results from smaller IBJJF competitions. Larger, competing organizations results were also factored into the final determinations.

Using this method of data collection later articles can (and will) be written determining the best female black belt competitors, the best no-gi competitors (both male and female), and even the best at each belt level. The possibilities are endless.

Let us begin with …

The 1990s

The 1990s marked the beginning of the major jiujitsu championships that would attract the top talent in the world together to determine who would be considered the best. The Brazilian National Championship (Brasileiros), the Pan-American Championship, and the World Championship (Mundials) all began in 1996. Carlson Gracie Team, Gracie Barra, Alliance, Nova União, Gracie Humaitá, and other academies brought their top athletes together, along with their unique styles and ‘secret’ techniques in search of the gold medal. However, out of the many early greats, there could only be a top five (and an honorable mention).

• Honorable mention: Marcio Feitosa

One of the top figures of the Gracie Barra team, Marcio Feitosa, was just entering his prime when the first major jiu jitsu competitions were organized. At the age of 20, Marcio competed against the best at the Pan-American, Brazilian National, and World Championships. In the 1990s Marcio won one World Championship, while taking silver twice. He won four Pan-American Championships while also winning the Brazilian National Championship twice and taking silver once. Marcio had significant victories over Royler Gracie (twice) and Leonardo Vieira, while suffering losses to greats like Leo Vieira and Vitor ‘Shaolin’ Ribeiro.

5. Saulo Ribeiro

Saulo Ribeiro is a Gracie Humaitá black belt who has since moved on to open the Jiu Jitsu University in San Diego along with his brother, Alexandre ‘Xande’ Ribeiro (more about him later). Saulo won three world titles in the 1990s. Not only is winning three World Championship titles significant, but the fact that he did so at different weight classes makes it an even more impressive feat. He also won his weight division and the absolute title at the Pan-American Championship in 1998. Add to those accomplishments a Brasileiro weight title in 1998 and Saulo ended the decade on a high note. Saulo enjoyed victories over jiujitsu greats like Nino Schembri, Leo Dalla, Murilo Bustamante, Fabio Gurgel, and Roberto ‘Roleta’ Magalhães.

 

4. José Mario Sperry

A Carlson Gracie black belt, Mario Sperry was one of the most dominant figures in gi competition jiu jitsu at the turn of the century. Mario fought many of the top names at the time and came out victorious more often than not. Mario won three World Championships in the 1990s, including an absolute (open weight class) championship in 1998. Mario holds victories over Royler Gracie, Saulo Ribeiro, Roberto ‘Gordo’ Correa, and Roberto ‘Roleta’ Magalhães. He has also lost to such luminaries as Roleta, Leo Leite, and Rodrigo ‘Comprido’ Medeiros.

3. Amaury Bitetti

Amaury Bitetti was a force in the jiu jitsu scene in the late 1990s and is considered by many to be the greatest jiujitsu competitor of all time. He is most famous for winning the absolute title at the inaugural World Championship event in 1996. Amaury followed up that performance by winning the absolute title at the next event, in 1997. He had significant wins over the likes of Ryan Gracie, Royler Gracie, Fabio Gurgel, and Alexandre Paiva. Despite a short competition career, being a back-to-back World absolute champion earns Amaury Bitetti a spot on this list.

 

2. Roberto ‘Roleta’ Magalhães

One of the innovators of the inverted guard game, Roberto ‘Roleta’ Magalhães was a tough competitor and one of the best of the decade. The Gracie Barra black belt and his ‘weird’ jiu jitsu style earned three World Championship titles in the 1990s, along with a silver medal at weight and two silver medals in the absolute division. Roleta also won four Pan-American Championship titles and a Brazilian National Championship. While competing often, Roleta earned victories over the likes of Saulo Ribeiro (twice), Wallid Ismail, Mario Sperry, Leo Dalla, Murilo Bustamante, Minotauro Noguiera, and Amaury Bitetti.

 

1. Royler Gracie

The top gi competitor of the 1990s, without a doubt, has to be Royler Gracie. Royler owned the featherweight category at the World Championship, winning the division four times in a row. Royler would also add a bronze medal in the absolute division in 1997 despite his smaller stature. To add to his accomplishments Royler won two Pan-American Championship titles. Royler enjoyed significant victories over competitors such as Alexandre Soca (twice), Vitor Shaolin, Leo Vieira, João Roque, Leo Dalla, Vinicius ‘Draculino’ Magalhães (twice), Leo Santos, and Marcus Aurélio.

With the quality of competition that Royler faced in the gi and the championships he earned, he deserves his spot at the top of our 1990s list.