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. This one covers the 2000s. Read the 1990s entry here.

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.

The 2000s

 

The first decade of the 2000s saw an explosion in participation at the major jiu jitsu championships. The World Championship would eventually move to the United States, helping to boost the number of competitors at all belt levels (the point system used to determine who could be eligible to compete at the Mundials would not be employed until the 2010s). Each year the Pan-American Championship would increase in attendance. The European Championship would be added to the calendar in this decade. Also, a prestigious tournament in Abu Dhabi would start up at the end of the decade.

All of the momentum gained in the new millennium in BJJ would continue into the second decade. As more competitors entered the competition circuit, and Brazilian jiujitsu became more popular worldwide, championships became harder to win. With the rise of social media, the invention of YouTube, and an increase in technological innovations the ‘secrets’ that were once closely guarded in each academy were made available to the world. No longer were opponents surprised by new moves and the field leveled, however five competitors (and an honorable mention) stuck out as rising above the rest.

 

Honorable mention: Fernando ‘Tererê’ Augusto da Silva

Tererê had his jiujitsu career interrupted by personal issues in 2004. He has since made gains in his recovery and has returned to compete internationally. If Tererê hadn’t had his blossoming career cut short, no one really knows what he may have accomplished. From 2000-2004 Tererê was an exhilarating presence on the mats and competed at different weight classes, taking on all comers to prove that his jiujitsu was top notch. Tererê won his weight division at the Mundials twice while taking silver twice (once in the super heavyweight division). He also won his weight division at the Brasileiro once while twice capturing the absolute title. Tererê also competed, and did well, at the Pan-American Championship. He won his weight division once, earned a silver and a bronze once each, and took a silver medal in the absolute division. As impressive as his accomplishments were in such a short period, what he could have done if he competed throughout the whole decade might have been staggering.

 

5. Rubens Charles Maciel, ‘Cobrinha’

Rubens Charles Maciel, otherwise known as Cobrinha, jumped to the forefront of competition jiujitsu during the second half of the 2000s. The Alliance black belt took control of the featherweight division the same way that Royler Gracie did during the 1990’s. From 2006-2009 Cobrinha won four World Championship gold medals in a row. Cobrinha also added three Pan-American Championship titles while also placing third in the absolute division in 2009. Cobrinha’s competition career has continued into the 2010s and he still competes to this day. With his competition career spanning two decades his accolades have been split, hurting his chances for placing higher on this list. However, with Cobrinha’s successful four year run at the end of the 2000s he has more than earned his spot on this list.

 

4. Marcelo Garcia

 

Marcelo Garcia seemingly came out of nowhere to rise to the top beginning in 2003. Known for his excellent no-gi game and prowess at the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) tournament, Marcelo was also very gifted while competing in the gi. In 2003, when Marcelo made his name in the jiujitsu world, he took silver in his weight class at the World Championship. From 2004-2009 (with a brief foray into MMA) Marcelo won three World Championship gold medals at weight while also placing third in the absolute division two separate times. Marcelo won the Pan-American Championship in 2007. He also won the Brazilian National Championship twice at weight and once in the absolute division. At middleweight, Marcelo was never afraid to jump into the absolute division and test his jiu jitsu against the big boys. For this, Marcelo Garcia earns his spot at number four on this list.

 

3. Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza

 

Great as a brown belt, Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza exploded onto center stage as a black belt, enjoying a fantastic two year run before leaving competition jiujitsu for MMA. Despite competing as a black belt in only 2004 and 2005, he won almost everything. In 2004, Jacare won a silver in his weight class at the Mundials, but took gold in the absolute division (and had his arm dislocated). That year he was also a weight and absolute champion at the Pan-American Championship along with winning his weight division at the Brazilian National Championship. The following year Jacare won his weight division at the European Championship and took silver in the absolute division. He came back to the World Championship in 2005 and won his weight division while winning a second straight absolute championship. One can only guess what might have happened if Jacare had continued to compete in jiu jitsu rather than pursue a career in MMA. However, his remarkable two-year run earns him a place at number three on our list.

    

2. Alexandre ‘Xande’ Ribeiro

 

Saulo Ribeiro’s little brother made quite a name for himself in the 2000s. While his best jiujitsu was on display during the first decade of the new century he is still competing, and winning championships, to this day. Xande started his black belt championship career by winning the Pan-American absolute division title in 2001. Over the course of the remainder of the decade Xande won his weight class at the World Championship four separate times. He also won the absolute championship in 2006 and 2008. To add onto that he won the bronze medal in the absolute division three times. Xande also won his weight class at the Pan-American Championship twice to go along with the previously mentioned absolute championship in 2001. Xande is also a Brasileiro weight and absolute champion. With all of the hardware earned in the 2000s, it is no wonder that Xande Ribeiro finds himself at number two on our list.

 

1. Roger Gracie

            By far the greatest gi competitor of the 2000s was Gracie Barra black belt Roger Gracie. Between the years 2003–2009, Roger competed in every Mundials absolute finals match, winning the gold medal twice and the silver medal five times. Roger won his weight division at the World Championship six times in a row. Roger also won an absolute title at the Pan-American Championship in 2006 along with a European absolute crown in 2005. With a little luck on his side in the absolute finals matches, Roger could have been untouchable on the all-time list. Still, with his performances between the years 2003-2009 Roger Gracie more than deserves the number one ranking and title of best gi competitor of the 2000’s.