Vinny Magalhães

Background

Magalhaes was born and raised in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Magalhaes played football, beach volleyball and began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu when he was 14 years old.

Grappling career

Magalhães was promoted to Black Belt by his Instructors Vinicius Aieta and Royler Gracie, on the Podium after winning thirteen matches (Ten by Submissions), and taking home two Gold Medals in the 2005 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship as a Laranje Belt. Magalhães has recently expressed that he's been training in different grappling styles such as Sambo (primarily leg locks) and Catch Wrestling. He is also known, despite his background in Brazilian Jujitsu, as being one of the primary pioneers (along with Shinya Aoki and others) of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu techniques in MMA.

In 2007, Magalhães would become the first Jiu-Jitsu No Gi World Champion in the Super Heavyweight Division as a Renato Belt.

In 2009, Magalhães had an impressive performance in the most prestigious Grappling Tournament in the World, the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, winning 2 Bronze Medals (Under 99 kg Division and Absolute Division). On his way to win the Bronze Medal in his weight Division, Magalhães defeated BJJ World Champion Rodrigo Cavaca (1st Round, Inverted Heel Hook),the 2003 ADCC World Champion and 2x BJJ Absolute World Champion Marcio Cruz(Quarter-Finals, Flying Armbar), ADCC Brazil Trial Winner and Fellow MMA fighter Glover Teixeira (3rd Place Match, Armbar) and Losing a razor edge decision on points to the eventual Champion Xande Ribeiro (Semi-Final, Points). On his run for his second Bronze Medal, Magalhães beat the 2005 ADCC Absolute World Champion Dean Lister by Judges Decision, moving on to the Quarter-Finals against the 2X NCAA Wrestler and MMA Prospect Chris Weidman, who he beat by Flying Armbar (His second in the Competition), which put him in the Semi-Final against Braulio Estima, who beat Magalhães by points, and became the eventual Absolute Champion. In the 3rd Place match, Magalhães used his experience against Gunnar Nelson to score a Takedown in the last few seconds of the over time to guarantee his second Bronze Medal in his first ADCC.

In 2011, Magalhães went up weight class in the ADCC Tournament, competing at the 99 kg and over division. Magalhães ended up as the divisional winner, beating the reigning champion Fabrício Werdum by points in the final match.

At the 2015 ADCC Tournament, Magalhães won the bronze medal in the 99 kg and over division. Notably, all his wins came by submission, including a twister against Rodrigo Artilheiro in the quarterfinals..

The Ultimate Fighter

Magalhães defeated Lance Evans, brother of Rashad Evans, when Evans quit after the first round due to a rib injury. Magalhães then defeated Jules Bruchez by armbar in the first round to move to the semi finals. Magalhães then fought Krzysztof Soszynski, and defeated Soszynski by armbar in the first round, thus moving on to the finals to face Ryan Bader.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Magalhães lost via first round TKO in his UFC debut in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir against former castmate Ryan Bader at the The Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale.

Magalhães' next fight was at UFC 97 taking on former The Ultimate Fighter castmate Eliot Marshall. Magalhães lost a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).

Magalhães was released from the UFC on April 29, 2009 due to his 0-2 record with the company.

M-1 Global

After being released from the UFC, Magalhães went 7-1, winning five fights by submission and two by knockout while dropping one by decision, improving his overall record to 9-5 (1).

Magalhães scored an mounted gogoplata submission victory over Viktor Nemkov to become the M-1 Global Light heavyweight Champion. He then went on to defend the Light Heavyweight Championship with a third round TKO victory over Mikhail Zayats.

After a contract dispute with M-1 Global, Magalhães placed his belt for sale on ebay.com with a bid of over $90,000 USD.

Return to UFC

On July 17, 2012 it was announced that Magalhaes had re-signed with the UFC.

Magalhães faced Igor Pokrajac on September 22, 2012 at UFC 152. Magalhães went on to defeat Pokrajac via armbar at 1:14 of the 2nd round.

Magalhães faced Phil Davis on April 27, 2013 at UFC 159. Magalhães lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Magalhães faced Anthony Perosh on August 3, 2013 at UFC 163, He lost the fight by knockout in just fourteen seconds in round 1.

After his loss to Anthony Perosh, Magalhães was released from the UFC. Magalhães had previously announced that if he lost to Perosh, he should be cut from UFC's roster and that is exactly how it played out. Magalhães had previously announced that if cut from the UFC, he'd retire from competition.

Independent promotions

Magalhaes quickly denied any talks of retirement and was expected to fight Jeff Monson in a Heavyweight bout on November 9, 2013 at Global Warrior Challenge 2: USA vs Brazil. However, Magalhaes pulled out of the fight due to a prolonged back injury.

Magalhaes defeated previously unbeaten Mexican fighter Jorge Gonzalez at Xtreme Kombat 24 via first round rear naked choke on July 19, 2014 in Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico; After almost a full year absence from fighting.

Titan Fighting Championships

Magalhaes was expected to take on Jason Brilz in the main event of Titan FC 28. However, Magalhaes was forced out of the bout due to injury and was replaced by Raphael Davis.

The championship fight with Brilz was re-booked and took place on September 26, 2014 at Titan FC 30 in Cedar Park, Texas, Magalhaes defeated Brilz in the opening minute of the 4th round via guillotine choke after dropping Brilz with a headkick. Magalhaes is now the TitanFC light heavyweight champion.

World Series of Fighting

Magalhães was scheduled to face UFC veteran Matt Hamill at WSOF 20 on April 10, 2015. However, Magalhães was pulled from the bout after a contract dispute with Titan Fighting Championships. He eventually faced Hamill at WSOF 24 held on October 17, 2015. He won the fight via submission in the first round.

Magalhães fought for the WSOF light heavyweight championship at WSOF 33 on October 7, 2016 against champion David Branch. He lost via unanimous decision, after the fight he announced his retirement from Mixed martial arts.

Grappling events

On August 9, 2014, Magalhães fought Keenan Cornelius in a grappling match in Metamoris IV. The fight ended in a draw. On November 22, 2014, Magalhães again fought at Metamoris V against Matheus Diniz that also ended in a draw.

Personal life

Magalhães had his first child, a son named Vitor, in November 2010, and he is married to Alliny. They are expecting his second child. Called Jesse

.

Mixed martial arts

Submission wrestling

Jiu-Jitsu