World Jiu Jitsu Championship

Updated on Dec 24, 2023

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Location Long Beach, California Discipline Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu		Local name(s) Mundials, Worlds First edition 1996
Organiser International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation Current weight divisions Ultra Heavyweight: over 221.0 lbs (+100.5 kg) Super Heavyweight: under 221.0 lbs (-100.5 kg) Heavyweight: under 207.5 lbs (-94.3 kg) Medium Heavyweight: under 194.5 lbs (-88.3 kg) Middleweight: under 181.0 lbs (-82.3 kg) Lightweight: under 167.5 lbs (-76 kg) Featherweight: under 154.0 lbs (-70 kg) Light Featherweight: under 141.0 lbs (-64 kg) Roosterweight: under 126.5 lbs (-57 kg) (with gi)

The World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (commonly known as Mundials) is the most prestigious Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) tournament in the world. They are hosted annually by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. The first Mundial tournament to be held outside of Brazil was in 2007 at California State University, Long Beach in Long Beach, California, United States. This trend continued with the 2008 Mundials, once again in Long Beach, California. The first World Championship was held in 1996 at the Tijuca Tênis Clube gymnasium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and has since grown tremendously, with over 1650 competitors (including 250 foreign athletes) fighting before a crowd of over 12,000 in the 2005 championship.

10 Time World Championships

Roger Gracie, 2004-2010

8 Time World Championships

Bruno Malfacine, 2007-2016

Marcus Almeida, 2012-2016

7 Time World Championships

Xande Ribeiro, 2004-2015

6 Time World Championships

Rafael Mendes, 2010-2016

5 Time World Championships

Saulo Ribeiro, 1997-2002

Robson Moura, 1997-2007

Marcelo Garcia, 2004-2011

Rodolfo Vieira, 2011-2014

Romulo Barral, 2007-2014

Leandro Lo, 2012-2016

4 Time World Championships

Royler Gracie, 1996-1999

Roberto Magalhães, 1996-2000

Fabio Gurgel, 1996-2001

Rubens Charles, 2006-2009

Guilherme Mendes, 2009-2014

Bernardo Faria, 2010-2015

André Galvão, 2005-2016

8 Time World Championships

Michelle Nicolini, 2006–2014

7 Time World Championships

Leticia Ribeiro, 2000–2012

Hannette Staack, 2002–2011

Beatriz Mesquita, 2012–2016

6 Time World Championships

Bianca Andrade, 2001–2010

Gabrielle Garcia, 2008–2012

5 Time World Championships

Luanna Alzuguir, 2009–2013

4 Time World Championships

Kyra Gracie, 2006–2010

Dominyka Obelenyte, 2015–2016

Famous Mundials Champions

Rafael Mendes - 6x World Champion

Robson Moura - 5x World Champion

Saulo Ribeiro - 5x World Champion

Alexandre Ribeiro - 7x World Champion (2 Absolute titles)

Bruno Malfacine - 8x World Champion

João Roque - 1997 Light Featherweight World Champion (1st African & Non-Brazilian champion)

B.J. Penn - 2000 Featherweight World Champion (1st American)

Marcelo Garcia - 5x World Champion

Roger Gracie - 10x World Champion (3 Absolute titles)

Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza - 3x World Champion (2 Absolute titles)

Royler Gracie - 4x World Champion

Marcio Feitosa - 3x World Champion

Rubens 'Cobrinha' Charles - 4x World Champion

Rafael Lovato Jr. - 2007 Ultra Heavyweight champion (2nd American & Non-Brazilian champion)

Fredson Paixao - 3x World Champion

Fabrício Werdum - 2x World Champion

Teco Shinzato - 2x World Champion

Black Belt trivia

Roger Gracie has won 10 golds (7 weight and 3 absolute).

Xande Ribeiro has won 7 golds (5 weight and 2 absolute).

Roger Gracie (2007, 2009, 2010) and Marcus "Buchecha" Almeida (2012, 2013, 2014) have each won their weight division and the absolute in the same year 3 times.

Saulo Ribeiro, Marcelo Garcia, Robson Moura and Bruno Malfacine have won 5 golds at their weight.

Royler Gracie, Fabio Gurgel, Roberto Magalhães (Roleta), Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles and Rômulo Barral have won 4 golds at their weight.

Robson Moura won his first gold in 1997 and his most recent in 2007, the longest span between gold medals.

Wellington "Megaton" Dias is the only person to have competed as a black belt in every World Championship ever held, which is 20 in a row 1996-2015.

Roger Gracie has been in the absolute final 8 years in a row, winning 3.

Royler Gracie, Robson Moura, Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles and Bruno Malfacine won their divisions 4 years in a row.

Saulo Ribeiro won a different weight division 4 years in a row (1997 - 2000 Medio, Pesado, Meio Pesado, Super Pesado).

Roger Gracie has been in his weight category final 7 years in a row, winning all 7.

Xande Ribeiro, Amauri Bitetti, Marcio Cruz (Pe de Pano), Rodrigo Medeiros (Comprido), Roger Gracie, & Ronaldo "Jacaré" Souza have all won the Absolute division twice.

Fernando "Margarida" Pontes (2001), Marcio "Pe de Pano" Cruz (2002) & Ronaldo "Jacaré" Souza (2005) have won their weight division and the absolute in the same year - Ronaldo "Jacaré" Souza could not contest the Meio Pesado final in 2004.

Xande Ribeiro (2006, 2008) has won his weight and the absolute in the same year twice.

Roger Gracie (2009) won all 9 matches in weight and absolute by submission.