Diogo “Moreno” Sampaio

Diogo Sampaio, also known as Diogo “Moreno” is a brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt linked with the Soul Fighters team from Rio de Janeiro. One of the hottest prospects to have come from the SF Team, Diogo has been a black belt since July 2010 having achieved important titles such as Nogi State Champion and Rio Open Champion.

Diogo Sampaio in Detail

Full Name: Diogo Sampaio Araújo

Nickname: “Moreno” means dark skinned, or tanned. The nickname was given to Diogo in his Water Polo days (a sport he played in his childhood) at Tijuca Tenis Club, and the reason was that there was another Diogo in the team, so as a way to distinguish them one was called “Moreno” and the other “Negão”.

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Francisco Mansur > Augusto Mendes > Diogo Sampaio

Main Achievements/Record:

• Rio Open Champion (2010 brown, 2011)
• Brazilian State Nogi Champion (2010)
• 3x Rio de Janeiro State Champion (2003, 2009, 2010)
• Pan American Silver Medallist (2010 brown)
• 2x Brazilian National Silver Medallist (2009 & 2010 brown)

Weight Division: Peso Pesado (94kg/207lbs)

Favourite Technique: Sweep from Guard

Team/Association: Soul Fighters

Diogo “Moreno” Sampaio Biography

Diogo Araújo was born on the 30th of April, 1984 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He started training Jiu Jitsu much due to his father’s influence. His father was a great admirer of the Brazilian Martial Art, but never found time himself to train, as such he instilled the desire to train BJJ to his son, Diogo.

Diogo started practicing BJJ with professor Munir at Vila da Penha, a suburb of Rio where Diogo grew up. He moved at a later stage to the academy of Marcos Carvalho where he met the guys that would later form the Soul Fighters team (Bruno “Tanque”, Augusto “Tanquinho”, Rafael “Formiga” amongst others). Master Carvalho graduated Diogo Sampaio in his blue and purple belts, and then with the formation of Soul Fighters already alive, Augusto Mendes awarded Diogo his brown belt, while his black belt was given after winning the Rio Open in 2010, still standing on top of the podium.

Diogo Sampaio also teaches BJJ with his good friend Mario Vitor at the Evidence Academy in Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro and is sponsored by Academia Delfim and Mazwar, while his training regime is supervised by Daniel Pirata.

Diogo Sampaio Teaches at:
Academia Evidence
Rua Conde de Bonfim
Tijuca
Rio de Janeiro