Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News

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Arthur Sousa III, commonly known as AJ Sousa, is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Pablo Popovitch and head coach at the AJSBJJ academy. Sousa became known to jiu jitsu’s mainstream audience after participating in Lloyd Irvin‘s Kumite, a web series/tournament designed to find who the best brown belt in the sport was, back in 2013. Since then AJ Sousa has cemented his status as one of the top grappling competitors in the world, with wins at the Miami, Las Vegas, and Boca Raton IBJJF Opens, as well as a fantastic performance at the 2015 edition of the Abu Dhabi World Pro.

AJ Sousa Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Arthur Dominick Sousa III

Nickname: Following the Sousa tradition, AJ bears his father and grandfather’s name, much to his mother’s dismay, who decided to call him AJ due to her dislike for the name Arthur.

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Crolin Gracie > Jorge Popovitch > Pablo Popovitch > AJ Sousa

Main Achievements:

  • 1st Place IBJJF Dallas Open (2015)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Miami Open (2015)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Las Vegas Spring Open (2015)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Boca Raton Open (2013 brown)
  • 1st Place UAEJJF US Pro Nationals (2015**)
  • 1st Place BJJ Library Challenge (2015)
  • 4th Place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro (2015)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

  • 1st Place IBJJF World Championship NOGI (2013 brown)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Boca Raton Open (2013 brown)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Omoplata

Weight Division: Peso leve (76kg/168lbs), médio (82kg/181lbs)

Team/Association: AJ Sousa BJJ/GF Team

AJ Sousa Biography

AJ Sousa was born on July 30th, 1992 in the state of Florida – USA.

Martial arts entered AJ’s life through taekwondo when he was a child, an activity he dropped early on. He re-established his connection with combat sports (BJJ) when he was 16 years old.

Throughout school, AJ played (American) football, but being 5′ 7″ and 140 pounds by the end of his junior year, he realized he would struggle if he chose to pursue a career in the sport. For this reason, Sousa quit football before the end of the year.

Shortly after AJ quit the football team, a good friend, who was a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, convinced Sousa to visit Pablo Popovitch‘s BJJ Centre. Sousa enjoyed the experience and signed on to the team.

At the BJJ Centre, AJ was primarily taught by Vagner “Ceará” Rocha, who awarded Sousa his blue and purple belts. After the purple belt, the instruction was taken over by Popovitch.

Pablo awarded AJ his brown belt (early 2013), and one week later Sousa was called in by Lloyd Irvin to participate in the BJJ Kumite. The Kumite was a tournament developed with the intent of discovering the best brown belt in the sport at the time. The event was filmed and displayed in a series of YouTube episodes, earning many of the participants a well-deserved fan base.

AJ earned his black belt from Pablo Popovitch on the 21st of June, 2014. Sousa also earned the title of head coach of the BJJ Center when his instructor decided to relocate to Abu Dhabi. With time, and once established that Popovitch would not return to the US, the BJJ Center was taken over and re-branded as AJ Sousa BJJ.

AJ sousa Grappling Record

32 WINS
  • BY POINTS
    11 (34%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    4 (13%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    16 (50%)
  • BY DECISION
    1 (3%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    0 (0%)
  • BY DQ
    0 (0%)

16 SUBMISSIONS WINS

#214eb8
Armbar
50
8
#86e620
Choke from back
19
3
#5AD3D1
Omoplata
13
2
#d1212a
Armlock
6
1
#fad11b
Flying armbar
6
1
#f58822
Submission
6
1
16
(100%) SUBMISSIONS
16 LOSSES
  • BY POINTS
    11 (69%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    2 (13%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    2 (13%)
  • BY DECISION
    1 (6%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    0 (0%)
  • BY DQ
    0 (0%)

2 SUBMISSIONS LOSSES

#214eb8
Cross choke
50
1
#86e620
Choke
50
1
2
(100%) SUBMISSIONS

AJ sousa Fight History

ID Opponent W/L Method Competition Weight Stage Year
6426Kevin MahechaKevin MahechaLPts: 0x0, AdvWorld Pro TrialsABS4F2015
6817Vitor OliveiraVitor OliveiraLReferee DecisionPan American82KGR12015
7130Leandro LoLeandro LoLPointsWorld Pro85KGSF2015
7132Keenan CorneliusKeenan CorneliusLPts: 3x0World Pro85KG3RD2015
7436Michael LanghiMichael LanghiLPointsWorld Champ.76KG8F2015
7620Osvaldo MoizinhoOsvaldo MoizinhoLPointsAmerican Nat.76KG4F2015
7800Alexandre RibeiroAlexandre RibeiroLChokeBJJL ChallengeABSSPF2015
8134Michael LieraMichael LieraLPointsDallas NoGi Open79KGSF2015
8883Leandro LoLeandro LoLPts: 13x0Copa Podio77KGGP2016
8886Davi RamosDavi RamosLPts: 2x0Copa Podio77KGGP2016
9275Francisco IturraldeFrancisco IturraldeLPts: 4x2Pan American76KG4F2016
9993Celso ViniciusCelso ViniciusLPts: 2x0World Champ.82KGR22016
11953Marcio AndreMarcio AndreLPointsACBJJ 475KG4F2017
16350Romulo BarralRomulo BarralLCross chokeACBJJ 1385KGSPF2018
25457Yago SouzaYago SouzaLPts: 10x0Orlando Open88KGF2021
46760Fabricio BarbarottiFabricio BarbarottiLPts: 4x4, AdvMiami Open82KG4F2024
6308Pedro HenriqueWChoke from backMiami Open82KGSF2014
6309Leo IturraldeWChoke from backMiami Open82KGF2014
6312Daniel AzevedoDaniel AzevedoWN/AMiami OpenABSSF2014
6424Magid HageWPointsWorld Pro Trials86KGSF2015
6425AJ AgazarmAJ AgazarmWAdvWorld Pro Trials86KGF2015
6427Magid HageWArmbarWorld Pro TrialsABSSF2015
6429AJ AgazarmAJ AgazarmWPts: 6x2World Pro TrialsABSF2015
7120Victor MarquesWChoke from backWorld Pro85KGR12015
7126Tarsis HumphreysTarsis HumphreysWPointsWorld Pro85KG4F2015
7343Bruno TogniWArmbarLas Vegas Open82KGF2015
7432Alex CabanesWArmlockWorld Champ.76KGR12015
7617Marcus WilsonWArmbarAmerican Nat.76KGR12015
7618Ed RamosWAdvAmerican Nat.76KG8F2015
7791Victor BarretoWOmoplataBJJL ChallengeABSRR2015
7793Dennis HallmanWArmbarBJJL ChallengeABSRR2015
7796Brian MingiaWFlying armbarBJJL ChallengeABSRR2015
7799Vitor SchlosserWArmbarBJJL ChallengeABSF2015
8114Leo IturraldeWOmoplataDallas Open82KG4F2015
8116Michael LieraMichael LieraWPts: 2x2, AdvDallas Open82KGSF2015
8875Felipe CesarFelipe CesarWPts: 4x2Copa Podio77KGGP2016
8891Lucas LepriLucas LepriWPts: 4x2Copa Podio77KGGP2016
9271Frederico AlmeidaWArmbarPan American76KG8F2016
9885Felipe CesarFelipe CesarWAdvMiami SPO82KG4F2016
9886Marcel GoncalvesMarcel GoncalvesWPts: 2x0Miami SPO82KGSF2016
9887Lucas ValleWPts: 9x0Miami SPO82KGF2016
10204Andrea VaughanWArmbarAmerican Nats76KG4F2016
10207Rodrigo FreitasRodrigo FreitasWPts: 2x0American Nats76KGSF2016
10209Osvaldo MoizinhoOsvaldo MoizinhoWArmbarAmerican Nats76KGF2016
15317Arnaldo MaidanaArnaldo MaidanaWReferee DecisionACBJJ 1185KGSPF2018
25456Matheus LunaMatheus LunaWPts: 2x0Orlando Open88KGSF2021
46397Guilherme HiguchiWSubmissionAJP Orlando77KGSF2024
46398Jefferson NascimentoWPts: 10x0AJP Orlando77KGF2024

AJ Sousa vs Michael Liera Jr.

AJ Sousa vs unknown

5050 Guard Instructional by Lachlan Giles

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