João Assis is an accomplished grappler having won important titles in the sport of Brazilian jiu jitsu, including the ADCC and World No-Gi Championship. A Checkmat black belt under Leonardo Vieira João turned a few heads his way for the first time on June 2010, after his submission wins over Jeff Monson, (a 2x ADCC Champion who had not been tapped in competition for over 10 years) at UFC 114’s Fan Expo (Grapplers Quest).
Joao Assis Jiu Jitsu
Full Name: Joao Francisco de Moraes Assis
Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti > Leonardo Vieira > João Assis
Main Achievements:
- ADCC Champion (2013)
- World Nogi Champion (2015, 2010)
- World Champion (2007 – purple belt division)
- World Cup Champion (2007 – open weight division, purple belt – CBJJE)
- Pan American Champion (2009 – open weight, brown belt division)
- 10x Grapplers Quest Champion
- 2x NAGA Champion – NO GI advanced (2009 weight and open weight)
- 2x NAGA Champion – Jiu Jitsu (2009 weight and open weight)
- 2008 World NO GI Champion (2008 – brown belt division)
- 4x American National Champion
- California State Champion (2009 – open weight)
- ADCC Silver Medallist (2011)
Weight Division: Pesado (Heavyweight) 94kg-207lbs
Favourite Position/Technique: Half Guard sweep, takedown, footlocks and guillotine
Association/Team: Checkmat
Joao Assis Biography
Joao Assis was born on the 11th of July, 1983 in Porto Alegre, the state capital of Rio Grande do Sul. He started training relatively late (he was 17 years old) as a way to learn how to defend himself. As a youngster he got involved in a lot of fights at school as well as at parties, and he wanted to learn self defence. To start his training he sought out Luis Brito, a BJJ and MMA instructor who was from Rio de Janeiro but living and teaching in Porto Alegre.
He stayed with Luis Brito from white belt to purple, but as he got more and more interested in BJJ, Joao Assis realised that grappling was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life and that Porto Alegre just wasn’t big enough for him. Always trying to seek out the best sparring and instruction around, he travelled to Sao Paulo to train with a legend in the business, Mr Leonardo Vieira, at the Brasa headquarters (now Checkmat). Under Vieira he met a formidable team that helped his jiu jitsu game grow exponentially, earning his brown belt from Vieira and later the deserved black belt in 2009.
In another display of his fearlessness, Joao moved to the United States, travelling almost “blindfolded”. He arrived at the northern territory without any money, any job, house or even a contact number, just armed with his will power and a strong belief in himself. Luckily (or maybe as Joao Assis puts it, thanks to his prayers) he managed to find the right people that helped him get settled in, people like Fabricio Werdum, Rafael Cordeiro, Dan Henderson, Carlson Gracie Junior, Lucas Leite, Robert Drysdale amongst many others.
In America Joao Assis worked extensively on his wrestling and No Gi game to improve his MMA career, a career he started back in 2003 with a win by Mata Leao Choke against Valdir Linhares, at the Profight Combat Show. To get that high profile training Assis sought out one of the best wrestling based teams in MMA, Team Quest, who has some of the best fighters in the world – Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen, Matt Lindland amongst many others.
Joao Assis Grappling Record
-
BY POINTS
23 (45%) -
BY ADVANTAGES
2 (4%) -
BY SUBMISSION
20 (39%) -
BY DECISION
4 (8%) -
BY PENALTIES
0 (0%) - BY DQ
1 (2%)
20 SUBMISSIONS WINS
-
BY POINTS
8 (38%) -
BY ADVANTAGES
0 (0%) -
BY SUBMISSION
8 (38%) -
BY DECISION
5 (24%) -
BY PENALTIES
0 (0%) - BY DQ
0 (0%)
8 SUBMISSIONS LOSSES
Joao Assis Fight History
ID | Opponent | W/L | Method | Competition | Weight | Stage | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2429 | Roberto AlencarRoberto Alencar | L | Kimura | NoGi Worlds | 94KG | SF | 2009 |
2565 | Rafael LovatoRafael Lovato | L | Pts: 2x0 | Pan American | 94KG | SF | 2010 |
2713 | Rafael LovatoRafael Lovato | L | Points | World Champ. | 94KG | 4F | 2010 |
3145 | Leo NogueiraLeo Nogueira | L | Referee Decision | World Champ. | 100KG | SF | 2011 |
3184 | Braga NetoBraga Neto | L | Choke from back | San Diego Trials | O92 | SF | 2011 |
3194 | Davi RamosDavi Ramos | L | Toe hold | Grapplers Quest LV | ABS | F | 2011 |
3298 | Dean ListerDean Lister | L | Heel hook | ADCC | 99KG | F | 2011 |
3307 | Victor EstimaVictor Estima | L | Pts: 2x0 | ADCC | ABS | R1 | 2011 |
3656 | Bernardo FariaBernardo Faria | L | Pts: 3x2 | Pan American | O100KG | SF | 2012 |
4119 | Felipe Bueno | L | Pts: 7x2 | World Champ. | 100KG | R2 | 2012 |
4259 | Alexandre RibeiroAlexandre Ribeiro | L | Referee Decision | NoGi Worlds | 100KG | F | 2012 |
4277 | Antonio PeinadoAntonio Peinado | L | North south choke | NoGi Worlds | ABS | 4F | 2012 |
4753 | Joao RochaJoao Rocha | L | Points | World Champ. | ABS | RDS | 2013 |
4816 | Luiz PanzaLuiz Panza | L | Botinha | World Champ. | 100KG | 4F | 2013 |
7769 | Yuri SimoesYuri Simoes | L | Referee Decision | FIVE SL | ABS | SF | 2015 |
7922 | Felipe PenaFelipe Pena | L | Pts: 9x0 | ADCC | 99KG | SF | 2015 |
13871 | Jackson SousaJackson Sousa | L | Referee Decision | ADCC | 99KG | 4F | 2017 |
14600 | Lucas BarbosaLucas Barbosa | L | North south choke | ACB JJ 9 | 95KG | 4F | 2017 |
14717 | Lucas BarbosaLucas Barbosa | L | North south choke | NoGi Worlds | 97KG | F | 2017 |
16919 | Richie MartinezRichie Martinez | D | --- | Quintet II | ABS | N/A | 2018 |
16981 | Kevin Cassey | L | Referee Decision | W.S.O.G. | O81KG | 8F | 2018 |
52222 | Mateus Araujo | L | Pts: 6x2 | Vitoria Open | 88KG | 4F | 2024 |
2563 | Daniel Simmler | W | Points | Pan American | 94KG | 4F | 2010 |
2754 | Bruce Hoyer | W | RNC | GQ UFC Expo | ABS | R1 | 2010 |
2755 | Mario Barbosa | W | RNC | GQ UFC Expo | ABS | 4F | 2010 |
2756 | Bill CooperBill Cooper | W | Pts: 6x0 | GQ UFC Expo | ABS | SF | 2010 |
2757 | Jeff Monson | W | RNC | GQ UFC Expo | ABS | F | 2010 |
2758 | Wilson ReisWilson Reis | W | Pts: 8x0 | GQ WBG | ABS | R1 | 2010 |
2759 | Nader Magrihiy | W | Kneebar | GQ WBG | ABS | 4F | 2010 |
2761 | Nolan Dutcher | W | Toe hold | GQ WBG | ABS | SF | 2010 |
2763 | Alexandre RibeiroAlexandre Ribeiro | W | Points | GQ WBG | ABS | F | 2010 |
2769 | Bill CooperBill Cooper | W | Pts: 2x2, Adv | GQ Las Vegas | ABS | NA | 2010 |
3090 | Ronilson Nunes | W | Choke | World Champ. | 100KG | RDS | 2011 |
3125 | Ricardo Henrique | W | DQ | World Champ. | 100KG | 4F | 2011 |
3190 | M. Perez | W | RNC | G. Quest WC | ABS | 4F | 2011 |
3191 | Pat Begin | W | Pts: 23x0 | G. Quest WC | ABS | SF | 2011 |
3192 | Rustam Chsiev | W | Adv | G. Quest WC | ABS | F | 2011 |
3247 | James Poupolo | W | Heel hook | ADCC | 99KG | R1 | 2011 |
3273 | Braga NetoBraga Neto | W | Footlock | ADCC | 99KG | 4F | 2011 |
3287 | Alexandre RibeiroAlexandre Ribeiro | W | RNC | ADCC | 99KG | SF | 2011 |
3334 | Luis Pedro | W | RNC | No Gi Worlds | ABS | R2 | 2011 |
3338 | Clark GracieClark Gracie | W | Pts: 10x0 | No Gi Worlds | ABS | 4F | 2011 |
3343 | Antonio PeinadoAntonio Peinado | W | Pts: 2x0 | No Gi Worlds | ABS | SF | 2011 |
3653 | James PuopoloJames Puopolo | W | Toe Hold | Pan American | O100KG | 4F | 2012 |
4258 | Bernardo FariaBernardo Faria | W | Pts: 3x0 | NoGi Worlds | 100KG | SF | 2012 |
4274 | Gustavo DiasGustavo Dias | W | Pts: 12x0 | NoGi Worlds | ABS | 8F | 2012 |
4724 | Pedro Bessa | W | Pts: 2x0 | World Champ. | ABS | RDS | 2013 |
4742 | Tio Chico | W | Choke from back | World Champ. | ABS | RDS | 2013 |
5026 | Liu Wen Bo | W | Pts: 9x0 | ADCC | 99KG | R1 | 2013 |
5030 | Tomasz Narkun | W | Pts: 3x0 | ADCC | 99KG | 4F | 2013 |
5034 | Leo NogueiraLeo Nogueira | W | Heel Hook | ADCC | 99KG | SF | 2013 |
5036 | Dean ListerDean Lister | W | Pts: 5x0 | ADCC | 99KG | F | 2013 |
6060 | Eliot KellyEliot Kelly | W | Pts: 2x0 | NoGi Worlds | 100KG | 4F | 2014 |
6061 | Roger Ambrosi | W | Pts: 8x0 | NoGi Worlds | 100KG | SF | 2014 |
6278 | Andrew Miller | W | Kneebar | FIVE NAIC | ABS | RR | 2014 |
6279 | Marcel GoncalvesMarcel Goncalves | W | Points | FIVE NAIC | ABS | RR | 2014 |
6280 | Valdir AraujoValdir Araujo | W | Points | FIVE NAIC | ABS | RR | 2014 |
7557 | Tom DeBlassTom DeBlass | D | --- | Sub Series Pro | ABS | SPF | 2015 |
7641 | Tom DeBlassTom DeBlass | D | --- | Sub Series Pro | ABS | SPF | 2015 |
7767 | Abraham MarteAbraham Marte | W | Heel hook | FIVE SL | ABS | 4F | 2015 |
7771 | Lucas RochaLucas Rocha | W | Pts: 4x2 | FIVE SL | ABS | 3RD | 2015 |
7909 | Tomasz Narkun | W | Pts: 3x0 | ADCC | 99KG | R1 | 2015 |
7920 | Kamil Uminski | W | Injury | ADCC | 99KG | 4F | 2015 |
8464 | Evandro NunesEvandro Nunes | W | Pts: 6x2 | NoGi Worlds | 97KG | 4F | 2015 |
8467 | James PuopoloJames Puopolo | W | Ankle lock | NoGi Worlds | 97KG | SF | 2015 |
8469 | Roberto AlencarRoberto Alencar | W | Pts: 4x0 | NoGi Worlds | 97KG | F | 2015 |
8551 | JJ Pugsley | W | RNC | F2W 1 | 100KG | SPF | 2015 |
9867 | Ray Kong | W | Triangle armbar | FTW Pro 5 | ABS | SPF | 2016 |
11773 | M. Perez | W | Referee Decision | F2W 24 | ABS | SPF | 2017 |
13549 | Tom deBlassTom deBlass | W | Referee Decision | F2W 43 | N/A | SPF | 2017 |
13865 | Jeff Monson | W | Inside heel hook | ADCC | 99KG | E1 | 2017 |
14713 | Matt Jubera | W | Pts: 9x0 | NoGi Worlds | 97KG | 4F | 2017 |
14715 | Tex JohnsonTex Johnson | W | Pts: 2x0 | NoGi Worlds | 97KG | SF | 2017 |
15072 | Braga NetoBraga Neto | W | Referee Decision | F2W 61 | 100KG | SPF | 2018 |
15306 | Eliot MarshallEliot Marshall | W | Referee Decision | F2W 64 | 100KG | SPF | 2018 |
Joao Assis vs Joel Tudor
After the San Diego Abu Dhabi Pro Cup Trials, Joao is on his way to Abu Dhabi to show the world why he is a champion! I can't wait to see his BJJ Super Fight again Pablo Popovitch, spring 2011.
Joao currently teaches at checkmat La Habra / Lucas leite bjj and at kings mma in Huntington beach