Leonardo Saggioro

Leonardo Saggioro, often referenced as Leo Saggioro or simply by his nickname ‘Cascão’ is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Ricardo Marques, being also a representative of the Brazilian Top Team (BTT) affiliation in this sport/martial art’s competitive circuit. Leo Saggioro is also widely recognized as one of the best featherweights of his generation, with a very distinctive style of grappling based on grinding pressure and a forward-moving half-guard.

Leo Saggioro Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: Leonardo Fernandes Saggioro

Nickname: Cascão is a famous comic book character from the collection ‘Turma da Mônica’ (Monica’s Gang) by Mauricio de Sousa. In English, this character is named ‘Smudge’. Saggioro was called this from when he was a child due to his haircut, which resembled the character.

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Carlson Gracie > Sergio Souza > Ricardo Marques > Leonardo Saggioro

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2013/2012)
• 1st Place UAEJJF King of Mats (2018)
• 1st Place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro (2014)
• 1st Place IBJJF Toronto Open (2016/2015**)
• 1st Place IBJJF Montreal Open (2015**)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2018 / 2017)
• 2nd Place IBJJF European Open (2020)
• 2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2014/2011)
• 2nd Place CBJJ South American Championship (2011)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2012)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2015 / 2024)
• 3rd Place FIVE Grappling LW Grand Prix (2017)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2008 purple)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2010 brown)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Miragaia Position (over-under)

Weight Division: Peso Pena (70,00 kg / 154.5 lbs)

Team/Association: BTT

Leonardo Saggioro Biography

Leonardo Saggioro was born on March 7, 1989, in Juiz de Fora, a city in the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, approximately 40 kilometers from the state border with Rio de Janeiro.

Minas Gerais has a short but prosperous jiu-jitsu history, having Ricardo Marques as one of the state’s most revered coaches. It was under the guidance of Marques that Leo Saggioro began his jiu-jitsu career, at the age of 13.

Saggioro started competing early and making a name for himself in his own and the neighboring state of Rio de Janeiro. His reputation rose up to international proportions shortly after his 18th birthday when he conquered his first IBJJF World title as a purple belt.

Continuing a prosperous campaign in the brown belt division, Cascão finally earned his black belt in the second semester of 2010, shortly after another positive performance at the ‘Worlds’ at the hands of his longtime instructor Ricardo Marques. His impact in this new division was felt almost immediately with a silver medal at the Brazilian nationals (CBJJ Brasileiro).

In 2015 Leonardo Saggioro was invited to Canada where he was offered a full-time coaching position at a Brazilian Top Team affiliate school. An offer that was accepted by the young athlete.

This is a compilation of Leonardo’s matches at black belt (adult) in some of jiu-jitsu’s top events, please note that this grappling record does not account for every match in Saggioro’s career.

Leo Saggioro vs Lucas Rocha (2015)

Leo Saggioro vs Michael Wacker (2015)