Michael Liera Jr.

Michael Liera Junior is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under André Galvão, of the Atos academy, who is widely recognized as one of the most talented competitors of his generation. Born in Littleton, Colorado – US, Michael Liera Jr. started making waves in jiu-jitsu’s competitive scene early on, winning his first world title as a blue belt (2011), he followed his early success winning 2 more “Mundial” gold medals at purple and brown belt, before receiving his black belt on November 2014. 5 years later, on October 2019, Michael Liera moved to Colorado where he founded his own academy alongside fellow Atos teammate, YJ Lee, a gym the pair called the Lōgōs Jiu-Jitsu Academy.

Michael Liera Jr. Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: Michael Remiglio Liera Jr.

Nickname: n/a

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Rey. Gracie > Osvaldo Alves > Luis Dagmar > André Galvão > Michael Liera

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2018)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2016)
• 1st Place UAEJJF Grand Slam, MIA (2020)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2020)
• 2nd Place IBJJF American Nationals (2022)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2017 / 2019 / 2024)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2017)
• 3rd Place IBJJF European Championship (2019)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2014 brown, 2013 purple, 2011 blue)
• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship No Gi (2012 purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2014 brown, 2013** purple, 2012 purple, 2011 blue)
• 1st Place IBJJF American Nationals (2014**/2013** brown, 2012** purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF American Nationals No Gi (2013 brown)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Guard

Weight Division: Peso Leve (76kg/168lbs)

Team/Association: Atos Jiu-Jitsu / Lōgōs Jiu-Jitsu Academy

Michael Liera Jr. Biography

Michael Liera Junior was born on September 29, 1993, in Littleton, Colorado. Michael got interested in jiu-jitsu after he got invited over to a family friend’s house to watch the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC 60). The main event fight was between Matt Hughes vs. Royce Gracie. This was the first time the Liera family watched mixed martial arts (MMA), and they immediately became intrigued by the sport. It was this frame of mind that led Michael and his father to visit a Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym where their friend trained (the same family friend who showed them the UFC).

Both Michael Liera Junior and Senior started training jiu-jitsu with coach Odie Neto, but soon moved to João Cunha of Pitbull Jiu-Jitsu, Cunha awarded Liera Jr. his yellow, and orange belts. The family then moved to the Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu gym, a gym led by two of the sport’s biggest icons, Saulo and Alexandre Ribeiro who awarded Junior his blue, and purple belts.

As a purple belt, Michael changed teams, leaving Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu to join André Galvão at the Atos headquarters in San Diego, where he also picked a roll as an assistant coach at the academy a role he had also fulfilled at the RJJ academy. It was Galvão who awarded Michael Liera his brown belt in 2013, and his black belt on November 2014, after a flawless campaign in the brown belt lightweight division.

[fighter_status id=528]

Michael Liera vs Alex Cabanes

Michael Liera Jr. vs Anil Singh

Michael Liera Jr. vs Lindsey Arcangel

Michael Liera Jr Highlight (closed guard to back)