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BJJ Fanatics Instructionals

Oliver Taza

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Nicholas Meregali Instructionals

Oliver Taza is a Lebanese-Canadian jiu-jitsu athlete who represented teams such as the Trystar Gym, Renzo Gracie Academy, and New Wave Jiu-Jitsu in the sport’s international circuit. Guided by coaches Firas Zahabi and John Danaher, Oliver Taza first made waves in the sport in 2016, a time when he placed second at the ADCC East Coast Trails – one of grappling’s foremost tournaments – with only two years of training. During the years that followed, Taza consistently proved to be at the top of jiu-jitsu’s ladder by placing in the podiums of numerous pro events such as the BJJ Fanatics Grand Prix, the ADCC USA Trials, ADCC European Trials, and Jitz King Invitational.

Oliver Taza Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Oliver Taza

Nickname: N/A

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Jr > Renzo Gracie > John Danaher> Oliver Taza

Main Achievements (Pro):

  • 1st Place ADCC European Trials (2017)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship NOGI (2023)
  • 1st Place IBJJF European Open NOGI (2022)
  • 1st Place BJJ Fanatics Grand Prix (2020)
  • 1st Place TUFF Invitational UK (2017)
  • 1st Place Canadian Kumite Grand Prix (2016)
  • 2nd Place ADCC US East Coast Trials (2016)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF European Open NOGI (2022*)
  • 2nd Place Jitz King Invitational (2020)
  • 2nd Place Para Bellum Quintet Invitational (2020)
  • 2nd Place EBI 170 lb Tournament (2022)
  • 3rd Place ADCC US East Coast Trials (2023)
  • 4th Place ADCC US West Coast Trials (2017)

Main Achievements (Amateur):

  • 1st Place IBJJF World Championship – NoGi (2017 brown)
  • 1st Place ACBJJ European Championship – Gi (2018 brown)
  • 1st Place UAEJJF Niagara Falls Pro – Gi (2018 brown)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship – NoGi (2017 brown)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF European Open – NoGi (2017 brown)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF New York Spring Open – Gi (2018 brown)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship – NoGi (2015 purple)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF European Open – Gi (2016 purple)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF Rome Open – Gi (2017** brown)
  • 3rd Place UAEJJF Grand Slam, LDN – Gi (2018 brown)

* Absolute
** Weight and Absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Saddle

Weight Division: 77,00 kg / 169.7 lbs

Team/Association: Roll Forever

Oliver Taza Biography

Oliver Taza was born in 1993, in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. From Beirut, Oliver moved with his family to Saudi Arabia before finally settling in Canada when he was 14 years old.

During his stay in Canada, young Oliver practiced a number of sports, giving more emphasis to football (soccer), which he played up until his 19th birthday, competing and representing his school and province of Quebec.

In 2012 Oliver felt saturated with the way his soccer career was going and decided to have a break from the pitch. This change of dynamics led him to Firas Zahabi‘s Tri Star Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) academy in Montreal. Taza tried every facet of MMA, including jiu-jitsu for the first 3 months at TriStar but felt more connected with boxing at the time, choosing to focus solely on the sweet science. 6 amateur boxing matches later, in February 2014 Taza returned to Zahabi’s grappling class.

From early on, as a purple belt, Taza started making trips to New York, with the intention of training at the Renzo Gracie Academy with coach John Danaher, one of the most prestigious instructors in combat sports. The close contact with the famous Renzo Gracie Academy only helped further develop Oliver’s tremendous potential, who, in June 2016 earned his brown belt, with just over 2 years of training. An incredible achievement in a sport where, more often than not, high ranks take nearly a decade to achieve.

It was as a brown belt that Oliver started making his mark in the sport, competing in the professional no-gi circuit and the amateur league of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF). His progression was slowed down by an ACL reconstructive surgery in 2018, which removed him from the competition scene for the best part of one year, but he returned in 2019 as strong as ever.

On November 09, 2020, Oliver Taza was promoted to black belt by coach John Danaher in New York City.

NOTE REGARDING OLIVER TAZA’S RECORD

Traditionally BJJ Heroes has only accounted for black belt records as they signify an athlete’s entry into our sport’s elite ranks. Oliver, however, is a particular case in our sport as he had been successfully competing in the pro-grappling circuit since his purple belt days. This has left BJJ Heroes with a delicate predicament of defining when to start accounting for the Canadian’s matches. Given that Taza had so many high-level wins as a brown belt, we decided to take those into consideration for his jiu-jitsu record.

Oliver Taza Grappling Record

155 WINS
  • BY POINTS
    28 (18%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    2 (1%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    96 (62%)
  • BY DECISION
    20 (13%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    5 (3%)
  • BY EBI/OT
    4 (3%)

96 SUBMISSIONS WINS

#214eb8
Inside heel hook
41
39
#86e620
Outside heel hook
18
17
#5AD3D1
Kneebar
8
8
#d1212a
Submission
6
6
#fad11b
RNC
4
4
#f58822
Straight ankle lock
4
4
#224aba
Triangle
3
3
#ff9124
Reverse triangle
3
3
#bf1f6c
Triangle armbar
2
2
#22c9a5
Guillotine
2
2
#fad223
Z lock
1
1
#03861f
Toe hold
1
1
#039a1f
Katagatame
1
1
#03b41f
Armbar
1
1
#03c61f
Americana
1
1
#03d61f
Tarikoplata
1
1
#03f61f
Aoki lock
1
1
#82ff5f
Back triangle
1
1
96
(100%) SUBMISSIONS
43 LOSSES
  • BY POINTS
    19 (44%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    2 (5%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    2 (5%)
  • BY DECISION
    15 (35%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    1 (2%)
  • BY EBI/OT
    3 (7%)

2 SUBMISSIONS LOSSES

#214eb8
Armlock
50
1
#86e620
RNC
50
1
2
(100%) SUBMISSIONS

Oliver Taza Fight History

ID Opponent W/L Method Competition Weight Stage Year
11153Mansher KheraMansher KheraLPts: 3x0ADCC US Trials77KGF2016
12007Marcel GoncalvesMarcel GoncalvesLEBI/OTEBI 1177KGR12017
12522AJ AgazarmAJ AgazarmLPts: 2x0ADCC WC Trials77KGSF2017
12525Jonathan SatavaJonathan SatavaLPts: 2x0ADCC WC Trials77KG3RD2017
13899Marcelo MafraMarcelo MafraLPts: 2x0ADCC77KGE12017
21855Renato CanutoRenato CanutoLPts: 2x0ADCC77KGR12019
23331Pedro VerasPedro VerasD---Para BellumABSF2020
23778Pedro MarinhoPedro MarinhoLPts: 2x0Jitz King84KGF2020
23865Tye RuotoloTye RuotoloLPts: 10x0Kumite V81KG4F2020
24328Lucas BarbosaLucas BarbosaLReferee DecisionSubversiv 4ABSSF2020
24472Felipe CesarFelipe CesarLPts: 2x0No Gi Pan Am.79KGR12020
25152Pedro RochaPedro RochaLReferee DecisionF2W 16485KGSPF2021
25758Gabriel AlmeidaGabriel AlmeidaLReferee DecisionF2W 16983KGSPF2021
25849Bruno MatiasBruno MatiasLPts: 6x0Houston NGOABSF2021
25948Hugo MarquesHugo MarquesLReferee DecisionF2W 17177KGSPF2021
26121Rodrigo GortariLDQNoGi Pan Am.79KGR12021
26213Lucas BarbosaLucas BarbosaLPts: 11x0NoGi Pan Am.ABS8F2021
26607Mica GalvaoMica GalvaoLReferee DecisionWNO 1083KGSPF2021
26816Gialysson FreitasGialysson FreitasLReferee DecisionF2W 17577KGSPF2021
26891Bruno MatiasBruno MatiasLPts: 6x2Chicago NGOABSF2021
28281PJ BarchPJ BarchLReferee DecisionNoGi Worlds79KG8F2021
28449Levi JonesLevi JonesLReferee DecisionWNO 1077KGSPF2021
28720Jeferson GuaresiJeferson GuaresiLReferee Decision3CG Underdogs84KGSF2021
29315Dante LeonDante LeonLReferee DecisionGrappleFest80KGSPF2021
30929Alan SanchezAlan SanchezLEBI/OTEBI 1977KGF2022
31211Andy VarelaAndy VarelaLReferee DecisionF2W198N/ASPF2022
32006Johnny TamaJohnny TamaLReferee DecisionNashville NGO79KGF2022
32605Francisco CuneoFrancisco CuneoLN/AChicago SPNGO73KGSF2022
33127Ryan AikenLReferee DecisionSUBVERSIV 783KG4F2022
33511Kyle BoehmKyle BoehmD---UFC Inv. 2ABSRR2022
35019Mica GalvaoMica GalvaoLPts: 5x0ADCC77KGR12022
35555Francisco LoFrancisco LoLArmlockNoGi Pan85KG8F2022
35993Jed HueLPts: 1x0Polaris 2286KGSF2022
36056Adam WardzinskiAdam WardzinskiLPts: 12x0European NGABSF2022
36863Sebastian RodriguezSebastian RodriguezLPts: 0x0, AdvNoGi Worlds85KG8F2022
36945Luke GriffithLRNCUFC InvitationalABSSF2022
37779Jonnatas GracieJonnatas GracieLN/AWNO77KGSPF2023
39351Robert WintherLPts: 0x0, PenADCC OC83KG4F2023
39362Robert WintherLReferee DecisionADCC OC83KG3RD2023
42506Andy VarelaAndy VarelaLN/AEUG JJB82KGF2023
42613Jozef ChenLPts: 3x0ADCC EU Trials77KGF2023
43592Elijah DorseyElijah DorseyLPts: 3x0ADCC ECTrials77KGSF2023
44127Tommy LangakerTommy LangakerLPts: 4x4, AdvEuropean NoGi79KG4F2023
44419Tommy LangakerTommy LangakerLReferee DecisionPolaris 2677KGSPF2023
45191Ryan AitkenLEBI/OTMain Character83KGSF2023
11146Carsten CarlsenWPts: 3x0ADCC US Trials77KGR12016
11148Emmanuel VeraWTriangle armbarADCC US Trials77KGR22016
11150N. ManelaWKneebarADCC US Trials77KG4F2016
11152C. EdmondsonWInside heel hookADCC US Trials77KGSF2016
11378Shane FishmanWInside heel hookCanadian KumiteABSR12016
11379Aaron JollimoreWOutside heel hookCanadian KumiteABS4F2016
11380Jared RevelWOutside heel hookCanadian KumiteABSSF2016
11381C. FransonWOutside heel hookCanadian KumiteABSF2016
11382Bradley HillWReferee DecisionSub Series CBO82KGSPF2017
11383Caio MagalhaesWInside heel hookAMMOABSSPF2017
11867Will StoneWInside heel hookTUFF Kumite80KGRR2017
11869Tom CaugheyWInside heel hookTUFF Kumite80KGRR2017
11870Jack CroninWOutside heel hookTUFF Kumite80KGRR2017
11872Kyle MontiethWOutside heel hookTUFF Kumite80KGRR2017
11873Ross NichollsRoss NichollsWOutside heel hookTUFF Kumite80KGRR2017
11874Daniel CrawfordWSubmissionTUFF Kumite80KGRR2017
11875Sean HarperWSubmissionTUFF Kumite80KGRR2017
11876Thomas StollWRNCMatrix Inv.80KGSF2017
11877Paul UrbanikWRNCMatrix Inv.80KGF2017
12492James LynchWInside heel hookADCC WC Trials77KGR12017
12504Charles GardnerWOutside heel hookADCC WC Trials77KGR22017
12510Carsten CarlsenWPts: 2x0ADCC WC Trials77KG8F2017
12521Mathew TeslaWPts: 5x2ADCC WC Trials77KG4F2017
12973Krzysztof KlaczekWOutside heel hookADCC EU Trials77KGR12017
12975Maciej KałuszewskiWOutside heel hookADCC EU Trials77KG4F2017
12978Pedro BessaWPts: 2x0ADCC EU Trials77KGSF2017
12979Darragh OConaillDarragh OConaillWInside heel hookADCC EU Trials77KGF2017
13658Ross NichollsRoss NichollsWReferee DecisionPolaris 576KGSPF2017
16909Lachlan GilesLachlan GilesWReferee DecisionPolaris 777KGSPF2018
23327David GarmoDavid GarmoWArmbarPara BellumABSSF2020
23328Mo HoballahWTriangle armbarPara BellumABSSF2020
23329Mo AlhamadiD---Para BellumABSSF2020
23516PJ BarchPJ BarchWInside heel hookBJJ Fanatics GP77KG4F2020
23521John CombsJohn CombsWInside heel hookBJJ Fanatics GP77KGSF2020
23522Ethan CrelinstenEthan CrelinstenWEBI/OTBJJ Fanatics GP77KGF2020
23771Gabriel CastroWKneebarJitz King84KGR12020
23775Benji SilvaWInside heel hookJitz King84KG4F2020
23777Valdir AraujoValdir AraujoWReferee DecisionJitz King84KGSF2020
24315Kyle MeyersWInside heel hookSubversiv 4ABSR12020
24322Arnaldo MaidanaArnaldo MaidanaWReferee DecisionSubversiv 4ABS4F2020
24330G. MioneWInside heel hookSubversiv 4ABS3RD2020
25231Tyler ScalisiWGuillotineDallas NGO79KG4F2021
25232David GarmoDavid GarmoWInside heel hookDallas NGO79KGF2021
25245Rodrigo TatuRodrigo TatuWOutside heel hookDallas NGOABSR12021
25247Francisco CuneoFrancisco CuneoWPts: 6x2Dallas NGOABS4F2021
25392Johnny TamaJohnny TamaWReferee DecisionWNO 777KGSPF2021
25831Eduardo AvelarEduardo AvelarWInside heel hookHouston NGO79KGSF2021
25833Joshua BacallaoWPointsHouston NGO79KGF2021
25844Charles McGuireWInside heel hookHouston NGOABS4F2021
25847Joshua BacallaoWTriangleHouston NGOABSSF2021
25975Gabriel AlmeidaGabriel AlmeidaWReferee DecisionSUBVERSIV 581KG4F2021
26204Rodrigo GortariWPts: 0x0, AdvNoGi Pan Am.ABSR12021
26296Johnatha AlvesJohnatha AlvesWReferee DecisionWNO 977KGSPF2021
26329Jaime CanutoJaime CanutoWReferee DecisionF2W 17277KGSPF2021
26880Rehan MuttalibWInside heel hookChicago NGO79KGF2021
26888MacKenzie MoralesWReverse triangleChicago NGOABS4F2021
26889Diego RamalhoDiego RamalhoWKneebarChicago NGOABSSF2021
26966Bruno MatiasBruno MatiasWPts: 5x0Austin NGO85KGSF2021
26968Pedro RochaPedro RochaWKneebarAustin NGO85KGF2021
27014Celso RicardoWReverse triangleOrlando NGO85KGRR2021
27015Celso RicardoWTriangleOrlando NGO85KGRR2021
27019Celso RicardoWInside heel hookOrlando NGOABS4F2021
27023Estevan MartinezEstevan MartinezWPts: 22x5Orlando NGOABSSF2021
27025Helton JoseHelton JoseWReferee DecisionOrlando NGOABSF2021
27760Oliver GotzeWAmericanaADCC EU Trials77KGR12021
27764Gyula SzaboWReferee DecisionADCC EU Trials77KGR22021
27773T. BarryWPts: 0x0, PenADCC EU Trials77KG8F2021
27777Marcus PhelanMarcus PhelanWReferee DecisionADCC EU Trials77KG4F2021
27781M. SzczecinskiWPts: 0x0, PenADCC EU Trials77KGSF2021
27784M. DzharbaevWPts: 2x2, PenADCC EU Trials77KGF2021
28271Tyler ScalisiWOutside heel hookNoGi Worlds79KGR22021
28714Adrian NezWPoints3CG Underdogs84KGR12021
28718Hunter NewtonWStraight ankle lock3CG Underdogs84KG4F2021
29789Nick DomgjoniWOutside heel hookEmerald CityABSR12021
29793Jay RodriguesWInside heel hookEmerald CityABS4F2021
29797Alan SanchezAlan SanchezWInside heel hookEmerald CityABSSF2021
29798Nick RonanWEBI/OTEmerald CityABSF2021
30825Francisco CuneoFrancisco CuneoWPts: 4x0Dallas NGO79KGSF2022
30827Saul ViayraWStraight ankle lockDallas NGO79KGF2022
30915Mikey GonzalezWInside heel hookEBI 1977KGR12022
30923David GarmoDavid GarmoWStraight ankle lockEBI 1977KG4F2022
30927Nick RonanWEBI/OTEBI 1977KGSF2022
32009Clay MayfieldWTriangleNashville NGOABSSF2022
32010Austin OrandayWInside heel hookNashville NGOABSF2022
32554Francisco CuneoFrancisco CuneoWReferee DecisionAtlanta SPNGO79KGSF2022
32555Sergio ArdilaSergio ArdilaWInside heel hookAtlanta SPNGO79KGF2022
32607Bryan PetersonWRNCChicago SPNGOABSSF2022
32609Andrea SeaverWPts: 13x0Chicago SPNGOABSF2022
32796Tyler ScalisiWInside heel hookHouston NGO79KGSF2022
32797Matheus GalvaoWPts: 16x2Houston NGO79KGF2022
32803Clay MayfieldWReverse triangleHouston NGOABS4F2022
32807Austin OrandayWOutside heel hookHouston NGOABSSF2022
32808Andre PorfirioAndre PorfirioWPts: 2x0Houston NGOABSF2022
33524Jacob RodriguezWStraight ankle lockUFC Inv. 2ABSRR2022
33525Bo NickalD---UFC Inv. 2ABSRR2022
35486Anthony RobinsonWPts: 5x1Skilled Violence85KGSPF2022
35992M. SzczecinskiWReferee DecisionPolaris 2286KG4F2022
36042Tin VuksanWOutside heel hookEuropean NGABSR12022
36048Thomas BracherWPts: 2x0European NGABSR22022
36052Muslim PatsarigovMuslim PatsarigovWReferee DecisionEuropean NGABS4F2022
36054Alexandre JesusAlexandre JesusWPts: 2x0European NGABSSF2022
36098Ioannis ProiosWInside heel hookEuropean NG85KG8F2022
36100Taylor PearmanWAdvEuropean NG85KG4F2022
36105Claudio CalasansClaudio CalasansWReferee DecisionEuropean NG85KGSF2022
36106Alexandre JesusAlexandre JesusWPts: 4x0European NG85KGF2022
36943Richie MartinezRichie MartinezWOutside heel hookUFC InvitationalABS4F2022
36950Camron CouchWInside heel hookBlack Widow Inv.85KGSPF2022
37341Anthony MichaelWPts: 10x0Austin WNGO85KGSF2023
37342Sean YadimarcoWPts: 2x0Austin WNGO85KGF2023
37350Ben EddyWOutside heel hookF2W 220N/ASPF2023
37635Shawn MelansonWTarikoplataEnigmaN/ASPF2023
38305Bobby MalofWPointsTwisted Church88KGSPF2023
39346Mario ShonkwilerWPts: 0x0, PenADCC OC83KGR12023
39349Matthew TejoWSubmissionADCC OC83KG8F2023
39359John CombsJohn CombsWAoki lockADCC OC83KGRPC2023
39360Ethan VistroWGuillotineADCC OC83KGRPC2023
39361Joshua DawsonWInside heel hookADCC OC83KGRPC2023
39976Oliver VickeryWInside heel hookADCC Denver83KGR12023
39979Kevin BeuhringWPts: 11x0ADCC Denver83KG4F2023
39983Mohamed IbrahimWKneebarADCC Denver83KGSF2023
39984Elijah CarltonWPointsADCC Denver83KGF2023
40116Andy VarelaAndy VarelaWPts: 0x0, PenEnigma TV77KGSPF2023
40840Matt KopraWInside heel hookADCC Dallas83KGR12023
40845Michael SalazarWBack triangleADCC Dallas83KGR22023
40847Logan YoxWOutside heel hookADCC Dallas83KG8F2023
40850Vitor PeresWInside heel hookADCC Dallas83KG4F2023
40853Jon BlankJon BlankWPts: 2x0ADCC Dallas83KGSF2023
40855John CombsJohn CombsWKneebarADCC Dallas83KGF2023
41341Chris WojcikWPointsTwisted ChurchNASPF2023
41941Angel VillegasWPts: 11x0ADCC Arizona76KGR12023
41943Illia KotliarWKneebarADCC Arizona76KGR22023
41946Cody OrrisonWSubmissionADCC Arizona76KG8F2023
41949Clayton WimerWPts: 3x0ADCC Arizona76KG4F2023
41951Sam KilmerWSubmissionADCC Arizona76KGSF2023
41952Elijah DorseyElijah DorseyWSubmissionADCC Arizona76KGF2023
42010Sebastian RodriguezSebastian RodriguezWReferee DecisionWNO 1984KGSPF2023
42502Victor SilverioVictor SilverioWReferee DecisionEUG JJB82KG4F2023
42504Igor FelizIgor FelizWReferee DecisionEUG JJB82KGSF2023
42591Mathias MidtunWInside heel hookADCC EU Trials77KGR12023
42592Tom MaenurmWZ lockADCC EU Trials77KG16F2023
42599Arturo SalasWInside heel hookADCC EU Trials77KG8F2023
42609Marcus PhelanMarcus PhelanWInside heel hookADCC EU Trials77KG4F2023
42610Thomas BarryWReferee DecisionADCC EU Trials77KGSF2023
43006Rene SousaWToe holdStout FightsNASPF2023
43266Zach CothrenWInside heel hookNoGi Pan79KG8F2023
43271Eduardo AvelarEduardo AvelarWInside heel hookNoGi Pan79KG4F2023
43272Matheus GalvaoWRNCNoGi Pan79KGSF2023
43274Kieran KichukKieran KichukWInside heel hookNoGi Pan79KGF2023
43544Josh SquiresWInside heel hookADCC ECTrials77KGR12023
43563Christopher OngWInside heel hookADCC ECTrials77KGR22023
43576Josh BacallaoWInside heel hookADCC ECTrials77KGR42023
43583Michael SaenzWInside heel hookADCC ECTrials77KG8F2023
43591Max HansonWPts: 2x0ADCC ECTrials77KG4F2023
43595Kieran KichukKieran KichukWPts: 2x0ADCC ECTrials77KG3RD2023
44119Nicola CastellanoWKatagatameEuropean NoGi79KG8F2023
45182Michael EsquivelWKneebarMain Character83KGR12023
45188Felipe CesarFelipe CesarWEBI/OTMain Character83KG4F2023

Oliver Taza vs PJ Barch at BJJ Fanatics GP (2020)

 

5050 Guard Instructional by Lachlan Giles

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