Vagner Rocha, commonly known as Ceará is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Pablo Popovitch, known for his achievements in grappling and mixed martial arts (MMA) – having competed for the top promotions in both sports, the ADCC (BJJ) and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (MMA). Rocha is also an ADCC medalist and the founder of Vagner Rocha Martial Arts, a well-known association in the South Florida region.
Vagner Rocha Jiu-Jitsu
Full Name: Vagner Rocha
Nickname: ‘Ceará’ is a word often used to reference Vagner, which is the name of a state in Brazil’s Northwest. The natives of this region are often depicted as Brazil’s version of hillbillies – tough country folk, ridiculed for their lack of sophistication and, in Brazil, for the size of their heads. The name was associated with Vagner by Jorge Popovitch when Rocha started training because even though he wasn’t born in Ceará, he fit the description.
Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Crolin Gracie > Jorge Popovitch > Pablo Popovitch > Vagner Rocha
Main Achievements:
- 1st Place ADCC US East Trials (2015/2010)
- 1st Place ADCC US West Trials (2017)
- 1st Place EBI Combat Invitational (2017)
- 1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2007 brown)
- 1st Place Florida Grappling League (2009**)
- 1st Place Grapplers Quest Champion (2009**)
- 2nd Place ADCC World Championship (2019 / 2024)
- 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship NOGI (2021)
- 2nd Place 3CG Kumite III Grand Prix (2020)
- 2nd Place Eddie Bravo Invitational 13 (2017)
- 2nd Place Eddie Bravo Invitational 11 (2017)
- 2nd Place ADCC US West Trials (2013)
- 3rd Place ADCC World Championship (2017 / 2022)
Main Achievements (Colored Belts):
- 1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2007 brown)
* Absolute
** Weight and absolute
Favorite Position/Technique: 50/50 of the Arms
Weight Division: Peso Médio (82,30 kg /181.5 lbs)
Team/Association: Vagner Rocha Martial Arts
Vagner Rocha Biography
Vagner Rocha was born on June 6, 1982, in Nova Friburgo, a Brazilian mountainous region included in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
At the age of 5, Vagner’s family moved to the United States, settling in Fort Lauderdale – South of Florida. It was there that Rocha spent most of his childhood and formative years, being also the place where he was introduced to martial arts, at the age of 7 through taekwondo.
Vagner practiced TKD for 2 years, losing his connection with the martial art as a brown belt, he would re-engage with combat sports as an 18-year-old – this time through jiu-jitsu. His newfound love for grappling was sparked in his native Brazil 2 years earlier, while on holiday playing around with a cousin who had gained some experience with the sport/martial art. Vagner and this cousin would engage in playful fighting every holiday since they were little and always on even grounds, this changed that Summer when Rocha was totally manhandled, choked, and tapped at will. Vagner soon understood his cousin’s new skills were owed to BJJ. It didn’t take long for Rocha to start contemplating signing with a gym, though it took him 24 months to finally join.
Vagner started training jiu-jitsu in 2001 with Jorge Popovitch. He was forced to slow down his training soon after due to the birth of his first child. He put training on the background to provide for his family, but once he found a steady job at a construction site and finished night school he returned, giving his full dedication to grappling.
The Popovitch family (Jorge and son Pablo) were an integral part of Vagner’s progression in jiu-jitsu, awarding him all belts – including his black belt, a promotion that took place at the team’s end of the year dinner party in December 2007.
In 2008 Vagner was offered a position as a coach at the BJJ Centre (Popovitch academy). He learned the art of coaching and running a gym there, gradually leaving his construction job behind to focus solely on BJJ. Rocha would later add a career in mixed martial arts to his skill set, a competitive circuit he premiered in, in 2009 and eventually found his way to the sport’s top promotion – the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2011.
2011 was also the year when the Popovitch + Rocha partnership ended and Vagner Rocha Martial Arts (VRMA) was born – Vagner’s own association.
Rocha is often associated with Fight Sports, another well-known academy based in Florida. This link between Vagner and FS comes from Roberto ‘Cyborg’ Abreu whom he met in 2007. Vagner had known of Roberto for long, from bumping into him in jiu-jitsu events, but the first time they interacted was that year at a grappling tournament called ‘Copa America’. Both Rocha and Cyborg made it through to the final of CA’s open weight class, and in the process of an epic battle, they gained great mutual respect, which led to a friendship. Training together on a regular basis, in 2009 Rocha and Abreu formed an alliance, and a bigger team was born. It was named The Avengers.
The Avengers were a merged formation, combining Cyborg, Rocha, Pablo Popovitch, Marcus Almeida, Rodrigo Cavaca, Raphael Chaves, and a few other well-known black belts. The team took the IBJJF No-Gi Worlds by storm in 2010 but eventually fell through – through the union between Rocha and Abreu persisted, someone Vagner has described as both a friend and an inspiration.
Cover photo by Blanca Marisa Garcia @ Combat EBI World Championship
Vagner Rocha Academy Web: vagnerrochamartialarts.com
Vagner Rocha Grappling Record
-
BY POINTS
31 (30%) -
BY ADVANTAGES
2 (2%) -
BY SUBMISSION
45 (43%) -
BY DECISION
21 (20%) -
BY PENALTIES
1 (1%) - BY EBI/OT
5 (5%)
45 SUBMISSIONS WINS
-
BY POINTS
9 (29%) -
BY ADVANTAGES
2 (6%) -
BY SUBMISSION
7 (23%) -
BY DECISION
8 (26%) -
BY PENALTIES
1 (3%) - BY EBI/OT
3 (10%)
7 SUBMISSIONS LOSSES
Vagner Rocha Fight History
ID | Opponent | W/L | Method | Competition | Weight | Stage | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2422 | Carlos Ferreira | L | Points | NoGi Worlds | 79KG | 4F | 2009 |
2798 | Matt Arroyo | L | Points | MMAC Grappling | ABS | F | 2011 |
3233 | Augusto MendesAugusto Mendes | L | Footlock | ADCC | 77KG | R1 | 2011 |
4028 | Diego BorgesDiego Borges | L | Points | World Champ. | 82KG | R1 | 2012 |
4348 | G. Tonon | L | Points | ADCC US Trials | 77KG | F | 2013 |
7948 | Otavio SousaOtavio Sousa | L | Referee Decision | ADCC | 77KG | 4F | 2015 |
7996 | Joao RochaJoao Rocha | L | Pts: 3x0 | ADCC | ABS | 4F | 2015 |
10686 | AJ AgazarmAJ Agazarm | L | DQ | F2W 14 | 77KG | SPF | 2016 |
10763 | Gordon RyanGordon Ryan | D | --- | Sapateiro 2 | ABS | SPF | 2016 |
12019 | Gordon RyanGordon Ryan | L | RNC | EBI 11 | 77KG | F | 2017 |
13248 | DJ JacksonDJ Jackson | L | Pts: 25x8 | Grappling Pro | 77KG | SPF | 2017 |
13904 | Lucas LepriLucas Lepri | L | Referee Decision | ADCC | 77KG | SF | 2017 |
14235 | Garry TononGarry Tonon | L | Inside heel hook | EBI 13 | 70KG | F | 2017 |
14672 | Gilson NunesGilson Nunes | L | Pts: 0x0, Adv | NoGi Worlds | 73KG | R2 | 2017 |
14730 | Jared DoppJared Dopp | L | Pts: 0x0, Adv | NoGi Worlds | ABS | R1 | 2017 |
16961 | Francisco IturraldeFrancisco Iturralde | L | Referee Decision | W.S.O.G. | 81KG | 8F | 2018 |
17250 | Renato CanutoRenato Canuto | L | Pts: 1x1, Pen | Kasai Pro 3 | 77KG | F | 2018 |
18201 | Renato CanutoRenato Canuto | L | Pts: 3x0 | Kasai Pro 4 | 77KG | SPF | 2018 |
21270 | JT TorresJT Torres | L | Referee Decision | F2W 119 | 77KG | SPF | 2019 |
21917 | JT TorresJT Torres | L | Pts: 3x0 | ADCC | 77KG | F | 2019 |
22436 | Tye RuotoloTye Ruotolo | L | Referee Decision | F2W 131 | 77KG | SPF | 2019 |
23768 | Craig JonesCraig Jones | L | EBI/OT | SUG 14 | 88KG | SPF | 2020 |
23838 | Roberto JimenezRoberto Jimenez | L | Referee Decision | 3CG Kumite III | 81KG | F | 2020 |
23952 | Alexandre RibeiroAlexandre Ribeiro | D | --- | BJJ Bet | 95KG | SPF | 2020 |
25429 | Gordon RyanGordon Ryan | L | Reverse triangle | WNO 7 | 93KG | SPF | 2021 |
28354 | Pedro MarinhoPedro Marinho | L | Pts: 4x2 | NoGi Worlds | 91KG | F | 2021 |
33564 | Felipe PenaFelipe Pena | L | EBI/OT | Honor Challenge | ABS | F | 2022 |
35101 | Lucas BarbosaLucas Barbosa | L | Referee Decision | ADCC | 88KG | SF | 2022 |
40906 | Nick RodriguezNick Rodriguez | L | EBI/OT | UFC FPI 4 | ABS | SF | 2023 |
44614 | Abraham Montagne | L | Referee Decision | ADCC Florida | 91KG | SF | 2023 |
49650 | Nicholas MeregaliNicholas Meregali | L | Armbar | WNO 23 | O93KG | SPF | 2024 |
52492 | Mica GalvaoMica Galvao | L | RNC | ADCC | 77KG | F | 2024 |
52541 | Giancarlo BodoniGiancarlo Bodoni | L | RNC | ADCC | ABS | 4F | 2024 |
1845 | David Vieira | W | Points | Copa America | ABS | F | 2008 |
2789 | G. Geiger | W | Points | ADCC US Trials | 77KG | R1 | 2010 |
2790 | Brian BeauryBrian Beaury | W | Anaconda choke | ADCC US Trials | 77KG | R2 | 2010 |
2791 | B. McLaugh | W | Armbar | ADCC US Trials | 77KG | 4F | 2010 |
2792 | Peter Runez | W | Choke | ADCC US Trials | 77KG | SF | 2010 |
2793 | Tony Tipton | W | Points | ADCC US Trials | 77KG | F | 2010 |
2796 | A. Agazarm | W | Triangle armbar | MMAC Grappling | ABS | 4F | 2011 |
2797 | Corey Hill | W | Reverse triangle | MMAC Grappling | ABS | SF | 2011 |
2811 | Unknown | W | RNC | FGL | ABS | R1 | 2011 |
2812 | Unknown | W | RNC | FGL | ABS | 4F | 2011 |
2813 | Unknown | W | Reverse triangle | FGL | ABS | SF | 2011 |
2814 | Danilo Villefort | W | Pts: 6x0 | FGL | ABS | F | 2011 |
2815 | Edson DinizEdson Diniz | W | Pts: 2x0 | FGL | 77KG | F | 2011 |
3199 | Unknown | W | Triangle | ADCC EC Trials | 77KG | R1 | 2011 |
3200 | Unknown | W | Anaconda choke | ADCC EC Trials | 77KG | R2 | 2011 |
3201 | Unknown | W | Armbar | ADCC EC Trials | 77KG | 4F | 2011 |
3202 | Unknown | W | Choke | ADCC EC Trials | 77KG | SF | 2011 |
3203 | Tony Tipton | W | Points | ADCC EC Trials | 77KG | F | 2011 |
4333 | Anton Yalch | W | Kimura | Copa America | ABS | 4F | 2013 |
4334 | Jeremy York | W | Short choke | Copa America | ABS | SF | 2013 |
4335 | Dan Martinez | W | Points | Copa America | ABS | F | 2013 |
4343 | N/A | W | Armbar | ADCC US Trials | 77KG | R1 | 2013 |
4344 | N/A | W | Triangle | ADCC US Trials | 77KG | R2 | 2013 |
4345 | Ed Cummings | W | Points | ADCC US Trials | 77KG | 4F | 2013 |
4347 | Enrico CoccoEnrico Cocco | W | Referee Decision | ADCC US Trials | 77KG | SF | 2013 |
7208 | Unknown | W | Points | ADCC US Trials | 77KG | 8F | 2015 |
7211 | Unknown | W | Points | ADCC US Trials | 77KG | 4F | 2015 |
7214 | Jonathan SatavaJonathan Satava | W | Points | ADCC US Trials | 77KG | SF | 2015 |
7215 | Magid Hage | W | Points | ADCC US Trials | 77KG | F | 2015 |
7941 | Milton Vieira | W | Pts: 2x0 | ADCC | 77KG | R1 | 2015 |
7991 | Romulo BarralRomulo Barral | W | Pts: 2x0 | ADCC | ABS | R1 | 2015 |
12010 | Joe Baize | W | EBI/OT | EBI 11 | 77KG | R1 | 2017 |
12015 | Sergio ArdilaSergio Ardila | W | Short choke | EBI 11 | 77KG | 4F | 2017 |
12017 | Craig JonesCraig Jones | W | EBI/OT | EBI 11 | 77KG | SF | 2017 |
12483 | Edmund Kim | W | Pts: 3x0 | ADCC WC Trials | 77KG | R1 | 2017 |
12499 | Werther Marciales | W | RNC | ADCC WC Trials | 77KG | R2 | 2017 |
12512 | Will Durkee | W | Armbar | ADCC WC Trials | 77KG | 8F | 2017 |
12518 | Stephen Martinez | W | Submission | ADCC WC Trials | 77KG | 4F | 2017 |
12523 | Jonathan SatavaJonathan Satava | W | Referee Decision | ADCC WC Trials | 77KG | SF | 2017 |
12524 | AJ AgazarmAJ Agazarm | W | Referee Decision | ADCC WC Trials | 77KG | F | 2017 |
13895 | Tero Pyylampi | W | Pts: 3x0 | ADCC | 77KG | E1 | 2017 |
13901 | DJ JacksonDJ Jackson | W | Referee Decision | ADCC | 77KG | 4F | 2017 |
13906 | Garry TononGarry Tonon | W | Pts: 2x0 | ADCC | 77KG | 3RD | 2017 |
14225 | Issa Able | W | EBI/OT | EBI 13 | 70KG | R1 | 2017 |
14231 | PJ BarchPJ Barch | W | EBI/OT | EBI 13 | 70KG | 4F | 2017 |
14234 | Nathan Orchard | W | EBI/OT | EBI 13 | 70KG | SF | 2017 |
14667 | Nicolas Reiner | W | Short choke | NoGi Worlds | 73KG | R1 | 2017 |
14859 | Dustin Akbari | W | Referee Decision | F2W 58 | 82KG | SPF | 2018 |
15712 | Bill CooperBill Cooper | W | Short choke | F2W 68 | 77KG | SPF | 2018 |
16681 | Dante LeonDante Leon | W | RNC | Grappling Ind. | 82KG | SPF | 2018 |
17236 | Masahiro IwasakiMasahiro Iwasaki | W | Heel hook | Kasai Pro 3 | 77KG | RR | 2018 |
17242 | M. Lutes | D | --- | Kasai Pro 3 | 77KG | RR | 2018 |
17244 | M. Lutes | D | --- | Kasai Pro 3 | 77KG | RR | 2018 |
17245 | Marcin Held | W | Wristlock | Kasai Pro 3 | 77KG | RR | 2018 |
17849 | Augusto MendesAugusto Mendes | W | Referee Decision | F2W 89 | 70KG | SPF | 2018 |
18521 | Ben Henderson | W | RNC | Polaris 8 | 77KG | SPF | 2018 |
19552 | Ross NichollsRoss Nicholls | W | Referee Decision | Polaris 9 | 77KG | SPF | 2019 |
20875 | Ethan CrelinstenEthan Crelinsten | W | Points | Third Coast | 75KG | SPF | 2019 |
20989 | Celso ViniciusCelso Vinicius | W | Pts: 4x2 | KASAI SS Florida | 77KG | SPF | 2019 |
21877 | Servio TulioServio Tulio | W | Armbar | ADCC | 77KG | R1 | 2019 |
21882 | Celso ViniciusCelso Vinicius | W | Referee Decision | ADCC | 77KG | 4F | 2019 |
21915 | Dante LeonDante Leon | W | Referee Decision | ADCC | 77KG | SF | 2019 |
23476 | Thiago Moises | W | Points | Sub Stars | N/A | SPF | 2020 |
23834 | Kody SteeleKody Steele | W | Points | 3CG Kumite III | 81KG | 4F | 2020 |
23837 | Pedro MarinhoPedro Marinho | W | Points | 3CG Kumite III | 81KG | SF | 2020 |
23882 | Ronaldo JuniorRonaldo Junior | W | Referee Decision | WNO | 86KG | SPF | 2020 |
24436 | Gabriel AlmeidaGabriel Almeida | W | Inside heel hook | F2W 157 | 83KG | SPF | 2020 |
24884 | Jon BlankJon Blank | W | Referee Decision | WNO 5 | SPF | 88KG | 2020 |
25182 | Yuri SimoesYuri Simoes | W | Referee Decision | F2W 164 | ABS | SPF | 2021 |
25982 | William TackettWilliam Tackett | W | Referee Decision | F2W 171 | 84KG | SPF | 2021 |
26333 | Josh HingerJosh Hinger | W | Referee Decision | WNO 9 | 83KG | SPF | 2021 |
28345 | Giancarlo BodoniGiancarlo Bodoni | W | Referee Decision | NoGi Worlds | 91KG | 8F | 2021 |
28353 | Diego RamalhoDiego Ramalho | W | Referee Decision | NoGi Worlds | 91KG | SF | 2021 |
31306 | Francisco CuneoFrancisco Cuneo | W | RNC | Charleston NGO | ABS | SF | 2022 |
31307 | Estevan MartinezEstevan Martinez | W | RNC | Charleston NGO | ABS | F | 2022 |
32528 | Thiago Cesar | W | Submission | SD NGO | 91KG | SF | 2022 |
32529 | Jorge Farfan | W | Triangle | SD NGO | 91KG | F | 2022 |
32531 | Rafael AnjosRafael Anjos | W | Heel hook | SD NGO | ABS | 4F | 2022 |
32533 | Elliot Kelly | W | Submission | SD NGO | ABS | SF | 2022 |
32535 | Johnny TamaJohnny Tama | W | Aoki lock | SD NGO | ABS | F | 2022 |
33563 | Hugo Borim | W | Cross face | Honor Challenge | ABS | SF | 2022 |
33867 | Angelo ClaiborneAngelo Claiborne | W | Cross face | Orlando SMNGO | 91KG | SF | 2022 |
33868 | Juan Romero | W | Reverse triangle | Orlando SMNGO | 91KG | F | 2022 |
33871 | Francisco CuneoFrancisco Cuneo | W | Points | Orlando SMNGO | ABS | 4F | 2022 |
33873 | Johanan Vielma | W | N/A | Orlando SMNGO | ABS | SF | 2022 |
33875 | Jeferson GuaresiJeferson Guaresi | W | Adv | Orlando SMNGO | ABS | F | 2022 |
35091 | Izaak MichellIzaak Michell | W | Referee Decision | ADCC | 88KG | R1 | 2022 |
35099 | Pedro MarinhoPedro Marinho | W | Referee Decision | ADCC | 88KG | 4F | 2022 |
35103 | Eoghan OFlanagan | W | Toe hold | ADCC | 88KG | 3RD | 2022 |
36964 | Shawn Hoehne | W | Shoulder lock | NoGi Worlds | 91KG | R1 | 2022 |
36972 | Bryan Peterson | W | Toe hold | NoGi Worlds | 91KG | 4F | 2022 |
36975 | C. NegromonteC. Negromonte | W | Pts: 0x0, Adv | NoGi Worlds | 91KG | SF | 2022 |
40903 | Fellipe AndrewFellipe Andrew | W | Inside heel hook | UFC FPI 4 | ABS | 4F | 2023 |
41832 | Uros Cilic | W | Points | Tough Roll | NA | SPF | 2023 |
44604 | T. Vines | W | Pts: 2x0 | ADCC Florida | 91KG | R1 | 2023 |
44607 | E. Birch | W | Pts: 2x0 | ADCC Florida | 91KG | 8F | 2023 |
44611 | B. Wagenaar | W | Shoulder lock | ADCC Florida | 91KG | 4F | 2023 |
45966 | Victor SilverioVictor Silverio | W | Short choke | UFC FPI 5 | 84KG | SPF | 2023 |
46616 | Luke GriffithLuke Griffith | W | Referee Decision | Battle OT Promo | ABS | SPF | 2024 |
46950 | T. Bo | W | Pts: 3x0 | ADCC ACity | 91KG | R1 | 2024 |
46952 | J. Albarello | W | Pts: 2x0 | ADCC ACity | 91KG | 4F | 2024 |
46954 | S. Kilmer | W | Pen | ADCC ACity | 91KG | SF | 2024 |
46955 | Dylan Melton | W | Pts: 3x0 | ADCC ACity | 91KG | F | 2024 |
52481 | Jeremy SkinnerJeremy Skinner | W | Pts: 6x0 | ADCC | 77KG | R1 | 2024 |
52487 | Jonnatas GracieJonnatas Gracie | W | Pts: 2x0 | ADCC | 77KG | 4F | 2024 |
52490 | Elijah DorseyElijah Dorsey | W | Referee Decision | ADCC | 77KG | SF | 2024 |
52534 | Fabricio AndreyFabricio Andrey | W | Referee Decision | ADCC | ABS | R1 | 2024 |
Vagner Rocha vs Eddie Cummings