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Vinny Magalhães

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Vinny Magalhães, also known as Pezão, is one of the top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitors of his generation, being also a retired mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, and former The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 8 finalist. Vinny worked with instructors such as Royler Gracie, Vini Aieta and Eddie Bravo, becoming well known for his submission orientated grappling style, a style he has used to submit great competitors such as Marcio Cruz, Rodrigo Cavaca, Roberto Cyborg, Bruno Bastos and many others in Grappling competitions.

Vinny Magalhães

Full Name: Vinicius de Magalhães

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Royler Gracie > Vini Aieta > Vinny Magalhães

Nickname: “Vinny” is a name that first came about in 2004 when Magalhães moved to America. He started being called that by Cesar Gracie and he embraced it as it was an easy solution for the frequent miss-spelling of his first name by the locals.

“Pezao” means Big Foot in Portuguese, the name was given by Bernardo Treco from the Gracie Tijuca academy (where Vinny trained). Magalhães was only 14 years old at the time and his feet were disproportionate when compared to his still-developing body frame, thus the name

Main Achievements:

  • 1st Place ADCC World Championship (2011)
  • 1st Place IBJJF World Championship NoGi (2007)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Masters World Championship (2016)
  • 3rd Place ADCC World Championship (2011*, 2009**)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

  • 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2005** brown, 2002 blue belt)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2002 blue belt)
  • 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2005* brown belt)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2005 brown belt)
  • 2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2003 purple belt)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Closed Guard, 50/50 Guard

Weight Division: Peso Pesado (94kg-207lbs) or Super Pesado (100kg-221lbs)

Association/Team: Was linked in with Gracie Tijuca and Gracie Humaitá, in the US he has fought for 10th Planet, Team Quest and Cesar Gracie.

Vinny Magalhães Biography

Vinicius Magalhães was born on the 2nd of July 1984 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Vinny lived the life of a normal kid in Rio de Janeiro often playing football or shooting some hoops, but it was only in 1998 (when he was 14) that he started practicing the sport that would change his life, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He started training at a small gym in his neighborhood (Bairro de Olaria) with Jair Reis but shortly after he moved to train with Professor Germano Junior from the Strauch Academy with whom he stayed until the end of 1999 when he got his blue belt.

Shortly after getting his blue belt Vinicius moved clubs to meet the man that would become his true master, Professor Vinicius Aieta from Gracie Tijuca – where Saulo Ribeiro also taught. Under Aieta’s supervision Magalhães Jiu-Jitsu evolved tremendously and there he started developing his unique fighting style, always seeking the submission at all cost.

Oddly enough, though he proved more than often his worth on the mats, his black belt was earned due to a lost bet between his master Vinicius Aieta and Royler Gracie at the Mundial in 2005. After an amazing performance at the brown belt Super Pesado weight division, where he submitted every single one of his opponents (including Rodrigo Cavaca in the final), Vinny Magalhães went on to have a total of 7 fights in the absolute division reaching the final with just two fighters surviving his submission onslaught (one of whom was Romulo Barral to whom Vinny won by 7×0). Royler told Aieta he was “sandbagging” and Aieta believed Vinny was not yet ready for the black belt as he had only been a brown belt for 10 months. It was agreed between the two masters that if Vinny submitted his opponent in the final he would get his black belt, if he didn’t he would stay a brown belt for a while longer. Turns out Vinny destroyed his opponent Gabriel Kitobert in one minute via armbar receiving the black belt on the podium from his master and Royler Gracie.

In 2004 Vinny Magalhães took a big chance and moved to the United States. He was dating Cesar Gracie’s cousin at the time, and she told Vinny of a vacant coaching spot at the Gracies academy. Vinny applied for the spot immediately and got it even though he did not speak a word of English.

From Cesar Gracie’s gym, Vinny Magalhães went on to coach grappling/BJJ at one of the greatest Mixed Martial Arts teams in the world, Team Quest, a team led by two MMA legends, Dan Henderson and Matt Lindland. Being in a big team like Quest, many opportunities presented themselves to a gifted athlete like Magalhaes, the was biggest probably his chance to be a part of The Ultimate Fighter reality show, a TV show in which you fight your way into a contract with a major fighting organization (the UFC). In Vinny’s case, he managed to get in the show without even going to the series of trials. What happened was that at the time “Pezão” heard that the UFC was doing a series on light heavyweights, he asked Dan Henderson to give UFC president – Dana White a call and put in a good word for the Brazilian ace, which worked out perfectly. Magalhaes went to the house and put on good performances that allowed him a spot in the final against Ryan Bader, a fight Vinny lost by TKO.

Coming to a big show like TUF was a mixed bag, in one hand there was the exposure of being in a mainstream show, but on the other hand, Vinny was still very new to the sport and had very basic knowledge of the stand-up aspect of the game. Continuing his bad luck streak, Vinny left Team Quest when he returned from the Show, there were certain issues with the team’s management and Magalhães slammed the door on the academy. Making the mistake of not having a stand-up coach and only doing grappling sparring consistently his career with the UFC also came to an abrupt end after his loss to another TUF competitor, Eliot Marshal (this time by decision).

Vinny was in need of a reboot, and that he did, by moving to Las Vegas where he found new training partners and coaches that have helped him recreate his MMA career. He is still relatively active in Submission Grappling events, namely Grapplers Quest and ADCC.

Vinny Magalhaes Grappling Record

36 WINS
  • BY POINTS
    11 (31%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    1 (3%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    21 (58%)
  • BY DECISION
    1 (3%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    1 (3%)
  • BY EBI/OT
    1 (3%)

21 SUBMISSIONS WINS

#214eb8
Heel hook
38
8
#86e620
Toe hold
19
4
#5AD3D1
Flying armbar
10
2
#d1212a
Kimura
5
1
#fad11b
Kneebar
5
1
#f58822
Triangle armbar
5
1
#224aba
Banana split
5
1
#ff9124
Footlock
5
1
#bf1f6c
Twister
5
1
#22c9a5
Inside heel hook
5
1
21
(100%) SUBMISSIONS
24 LOSSES
  • BY POINTS
    9 (38%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    3 (13%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    2 (8%)
  • BY DECISION
    6 (25%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    1 (4%)
  • BY EBI/OT
    2 (8%)

2 SUBMISSIONS LOSSES

#214eb8
Choke from back
50
1
#86e620
verbal tap
50
1
2
(100%) SUBMISSIONS

Vinny Magalhaes Fight History

ID Opponent W/L Method Competition Weight Stage Year
1389Roger GracieRoger GracieLChoke from backPan AmericanABS4F2006
2280Alexandre RibeiroAlexandre RibeiroLPointsADCC99KGSF2009
2306Braulio EstimaBraulio EstimaLPointsADCCABSSF2009
2380Daniel ValverdeDaniel ValverdeLPts: 0x0, AdvUFC ExpoABSSPF2009
3176Andre GalvaoAndre GalvaoLPts: 4x0Ultimate Abs.ABSSF2011
3314Murilo SantanaMurilo SantanaLReferee DecisionADCCABS4F2011
5045Jared DoppJared DoppLPenADCCO99KG4F2013
5871Keenan CorneliusKeenan CorneliusD---Metamoris 4ABSSPF2014
7313Erberth SantosErberth SantosLPts: 6x4Copa Podio95KGGP2015
7319Tim SpriggsTim SpriggsLAdvCopa Podio95KGGP2015
7905Orlando SanchezOrlando SanchezLReferee DecisionADCCO99KGSF2015
7994Claudio CalasansClaudio CalasansLReferee DecisionADCCABS4F2015
10800Garry TononGarry TononLEBI/OTEBI 993KGF2016
11296Jared DoppJared DoppLPts: 12x9Grappling Pro 2120KG4F2016
11698Lucas BarbosaLucas BarbosaLPts: 2x2, AdvSan Jose OpenABSF2017
11968Carlos FariasCarlos FariasLReferee DecisionMexico City OpenO100KGF2017
12572Roberto AbreuRoberto AbreuLPts: 3x0ADCC WC TrialsO99KGSPF2017
12899Adam WardzinskiAdam WardzinskiLPointsACBJJ 595KG4F2017
13852Jared DoppJared DoppLReferee DecisionADCCO99KG4F2017
15314Joseph MokuLReferee DecisionACBJJ 11O95KGSPF2018
15847Gabriel LucasGabriel LucasLPointsACBJJ 12O95KGSPF2018
21889Vinicius TratorVinicius TratorLPts: 2x0ADCC99KGSF2019
23202Nick RodriguezNick RodriguezD---Kasai Pro 7120KGRR2020
23724Craig JonesCraig JonesLverbal tapSUG 13ABSSPF2020
24090Mason FowlerMason FowlerLEBI/OTSUG 18N/ASPF2020
35073John HansenLInjuryADCCO99KGR12022
1386Carlos FrancisWToe holdPan AmericanABSR12006
1481Robert DrysdaleRobert DrysdaleWPts: 1x0LA Sub-XABSSPF2006
2273Rodrigo CavacaRodrigo CavacaWHeel hookADCC99KGR12009
2277Marcio CruzMarcio CruzWFlying armbarADCC99KG4F2009
2283Glover TeixeiraWTriangle armbarADCC99KG3RD2009
2296Dean ListerDean ListerWPointsADCCABSR12009
2302Chris WidemanWFlying armbarADCCABS4F2009
2309Gunnar NelsonGunnar NelsonWPts: 3x0ADCCABS3RD2009
3169Daniel SimoesDaniel SimoesWBanana splitUltimate Abs.ABSR12011
3174Marcus AlmeidaMarcus AlmeidaWHeel hookUltimate Abs.ABS4F2011
3256Luke CostelloWPts: 2x0ADCCO99KGR12011
3278Jose JuniorJose JuniorWFootlockADCCO99KG4F2011
3288Gerardi RinaldiGerardi RinaldiWPts: 3x0ADCCO99KGSF2011
3299Fabricio WerdumFabricio WerdumWPts: 2x0ADCCO99KGF2011
3308Bruno BastosBruno BastosWHeel hookADCCABSR12011
5037Wang Yan BoWHeel hookADCCO99KGR12013
6215Matheus DinizMatheus DinizD---Metamoris 5ABSSPF2014
6656Jackson SousaJackson SousaWReferee DecisionBerkut OpenABSSPF2015
6662Jackson SousaJackson SousaWToe holdBerkut Open NoGiABSSPF2015
7305F. ReisWPts: 2x2, AdvCopa Podio95KGGP2015
7321Nelton PontesNelton PontesWPts: 4x2Copa Podio95KGGP2015
7893P. ArdillaWHeel hookADCCO99KGR12015
7901Rodrigo ArtilheiroWTwisterADCCO99KG4F2015
7907Joao RochaJoao RochaWHeel hookADCCO99KG3RD2015
7986Garry TononGarry TononWPts: 0x0, PenADCCABSR12015
10339Ronny MarkesWHeel hookSub UndergroundABSSPF2016
10597Ronny MarquesWHeel hookSUG 3ABSSPF2016
10790Tom BreeseWInside heel hookEBI 993KGR12016
10796Eliot KellyEliot KellyWEBI/OTEBI 993KG4F2016
10799Matt KirchwehmWKimuraEBI 993KGSF2016
11857Frederico SilvaWToe holdHouston OpenABS4F2017
11860Thiago MacedoThiago MacedoWKneebarHouston OpenABSSF2017
13846Bruno BastosBruno BastosWToe holdADCCO99KGE12017
16348Gordon RyanGordon RyanWPointsACBJJ 13O95KGSPF2018
21833Dan MartinezWPts: 4x0ADCC99KGR12019
21838James PuopoloJames PuopoloWPts: 2x0ADCC99KG4F2019
22809Perttu TepponenPerttu TepponenWPts: 5x4NoGi WorldsABSR12019

Vinny Magalhães vs Daniel Gracie

VinnyMagalhães vs Marcus Almeida

Vinny Magalhães Highlight

5050 Guard Instructional by Lachlan Giles

9 Comments

  • Gabriel says:

    Vinny now teaches at Xtreme Couture. please mention this

  • Michael says:

    Should add it in there that he has a black belt under Eddie Bravo, and uses 10th planet JJ in matches such as the Daniel Gracie match.

  • Eric says:

    Vinny is no longer at Xtreme Couture. He now teaches at Syndicate Mixed Martial Arts in Las Vegas. He was also at Tapout Research and Development in Las Vegas, though I THINK, that was before Xtreme Couture.

    just because he use part of the 10th planet system doesn't mean he's a Black Belt under Eddie Bravo, he was a black belt already, i believe now a 2nd degree black belt.

    • Shmuel Gatoz says:

      I know this is from a while ago, but Eddie considers a 10th Planet black belt a seperate thing for whatever reason, and there's a youtube vid of him giving one to Vinny at a seminar meaning that Vinny has received black belts from both Eddie and Royler. I find this endlessly amusing.

    • Tom Edwards says:

      He’s a double black belt Bitch under Master Royler and Eddie Bravo

  • Matvey says:

    I think he submitted Buchecha with a toe hold, not a heel hook.

  • Darrell.S says:

    Amazing how Vinny adapted to BJJ so gracefully! Amazing to only have on submission lose on you’re pro Grappling record!! Im impressed! May BJJ , Wrestling, Sambo, Judo, continue to involve and make the art of submission grappling, points and pin fall grappling, a great form of self defense, and sport now and forevermore!

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