Fredson Paixão

Fredson Paixão won the black belt featherweight world title three times, in 2001, 2002 and 2005. After his first two titles he took bronze in 2003 and silver in 2004, the years Mario Reis won the division. In 2005, for Gracie Barra, he was back on top on a podium with Mario Reis as runner-up. On the way to his second title, in 2002, he faced Ricardo De La Riva.

Born on May 13, 1979, in Parintins, Amazonas, he started training around 1994 and was a purple belt world champion in 1998 at light-featherweight. He received his black belt from Osvaldo Alves without passing through brown. The wristlock is his favorite submission.

He turned his focus to MMA in 2004, debuting with a win over Rani Yahya at Jungle Fight. He fought in Japan, beat Masakazu Imanari at Deep and made it to the WEC and the UFC, where in December 2010 he fought in the promotion’s first-ever featherweight bout, losing to Pablo Garza. He finished 11-5 with one no contest.

He lives in Las Vegas, where he runs Fredson Paixão BJJ and teaches seminars.