Paulo Barroso
Lightweight champion at the first Worlds in history, in 1996, for Gracie Humaitá, he is now a coral belt, promoted by Rickson Gracie.
- the year of the first Worlds, where he won the lightweight title
- 1996
Who is Paulo Barroso
Paulo Barroso was the first lightweight world champion at black belt. In 1996, at the first Worlds in history, Gracie Humaitá dominated the division, and he opened his run with two submissions, over France’s Arsene Gilles and over Fábio Santos, a Brazilian representing the United States.
In the semifinal he beat Alexei Cruz and set up a final against teammate Renato Barreto. The two did not fight, and the title went to Barroso. The podium also had Alexei Cruz in third and another Humaitá name, Saulo Ribeiro, in fourth.
At that same Worlds the academy also closed out the featherweight final, with Royler Gracie and Paulo Coelho. Barroso is now a seventh-degree coral belt, a rank he received from Rickson Gracie in the United States.
Recent wins
- 1996Alexei CruzWorlds, semifinal
- 1996Fábio SantosWorlds · submission
- 1996Arsene GillesWorlds · submission
Major titles
1996
- IBJJF Worlds Lightweight Gold
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