
Bibiano Fernandes is an example of a fighter who has prospered both inside and outside the cage. Bibiano has built successful careers in Jiu-Jitsu and MMA and today, at the age of 43, he is a reference in the field of entrepreneurship. The One Championship athlete will take another important step as an entrepreneur in the coming months.
On October 14, Bibiano Fernandes will inaugurate his new academy, Flash Academy Martial Arts, in Langley, Canada, in what promises to be a bombastic event. The event will be attended by Renzo Gracie and American Demetrious Johnson, the current One Championship flyweight champion.
“The preparations for the opening are great, my students have been helping me a lot here in Canada to open the academy. I’m happy to have the opportunity to pass on my skills and methodology to other people who will need it in the future. I’m preparing to train champions on and off the mats, and that’s something I value a lot. I’m a guy who came from the bottom and got here with wisdom, training and dedication,” says Bibiano.
The three-time IBJJF black belt world champion combines the routines of fighter and businessman with mastery. Bibiano points out that he likes to do both jobs, but admits that he’s close to the point of passing the baton to his MMA pupils.
“I’ve been a businessman for a long time. I’m still an athlete, but I’ve done a lot of business throughout my life. I invested the money I received from fights and so I started to be an entrepreneur, especially when I was champion. It’s good to be an entrepreneur, to take care of the athletes, the gym, but I’m getting to the point where my next champions will have to carry the Legacy flag in MMA,” reveals the One Championship fighter.
Throughout his MMA career, Bibiano has forged great friendships. This is the case with Demetrious Johnson. They’ve been friends for a long time and Bibiano thinks of the American as a brother.
“I consider Demetrious a brother, we’ve been training together for 11 years. In the beginning, when we trained Jiu-Jitsu, I would submit him more than ten times during the roll. But he’s evolved a lot and today it’s tough to finish him. He always makes a point of emphasizing that I helped him on the ground. He’s a hard-working guy, good blood and we have a brother-to-brother friendship. One champion walks with another, I have that vision, not just in Jiu-Jitsu, but in life too,” Bibiano said.

Demetrious Johnson has been confirmed for the World Masters, which will take place between August 31 and September 2. Johnson will be hunting for gold in the Master 2 featherweight among the brown belts and Bibiano believes that the American will give him a hard time in the championship.
“I talked to Demetrious and told him that he needs to know how to change his grips. I think that’s the only part he can feel the difference because he’s not so used to the grips. He’ll need to do six fights to be champion and he’s ready,” said the former One Championship champion.
Bibiano was due to return to MMA in August, but his opponent was forced to pull out of the fight and the Brazilian is waiting for a new challenge. The manauara reinforces his desire to compete in Jiu-Jitsu again in the future.
“I intend to compete in Jiu-Jitsu again because this sport is my life, it’s the way I was able to develop my hope. I’ll definitely fight Jiu-Jitsu again, it’s my art of living,” says Bibiano Fernandes.