Vinicius Lessa

Vinicius Alves Lessa Paula is from Maceió, Alagoas, and came up through the colored belts with PSLPB Cicero Costha, reaching the podium at the 2018 South Americans at purple belt and taking bronze at the 2019 European No-Gi at brown belt. His black belt came from Claudio Calasans, a five-time World Pro champion, whom he calls “the legend Claudio Calasans, my coach and professor.”

His first year at black belt, 2022, was slowed by a broken foot, but he still won Opens and took bronze at the South Americans. In 2023, now with Esporte Dez, he picked up speed: he won BJJ Pro São Paulo at heavyweight, won Opens in Rio, Salvador and Betim and beat names such as Servio Tulio, Gabriel “Blade” Oliveira and Alex Munis.

That same year he jumped into no-gi. He was South American No-Gi runner-up, won the São Paulo Open No-Gi and earned his spot at the No-Gi Worlds in Las Vegas, where he took bronze at super heavyweight after losing his semifinal in the last 30 seconds. “It was a great year, I had great wins in the gi and, as a bonus, I got into the no-gi scene,” he told VF Comunica.

His search for a complete game also led him to wrestling. In 2023 he competed at the São Paulo state games for São José Wrestling and won freestyle gold at 97 kg and bronze in Greco-Roman. “It was about pushing my limits and I love challenging myself, so it was awesome,” he said.

In 2024 he won the absolute at the IBJJF South American No-Gi. In 2026 he won again at ultra heavyweight at the Rio Summer Open No-Gi, now registered with Atos.