Daniel Beleza - Four Times IBJJF World Champion

Daniel Beleza was born in Rio de Janeiro on April 2, 1976. Beleza is the best light featherweight BJJ competitor who has won multiple championships in this weight division. Beleza started his jiu-jitsu career in Brazil before relocating, settling, and continuing his BJJ career in the USA. Now, Beleza is a coach who teaches BJJ to new generations.

When Beleza turned eight, his family moved to Fortaleza, Brazil. In Fortaleza, Daniel started learning kickboxing when he was 14 years old.

After four years of learning kickboxing, Beleza was introduced to jiu-jitsu. Some of his friends joined a gym, Nova Uniao - CE or SAS, and repeatedly tried to convince him to join. When Beleza visited the gym, he fell in love with BJJ after his first class. Carlos Pinto de Sá became his first and last coach.      

He appeared in almost all major championships like the IBJJF World Championship, IBJJF Master World Championship, Pan American Championship, Brazilian National, New York International, Miami International, and Boston International.  

Daniel Beleza had a great belief in God and he believed that he would conquer everything with this belief. He appeared in multiple BJJ events and became one of the few fighters who appeared in multiple events. Because in the southeastern area, it took a lot of work for the competitors to manage traveling or registration finances.

In 2000, Beleza was promoted to a black belt by Carlos Pinto de Sá.

In 2008, Beleza decided to compete in international competitions and relocated to the USA. He would open his own academy and settle in Pennsylvania. 

Beleza became a four-time world and Pan champion in the light featherweight division. He has also won the Brazilian National, New York International Open, Boston International Open, Miami International Open, Atlanta International Open, and Boca International Open.     

Beleza is one of the few BJJ competitors with a non-Gracie lineage. Two big names part of his jiu-jitsu lineage are Takeo Iano and Francisco Sá. Iano was a judo champion who had a prominent role in establishing jiu-jitsu in Brazil and introduced the heel hook in jiu-jitsu.

Beleza teaches many BJJ skills via online lessons and has instructional DVDs that teach his best techniques.   

Beleza did not come from an athletic background. He is married and has a three-year-old daughter. Beleza does not like to discuss his personal life on social media. 

Beleza faced João Paulo Kuraoka in the 2009 World Championship. Beleza dominated at the start of the fight by successfully executing a pulling guard. He also succeeded at putting Kuraoka down from the guard position. Kuraoka tried to escape, but Beleza managed to push him back onto the ground. Beleza managed to maneuver on top of Kuraoka. While keeping Kuraoka pinned, Beleza got behind him and applied a collar choke. Beleza submitted Kuraoka via a collar choke within one minute.

Beleza faced Milton Bastos in the 2014 IBJJF World Championship. Beleza started the fight with a pulling guard but was forced to switch to a full guard position. He tried to grab ahold of Basto’s gi and pull him down. After a few minutes, Beleza once again tried to apply a pulling guard, but could not maintain the position. This time, Bastos took the opportunity to try and dominate Beleza. Bastos was on top of Beleza, but the latter managed to apply a full guard. Beleza turned the tables by switching from as full guard to a triangle choke, submitting Baston within two minutes.

Beleza faced Carlos Holanda at the 2011 IBJJF Pan Championship. Beleza started the fight by jumping and landing on top of Holanda. Though Holanda managed to escape, Beleza quickly caught Holanda by his gi and tried to pull him down again. Holanda countered by grabbing Beleza by his gi and succeeded in throwing him onto the ground and getting on top of him. Holanda put pressure on Beleza, while Beleza kept up a strong defense. Beleza managed to hold off his opponent until time ran out. Beleza won the fight with two more points than Holanda.

Daniel Beleza VS Carlos Holanda / Pan Championship 2011

Daniel Beleza vs Milton Bastos

Daniel Beleza VS Joao Paulo Kuraoka / World Championship 2009

Amazing Submission finish! Daniel Beleza vs Carlos Holanda

Photo Credit: @dbeleza