Fabricio Andrey - A Rising BJJ Black Belt from Manaus

Fabricio Andrey was born in Manaus, Amazonas on the 5th of March in 2000. He is one of the best Light Featherweight grapplers. Twenty-three years old Fabricio Andrey is three times World Champion, two times European Champion, multiple times CBJJ Champion, and once Pans Champion.

Fabricio Andrey was well aware of martial arts from his early childhood as he has a martial arts background. Fabricio’s father was a Capoeira instructor and used to teach Brazilian martial arts. To follow the family tradition, Fabricio joined Capoeira classes during his early childhood.

When Fabricio turned 13, he was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He joined BJJ as an extracurricular activity. Fabricio was lucky to find a social project named Nandinho near his house which was coached by the famous and best coach of Manaus. Andrey started his Jiu-Jitsu career under the coaching of such a brilliant coach that turned his choice of taking Jiu-Jitsu as a hobby into taking Jiu-Jitsu as a passionate career.

When Fabricio received his Green Belt, he was training and rolling with professional grapplers. He became very dedicated to Jiu-Jitsu until he received his Blue Belt. He decided to appear in the IBJJF World Championship conducted in California. The next target for Fabricio was to get a USA visa. For this purpose, Fabricio relocated to Sao Paulo with the help of coach Melqui Galvao.

In São Paulo, two BJJ associations that are affiliated with Melqui Galvao proved the next training place for Fabricio. Two associations are Alliance Martiz Academy and a branch of Dream Art Project. Fabricio spent most of his time with Dream Art Project.

Fabricio is a fan of the Anime character “Hokage”. He used to call himself Hokage during training and also wrote Hokage on the back of his BJJ Gi. Due to his too much likeliness for the animated character, his teammates and his fans started to call him Hokage. With time, this name stuck with him.

Fabricio received his Green and Blue Belts under Melqui Galvao while training in Manaus. During his Green Belt level, he started training with professionals. At the Blue Belt level, he was ready and passionate to compete in the IBJJF World Championship.

After receiving the Blue Belt under Melqui Galvao, Andrey moved to Sao Paulo and started his training in the Dream Art Project. He was promoted to Purple and then Brown Belts during his stay in DAP by Fabio Gurgel and Michael Langhi.

Fabricio wanted to be promoted to Black Belt by his mentor and first coach, Melqui Galvao. So, he came back to Manaus to give this honor to his coach and be honored to receive his Black Belt from him. Fabricio was promoted to Black belt in August 2020.

Fabricio Andrey could not make his Black Belt debut just after his Black Belt promotion due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He competed as a Black Belt in late 2020 but failed to win the fight. He lost to Meryam Maquine. But after his defeat, he became more focused and prepared for the next tournaments.

In 2021, Fabricio came back with more preparations and dedication. He gave one after the other successful tournament. He won both SA Continental Pro and MIA Grand Slam in 2021.

After winning two major championships, now his new target was the World Championship. Fabricio appeared in IBJJF Pans and World Pro. In IBJJF Pans, he submitted three of his opponents. But Fabricio was defeated by Jamil Hill Taylor in the finals by advantage.

But Fabricio took this defeat as a lesson and learned from his mistakes and again gave his best in the World Pro. After winning World Pro, Fabricio aimed for the IBJJF World Championship. In the finals of the World Championship, Fabricio again faced Jamil Hill Taylor. But this time he defeated Hill with a Triangle Choke and won his first World Champion title as a Black Belt.

After the World Championship, Fabricio Andrey made ADCC his next target. He did tough preparation to be selected for the ADCC championship. In his first Brazilian Trials, he was defeated by his teammate, Diogo Reis in the semi-finals. Diogo submitted him with an Inside Heel Hook.

After failing in the first trial, he reappeared in the second trial. In the second ADCC Trials, Andrey surprised his fans as he submitted all his opponents. After his fabulous victory in the second ADCC Trials, he got the chance to ADCC 2022.

During his ADCC championship, Fabricio was not proven lucky enough to win. He just won the first round against Cole Abate. In the next two fights against Diogo Reis and Victor Hugo, Fabricio faced defeat. Hopefully, Fabricio will become ADCC Champion in the future.

A group of three boys trained under Melqui Galvao who achieved the title of World Champion before getting 21. Those three boys are called “Manaus boys”. Fabricio Andrey is also included in that group.

Fabricio Andrey is a well-rounded grappler. But one thing that is special about his game style is that he entertains his audience with his pressure style in the game. Fabricio gave his best in the complete match without being tired after a few minutes.

Another important thing about his style is his agility and conditioning. Along with conditioning and speed, he is also well-rounded. All these factors help him to put on an all-around performance.

Fabricio Andrey faced Jamil Hill Taylor in the final of the IBJJF World Championship 2021. Fabricio was defeated by Hill in the Pans 2021. This rematch was one of the most important matches of Fabricio’s career.

Fabricio and Taylor both spent almost two minutes in standing position and tried to take a chance to overcome each other. After one and a half minutes, Fabricio applied for pulling guard and then went for a triangle. He was very persistent and had a strong grip on Taylor’s neck and arm that Taylor could not escape. Fabricio submitted Taylor with Triangle in just 1 minute and 55 seconds.

Fabricio Andrey faced Lucas Rodrigues in the semi-finals of the European Championship 2023. Fabricio was as usual energetic from the start of the match. He started the match with a takedown and scored two points.

Lucas countered by applying full guard. Andrey tried to escape from the full guard. In this struggle, both ended up in a complicated position. Lucas tried to strangle Andrey’s leg while Andrey countered by strangling Lucas’s leg. After fighting for almost one and a half minutes, Andrey applied for Kneebar. Andrey submitted Lucas Rodrigues in one and a half minutes with Kneebar.

Fabricio Andrey faced Lucas Virgilio in the eliminator round of the 2020 European Championship. At the start of the match, Virgilio took a sitting position and tried to apply full guard. Fabricio did not let him apply full guard. Virgilio grasped his Gi sleeves and put his feet on his chest.

Fabricio escaped and countered back with full force. Virgilio once again restored his position by pulling Gi's sleeves and putting force by his feet on Fabricio’s chest. This time, Fabricio countered aggressively. He took a back position, grasped lapels from the back, and submitted Virgilio with Collar Choke.  

Fabricio Andrey vs Rico Staton / Pan Championship 2019

Fabricio Andrey VS Viki Dabush / European Championship 2020

Fabricio Andrey v Alex Sodre / World Championship 2021

Fabricio Andrey VS Yaroslav Blazhko / European Championship 2020

Photo Credit: @fabricio_andreyjj