Michael Liera Jr. - Owner of Lōgōs Jiu-Jitsu Academy

Michael Liera Jr. was born in Littleton, Colorado on September 29, 1993. Liera Jr. became a top lightweight competitor under André Galvão. He became famous during his time in the colored belt divisions and continued his winning streak during his black belt career. Liera Jr. won multiple major BJJ championships including the IBJJF World, Pan, American Nationals European Open, and UAEJJF Grand Slam. He is currently running his own jiu-jitsu academy called Lōgōs Jiu-Jitsu Academy.

In 2006, the Liera family was introduced to jiu-jitsu when they watched a UFC 60 fight between Matt Hughes and Royce Gracie at their friends’ house. Watching a UFC fight for the first time piqued the interest of the Liera family. The same friends whose house they watched the UFC 60 fight introduced the Liera family to a BJJ gym nearby. Micahel Liera Jr. and his father joined the BJJ gym along with their friends.

Liera Jr. and his father both started their jiu-jitsu training under Odie Neto. Later, they both moved to Pitball Jiu-Jitsu to train under João Cunha. Cunha awarded Liera Jr. his yellow and orange belts. Later on, both of them joined Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu Gym and trained under Saulo Ribeiro and Alexandre Ribeiro. The Ribeiro brothers also awarded Liera Jr. with his blue and purple belts. At Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu, Liera Jr. also served as an assistant coach.    

After receiving his purple belt, Liera Jr. moved again to Atos Jiu-Jitsu and started training under Galvão. Later, he would serve as an assistant instructor at the Atos Jiu-Jitsu headquarters in San Diego.

After winning at the World Gi and No-Gi, IBJJF Pan, and American National Championships as a purple belt, Liera Jr. was promoted to a brown belt by Galvão in 2013. 

In the brown belt division, Liera Jr. again showcased his skills in IBJJF Championships and was promoted to black belt by Galvão in 2014.

Liera Jr. is a three-time IBJJF World Gi Champion in the blue, purple, and brown belt divisions and a one-time IBJJF World No-Gi Champion in the purple belt division. He also won a bronze medal in the black belt division of the 2017 IBJJF World No-Gi Championship.    

Liera Jr. has won six gold medals in all the IBJJF Pan Championship belt divisions. He is the IBJJF Pan Champion in the blue, purple-brown, and black belt divisions. As a purple belt, Liera Jr. won in both his weight and the absolute divisions of the 2013 IBJJF Pan Championship.

Liera Jr. won the IBJJF American Nationals in both his weight and the absolute divisions for three consecutive years from 2012 to 2014. In 2013, he also won the IBJJF American No-Gi Nationals in his weight division only. 

In 2020, Liera Jr. moved back to Colorado and opened his own BJJ academy called Lōgōs Jiu-Jitsu Academy. At his academy, Liera Jr. teaches Gi and No-Gi BJJ on alternating days throughout the week.   

Liera Jr. is famous for his guard game. He has a high submission rate and has won 45 matches out of 102 via submission. On the other hand, Liera Jr. has only lost four matches by submission. Most of his opponents were submitted via a choke from the back.      

Liera Jr. was promoted to second-degree black belt by Galvão in 2021. When he broke the news to his fans on Instagram, he said,

Michael Liera Jr.’s sister, Elizabeth Liera, is also a BJJ competitor who won the 2021 IBJJF Pan Championship and was the runner-up in the 2021 IBJJF World and 2022 IBJJF Pan Championships. Elizabeth has recently been promoted to a black belt at the Atos Jiu-Jitsu headquarters by André Galvão and Angelica Galvão.

Liera Jr. faced Sergio Soares in the 2022 Chicago Summer Open finals. Both fighters started the fight in sitting positions. Then, Liera Jr. succeeded in taking Soares down to the ground. He tried but failed to maintain control over Soares. Soares took the opportunity to try and apply a triangle but also failed to subdue his opponent. During the next few minutes, Liera Jr. tried to get Soares on the ground, while Soares did his best to try and counter. Liera Jr. then managed to mount Soares completely and scored three points. He then succeeded in taking Soares by his back and submitted him via a collar choke.

Liera Jr. faced Ricky Semiglia in the eliminator round of the 2020 IBJJF Pan Championship. Semiglia took Liera Jr. down and tried to dominate him, while Liera Jr. tried to counter by applying a full guard. Liera Jr. tried his best to overcome Semiglia while stuck in the bottom position. Likewise, Semiglia tried to escape from Liera Jr.’s full guard, but the latter refused to lose his grip around the former’s groin.

Liera Jr. tried to transition from a full guard into a triangle choke but was forced to settle for an armbar that failed to submit Semiglia. However, when Semiglia tried to escape, he exposed his back to Liera Jr. Seizing the opportunity, Liera Jr. took Semiglia by his back and attempted a collar choke. Due to Semiglia’s strong core and attempts to escape, it took Liera Jr. almost three minutes submit his opponent via a collar choke.     

Liera Jr. faced James Puopolo in the 2018 Denver Fall semifinals. Liera Jr. started the match by trying to grasp Puopolo’s lapels and pull him onto the mat. As they struggled, Liera Jr.’s foot found itself in Puopolo’s hand and Puopolo’s foot became trapped in Liera Jr.’s grip. Puopolo responded by standing up and trying to dominate Liera Jr. on the ground.

However, Liera Jr. grabbed ahold of Puopolo’s gi, threw him on the ground, and tried to take him from behind. But Puopolo once again managed to escape and took the top position. Liera Jr. once again found himself trying to escape from underneath Puopolo. Luckily, he managed to maneuver in position to apply a triangle choke. Taken by surprise, Puopolo was unable to escape and was submitted by Liera Jr. via a triangle choke.

Michael Liera Jr. x Pedro Henrique Palhares - Atlanta Summer Open 2015

Michael Liera Jr vs Daniel Speirn / San Diego Spring Open 2019

Michael Liera Jr. VS Renato Canuto / Pan Championship 2020

Michael Liera Jr vs Felipe Cesar Silva / New York Fall Open 2018

Photo Credit: @lierajr