The Magnificent Paulo Filho AKA ‘Ely’

At the ripe age of 22, Paulo Filho started his professional career in mixed martial arts. In 1997, Paulo represented Brazil in the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Championship and won a gold medal. He also secured 2 silver medals in 1998 and 1999.

He is a Brazilian retired mixed martial artist who competed in the Middleweight division in his last fight. Filho was the last WEC Middleweight Champion, he also contested in PRIDE, DREAM, DEEP, Impact FC, and the world series of fighting. Paulo Filho has earned prestigious regard in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community.

He is considered a legend among the high-level competitors, who have fought against him and trained with him. Filho is an extreme pit bull lover and has a tattoo of a pit bull on his shoulder and abdomen.

Paulo Fernando de Leite Filho, mostly known by the name of Paulo Filho was born on May 24, 1978, to a Jewish-Brazilian father and a Pernanbuco mother. His parents moved to Zona Sul. Around that time, young Paulo started training in jiu-jitsu at the Academy of Carlson Gracie.

In this academy, he started to learn judo and mixed martial arts. He did well in judo, Jiu-Jitsu, and mixed martial arts and later became one of the most renowned proteges of Carlson Gracie, and received his black belt in jiu-jitsu from Carlson Gracie at the age of 20.

Paulo Filho always held high regard for the whole Gracie family.

He said, “It is because of this family that I have everything in my life, and for that, I am forever grateful.”

Paulo Filho got his Black Belt in Judo in 1996 from Club de Regatas. He received his black belt in BJJ from Carlson Gracie in 1998. Paulo Filho started his pro athletic journey from Heroes events in July 2000 and stood undefeated after 16 straight fights till 2007.

It was at the start of 2001 when Paulo Filho showed the whole world who is the real boss. Despite the internal tussle of Carlson Gracie’s team, Filho was firm on his mission. Paulo Filho decided to be part of the Brazilian Top Team (BTT).

This was the best time in his career. He has achieved a 16-0-0 record, especially winning against the prominent fighters of that time like Yuki Kondo, Amar Suloev, Murilo, Rua, and many others.

In the duration of his stay in PRIDE, It was only Filho who remained undefeated in the 2006 Welterweight Grand Prix. But unfortunately, because of an injury, he was unsuccessful in winning the tournament.

It was in the semi-finals of PRIDE Bushindu on  5 November 2006, that Filho defeated Kazuo Misaki through Armbar. During the nerve-wracking tug of war, Filho suffered a knee injury, causing his withdrawal from the Grand Prix final match against Denis Kang.

Paulo Filho signed with World Extreme Cagefigt and ultimately fought on August 5, 2007, at WWE 29. Filho won the fight against the Canadian fighter Joe Doerksen via strikes. Paulo was awarded the controversial win at 4:15 of the second round over the two times National Wrestling Champion Chael Sonnon by Armbar. Because of the controversy, Filho was scheduled to face Sonnon again at WEC 33. But Filho faced Sonnon at WEC 36 on November 5. In that match, Filho was out of his league, and Sonnon dominated the fight and took the victory. In December 2008, when the WEC’s middleweight division was absorbed into the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Filho felt that he had lost his love for fighting and decided to take some time off from fighting.

Filho started his DREAM journey on July 20, 2009, by taking out a lightweight Melvin Manhoef at DREAM 10 in Saitama. Paulo put on an extremely skillful fight by showing great fortitude and perseverance. He wrestled with Melvin's toe to toe and continued to strike with power while dodging his rapid shower of strikes.

Melvin was also at the top of his game. At one point Manhoef put him in half guard but Filho swiftly transitioned into a full mount. Then Filho secured the Armbar which resulted in his win in the first round.

On September 12, 2009, Filho joined Brazil’s top institute, Bitetti Combat. In the fourth event of Bitetti Combat he fought against Argentinian Alex Schoenauer, Filho dominated the whole fight and secured a win by unanimous decision.

He fought in Bitetti Combat a second time on December 12, 2009, at Bitetti Combat 5. He took his opponent Tatsuhiko Nishizaka by applying a Kimura in the first round of the fight.

It was after that fight Filho failed to appear in the fights of Bitetti Combat despite several scheduled fight announcements.

Once again Filho was scheduled to face Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard on May 13, 2010, at Bellator 18. But Filho was unable to join the fight because of some visa issues.

Paulo was unstoppable at that time and the whole world was in awe before the skillful show of the play. He defeated Daniel Villegas on June 4, 2010, in the first round via submission and strikes. He started his heavyweight debut with flair. Both fighters faced each other again on July 17, 2010, which resulted in a draw. Right after the tournament, Filho was summoned to partake in the ADDC submission grappling championship in Nottingham, England. Because of an injury, Paulo was unable to join the ADDC.

Paulo Filho lived a legendary life. He has shown the world what it takes to be the champion.  With sheer dedication and the guidance of Carlson Gracie he mastered the art of fighting and made a long-lasting impression in BJJ, WEC, and ADCC.

It was not a pleasant time for Carlson Gracie and his team. Gracie’s team split apart and many prominent figures left the Academy to start their personal or joint ventures. But Paulo, despite the ambitiousness and the early bravado stage of his life did not leave and continued to follow the leader Murilo Bustamante. He did entertain the invitation of some formal teammates but ultimately returned to BTT.

Paulo Filho made an announcement on October 19, 2011, that he is retiring from the MMA and he will not be participating in future events. During the interview, when asked about the reasons for retirement Filho bluntly acknowledged the use of illegal substances and the problems it has been casting on his performance and mental state.

The spectators were in shock at the announcement of retirement and expecting a return. Paulo was thinking the same and he made a return to the arena to face former UFC fighter David Branch during the World Series of Fighting 2 event on March 23, 2013. Contrary to the expectations, Dave dominated the fight and Filho lost the bout to a unanimous decision.

Filho faced Andre Muniz at the Bitetti Combat on February 6, 2014, but lost again to a one-sided unanimous decision.

Paulo got into an unfortunate accident in 2007 and fractured his hip socket and left hand. He has now fully recovered and is living his life peacefully while doing speeches and teaching Jiu-Jitsu in Rio de Janeiro.

In 2014, during a party, Paulo caught up in a heated discussion with some unknown person in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The former WEC Champion got shot in the leg and was later brought to Miguel Couto Hospital for surgery.

The event got hyped because of the presence of former WEC 185-pound champion Paulo Filho and his opponent, former veteran David Branch, in the World Series of Fighting II in Atlantic City, New Jersey on March 23, 2013. Paulo was not proud of the fight's result but later accepted the substance abuse. He describes that loss as follows:

Paulo explained later that at that time, he was going through depression and falling into drug use. It all happened right after the PRIDE’s collapse in 2007. In his WEC debut, he was going to face Joe Doerksen for the middleweight gold and eventually won by first-round TKO. In four months Paulo was set to defend his belt against Chael Sonnen, nobody knew that he was not in his old form and shape and never will be again. Paulo said:

David Branch vs Paulo Filho | WSOF 2, 2013

Paulo Filho (Brazil) vs Denis Kang (Canada) | MMA HD

Pride Veteran Paulo Filho fights in Kuwait and wins

Paulo filhio vs chael sonnen 2 full fight WEC 36

Dream 10: Melvin Manhoef vs. Paulo Filho HD

Akira Shoji vs Paulo Filho Pride 22 Beasts from the East 2

Pancrase: Ikuhisa Minowa vs Paulo Filho (2001)

Photo credit: @MMA DEBATE , @paulofilhojj