Victor Honório - Ultra-Heavyweight BJJ Black Belt

Victor Hugo Honorio is a BJJ Black Belt under his father Jose Honorio. He is a representative of both Top Brother and GF Team but internationally he represents GF Team. He is one of the most dominant heavyweight fighters of GF Team. The peak moment for Victor’s career was when he defeated top grapplers at the Copa Podio Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament while still being a Brown Belt and earned the second position. And after becoming a Black Belt, Victor Honorio cemented his status as a dominant ultra-heavyweight grappler of his time.

Victor Honorio was born on 12 October 1993 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The main reason behind Victor’s tremendous success is his father. His father was the one who put the love of martial arts in him and with the passage of time this love flourished. His father was a freak when it came to martial arts. Jose Honorio was a Black Belt in Karate, experience in Muay Thai as well as Luta Livre Esportiva (submission wrestling).

Watching his father competing and practicing gave Victor a glimpse of martial arts. He was only 4 years old when his father decided to enroll him in a BJJ academy for his official training.

Victor’s father used to practice at the Top Brother BJJ Academy and that is where he brought his son. Master Cezar Guimaraes was the head coach of the academy. Though Victor trained under his father, it was Master Cezar Guimaraes who took keen notice of the young talent.

Jose Honorio wanted his son to shine bright in different martial arts. He then enrolled Victor in Judo and freestyle wrestling classes. It was Victor Honorio’s staunch efforts that he took interest in all the three combat sports and proved that he is a versatile fighter despite being a child.

His efforts made a place for him in the Brazilian Wrestling National Squad. And Victor Honorio was the first-ever Brazilian who won the Pan American Title in wrestling in the 2010 cadet division.

Along with wrestling, Victor also competed in Muay Thai and boxing, though the tournaments were mostly in-house.

After graduating to the Purple Belt level, Victor started his BJJ training with GF Team. The only reason for joining GF Team was because of its reputation as the top heavyweight academy in Brazil. Victor trained under both Top Brother and GF Teams but he represents GF Team.

In 2013, Victor Honorio became IBJJF World Champion as a Purple Belt. His mastery of different martial arts was responsible for his swift progres on the IBJJF charters.

As a Brown Belt in 2015, Victor Honorio earned the first place at the UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro.

Victor Honorio received his Black Belt from his father Jose Honorio in June 2015. It was a huge honor for Victor as he received all of his belts from his father.

As a Black Belt, Victor earned many championships on national and international level. In 2016, he won first place at the IBJJF South American Championship in the absolute weight category.

After 2019, Victor Honorio did not appear in any IBJJF World Championship event. But this year he made a savage comeback to the IBJJF events. At the IBJJF Rio Fall Open held on 1st April 2023, Victor won seven consecutive fights in the ultra-heavyweight and absolute weight divisions via Cachecol Choke.

He also stated that he plans to win the World Championship which is going to be held on 6 May 2023. Victor is putting immense efforts to claim the place that once belonged to him.

The fight between Victor and Cleyton was for the finals of IBJJF Rio Fall Open 2023. Victor claimed the match when he threw Cleyton to the ground and came on top. Victor earned 2 points from the takedown. Cleyton tried to stumble Victor but Victor’s strong position and defense did not let him fall. Victor again scored 2 points from the takedown followed by 3 points from the guard pass. Finally Victor won the match by submitting Cleyton via Cachecol Choke by using his own lapels to strangle Cleyton.

Luis Fernando Oliveira is rightly famous for his style which resembles Leandro Lo’s fighting style. The fight started and it was Luis who tried to initiate the takedown but Victor overcame it. Victor scored 3 points from the guard pass and later finished the fight via a Cachecol Choke submission in just 2 minutes and 32 seconds.

The most different thing in Victor’s fighting style that distinguishes him from other fighters is that he uses his own bodyweight to hold his opponent. He uses his own Gi lapels to choke his opponents which was a fascinating show at the 2023 IBJJF Rio Fall Open Championship.

Victor is not the grappler whom you want to mess with. It is not because of his size, it is because of his technique and tactics. He is one of the most respected grapplers in the BJJ community. During the fight, he might look like a ferocious fighter but as soon as the fight ends he goes back to his den, to his calm persona.

Victor Honório VS Seif Eddine Houmine / uropean Championship 2019

Victor Honório vs Nicholas Meregali / Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu Jitsu 2018

Victor Honorio vs Tanner Rice / European Championship 2019

Photo Credit: @cbjjoficial