Roger Gracie is widely considered the greatest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor in history. The grandson of BJJ founder Carlos Gracie, Roger won 10 IBJJF World Championship titles between 2004 and 2010, becoming the first person ever to win the absolute (open weight) division three times. What makes his legacy even more remarkable is that he retired in 2017 without ever being submitted in competition—a record that may never be matched.​
Roger’s approach to jiu-jitsu proved that mastering fundamental techniques at the highest level beats flashy innovation. His signature cross-collar choke from mount became so dominant that opponents knew it was coming but still couldn’t stop it.
Table of Contents
Early Life and Training Background
Born September 26, 1981, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Roger grew up surrounded by BJJ royalty. As Carlos Gracie’s grandson, he learned from multiple family members but credits his cousin Renzo Gracie and especially Maurição Gomes as his primary instructors.​
Roger received his black belt in 2002 from Maurição Gomes. Unlike many Gracie family members who earned their belts quickly due to their lineage, Roger’s technical development followed a traditional path, building the fundamental skills that would later dominate world-class competition.​
Competition Career and Achievements
Roger’s competitive career spanned 13 years and produced one of the most dominant records in combat sports history.​
IBJJF World Championships: Roger won 10 black belt world titles from 2004 to 2010, capturing gold every single year. He won the super heavyweight division seven times and the absolute division three times—a feat never accomplished before. His 2009 performance stands out as particularly remarkable, when he submitted every opponent in both his weight class and absolute with the cross-collar choke from mount.​
ADCC 2005: Roger’s performance at the 2005 ADCC Championships in Long Beach, California, is considered one of the most dominant displays in grappling history. He won both his weight class and the absolute division by submitting all nine opponents, including a standing rear-naked choke on Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. Roger became the only athlete to win both ADCC divisions with a 100% submission rate.
Other Major Titles: Roger also won the 2005 European Open absolute division, the 2006 Pan American absolute championship, and multiple other prestigious tournaments. He’s a member of both the IBJJF Hall of Fame and ADCC Hall of Fame.​
Fighting Style and Signature Techniques
Roger’s style revolutionized modern BJJ by proving that perfect execution of fundamental techniques beats complexity. While competitors developed increasingly elaborate guard systems and leg locks, Roger dominated with basic positions and submissions mastered to an extraordinary level.​
The Cross-Collar Choke: Roger’s signature weapon was the cross-collar choke from mount. He used this technique so effectively that opponents knew exactly what was coming but still couldn’t defend it. Roger’s version involved securing deep grips, using exceptional weight distribution to prevent escapes, and timing the finish perfectly. For a detailed breakdown of this technique, see our cross-collar choke guide.​​
Positional Dominance: Roger’s game focused on achieving dominant positions—especially mount and back control—and maintaining them with crushing pressure. His base was legendary, making him nearly impossible to sweep or escape from once he established top position.​
Grip Fighting: Roger’s grip strength and strategic grip placement gave him control before techniques even started. Once he secured his preferred grips, opponents found themselves defending positions they didn’t realize were already lost.​
MMA Career
While maintaining his BJJ competition schedule, Roger also competed professionally in mixed martial arts from 2006 to 2016. He fought for major organizations including UFC, Strikeforce, and ONE Championship, retiring with an 8-2 record as the ONE FC Light Heavyweight Champion.​
Roger faced notable opponents including Kevin Randleman, Tim Kennedy, Keith Jardine, and Anthony Smith. While his MMA career didn’t reach the same legendary status as his grappling achievements, it demonstrated his courage to test himself in different combat sports.​
Final Match and Retirement
Roger came out of retirement in 2017 for one final match against Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida, then the reigning IBJJF world champion and considered the best competitor of his generation. Roger submitted Buchecha, proving even after years away from competition that his technical mastery remained unmatched.​
This victory provided the perfect ending to an undefeated submission record. Roger retired from competitive grappling having never been submitted in his entire career.​
Roger Gracie Academy
After retiring from competition, Roger focused on teaching and growing his academy network. The Roger Gracie Academy has locations worldwide, spreading his technical approach and philosophy to new generations of practitioners.​
Roger emphasizes fundamental techniques, positional dominance, and submission-focused training in his curriculum. His teaching preserves the traditional Gracie approach while incorporating lessons learned from his championship career.​
Legacy and Impact
Roger Gracie’s impact on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu extends beyond his trophy collection. He proved that fundamental techniques, when mastered completely, remain more effective than innovative complexity. This influenced how serious competitors approach training—many now dedicate more time to perfecting basics rather than collecting endless techniques.​
His unsubmitted record and dominance over multiple weight classes cement his status as the greatest BJJ competitor ever. While debates about “GOAT” status exist in every sport, Roger’s combination of longevity, consistency, and technical perfection make his case nearly undeniable.​
For practitioners at any level, Roger’s career teaches that depth matters more than breadth. Mastering fundamental positions and submissions to an elite level beats knowing hundreds of techniques superficially.
