Alehander Mariano

Alehander da Silva Mariano was born on September 22, 1998, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and grew up in the Tijuquinha community, a favela nestled in the city's West Zone. That environment forged the resilience and determination that would later define his competitive identity. At 14, he stepped onto the mats for the first time at a local jiu-jitsu academy, quickly discovering a natural affinity for the sport.

The early chapter came to an abrupt end when his coach passed away, stripping the young Mariano of the guidance and structure that had drawn him to jiu-jitsu. Rather than drifting without direction, he channeled his athletic drive into weightlifting for roughly two years. The pull of the mats, however, proved impossible to ignore. Mariano returned to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the coaching of Joelton 'Creatina', reigniting a passion that would carry him to the highest levels of international competition.

Mariano's growth as a grappler was shaped primarily by his years training under Joelton 'Creatina' through the colored belt ranks. The relationship proved foundational, with Mariano absorbing the technical principles and competitive mindset that would underpin his future success. A telling measure of the respect he earned came at purple belt, when he was invited to travel to Ecuador to teach jiu-jitsu — an early recognition of both his technical ability and his maturity as a practitioner.

Mariano returned to Brazil in 2020, earning his brown belt by year's end. What followed was a period of focused athletic development, during which he aligned himself with Atos Jiu-Jitsu Team and came under the mentorship of André Galvão, one of the most decorated competitors and coaches in the sport's history. The partnership accelerated Mariano's progression at every level. After a string of landmark performances at the Pan American and World Championships, André Galvão awarded Mariano his black belt on July 25, 2023 — a milestone that marked the culmination of a journey that began on the streets of Tijuquinha.

Long before receiving his black belt, Mariano had already established himself as one of the most dangerous competitors in the Meio Pesado division. His brown belt years on the IBJJF circuit were defined by a level of consistency rarely seen at the colored belt level, drawing widespread attention from the grappling community.

In 2021, Mariano opened his account on the major competition circuit by winning the Copa Podio Iron Brown Belt tournament, while also reaching the podium twice at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals — claiming silver and bronze in separate category appearances. The following year brought even greater returns: in 2022, he captured gold at the IBJJF South American Championship and claimed the IBJJF World Championship title in No-Gi, announcing himself as a world-class talent in the submission wrestling format.

His momentum carried into 2023, when he added the IBJJF World Championship in the Gi to his résumé, becoming a double world champion at brown belt. A runner-up finish at the 2023 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship that same year underscored the breadth of his competitive output — cementing his status as the standout prospect in the Meio Pesado division ahead of his black belt promotion.

Mariano competes in the Meio Pesado division at black belt, a weight class capped at 88.30 kg (195.0 lbs) where the field is deep with experienced and decorated practitioners. His transition from brown to black belt produced no dip in competitive output — quite the opposite. At the 2024 Pan Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi IBJJF Championship, Mariano demonstrated his readiness for the elite division by winning gold, while also finishing as runner-up in a separate category at the same event. The double-bracket performance reflected both his willingness to compete across multiple divisions and his capacity to maintain a high standard throughout a grueling tournament schedule.

Representing Brazil and Atos Jiu-Jitsu Team on the international stage, Mariano embodies a trajectory built on persistence through personal adversity, international teaching experience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence — a story that runs from the streets of Tijuquinha to the top of the black belt podium.