Alexandro Ceconi

Alexandro Ceconi was born and raised in Santa Catarina State, Brazil, where he built a dual life that would eventually carry him to the highest levels of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition. For years, he balanced a career as a car salesman with an unrelenting training schedule — rising early for conditioning work in the mornings, returning to the mats at lunch, and training again in the evenings. That level of commitment, sustained alongside full-time employment, spoke to a discipline that would later define his competitive identity.

Ceconi's technical development unfolded under the guidance of Rilion Gracie, the youngest son of Carlos Gracie, the founder of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Training within the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu tradition placed Ceconi in direct lineage with the art's founding family and grounded his game in the classical principles that distinguish that lineage. In 2008, after years of juggling professional obligations with his passion for the sport, he committed to BJJ full time and turned professional.

Earning his black belt under Rilion Gracie gave Alexandro Ceconi not only technical credentials but a direct connection to the origins of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu — a lineage that carries significant weight in the global BJJ community. That foundation was put on full display during an extraordinary 2010 campaign that established Ceconi as one of Brazil's most formidable heavyweight competitors.

The run began with victory at the UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Trials held in Gramado, representing the Brazilian South region. Winning those trials secured his entry into the final stage of the UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro Championship in Abu Dhabi, where he went on to claim the title in the heavyweight division — a remarkable achievement for a competitor who had only recently turned professional. Later that same year, Ceconi added the CBJJ Brazilian National Championship to his résumé, winning the Brasileiro despite competing through a bout of tonsillitis. Performing at that level while battling illness underscored the mental toughness forged during years of training alongside a demanding work schedule.

The broader arc of his early career gave that 2010 season its full weight. A runner-up finish at the Brazilian Nationals in 2009 and a third-place result at the World Championship that same year had signaled his emergence as a serious contender. The 2010 season confirmed it — decisively. Ceconi returned to the national stage in 2012 to claim a second CBJJ Brazilian National Championship title, cementing his standing as a dominant force across multiple seasons.

Alongside his rise in sport BJJ, Alexandro Ceconi explored mixed martial arts, making his MMA debut in December 2009. In that first outing, he submitted Eder Junior of the Furacão Fight Team with a first-round armbar — a finish that reflected the high-percentage, submission-oriented grappling instincts honed through years of competitive BJJ.

A second MMA bout was scheduled for the Floripa Fight event in April 2010, but Ceconi withdrew after qualifying for the UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro Championship through his victory at the Gramado trials. The scheduling conflict made his priority clear — and the decision proved well-founded given the world title that followed in Abu Dhabi. The MMA debut nonetheless demonstrated his ability to translate a refined grappling skill set into a broader combat sports context, with the armbar finish showcasing the technical precision that defined his competitive game.

By the end of 2011, Alexandro Ceconi made a pivotal decision that marked the beginning of a new chapter in his martial arts journey. He departed the Rilion Gracie Academy to establish his own academy, founding Ceconi Team and stepping into the role of head instructor and academy leader. The move represented a natural evolution — from decorated competitor to the architect of the next generation.

Under the Ceconi Team banner, Ceconi continued to compete in the heavyweight division, classified as Peso Pesado at 94kg / 207lbs. His competitive career did not slow with the added responsibilities of running his own academy, as evidenced by a Pan American silver medal in 2016 — a result that demonstrated his continued relevance on the international circuit years after his breakout 2010 season. The founding of Ceconi Team extended his impact beyond personal performance, creating a platform through which the values and technical depth of his BJJ education could be passed forward to a new generation of practitioners in Brazil and beyond.