Davi Ramos Pinheiro da Silva was born on November 5, 1986, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — a carioca whose identity and competitive drive were shaped by the city's deep jiu-jitsu culture. He discovered the art early in life and rose through the ranks under Master César Guimarães, widely known as "Casquinha," a figure whose lineage runs straight to the roots of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Casquinha is the son of Walter Guimarães, a black belt under the legendary Carlson Gracie, and the founder of the Top Brother academy — the institution that served as the foundational environment for Ramos' entire early development.

Under Casquinha's guidance, Ramos grew into one of Top Brother's most prominent representatives and eventually an ambassador of the academy's methods on the international stage. That role took a concrete form when he became the first person to open a Top Brother affiliate outside Brazil, establishing one in Mexico — a testament to both the trust his instructor placed in him and his own capacity for leadership within the jiu-jitsu community.

Even at the colored belt level, Ramos was demonstrating championship-caliber potential. In 2006, he earned a silver medal at the IBJJF World Championship at brown belt — an early signal of the competitive ceiling he would eventually reach as a black belt.

Early Black Belt Credentials

Ramos' emergence as a serious black belt competitor became apparent quickly after his promotion. In 2010, he claimed gold at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals NoGi and the 2010 IBJJF Chicago Open, establishing a competitive baseline that signaled his readiness for the highest levels of international grappling. The following year brought further confirmation: a silver medal at the UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro NoGi in 2011, a bronze at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals, and a second-place finish in the absolute at the 2011 IBJJF Chicago Open.

The Grapplers Quest Performance

The moment that most dramatically announced Ramos to a wider international audience came at Grapplers Quest Las Vegas in 2011, where he submitted six of his seven opponents across the tournament bracket — a performance that included notable submission victories over Jeff Monson and Joao Assis. Against opponents of that caliber, the depth and efficiency of that run demonstrated the finishing power that would come to define his grappling identity.

ADCC 2015: The Pinnacle

A pivotal factor in accelerating his career was the decision to join Atos Jiu-Jitsu in San Diego, already regarded as one of the premier competitive teams in the world. Daily training against elite opposition sharpened every dimension of his game and positioned him for his most prestigious achievement. At the 2015 ADCC World Championship, competing in the 77 kg division, Ramos navigated a bracket stacked with some of the finest grapplers of his generation. He defeated Gilbert Burns — known as "Durinho" — and Lucas Lepri en route to the gold medal, claiming the ADCC title in what stands as the pinnacle of his submission grappling career.

Ramos continued to perform at an elite level beyond that landmark result. In 2018, he claimed gold at the ACBJJ 75KG Grand Prix, reinforcing that his ADCC championship was no aberration. He also used grappling competition strategically to maintain competitive sharpness during his MMA career — on February 25, 2017, he competed in an ACB JJ grappling Grand Prix event, which he noted helped him stay in rhythm between MMA bouts.

Building a Professional Record

Ramos began competing professionally in MMA in 2010, building his record while simultaneously pursuing elite grappling competition — a dual focus that reflected the breadth of his commitment to combat sports. By the time of his UFC debut in 2017, he had compiled a 6–1 MMA record across seven professional fights.

His path to the UFC was not without obstacles. A stint with Bellator in 2014 resulted in a protracted contractual dispute that limited his activity during a period when he might otherwise have been building momentum on a major promotional stage. The situation required full resolution before he could freely pursue other opportunities.

The Road to the UFC

The breakthrough came in December 2016, when Ramos traveled to Lebanon to compete for the Phoenix Fighting Championship, capturing the welterweight title by defeating Nick Peidmont. That victory served as a pivotal milestone, helping him secure the UFC opportunity he had long been working toward.

His UFC debut arrived on March 11, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 106, held in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Ramos stepped in on just one week's notice, replacing the injured Max Griffin opposite Sergio Moraes in the welterweight division (up to 77.1 kg) on the preliminary card. In a March 10, 2017 interview with Gracie Magazine, Ramos described receiving the UFC invitation as a "marvelous feeling" and acknowledged it was "almost past time" for the opportunity to arrive. He pledged an aggressive performance, promising to push the pace and give "his life inside the octagon" — a characteristically direct statement from a competitor whose grappling career had been defined by high-percentage finishing.

Coaching and Continued Competition

During this period, Ramos also contributed to the development of UFC-level competitors through coaching. He served as a grappling coach for Rogério Nogueira and Vitor Miranda, and taught at the Instituto Irmãos Nogueira, representing both Team Nogueira and Atos Jiu-Jitsu in that capacity.

Ramos remained active in MMA beyond his initial UFC run. At ACA 176 on May 31, 2024, he entered a lightweight grand prix, facing Ali Abdulkhalikov in the opening round — a competition that reflected both his continued presence in professional MMA and a strategic shift toward the lightweight division.

Building a Legacy Beyond Competition

Beyond his competitive career, Ramos has built a significant role as a leader and educator within the jiu-jitsu community. He serves as the affiliate leader of Atos JJ Rio, the Rio de Janeiro branch of the globally recognized Atos Jiu-Jitsu organization — a position that places him at the intersection of competitive development and community instruction. His stated mission centers on providing quality jiu-jitsu and helping students build confidence, values that reflect the culture he absorbed during his own development under Casquinha.

The 2026 Atos Controversy

In February 2026, Ramos was drawn into a significant and public controversy affecting the broader Atos organization. On February 5, 2026, he issued a public statement in support of his longtime instructor Andre Galvao amid a period of considerable turbulence: multiple athletes had announced their departures from Team Atos, and Atos HQ had announced a separation of Andre and Angelica Galvao from organizational operations. The departing athletes included Bruno Frazatto, JT Torres, Dom Bell, Lucas Pinheiro, and Gustavo Batista.

The controversy centered on allegations made by Alexa Herse, who stated she had filed a report with local law enforcement. Andre Galvao denied the allegations, characterizing them as false rumors connected to someone who had left Atos before the situation arose. Atos HQ announced its intention to engage a third party to investigate the matter.

In his statement, Ramos said he had never witnessed misconduct by Galvao during their years working together. He also emphasized that Atos JJ Rio operates under a formal Code of Conduct, with instructors and staff held to explicit principles of respect and professionalism. His post remained open to public comment — a notable contrast to a statement of support issued by Jonathas Eliaquim, the head instructor of Atos Zurich, whose post drew significant criticism and subsequently had its comments disabled.