Eduardo Lopes

Eduardo "Duzão" Lopes began his athletic journey in judo at just six years old in Pompéia, a city in inland São Paulo, Brazil. His early dedication was unmistakable, and in 2006 he qualified to live and train at Projeto Futuro, a residential training centre that provided the structured environment necessary to develop elite-level competitors. That formative experience instilled both the discipline and the high-level grappling foundation that would later define his dual-sport career.

Alongside his judo development, Lopes gravitated toward Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, beginning his training under Marco Barbosa at the B9 academy. As his BJJ progression accelerated, he made the strategic decision to move to Guigo Jiu Jitsu under Luiz Guigo for his purple belt campaign — a transition that proved pivotal in shaping him into a serious IBJJF circuit competitor. The combination of early judo immersion and structured BJJ mentorship under respected coaches laid the groundwork for his emergence as a formidable ultra-heavyweight in both disciplines.

Eduardo Lopes occupies a rare position in combat sports as a high-level competitor in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and judo simultaneously. A former member of the Brazilian National Judo Squad, he faced personal challenges in 2013 that temporarily interrupted his competitive trajectory. Rather than stepping away from grappling entirely, Lopes returned to São Paulo to refocus on BJJ while gradually rebuilding his judo career — training at the prestigious Paineiras club for judo and continuing his BJJ development at Guigo Jiu Jitsu.

Lopes sustains his livelihood through competition, participating in tournaments nearly every weekend across both sports. This relentless schedule reflects not only his exceptional physical conditioning but also his commitment to earning a living through the disciplines he has devoted his life to. In September 2023, he signed on to the Brazilian National Judo Squad with the specific objective of accumulating match experience ahead of a major international competition later that month — a calculated move that underscores the seriousness with which he approaches both sides of his career. His ability to maintain elite-level performance across two distinct grappling sports makes him one of the most distinctive profiles in the Brazilian combat sports landscape.

Eduardo Lopes established himself as one of the most dominant ultra-heavyweight competitors of his colored belt era, assembling a remarkable record on the international circuit. In 2016, he claimed the IBJJF World Championship in both the weight and absolute divisions at blue belt — a feat that immediately signaled his potential as a future black belt standout. He reinforced that status by winning the Pan American Championship at blue belt in both weight and absolute, and further added the European Open, the Brazilian National Championship, and the UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro title — all in weight and absolute divisions — completing one of the most decorated blue belt campaigns in the ultra-heavyweight division.

At purple belt, Lopes maintained his place among the elite, earning a Brazilian National title and two bronze medals at the IBJJF World Championships in the weight and absolute divisions in 2017. In 2023, he extended that legacy by claiming the Brazilian National Championship at brown belt in both the weight and absolute divisions — a significant milestone in the next chapter of his competitive journey. Despite an already decorated colored belt career, Lopes consistently frames these results as motivation rather than fulfillment, with his stated ambition fixed firmly on championship titles at brown and black belt. It is the mindset of an athlete who views earlier accolades as a foundation, not a ceiling.