Enderson Dias

Enderson Dias was born on September 3, 1998, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and raised in the Engenho Novo neighborhood within a household deeply rooted in combat sports. His father's career as a Thai boxing coach created an environment that naturally drew Enderson toward martial arts, and at 15 he began training Muay Thai, following his father's path in striking-based disciplines.

The turn toward grappling came at 17, when a school friend introduced him to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — a chance encounter that redirected his athletic trajectory entirely. Enderson is the twin brother of Larissa Dias, who also went on to compete at a high level in jiu-jitsu, reflecting the martial arts culture woven throughout the Dias family.

Enderson's jiu-jitsu education began under Vinicius Marinho, his first instructor and the coach who would ultimately promote him to black belt. Seeking broader technical development, he also trained extensively with Melqui Galvão in Manaus — an experience that expanded his game considerably and exposed him to high-level instruction outside Rio de Janeiro.

Across his colored belt years, Enderson represented several prominent organizations, including GF Team, Fight Sports, and Dream Art, before aligning with MJN Jiu-Jitsu. His ascent through the ranks was notably swift: having started jiu-jitsu at 17, he received his black belt from Vinicius Marinho in January 2022 — roughly five years after first stepping onto the mats. That pace of advancement was driven by consistent podium finishes at blue, purple, and brown belt, with each promotion validated by results on the competition circuit.

Blue Belt Breakthrough

Enderson Dias built one of the more decorated colored belt resumes of his generation. His breakout performances came at blue belt, where he claimed gold at the 2019 IBJJF World Championship and the 2019 IBJJF South American Championship, and earlier captured the AJP Grand Slam in Rio de Janeiro in 2017. A silver medal at the 2019 IBJJF World Championship in a separate division further underscored his standing at the top of the blue belt landscape.

Purple and Brown Belt Excellence

The momentum carried directly into purple belt competition. In 2019, Enderson won the 2019 IBJJF South American Championship and the AJP Grand Slam in Los Angeles, then opened 2020 by claiming the 2020 IBJJF European Open — proof that his earlier results reflected a technically sound, competition-tested game rather than a single hot streak.

At brown belt, Enderson continued to perform at the highest levels of IBJJF competition. He reached the final of the 2021 IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship, finishing as runner-up, and placed second at the 2021 IBJJF World Championship — consistent elite finishes as the field around him grew increasingly competitive. Enderson competes in the Meio Pesado division at 88.30 kg (195.0 lbs), a weight class historically home to some of the sport's most technically accomplished grapplers. The foundation built across three belt levels positioned him well for the demands of black belt competition following his January 2022 promotion.