Faris Benlamkadem

Faris Ben-Lamkadem completed his entire belt journey — white to black belt — under Roger Gracie at the Roger Gracie Academy in London, one of the most respected BJJ institutions in the world. Every rank promotion came directly from Roger Gracie himself, a distinction that underscores the depth and continuity of their mentor-student relationship. Ben-Lamkadem also worked extensively with Charles Negromonte throughout his development, adding significant technical dimension to his game.

On July 23, 2022, Ben-Lamkadem received his black belt, formally marking his transition into the professional tier of the sport. Throughout his formative competitive years, he represented the Roger Gracie Academy across both gi and no-gi circuits. In 2024, he expanded his training base by joining Los Bandidos, a London-based squad that trains exclusively under no-gi rules. The dual affiliation — maintaining his roots at Roger Gracie Academy while embracing the no-gi-focused environment of Los Bandidos — reflected his sharpening ambitions on the submission grappling circuit.

Long before reaching black belt, Ben-Lamkadem established himself as one of Britain's most decorated colored belt competitors, accumulating medals across the IBJJF and AJP circuits over several years.

Blue and Purple Belt Highlights

At blue belt, he claimed back-to-back IBJJF London Open titles in 2017 and 2018, earned a 3rd place finish at the 2018 IBJJF European Championship, and reached the AJP Abu Dhabi World Pro final in 2018. His purple belt campaign was arguably his most decorated at the colored belt level: he captured the IBJJF European Championship No-Gi title in 2019, added another IBJJF London Open gold that same year, won the AJP Grand Slam Abu Dhabi in 2020, and podiumed at the AJP Grand Slam London in both 2018 and 2020.

Brown Belt and the Path to Black

At brown belt, he maintained his momentum with a 2022 IBJJF London Open title and a runner-up finish at the AJP Grand Slam London that same year. Taken together, this record across multiple seasons, formats, and continents positioned Ben-Lamkadem as among the most consistent grappling prospects to emerge from Britain during that period.

Early Black Belt Results

After receiving his black belt in July 2022, Ben-Lamkadem wasted little time making his mark at the sport's highest level. On the IBJJF gi circuit, he claimed gold at the Paris Open in 2022, the London Fall Open in 2023, and the Rome Open in both 2023 and 2024 — a run that demonstrated sustained excellence across multiple seasons. On the AJP circuit, he reached the final of both the Grand Slam Istanbul and the Europe Continental Pro in 2023, while also placing third at the Abu Dhabi World Pro and the Grand Slam London that same year.

The World Title

The defining moment of his career arrived at the 2024 IBJJF World No-Gi Championship, where Ben-Lamkadem competed in the heavyweight division and advanced to the final. Although initially recorded as the runner-up in the bracket, the result was subsequently altered when Cassio Felipe Costa — the original gold medalist — was stripped of his title following a failed USADA drug test. Ben-Lamkadem was awarded the heavyweight world title, becoming Britain's first male adult black belt world champion in the professional division under the IBJJF banner. The formal 2nd place listing remains part of his competitive record, reflecting the original bracket result prior to the title reallocation.

Ben-Lamkadem's Public Critique

In January 2026, Ben-Lamkadem entered a broader public conversation about the treatment of non-Brazilian athletes in elite BJJ, making pointed remarks about what he described as systemic resistance to seeing athletes from outside Brazil succeed at the top of the sport.

His comments were sparked by the final of the 2026 IBJJF European Championship in Lisbon, in which Tainan Dalpra faced José Steve Nduazulu Ndilu. Ben-Lamkadem took particular issue with Dalpra's post-match conduct — specifically, Dalpra raising Ndilu's hand and imitating Ndilu's signature celebration. While some observers interpreted the gestures as sportsmanship, Ben-Lamkadem characterized the hand-raising as disrespectful rather than gracious. He framed the critique within a larger argument that certain Brazilian competitors and factions within the BJJ community actively resist non-Brazilian success, invoking his own prior victory over Ndilu as personal context.

Owen Jones, who has worked alongside Ben-Lamkadem, amplified similar concerns on The White Monster Podcast, citing hostile messages and behavior directed at non-Brazilian athletes from segments of the BJJ community.

Responses and Broader Debate

Both parties involved in the match addressed the situation. Dalpra responded on social media, stating that he had understood the imitated celebration to be a European tradition and that no disrespect was intended. Ndilu offered a gracious reply, explaining that the gesture was tied to his "Ice Man" nickname and expressing no ill will toward Dalpra. The episode nonetheless drew sustained attention to ongoing debates within the sport regarding cultural dynamics, sportsmanship standards, and the experience of non-Brazilian athletes competing at the elite level.

On April 23, 2025, Ben-Lamkadem announced that he would serve as head coach for Team Misfits Europe at the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) 2. The appointment marked a meaningful expansion of his role within the European grappling community, moving beyond the competitor's position to take on strategic and technical leadership. Team Misfits Europe operates within the modern no-gi and submission grappling scene, and Ben-Lamkadem's involvement as head coach signals the confidence the organization places in him as both a mentor and an active competitor at the elite level.