Felipe Cesar Silva

Record: 80-68-0 (W-L-D)

Nick Name: Felipinho

Born: August 14, 1992 (age 33)

Black Belt Under: Marco Barbosa

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda › Carlos Gracie › Helio Gracie › Rickson Gracie › Marcelo Behring › Waldomiro Perez Junior › Roberto Godoi › Marco Barbosa › Felipe Cesar Silva View in the tree →

Weight Class: Peso Médio (82kg/181lbs)

Favorite Technique: Guard and Kneebar

Team: Unity JJ

Did you know?

Across 148 recorded matches Felipe leans on decision-style finishes rather than the sub: 38 of his wins came by points, and his submission win rate sits at 16 percent against a site average of 40 percent. For a guy known for a submission-first style, the tape tells a more grind-heavy story.
When Felipe does finish, the Ezekiel choke is his signature. It accounts for 4 of his 13 recorded submission wins, ahead of the rear naked choke and armbar at 2 each.
Jonathan Satava is Felipe's most even rival on record, with 4 meetings split 2 wins and 2 losses. One of those wins came by points at the 2016 IBJJF New York Summer Open.
A few names have his number. Felipe is 0 for 3 against each of Ronaldo Junior, Isaque Bahiense, and Dante Leon, going 0 wins and 3 losses in all three of those series.
2019 was Felipe's busiest year on record with 34 matches, and it lined up with some quality wins, including a points victory over DJ Jackson and one over Diego Ramalho at the 2019 IBJJF World No-Gi Championship.

Early Life and Initial Training in Araçatuba

Felipe Cesar Silva was born on August 14, 1992, in Araçatuba, Brazil. He began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey in 2008 under coach Gilberto Gabas at Gabas JJ Academy, an affiliate of Barbosa Jiu-Jitsu. Training diligently under Gabas, Felipe quickly progressed to blue belt, recognizing his potential and deciding to pursue Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu professionally.

Professional Development at Barbosa Jiu-Jitsu Headquarters

Determined to elevate his competitive career, Felipe relocated to São Paulo to train full-time at the Barbosa Jiu-Jitsu (B9) headquarters under renowned instructor Marco Barbosa. His dedication and rigorous training regimen translated into significant competitive success at the brown belt level, earning medals at prestigious tournaments such as the IBJJF World Championships (gi and no-gi) and Brazilian Nationals (gi and no-gi). In July 2014, Marco Barbosa awarded Felipe his black belt, marking a pivotal milestone in his competitive journey.

Transition to Unity Jiu-Jitsu and Elite Training Environment

In 2016, Felipe moved to New York City to train under Murilo Santana at Unity Jiu-Jitsu. Immersed in an elite competitive environment alongside world-class athletes such as the Miyao brothers, Felipe significantly expanded his technical repertoire and sharpened his competitive mindset. The intense training atmosphere at Unity prepared him for continued success on the international stage.

Submission-Oriented Competition Style

Felipe Cesar Silva is widely recognized for his aggressive, submission-focused approach in competition. His dynamic guard play, particularly his innovative use of inverted guard to counter knee-slice passing, has become a defining feature of his style. Leveraging inside De La Riva hooks and precise inversion tactics, Felipe neutralizes opponents' knee-cut passes effectively. He shares these insights in his instructional mini-course, "Knee Slice Killer," providing practitioners with a systematic approach to countering aggressive passing strategies.

Coaching and Mentorship at Warriors Nation Academy

Felipe serves as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor at Warriors Nation academy in Brooklyn, New York City. His teaching emphasizes an aggressive, submission-oriented philosophy, incorporating advanced leglock systems and guard-passing methodologies influenced by his tenure at Unity Jiu-Jitsu. Balancing active competition with coaching responsibilities, Felipe regularly travels internationally to conduct seminars and share his technical expertise. His adaptable teaching style blends traditional fundamentals with modern innovations, reflecting the diverse coaching influences throughout his career.

Mindset and Philosophy in High-Level Competition

Felipe places significant emphasis on the mental aspects of competition, highlighting the importance of experience, patience, and composure under pressure. Approaching major events such as the 2021 IBJJF World Championship, Felipe described himself as mentally "in the best place ever" to pursue gold, attributing his confidence to years of high-level competition experience. He advocates adaptability and continuous learning, principles shaped by training under diverse mentors from Barbosa in Brazil to Unity in the United States.