Gezary Matuda

Born on July 12, 1983, in Curitiba, state of Paraná, Brazil, Gezary Matuda's path to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was forged through a rich and varied martial arts background. She entered combat sports at the age of 15 through Capoeira, developing a foundational understanding of movement, rhythm, and body awareness that would later translate directly to her work on the mats. Two years in, she added Muay Thai to her training, inspired by her brother's competitive involvement in the sport.

Despite years of dedication to Muay Thai, competitive opportunities in the ring never materialized — a frustration that paradoxically set her on a more fruitful path. Her striking coach eventually recommended she incorporate ground work into her game, and in 2004 that recommendation led her to Carlos Alexandre Conceição, known as "Penão," a black belt under Carlson Gracie. From her very first month on the mats, Matuda was competing — and the experience captivated her immediately. The competitive dimension of BJJ delivered everything Muay Thai had promised but never provided, and she gradually redirected her focus entirely toward the ground game.

Matuda's early belt journey unfolded entirely under "Penão" in Brazil, who promoted her from white through purple belt. Along the way, she built a formidable competitive record at the colored belt levels: a CBJJF South American Cup title and a CBJJE World Cup title at blue belt in 2009, followed by IBJJF Pan American Championship gold and an IBJJF World Championship title at purple belt in 2010.

Following her purple belt promotion, Matuda relocated to the United States with her husband, determined to continue her development at the sport's highest levels. She connected with Ricardo Liborio and joined American Top Team, where she would complete the final stages of her belt progression. Under Liborio's guidance, she earned her brown belt and maintained her elite competitive output, claiming the IBJJF Pan American Championship at brown belt in 2011. Her performance at the 2012 IBJJF World Championship — where she captured the brown belt world title — served as the defining moment that earned her the black belt, awarded in July 2012. Her journey from Curitiba's gyms to one of North America's premier combat sports organizations stands as a testament to her commitment and adaptability as a competitor.

Competing at Peso Pluma (53.5 kg / 118.0 lbs), Gezary Matuda established herself as one of the most accomplished competitors of her generation at the IBJJF black belt level. Her transition to the top rank was seamless — she claimed the IBJJF World Championship in her first full black belt season in 2013, then repeated as world champion in 2014 and again in 2016, building a multi-year reign that placed her among the elite of her division globally.

Her dominance extended well beyond any single event. Matuda complemented her world titles with IBJJF Pan American Championship gold in 2015, 2016, and 2018, demonstrating remarkable longevity and consistency across one of the sport's most demanding annual circuits. In 2017, she added the IBJJF European Open Championship to her résumé, affirming her ability to perform at the highest level across international competitions on multiple continents. Taken together, her black belt record reflects not only exceptional technical ability but also the relentless competitive hunger that first drew her to BJJ — a drive she had been sharpening since the very first month she stepped onto the mats.