Giancarlo Bodoni

Record: 55-25-2 (W-L-D)

Born: October 15, 1995 (age 30)

Black Belt Under: Lucas Lepri

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda › Carlos Gracie › Carlson Gracie › Sérgio Souza › Mauro Chueng › Elan Santiago › Lucas Lepri › Giancarlo Bodoni View in the tree →

Weight Class: Pesado (94.30 kg / 208.0 lbs)

Team: New Wave, formerly Alliance Team

Did you know?

Across 82 recorded matches, Bodoni has finished 27 of his 55 wins by submission, a 49 percent submission win rate that sits above the site average of 40 percent. That tells you he is hunting the finish, not just riding position.
His most trusted finish on record is the rear naked choke with 7 wins, backed by the armbar at 4 and the inside heel hook at 3. That mix of upper body and lower body attacks fits the New Wave system he moved into under John Danaher.
Bodoni and Lucas Barbosa have met 6 times, splitting it dead even at 3 wins apiece. One of those wins came by decision at WNO 21 in 2023.
The 2024 ADCC World Championship is his most frequent event on record with 8 appearances, and it was a productive run, including submission wins over Vagner Rocha by RNC and Andre Porfirio by rear naked choke plus a points win over Gabriel Almeida.
His busiest recorded year was 2021 with 36 matches, a heavy schedule that lines up with his 1st Place finish at the IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championship that same year.

Early Martial Arts Background

Giancarlo Bodoni began his martial arts journey at the age of five, initially training in karate. He soon expanded his skillset by incorporating taekwondo, briefly competing in both disciplines. At age 12, Bodoni transitioned to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the renowned instructor Rillion Gracie, who guided his progression from white to purple belt.

Alliance Team Development and Training in Brazil

In 2017, Bodoni fulfilled a lifelong ambition by traveling to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—the birthplace of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—to deepen his training. During this period, he established a significant training partnership with Gutemberg Pereira of GF Team. When Pereira relocated to Toledo, Ohio, Bodoni continued his development with the local GF Team affiliate. Later, after his father moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, Bodoni joined the local Alliance academy, training under legendary competitor Lucas Lepri. Under Lepri's mentorship, Bodoni earned his brown belt in June 2018.

Transition to New Wave and John Danaher's Influence

In 2021, Giancarlo Bodoni joined John Danaher's New Wave in Austin, Texas, to elevate his no-gi grappling career. Training alongside elite grapplers such as Gordon Ryan and Nicholas Meregali, Bodoni quickly emerged as one of Danaher's key protégés. He attributes his continued success to Danaher's systematic, research-driven approach, highlighting Danaher's ability to anticipate grappling trends and techniques well ahead of the competition.

Dominance at ADCC Championships

Giancarlo Bodoni solidified his status as a dominant force in submission grappling by capturing the 88kg gold medal at the ADCC 2022 World Championship, submitting veteran competitor Lucas "Hulk" Barbosa in the final. He repeated this remarkable feat at the ADCC 2024 World Championship, becoming the first athlete to secure back-to-back titles in the 88kg division. These victories positioned Bodoni as a potential contender for a historic third ADCC title in 2026.

Strategic and Evolving Grappling Style

Bodoni's grappling style blends structured systems with personal creativity, heavily influenced by Danaher's innovative coaching methods. His technical arsenal includes precise wrestling takedowns, efficient back takes, and advanced leg entanglements. At New Wave, Bodoni and his teammates proactively develop counters to emerging grappling trends, consistently staying ahead of the competitive curve.

ONE Championship Submission Grappling Career

In late 2024, Giancarlo Bodoni signed with ONE Championship to compete in their submission grappling division. He is set to debut at middleweight (~93kg), immediately contending for the vacant grappling title. Fans eagerly anticipate potential matchups against elite grapplers such as Tye Ruotolo and Dante Leon, viewing this as an exciting new chapter in Bodoni's competitive journey and an opportunity to further cement his legacy.

Mentorship and Leadership Role

Beyond his competitive accomplishments, Bodoni embraces a mentorship and leadership role within the New Wave team. He actively teaches classes and mentors rising grapplers, embodying Danaher's ethos of "good energy and hard work" in the training environment. Additionally, Bodoni conducts international seminars, sharing championship-winning techniques that have defined his career. Immediately following his 2024 ADCC victory, Bodoni returned to training with Danaher, already strategizing improvements for future competitions—a testament to his relentless pursuit of sustained dominance in the grappling world.