Herbert Burns

Herbert Burns was born on February 2, 1988, in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, into a family whose modest circumstances would unexpectedly become the foundation of three professional fighting careers. His father worked as a car upholsterer — a trade that opened an unlikely door to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for the entire Burns household. After completing work on the car of coral belt Master Luis Carlos da Fonseca, his father proposed a barter arrangement: in lieu of payment, Master Luis Carlos would provide one month of jiu-jitsu instruction to his three sons at the old Santa Marta College in Niterói.

Herbert was ten years old when he first stepped onto the mats, joining older brothers Gilbert Burns (then twelve) and Frederick "Todo-Duro" Burns (then fourteen). His father was candid about the family's financial limitations but made a clear promise: if the boys committed fully, he would work as hard as possible to keep them training. That commitment proved genuine on both sides. Within just four months of beginning, Herbert captured the CBJJ Brazilian National Championship at yellow belt — a remarkable early signal of his natural aptitude for the sport.

Though Master Luis Carlos da Fonseca's direct instruction was cut short by personal circumstances, his influence set all three brothers on a path that would define their lives. Herbert, Gilbert Burns, and Frederick all went on to become full-time professional fighters, a testament to the shared dedication forged in those early sessions in Niterói.

Building the Foundation: Blue to Purple Belt

Herbert Burns' journey through the belt ranks was shaped by trusted mentors, family bonds, and a willingness to follow opportunity across academies and cities. When Master Luis Carlos da Fonseca ceased teaching due to personal circumstances, a brown belt named Ramon Lemos assumed leadership of the class. Lemos became a pivotal figure, regularly bringing his students — including the Burns brothers — to train with André Pederneiras at Nova União in Rio de Janeiro, and with Max Camâra and Rafael Barros (known as "Fofitio") at Oriente in Niterói. The welcoming environment at Oriente, where the brothers trained for minimal fees, provided essential continuity during this transitional period.

In 2005, Herbert received his blue belt from Max Camâra and Rafael Barros at Oriente. Two years later, in 2007, he followed his older brother Gilbert Burns — by then already a black belt — to Brasa Clube de Jiu-Jitsu, where he trained under Fabricio "Bicudo" Medeiros in Icaraí, Niterói, and under Ricardo Vieira in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro. That same year, Vieira promoted him to purple belt.

Completing the Journey: Brown Belt to Black Belt

In July 2009, Fabricio "Bicudo" awarded Herbert his brown belt. Just three months later, Herbert once again followed his brother's lead — this time joining the newly formed Atos Jiu-Jitsu under Ramon Lemos in Rio Claro, São Paulo. The full circle of that decision became clear in January 2011, when Gilbert Burns and Rafael Barros promoted Herbert to black belt at Oriente — the same academy in Niterói where his blue belt journey had begun years earlier. His belt progression reflects not merely athletic development, but a career built on loyalty to coaches and family alike.

Brown Belt Breakthrough and Back-to-Back National Titles

Herbert Burns established himself as a consistent force in no-gi competition across multiple belt levels, with his strongest results coming in the CBJJ and IBJJF circuits. His aptitude for the no-gi format emerged early: in 2009, still competing at brown belt, Herbert captured the CBJJ Brazilian National No-Gi title — a clear signal that his competitive edge extended well beyond gi-dependent technique.

After his promotion to black belt in January 2011, Herbert carried that momentum forward by winning the CBJJ Brazilian National No-Gi Championship in both 2011 and 2012, back-to-back titles that cemented his standing among Brazil's top no-gi competitors. His record also includes a CBJJ Brazilian National Teams Championship in 2007 at blue belt, demonstrating that his results formed part of a sustained pattern of performance rather than isolated achievements.

International Podium and Black Belt Credentials

At the international level, Herbert placed third at the IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championship in 2018, confirming that his competitive relevance extended well into his black belt career and beyond the Brazilian national circuit. Taken together, his no-gi results across brown and black belt divisions provided him with the credentials and structural confidence to pursue the next chapter of his athletic career.

After building a decorated no-gi grappling résumé, Herbert Burns made a deliberate transition to mixed martial arts, recognizing that his submission skills could serve as the foundation for success in a broader combat sports context. That transition gained decisive momentum in October 2014, when Chatri Sityodtong — founder of the Evolve franchise — extended an invitation for Herbert to join the Singapore-based Evolve MMA team.

The offer provided exactly the kind of institutional infrastructure that a serious MMA career demands. Evolve gave Herbert access to world-class coaching across striking, wrestling, and grappling disciplines, allowing him to develop the well-rounded skill set the sport requires. Herbert relocated to Singapore in 2014, committing fully to his MMA ambitions. He competes in the featherweight division at 70kg (164lbs), a weight class where his technical grappling background serves as a natural competitive asset.

The move to Singapore marked both a geographical and professional shift, yet it remained consistent with the pattern that defined Herbert's career from the start: seeking out trusted environments and people capable of fostering his growth. Representing Brazil while training internationally, Herbert Burns carried the grappling foundation built across Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo into a new arena — continuing a competitive journey rooted in family, resilience, and a barter arrangement that changed three brothers' lives.