Hiago Gama

Born on May 13, 1992, in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil, Hiago Gama grew up in a household where competitive martial arts were a way of life. His aunts were former Brazilian national judo medallists, and that legacy shaped his earliest exposure to sport. Introduced to judo at the age of 5, Hiago developed a grappling foundation built on gripping mechanics, balance, and body control — attributes that would later become hallmarks of his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu game.

In 2008, Hiago transitioned into the world of BJJ under Alliance, beginning his training with his first instructor, Gleison Oliveira. The move proved a natural extension of his judo background, and the technical discipline instilled in him from childhood accelerated his progress on the mats.

In 2012, Hiago Gama made a pivotal decision to relocate to Rio de Janeiro and join Alexandre Paiva's program at Alliance Leblon. The move paid immediate dividends — in his first year competing under the Alliance Leblon banner, he captured the IBJJF Grand Slam, a bold statement of intent at the elite level.

What followed was one of the most decorated colored belt careers in modern IBJJF competition. Hiago claimed the IBJJF World Championship at blue belt in 2013, purple belt in 2015, and brown belt in 2017 — a rare sweep of gold across three consecutive belt levels. He further reinforced his dominance with multiple IBJJF Pans Championship titles at blue and brown belt, European Open gold at both belt levels, and a Brazilian Nationals double — gi and no-gi — in 2013. Each title strengthened his reputation as one of the most consistent and technically refined competitors of his generation.

The culmination of this journey arrived in June 2017, when Alexandre Paiva promoted Hiago to black belt while he stood on the podium of the IBJJF World Championship — a moment that captured the weight of his accomplishments and the depth of the bond between athlete and coach.

Hiago Gama identifies the Open Guard as his preferred position, a choice that reflects a dynamic, fluid, and attack-oriented philosophy. His judo background underpins much of what makes his guard play effective — sharp gripping mechanics, precise timing, and an acute sensitivity to weight distribution that allows him to generate sweeps and submissions from positions where opponents struggle to find their footing.

Competing at Peso Galo (57.5 kg / 127 lbs), one of the most technically demanding weight classes in IBJJF competition, Hiago has performed with remarkable consistency at the black belt level. In 2018, he captured gold at the IBJJF European Open and reached the final of the IBJJF World Championship, earning silver in what proved a breakout year on the black belt stage. He returned to the IBJJF Pans Championship podium in both 2019 and 2021, and demonstrated versatility beyond the gi by placing third at the 2020 IBJJF Pans No-Gi Championship. Across formats and weight classes, his open guard philosophy continues to produce results at the sport's highest levels.