Hillary Williams

Hillary Williams was born on October 14, 1988, in Arkansas, USA, and grew up driven by athletic competition from an early age. Before discovering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, she channeled that drive across a remarkably diverse range of sports — volleyball, soccer, softball, and golf — building the physical foundation and competitive mindset that would later define her grappling career.

At 18 years old, Williams began training BJJ at Westside MMA in Little Rock, Arkansas, under coaches Matt Hamilton and Roli Delgado, the latter a seasoned UFC competitor. Stepping onto the mat under high-level instruction from the outset, she combined her multi-sport athleticism with a relentless technical curiosity that accelerated her development as a grappler. From the beginning, she stood out not only for her physical gifts but for a disciplined hunger to improve that set the tone for everything that followed.

Purple Belt Dominance

Hillary Williams' ascent through the belt ranks was both rapid and richly decorated. At purple belt, she established herself as a dominant force on the international stage, claiming World Championship gold in both the weight and absolute divisions — an early signal that she was not simply a promising prospect but a genuine competitor at the highest level.

Brown Belt Breakthrough

In November 2009, Roli Delgado awarded Williams her brown belt, marking a significant evolution in her game. The months that followed proved transformative. Williams entered the World Championships competing in the combined Brown and Black Belt Women's Middleweight division — a high-stakes format that placed her against the most experienced competitors in her category. Her commanding performance there earned her the World Championship title, and on June 12, 2010, coaches Roli Delgado and Matt Hamilton promoted her to black belt in recognition of that achievement.

A Record of Sustained Excellence

Across her competitive career, Williams accumulated four World Championship titles — a record reflecting sustained excellence across multiple belt levels and years of elite competition. She also claimed the No-Gi World Championship in both the weight and absolute divisions at the brown and black belt level, underscoring her versatility across gi and no-gi formats. On the Pan American circuit, she was a consistent force, earning gold medals at the 2007, 2008, 2009 — including both weight and absolute — and 2010 editions of the championship. She captured the Brazilian Nationals title in 2010 and reached the absolute final at that same event. At the ADCC World Submission Wrestling Championship, one of the most prestigious no-gi grappling events in the world, Williams earned a bronze medal — a testament to her ability to compete at the very top of the sport across rulesets.

One of the defining characteristics of Hillary Williams' approach to the sport is her embrace of what she describes as a 'Ronin' training philosophy — a deliberate decision to move freely between gyms, coaches, and training environments in pursuit of the highest level of instruction available, rather than anchoring herself to a single team or affiliation.

This philosophy drove her to travel extensively across the United States and into Brazil, immersing herself in different training cultures and learning from a wide range of elite practitioners. Her time in Brazil brought her into contact with Alan do Nascimento — known as Finfou — and the Checkmat team based in Copacabana, relationships that enriched both her competitive preparation and her connection to the broader BJJ community in Brazil.

Williams' willingness to step outside the comfort of a fixed affiliation reflects a meritocratic view of development: the belief that growth as a grappler demands exposure to the best possible training partners and coaches, regardless of team politics or geographic convenience. It is a philosophy that mirrors the exacting standards she set for herself throughout her competitive career.

Community Engagement in Brazil

Beyond her competitive accomplishments, Hillary Williams demonstrates a genuine commitment to using Jiu-Jitsu as a vehicle for social change. She has been an active participant in Projeto do Cantagalo, a charitable initiative focused on expanding access to the sport for residents of the Cantagalo slum community in Brazil.

The initiative centers on collecting adult and children's gis — equipment otherwise inaccessible to many in the community — and donating them to a community service gym that serves underprivileged youth and adults. Williams has personally taught seminars in Brazil, including one held at the Cantagalo community gym itself, an experience she describes as among the most meaningful of her teaching career.

Removing Barriers for Others

Williams has extended her involvement beyond participation by actively removing obstacles for others who wish to contribute. Recognizing that shipping costs can deter potential donors, she has offered to personally cover those expenses for anyone willing to donate gis they no longer use. Her relationship with Alan do Nascimento and the Checkmat team in Copacabana helped facilitate this engagement and deepened her connection to Jiu-Jitsu's grassroots in Brazil.

Williams speaks openly about her belief that the Jiu-Jitsu community carries a responsibility to expand access to the sport — that gis sitting unused in closets represent an opportunity to change someone's life, and that experienced practitioners have both the ability and the obligation to give back. It is a conviction she has backed with consistent action, and one that reflects a broader understanding of what the sport can mean beyond competition.