Joao Costa

João Costa was born on September 20, 1993, in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, and grew up in the nearby city of Limeira. Long before stepping onto a jiu-jitsu mat, he immersed himself in competitive sport — basketball serving as his primary athletic pursuit throughout his teenage years. Alongside the court, he developed a serious commitment to weightlifting and CrossFit, building the physical foundation that would later translate powerfully to grappling.

Martial arts entered Costa's life relatively late compared to many of his peers. At 20, feeling a sense of stagnation in his sporting pursuits, he sought a new challenge and found it in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His first steps on the mat took place at a Caveirinha Jiu-Jitsu affiliate in Minas Gerais, where he had relocated to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine. That first class was led by coach Gustavo Saraiva — known affectionately as Gustavinho — who became the defining influence of Costa's formative years as a practitioner.

Balancing the Academy and the Mat

What set João Costa's early jiu-jitsu path apart from many successful competitors was his deliberate decision to prioritize his academic career. From white belt through brown belt, he trained consistently under Gustavo Saraiva at the Caveirinha Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Minas Gerais, but consciously held back from pursuing the tournament circuit with full intensity. Completing his veterinary medicine degree at Pontifícia Catholic University (PUC) dictated the tempo of his martial arts journey — a discipline that reflected his broader character off the mat.

Recovery, Relocation, and Renewal

Shortly after finishing his degree, Costa suffered an injury that forced him to scale back his training. Rather than stall, the recovery period prompted a significant life decision: he traveled to the United States to improve his English. Settling in Doral Commons, Florida, he eased back onto the mats through a local Gracie Barra Academy, rebuilding his game methodically as his body healed and his confidence returned.

Finding a Home at Fight Sports Miami

As his recovery progressed, Costa sought a more demanding competitive environment. That search led him to Fight Sports Miami, where he began training under Roberto Abreu — widely known as Cyborg. The move proved to be the decisive turning point in his career. For the first time, Costa fully committed to grappling as a profession, channeling the athleticism and discipline cultivated through years of basketball, weightlifting, and CrossFit into a focused pursuit of competitive excellence.

Building Momentum at Brown Belt

João Costa's competitive rise following his arrival at Fight Sports Miami was both rapid and emphatic, particularly in the no-gi format. Still competing as a brown belt, he established himself as one of the most consistent performers on the IBJJF American circuit. In 2020, he claimed gold at the IBJJF Kansas City Open No-Gi while reaching the finals of the IBJJF Kansas City Open, the IBJJF Austin Open, the IBJJF Houston Winter Open, and the IBJJF Atlanta Winter Open — a run of results that underlined his reliability and competitive composure at the domestic level.

Championship Titles and International Breakthrough

The 2021 season elevated Costa's profile further. He captured back-to-back IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi titles across the 2020 and 2021 editions at brown belt — a remarkable achievement that affirmed his standing among the elite at that rank. He followed those performances with gold medals at the IBJJF Orlando Open No-Gi, the IBJJF New Orleans Open No-Gi, and the IBJJF Houston Open No-Gi, all in 2021. That same year, he added a third-place finish at the SUBVERSIV Team Tournament and, crucially, won the ADCC Balneário Brazil Trials — a result that announced his emergence as a serious contender on the broader international grappling scene.

Black Belt Promotion

Costa competes in the Pesado division (94.30 kg / 208.0 lbs). The sustained excellence he demonstrated across the American circuit earned him his black belt promotion from Roberto Abreu on June 9, 2021 — a recognition not only of his technical maturity, but of the professional commitment he had fully embraced since joining Fight Sports Miami.