Marcelo Fausto

Marcelo Fausto was born on November 20, 2000, in São Vicente, a coastal city in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. Like many Brazilian athletes who later found their calling on the BJJ mats, his first exposure to martial arts came through judo — a sport his father practiced and deeply admired. That early introduction, however, never took hold. Fausto struggled to connect with judo's rigid structure and formal discipline, abandoning it shortly after his initial start and making two more unsuccessful returns at the ages of 7 and 9, each time failing to find the motivation to continue.

The turning point arrived through proximity rather than intention. The same gym where Fausto trained judo also ran a BJJ kids program, with classes held immediately after judo practice each day. In the time between sessions, Fausto began interacting with the children on the BJJ mats — and eventually his curiosity pulled him in. Starting around the age of 10 or 11, he began training at a local Checkmat affiliate led by coach Tio Chico — full name Valdir Canuto. The contrast with judo was immediate: the scrappiness, the freedom of movement, and the problem-solving nature of jiu-jitsu resonated with Fausto in a way no previous athletic pursuit had, and he embraced the sport with a seriousness that would define the years ahead.

Fausto's early development unfolded steadily under coach Tio Chico (Valdir Canuto), who guided him from white belt through orange belt. His next move came for practical reasons — seeking a more convenient training location, Fausto joined his cousin Marcel Ribeiro at another Checkmat affiliate, where he continued his progression and earned his blue belt.

Training at The House FC

The most pivotal chapter of Fausto's developmental years began when he relocated to the neighboring city of Santos to pursue his studies. That move brought him to The House FC — one of the most prestigious and productive academies in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a consistent source of Checkmat's top competitors. Training under head coach Thiago Abreu and Gabriel Rollo, Fausto's commitment to the sport shifted from serious to near-total.

The path was not without friction. His parents initially opposed his desire to train and compete on a full-time basis as a juvenile — a tension common among aspiring competitors of his generation. Fausto persisted nonetheless, and began entering events regularly against adult opponents, particularly those offering prize money. His performances in these settings made clear that his technical level and competitive temperament already exceeded his age. His black belt promotion — a recognition of the decade-long arc of development that had begun in Santos — was awarded by Thiago Abreu on February 26, 2021.

Fausto's colored belt career served as an extended preview of the competitor he would become — marked by formative setbacks, rapid recalibration, and emphatic victories. His first appearance at the IBJJF World Championships came in 2017 as a juvenile, ending in a second-round exit that left him dissatisfied and hungry for a different result. That same year, he claimed juvenile gold at the IBJJF Brazilian Nationals NOGI and placed third in a separate category at the same event, signaling that the Worlds result was an anomaly rather than a ceiling.

The 2018 World Championship and Blue Belt Dominance

2018 proved to be a landmark year. Returning to the IBJJF World Championship as a blue belt with a sharper game and clearer mindset, Fausto submitted 6 of his 7 opponents en route to the gold medal — a performance that announced him as one of the most dangerous young competitors in the world. He reinforced that standing the same year by claiming the IBJJF Pans Championship at blue belt, establishing a run of form that made him one of the sport's most closely watched colored belt prospects.

Purple Belt Consistency

At purple belt, the momentum held. In 2019, Fausto captured gold at the IBJJF Brazilian Nationals NOGI and reached the podium at both the IBJJF World Championship and the IBJJF Pans Championship, finishing third at each. He also earned a third-place finish at the IBJJF South American Championship at purple belt in 2018, adding further range to a colored belt résumé that demonstrated consistency across multiple formats and weight categories. By the time he received his black belt, Fausto had already built the competitive instincts and technical depth of a seasoned pro-division athlete.

Fausto's entry into the black belt division following his February 2021 promotion was immediate and decisive. Where many athletes require time to adjust to the increased demands of pro-level competition, Fausto made his presence felt quickly — recording wins over established names including Ashley Williams, AJ Agazarm, and Igor Feliz within his first year at the highest level.

Among his earliest and most significant black belt titles was the ADCJJ World Championship, which he captured in 2021 — a result that validated the expectations built across his colored belt career. In 2022, he continued to compete at a high level internationally, reaching the final of the IBJJF European Open before finishing in second place. Competing in the Peso Leve division (76 kg / 168 lbs) and representing Brazil, Fausto competes under the Checkmat banner through The House FC, continuing to develop under the guidance of Thiago Abreu.