Marcos Paulo Costa

Marcos Paulo Costa was born on September 29, 1989, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the age of 11, he relocated with his family to Araruama, a municipality in the state of Rio de Janeiro, where he would spend his formative years. Like countless Brazilian children before him, Costa channeled his early athletic energy into competitive football (soccer), a sport that instilled the discipline and competitive drive that would later define his martial arts career.

Costa's path to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu opened at 16, when a group of high school friends pointed him toward the mats for the first time. His earliest training took place at a local Araruama academy under a purple belt instructor known by the nickname 'Russo' — a modest beginning that would set in motion a long and decorated career on the mat.

Building the Foundation

'Russo' guided Costa through his initial development, carrying him from his first days on the mat to the blue belt milestone. As Costa progressed, his instruction transitioned to Alessandro 'Bacalhau' Vieira — Russo's own instructor — continuing the lineage of mentorship that had shaped his game from the start.

Finding a Home at Team DDR

That transition proved to be a stepping stone to a more permanent home. Costa joined DDR under Juarez Soares, one of the most respected BJJ instructors in the region. DDR — an acronym for Dedicação, Disciplina, Respeito (Dedication, Discipline, and Respect) — became the environment in which Costa completed his entire colored belt journey. Training alongside notable DDR products such as José Junior, Marcos Tinoco, and José Carlos, he developed within a gym renowned for producing high-level grapplers. On February 8, 2014, Juarez Soares awarded Costa his black belt, marking the culmination of years of unwavering dedication under the DDR banner.

A New Chapter in the UAE

Shortly after receiving his black belt in 2014, Costa accepted an opportunity to coach jiu-jitsu in Dubai, relocating to the United Arab Emirates alongside his wife Leticia Vargas, herself a BJJ black belt. The move allowed him to establish himself simultaneously as an instructor and an active competitor within a rapidly growing regional scene.

Building a Competitive Legacy

Competing on the UAEJJF international circuit, Costa built his reputation most prominently throughout 2017. That year, he claimed gold at the UAEJJF Sharjah International Pro and the IBJJF Roman Open, while also reaching the podium at two of the circuit's flagship events — finishing second at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam and third at the Abu Dhabi World Pro. He added a third-place finish at the CBJJ Brasileiro No-Gi and reached the final of the IBJJF No-Gi European Open, where he took silver. Competing in the Peso Médio division (82.30 kg / 181.5 lbs), Costa represents the United Arab Emirates as his competing nation — a testament to the professional life he built following his departure from Brazil.