Marcos Paulo Costa

Marcos Paulo Costa was born on September 29, 1989, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and relocated to the coastal city of Araruama at the age of 11. Like many Brazilian children, his early sporting life revolved around football (soccer) before jiu-jitsu entered the picture — a discovery that would ultimately define his life's path. That introduction came at age 16, through a group of high school friends, and its impact was immediate and lasting.

Costa's earliest BJJ training took place at a local academy in Araruama under a purple belt instructor known by the nickname 'Russo' (Russian). Russo proved a formative presence, steering Costa through the foundational stages of his grappling education and guiding him to blue belt. At that point, instruction passed to Russo's own coach — Alessandro Vieira, known within the BJJ community as 'Bacalhau.' Though Costa's time under Vieira was relatively brief, it represented a pivotal transitional step in his development and set the stage for what came next.

Following his time under Alessandro Vieira, Marcos Paulo Costa made the move that would define the rest of his colored belt career — joining DDR Academy under the leadership of Juarez Soares, one of the most respected instructors in the Araruama region. The DDR acronym stands for Dedicação, Disciplina, Respeito — Dedication, Discipline, and Respect — values that reflect both the academy's culture and the ethos Soares instilled in his athletes.

DDR has earned a strong reputation as a producer of high-level grapplers, with notable alumni including José Junior, Marcos Tinoco, and José Carlos. Costa fit naturally into this environment, demonstrating the loyalty and consistency that would come to define his training philosophy. He remained under Soares' guidance throughout his entire colored belt journey without ever switching affiliation — a testament to the trust and bond he built within the academy. That dedication was formally recognized on February 8, 2014, when Juarez Soares promoted Marcos Paulo Costa to the rank of black belt, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his career.

Within months of receiving his black belt, Marcos Paulo Costa seized an opportunity that would take him far beyond Brazil's borders. Offered a coaching position in Dubai, he relocated to the United Arab Emirates alongside his wife, Leticia Vargas, herself a BJJ black belt. The move reflected a broader trend of Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners building professional lives in the Gulf region, where the sport has experienced significant institutional and grassroots growth.

In the UAE, Costa established himself on two parallel fronts — as a jiu-jitsu instructor and as an active competitor representing his adopted country on the international circuit. The dual role allowed him to remain closely connected to the competitive rhythms of the sport while contributing to its development in his new home. Competing under UAE representation, Costa found fertile ground for his ambitions within the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation's international tournament structure.

Marcos Paulo Costa built his reputation as a competitive force primarily through his performances on the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) international circuit. Competing in the Peso Médio (middleweight) division at 82.30 kg / 181.5 lbs, he demonstrated consistent podium-level ability across multiple prestigious events. His standout season came in 2017, when a string of high-profile results announced him as one of the division's most dangerous competitors.

That 2017 campaign included a silver medal at the 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam — one of the flagship events on the UAEJJF calendar — and a bronze at the 2017 Abu Dhabi World Pro, placing him firmly among the elite in his weight class. He also claimed gold at the 2017 UAEJJF Sharjah International Pro, underscoring his ability to perform consistently across different stages of the international season. Costa's competitive reach extended beyond the UAEJJF circuit as well: he took the top spot at the 2017 IBJJF Roman Open and earned silver at the 2017 IBJJF No-Gi European Open, rounding out a year that established him as a well-rounded presence across both gi and no-gi formats at the international level.