Matheus Xavier

Matheus Felipe Xavier was born in Natal, the state capital of Rio Grande do Norte in Northeastern Brazil, and grew up in the Nova Natal neighborhood. Like many athletes who find their way to Brazilian jiu-jitsu through adjacent martial arts, Xavier's path began with a different discipline — Muay Thai. At 15, drawn by a growing passion for combat sports, he signed up for Thai boxing classes and competed in the sport, building a striking foundation that would later complement his grappling development.

The catalyst for Xavier's transition to jiu-jitsu came from within his own family. His sister had been developing into a capable BJJ competitor, and watching her train and perform at tournaments ignited a desire in Matheus to experience the sport firsthand. That curiosity hardened into commitment when, at 16, he walked into the academy of Cristiano Tchê and began his jiu-jitsu journey in earnest. Under Tchê's instruction, Xavier built the foundational skills that would carry him forward, earning his blue belt and positioning himself for the next stage of his career.

After earning his blue belt under Cristiano Tchê, Xavier moved to the Barreto brothers' academy — Checkmat RN — operated by Bruno Barreto and Thiago Barreto. The gym's culture was unapologetically competition-focused, an environment that suited Xavier's ambitions perfectly. He quickly established himself as one of the academy's standout athletes, with the Barreto brothers overseeing his development through every belt promotion from purple through brown.

The partnership between Xavier and his coaches was built on shared competitive values and a relentless drive for results on the international stage. That chapter, however, encountered an unexpected disruption when the Barreto brothers began relocating to Abu Dhabi to support a BJJ development project there. Thiago made the move first, followed by Bruno, temporarily leaving Xavier without his primary coaching structure. The separation lasted only a matter of months before circumstances resolved in a way that would dramatically shape the next chapter of his career.

The brown belt years represent the defining chapter of Matheus Xavier's pre-black belt career — a period in which he asserted himself as one of the most accomplished competitors of his generation at that level. In 2017, he captured gold at the IBJJF World Championship as a brown belt, one of the most coveted titles in the sport, immediately announcing himself as a world-class talent.

When Xavier received an invitation to travel to Abu Dhabi to coach and compete in the UAEJJF circuit, it served a dual purpose: it reunited him with Bruno Barreto and Thiago Barreto, and it opened the door to one of the most dominant brown belt runs the organization had seen. In 2018, Xavier swept the UAEJJF Grand Slam series, claiming titles in Tokyo, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, and Abu Dhabi. He added the UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro and the UAEJJF Asian Continental Pro to his résumé that same year, demonstrating a remarkable level of consistency across multiple high-level events.

His performance across the full UAEJJF calendar earned Xavier the organization's #1 Brown Belt Ranking for 2018 — confirmation from one of the sport's most prestigious governing bodies that he stood atop the competitive landscape at that level. His reach extended beyond the UAEJJF circuit as well. Xavier reached the final of the ACBJJ World Championship, the ACBJJ European Championship, and the ACBJJ North American Championship in 2018, collecting silver medals across all three and reinforcing his ability to perform at the highest level across multiple governing bodies simultaneously.

Rising Stars: A Platform for Elite Development

During Xavier's time competing in the UAE, an opportunity emerged that would provide him with a broader support structure for the final stretch of his journey to black belt. Checkmat head coach Leonardo Vieira, together with Alvin Phung and Frank Phung, launched the "Rising Stars" program — an initiative designed to identify elite up-and-coming talent and provide them with free training, accommodation, and sponsorship. The program operated on the belief that removing logistical and financial barriers could unlock the full potential of the sport's most promising athletes.

Bruno Barreto and Thiago Barreto made a compelling case for Xavier's inclusion, advocating on behalf of their athlete and securing him a place in the program. With the combined resources of the Rising Stars initiative and the continued mentorship of the Barreto brothers and Leonardo Vieira, Xavier's development accelerated through the final phase of his brown belt career.

Black Belt Promotion

On September 3, 2018, Matheus Felipe Xavier received his black belt in a ceremony led by Leonardo Vieira, carried out with the full backing and approval of Bruno Barreto and Thiago Barreto. The promotion recognized not only his exceptional competition record but his growth as a representative of the Checkmat team — a journey that took him from the streets of Nova Natal to the summit of the international jiu-jitsu landscape.