Pedro Elias

Pedro Elias was born on April 24, 1995, in São Paulo, Brazil, though it was life in Palmital — a small, quiet town far removed from São Paulo's urban intensity — that shaped his formative years. Relocating there at age 10, Elias endured bullying that, rather than breaking him, redirected the course of his life. Driven by a desire for self-defense and personal empowerment, he turned to martial arts at 14, beginning with judo.

Judo, however, failed to hold his interest. Growing disillusioned with the discipline, Elias sought out Brazilian jiu-jitsu as an alternative — a decision that would define his athletic identity. On November 23, 2010, he officially entered the world of BJJ by joining the team of Adriano Carvalho, launching a competitive journey that would carry him to the sport's highest levels.

Elias earned his blue belt under Adriano Carvalho through consistent, disciplined work in Palmital. Recognizing that further growth demanded a more competitive environment, he made the pivotal decision to relocate to São Paulo and train full-time at the academy of Cicero Costha, one of Brazil's most respected BJJ instructors.

At the Costha academy, Elias trained within the heavier weight class group under Leandro Lo, a decorated black belt whose technical acumen and competitive pedigree made him an ideal mentor for an emerging heavyweight talent. Lo awarded Elias both his purple and brown belts, guiding him through the most formative stages of his career.

When Leandro Lo departed the Costha academy to establish his own organization, Elias followed, becoming a founding member of New School Brotherhood. The transition proved seamless, and on November 27, 2018, Augusto Ferrari promoted Pedro Elias to black belt — a formal recognition of years of dedicated training and hard-earned competitive achievement.

Pedro Elias built his reputation as one of the top heavyweight prospects of his generation through a sustained, decorated run across the blue, purple, and brown belt divisions. His colored belt career demonstrated not only raw talent but the capacity to perform consistently across multiple major international circuits.

Blue Belt

Elias announced himself on the national stage by claiming gold at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals in 2015, a result that signaled his potential to contend at the sport's elite levels.

Purple Belt

His purple belt years proved even more prolific. In 2016 alone, Elias won both the UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro and the IBJJF São Paulo Open, adding a third-place finish at the South American Open and two additional Abu Dhabi Pro podium appearances to his résumé. He followed with the IBJJF São Paulo BJJ Pro title in 2017 and reached the final of the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals that same year, cementing himself as one of the division's most consistent heavyweights.

Brown Belt

The brown belt campaign preceding his black belt promotion was equally commanding. In 2018, Elias swept through the UAEJJF Grand Slam circuit, winning both the Rio de Janeiro and London legs of the series. He also claimed gold at the IBJJF Rio de Janeiro BJJ Pro and secured podium finishes at the IBJJF European Open and the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals — a brown belt record that left little doubt about his readiness for the sport's highest division.

Elias wasted no time making his presence felt at the black belt level following his promotion in late 2018. Within the same calendar year, he captured gold at both the IBJJF Belo Horizonte Spring Open and the IBJJF Brasilia Open, establishing an immediate winning habit in open competition. He also claimed the ROYAL Invitational HW title, underscoring his credentials as an elite heavyweight capable of winning across multiple competitive formats.

Competing in the Peso Pesado division at 94.30 kg (208.0 lbs), Elias represents both Brazil and New School Brotherhood on the international stage. His early black belt results serve as a natural extension of the consistency he displayed throughout his colored belt career, affirming his standing as one of the more complete and formidable heavyweights to emerge from his generation of Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitors.