Olivier's formal training took a significant step forward in 2001 when he registered at a club in the Parisian suburbs under Patrick Bittan, with occasional instruction from Flavio Behring. That same year, he entered his first competition, losing in the quarterfinals — a result that sharpened his resolve rather than diminished it. He returned in 2002 with renewed preparation and defeated four opponents by submission, signaling his rapid development as a competitor. Bittan awarded him his blue belt in 2002 and his purple belt in 2004.
Training in Brazil and Technical Acceleration
Seeking higher-level instruction, Olivier made multiple trips to Brazil to train at the Fight Zone HQ in Rio de Janeiro under Ricardo Vieira and Rodrigo Comprido. Exposure to elite-level training at one of Brazil's premier academies accelerated his technical growth considerably, and Bittan recognized that progress by awarding him his brown belt in 2006.
In 2008, Olivier parted ways with Bittan and redirected his focus entirely toward development under Ricardo Vieira in Rio de Janeiro. That sustained commitment was rewarded in January 2011, when Vieira awarded Olivier his black belt — a milestone that capped over fifteen years of dedication to the art.