Rodrigo Francioni

Rodrigo Francioni was born on October 27, 1993, in Criciúma, a town nestled in the inland region of Santa Catarina state, Brazil. From an early age, he embraced an active lifestyle, engaging in swimming, football (soccer), and martial arts. His first exposure to combat sports came through karate before he gravitated toward Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — a transition that would define the entire arc of his athletic life.

The push toward BJJ came from within his own family. His older brother, Willian Francioni, co-founded a jiu-jitsu gym alongside family friend Evandro Emerim when Rodrigo was just 13 years old. The younger Francioni became one of the gym's first pupils, training under his brother's direct guidance through every juvenile belt stage up to blue belt. Those formative years built more than technical proficiency — they forged a competitive hunger that would carry Rodrigo well beyond the walls of that first gym in Criciúma.

Seeking to elevate his game beyond the blue belt level, Rodrigo Francioni joined the academy of Eduardo Milioli, one of the principal representatives of the Rilion Gracie Academy in Santa Catarina. Under Milioli's coaching, Francioni underwent a meaningful transformation as an athlete, emerging as one of the most promising grapplers in southern Brazil.

Building a Regional Legacy

The results spoke clearly on the competition circuit. Francioni captured the Santa Catarina interstate championship three times across different colored belt divisions, cementing his reputation as a dominant regional competitor. His performances at the CBJJ South Brazil Championship further demonstrated his consistency, with gold medals at the purple and brown belt levels in 2013, 2015, and 2016 respectively.

In 2017, Eduardo Milioli awarded Francioni his black belt — a recognition of both technical mastery and a proven competitive record. Rodrigo continued to represent the Rilion Gracie Academy through the first half of 2018 before a pivotal decision redirected his career toward the international stage.

In mid-2018, Rodrigo Francioni relocated from Santa Catarina to Miami, Florida, to pursue training at an elite international level. His destination was Fight Sports, the renowned academy headed by Roberto Abreu, a figure Francioni had long admired. The move was strongly encouraged by his close friend Tiago de Paula, whose support proved instrumental in Francioni committing to the transition.

Joining Fight Sports opened a new competitive chapter. Surrounded by world-class training partners and guided by the influence of Roberto Abreu, Francioni sharpened his game for the international circuit, competing in both IBJJF and AJP events across North and South America. The Miami environment, dense with elite-level grapplers, served as the catalyst that unlocked his full potential at the black belt level.

While Francioni entered his black belt career as a gi-focused competitor, the no-gi ruleset is where he has made his most lasting mark. Competing in the Peso Pena (featherweight) division, he has assembled a résumé that underscores his effectiveness without the kimono.

Podium Results and Defining Moments

The centerpiece of his no-gi career arrived in 2020, when Francioni claimed gold at the IBJJF Pan American No-Gi Championship in the absolute division — a prestigious title that confirmed his standing among the sport's elite lightweights. That same year, he placed 3rd at the IBJJF South American No-Gi Championship and reached the podium at the JizKing 65KG Grand Prix. In 2021, he pushed further, earning silver at the IBJJF World American No-Gi Championship and demonstrating continued growth on the international stage.

His early years with Fight Sports also produced strong results in the gi. In 2018, shortly after arriving in Miami, Francioni won the AJP Brazil National Pro, then followed with victories at the 2019 IBJJF Miami Spring Open and the 2020 IBJJF Miami Winter Open. Together, these results paint the portrait of a competitor forged in southern Brazil and refined on the world stage — a well-rounded, technically sound presence in professional grappling.