Thalys Pontes

Born on May 30, 2000, in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, Thalys Pontes grew up in a city with a deep tradition of producing elite grapplers. His path to jiu-jitsu began at age 12, sparked by the influence of his uncle David, whose passion for the martial art ignited an early curiosity in Thalys. Before committing fully to the sport, he explored a range of athletic pursuits, testing different competitive avenues before the discipline and culture of BJJ drew him in decisively. Around 2013, he made a definitive commitment to pursue jiu-jitsu as a career, beginning his formal training under Aelcio Silva, who laid the technical and competitive foundation for what would become a decorated grappling career.

Building on his early formation under Aelcio Silva, Thalys Pontes made the pivotal move to join the Cicero Costha Academy in São Paulo, one of Brazil's most prestigious jiu-jitsu institutions. Under the direct guidance of Cicero Costha, he represented the Cicero Costha Association on the IBJJF international circuit, competing across the blue, purple, and brown belt divisions in the light-featherweight category of 64 kg / 141.5 lbs.

The academy's structured, high-level training environment allowed Thalys to sharpen his technical game and develop the competitive consistency that defined his colored belt career. That progression reached its apex at the IBJJF World Championship, where a commanding performance on the mat earned him a black belt promotion — conferred in a joint ceremony by both Cicero Costha and Bruno Bastos, a recognition that honored the dual mentorship central to his development as a grappler.

Across the colored belt divisions, Thalys Pontes established himself as one of the most dangerous light-featherweights on the IBJJF and AJP circuits. His ability to perform at the highest level in both gi and no-gi formats set him apart as a complete, well-rounded competitor.

Blue Belt Breakthrough

At blue belt, Thalys announced himself on the global stage with a runner-up finish at the IBJJF World Championship in 2019 — a landmark result for a competitor still in the early stages of his career. That same year, he claimed gold at the IBJJF Pan Championship, the Pan Pacific Championship, and the IBJJF European Open No-Gi, signaling his emergence as a dominant force in his weight class.

Purple Belt Consistency

His momentum carried directly into the purple belt division, where he captured back-to-back IBJJF Pan Championship titles in 2020 and 2021. He supplemented those results with victories at the IBJJF American Nationals, the IBJJF American Nationals No-Gi, and the IBJJF European Open No-Gi. On the AJP circuit, Thalys secured Grand Slam titles in both Miami and London, demonstrating the versatility and mental fortitude required to win across different competitive formats and international stages.

Brown Belt Campaign

His brown belt run, though shorter in duration, maintained the standard he had set throughout his career. A runner-up finish at the IBJJF Pan Championship in 2022 further affirmed the elite-level consistency Thalys carried across every belt division.

Thalys Pontes made the decision to relocate from São Paulo, Brazil, to Texas, United States, marking a defining transition in both his personal and professional life. Shifting his training base from the Cicero Costha Association to Team LEAD in Texas, he found a new competitive home while carrying forward the technical identity built under Cicero Costha and Bruno Bastos.

The move coincided with a meaningful personal chapter, as Thalys married fellow BJJ competitor Abbigayle Tetterton, deepening his connection to the sport's broader community. Representing the United States on the international circuit, Thalys added a new dimension to his competitive identity while continuing to build on the reputation forged during his formative years in Brazil.