Thiago Macedo was born on November 27, 1994, in Manaus, Brazil. At age seven, inspired by his older brother João Bosco, he began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His early instruction came from João Bosco himself, along with coaches Francimar and Orley Lobato, who collectively provided Macedo with a strong technical foundation in the martial art.

Seeking to elevate his competitive career, Macedo transitioned to Mestre Pina Academy, renowned in Amazonas state for its intense competition focus. Under the expert guidance of Faustino Neto, known as Mestre Pina, Macedo rapidly advanced through the ranks from blue belt to black belt, ultimately receiving his black belt promotion in August 2015.

In 2016, Macedo relocated to San Antonio, Texas, through a student exchange program arranged by his brother João Bosco and Rodrigo Pinheiro. Recognizing Macedo's competitive potential, Pinheiro invited him to stay in the United States to teach and compete under the Rodrigo Pinheiro BJJ banner. During this period, Macedo refined his aggressive, submission-oriented style, notably perfecting his signature armbar technique.

Thiago Macedo achieved a career-defining moment at the 2020 IBJJF Pan Championship, capturing gold in the featherweight division. His path to victory featured impressive wins over elite competitors, including Gianni Grippo, Adam Benayoun, Samuel Nagai, and the reigning IBJJF World Champion at the time, Matheus Gabriel. This landmark victory firmly established Macedo among the elite black belt competitors.

Expanding his competitive success beyond IBJJF tournaments, Macedo secured the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam title in 2022 at 69kg. In 2023, he further demonstrated his global dominance by capturing the AJP Continental Pro series titles across three continents—North America, Europe, and Africa—in the 77kg division. Additionally, Macedo reached the semifinals of the 2023 Abu Dhabi World Pro at 69kg, reinforcing his status as one of the world's premier professional grapplers.

Known for maintaining an exceptionally active competition schedule, Macedo regularly travels internationally to compete at the highest levels. In 2023, he secured the IBJJF Asian Open featherweight title in Tokyo. He consistently achieves podium finishes at IBJJF International Opens in major cities such as Dallas, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. His consistent performances have kept him ranked among the top 10 IBJJF featherweight black belts worldwide for several years.

In addition to his gi-focused competition career, Macedo expanded his martial arts experience into professional MMA, competing in two professional fights between 2022 and 2023. He also actively participates in no-gi grappling events, demonstrating versatility and a commitment to broadening his martial arts skill set.

Thiago Macedo is recognized for his aggressive, submission-focused competition style, consistently pursuing finishes rather than relying on points victories. His preferred technique is the armbar, which he employs with precision and effectiveness at the highest levels of competition. Macedo is also known for his resilience, frequently rebounding from setbacks with strong performances in subsequent tournaments, underscoring his mental toughness and competitive spirit.