Waldyr Filho

Waldyr Filho was born on August 18, 1995, in Belém do Pará, a city in northern Brazil that carries deep historical significance for the sport of jiu-jitsu. It was there that Japanese judoka and catch wrestler Mitsuyo Maeda arrived in 1914, setting in motion the chain of events that would give rise to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as it is known today. Growing up immersed in that sporting heritage, Filho competed in football (soccer) and basketball before gravitating toward martial arts.

At age 9, his older brother Marcelo introduced him to karate — a discipline they trained under Yoshizo Machida, father of UFC Hall of Famer Lyoto Machida. That early exposure to traditional martial arts instilled the discipline and competitive drive that would define Filho's athletic career. As Marcelo's interests shifted toward mixed martial arts and the growing world of cage-fighting, his influence on the younger Waldyr followed. An avid Pride FC fan, Marcelo passed his passion for combat sports to his brother, and together they became captivated by the grappling they witnessed in the Pride FC ring. That shared fascination brought Waldyr Filho to the jiu-jitsu mats for the first time in February 2007.

Driven by the grappling techniques he had glimpsed through Pride FC, Filho enrolled at the Brazilian Top Team (BTT) branch in Juiz de Fora, placing himself under the guidance of coach Ricardo Marques. From the outset, Filho displayed a natural affinity for jiu-jitsu, developing a deep connection with the art that translated into consistent competitive performances throughout his colored belt years.

That connection grew into professional commitment. At age 19, Filho chose to pursue a full-time competitive career — a decision his family embraced wholeheartedly. His father played a particularly important role during those formative years, providing the financial support that allowed Filho to dedicate himself entirely to competition. Throughout his colored belt career, Filho remained loyal to Ricardo Marques and BTT Juiz de Fora, a testament to the strength of the athlete-coach bond built since childhood. On July 30, 2019, that long partnership reached a defining milestone when Marques promoted Filho to the rank of black belt, capping one of the more decorated colored belt careers of his generation.

Juvenile and Purple Belt Years

Waldyr Filho's colored belt record reflects a talent that matured steadily and performed at the highest level across multiple divisions and formats. He announced himself as a top prospect at the juvenile level, capturing gold at the IBJJF World Championship Juvenile and the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals Juvenile, both in 2012. His comfort in no-gi competition was equally evident, with back-to-back titles at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals NO-GI Juvenile in 2011 and 2012.

As Filho advanced to purple belt, the results continued to affirm a competitor operating at the top of his category. In 2015, he claimed first-place finishes at the UAEJJF Rio de Janeiro Pro and the UAEJJF Brasília Pro, cementing his standing as one of the most capable grapplers on the Brazilian circuit.

Brown Belt Dominance and the Road to Black Belt

The brown belt years, spanning 2016 to 2018, proved the most prolific stretch of his colored belt career. Filho accumulated victories at IBJJF and UAEJJF events across Brazil and internationally, including multiple IBJJF Rio Winter Open and IBJJF Rio BJJ Pro titles, as well as gold at the UAEJJF Grand Slam in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

His colored belt journey reached its apex in 2019, when Filho advanced to the final of the IBJJF World Championship at brown belt — one of the most competitive stages in the sport — finishing as runner-up. A silver medal at the IBJJF European Open the same year further underscored the level he had reached, setting the stage for his transition into black belt competition under Ricardo Marques at Brazilian Top Team (BTT).