Willis Nunes

Willis "Pipoca" Nunes was born on March 24, 1996, and raised in the Santo Agostinho and Santo Antônio neighborhoods of Amazonas, Brazil. He grew up in a tight-knit household alongside his mother Neila, grandmother Pelcimira, and aunt Priscila — a grounded upbringing that would shape his character long before he found the mats. Before committing to jiu-jitsu, Nunes explored a range of athletic pursuits: capoeira, hip hop dancing, and football (soccer). He competed in two capoeira tournaments before grappling claimed his full attention.

At the age of 8, Nunes made his first visit to the ASLE academy in the São Raimundo neighborhood, run by Henrique Machado. The visit ended without result — lacking authorization from an adult guardian, he was turned away. Undeterred, he returned to the mats two years later under a coach known by the nickname "Rato" (Mouse), who provided his first sustained exposure to jiu-jitsu.

The defining turning point came when Nunes was 12 and met his father, Paulo Jorge, for the first time. He moved in with his father, stepmother, sisters, and brothers shortly after, and with that came the parental authorization he had long been denied. Nunes enrolled at Henrique Machado's ASLE academy — the very gym that had turned him away years earlier — and began what would become a lifelong journey in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Building the Foundation at ASLE

Nunes built his foundational game at ASLE, which later became affiliated with Gracie Barra, developing steadily under Henrique Machado's guidance. Paulo Jorge proved to be one of his most devoted supporters throughout this period — attending competitions and investing personally in his son's progress. That commitment was illustrated memorably when, as a blue belt, Nunes prepared to leave for the CBJJE World Championship in São Paulo. Paulo Jorge promised him a car if he won the title. Nunes delivered, claiming gold at the tournament in 2012, and his father honored the promise. As of November 2020, Nunes still possessed the car — a tangible reminder of that defining moment. He continued building his blue belt résumé the following year, reaching the final of the IBJJF World Championship in 2013.

The Move to Carlos Holanda

At purple belt, seeking a more competitive environment to fuel his international ambitions, Nunes transitioned to the academy of Carlos Holanda — widely known in jiu-jitsu circles by the nickname "Esquisito." Holanda's gym carried a reputation as one of the premier training centers in the state, and the move proved transformative. The first major signal of Nunes' international potential came at the 2017 IBJJF European Open in Lisbon, Portugal, where he defeated high-profile prospect Kennedy Maciel — a result that announced him as a serious force on the global circuit.

Nunes continued accumulating competitive experience throughout his brown belt years, competing at the UAEJJF Grand Slam in Los Angeles and various IBJJF events, reaching the podium at each level. In 2019, Carlos Holanda promoted Nunes to the rank of black belt, recognizing both his technical evolution and the competitive achievements he had built across years of dedicated training.

Following his breakthrough at the 2017 IBJJF European Open, Nunes traveled to the United States to pursue competition on the international circuit. It was during this time abroad that he received the devastating news of his father Paulo Jorge's passing. The loss cut deep — Paulo Jorge had been present from the moment Nunes first received permission to train, and had remained one of his most steadfast supporters throughout his rise through the ranks. The memory of the car, the tournament promises, and his father's visible pride at each competition made the grief all the more profound.

In the immediate aftermath, Nunes seriously considered walking away from the sport entirely. Ultimately, he chose to continue — a decision rooted in his father's own wishes. Paulo Jorge had always taken great satisfaction in watching his son compete and succeed, and honoring that legacy became the driving force behind Nunes' continued commitment. Carrying that loss into competition became a defining element of his identity as a martial artist, grounding his pursuit of excellence in something far deeper than athletic ambition.

Relocation to Dallas

Toward the end of 2019, Carlos Holanda and former Holanda student Samuel Nagai introduced Nunes to Kaiser Girão, who operated a professional jiu-jitsu training facility in Dallas, Texas. Girão was assembling a team of elite-level competitors committed to a high-performance training program, and Nunes accepted a place in the group. He relocated to Texas and joined Checkmat's Dallas branch, continuing to benefit from the guidance of both Holanda and Girão as he entered the black belt pro circuit.

Establishing Himself on the Black Belt Circuit

The move quickly bore fruit. In 2020, Nunes captured gold at the IBJJF Pan American No-Gi Championship in the Galo division (57.5 kg / 127 lbs), marking his first major title on the professional circuit and establishing him as one of the premier super-lightweight competitors in the world. He added the IBJJF Oklahoma City Open title the same year, underlining the consistency that had come to define his competitive approach. In 2021, Nunes reached the podium at the IBJJF World No-Gi Championship, finishing in third place — a result that confirmed his standing among the elite of the division and reflected the upward trajectory of a black belt career still very much in ascent.