Yuri Hendrex was born on April 6, 1996, in Macapá, Brazil, and spent his formative years immersed in football (soccer), competing at both recreational and organized levels. His fiery temperament on the pitch defined him early — a competitive fire that burned intensely but frequently spilled into confrontation. It was precisely this volatility that prompted his family to seek a more structured outlet through martial arts, hoping that combat sports would channel his energy into something purposeful.

In 2012, at the age of 14, Hendrex took his first steps onto the jiu-jitsu mats under the guidance of Mardem Brito 'Tubarão,' who became his foundational instructor. The transition from football pitch to grappling mat proved natural. Hendrex gravitated immediately toward the sport's problem-solving demands and physical intensity, and he entered competition without delay. From the outset, the tournament circuit became a central pillar of his development and identity as a martial artist.

Hendrex's competitive instinct ensured he was a fixture on the tournament circuit from his earliest days in the sport. His progression through the colored belts was marked not only by technical growth but by an accumulating record of results in some of the world's most demanding grappling environments. By the time he reached blue belt, he had committed himself entirely to jiu-jitsu, setting aside other pursuits to focus exclusively on the sport.

Purple Belt Breakthrough

The purple belt phase proved to be a pivotal chapter. Hendrex began asserting himself on major stages, winning the CBJJE Brazilian Nationals in both 2017 and 2018, claiming gold at the 2017 IBJJF Rio BJJ Pro, and capturing the UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro title in 2018 — results that announced him as one of Brazil's most promising grappling prospects. It was also during this period that a life-changing encounter took place: Cicero Costha, the celebrated head instructor of PSLPB Cicero Costha, visited Macapá to conduct a series of workshops. The connection formed during those sessions permanently altered the trajectory of Hendrex's career.

Relocation to São Paulo and Brown Belt Development

Not long after meeting Costha, Hendrex relocated to São Paulo and integrated into the PSLPB Cicero Costha training group — one of the most competitive and productive BJJ academies in the world. Surrounded by elite training partners and a high-performance coaching staff, his development accelerated sharply through the brown belt stage. In 2019 alone, he added titles at the IBJJF São Paulo Open, the IBJJF São Paulo BJJ Pro, and the UAEJJF Grand Slam Abu Dhabi to an already formidable résumé.

On December 4, 2020, Cicero Costha promoted Hendrex to black belt in a formal ceremony — a recognition of a colored belt career that had established him as one of Brazil's elite competitors.

Among the details that define Yuri Hendrex as a competitor, few carry the weight of the inscription on his black belt: the name "Ayan Martins." It is a permanent tribute to one of the most significant relationships of his life — his closest friend and former training partner, who passed away in 2017.

Ayan Martins and Hendrex had traveled the same road from Macapá to São Paulo together, both arriving at Cicero Costha's academy as purple belts, united by the same competitive dreams and the same belief in what jiu-jitsu could offer them. They trained side by side, pushed each other to their limits, and built a bond forged through shared sacrifice and ambition. When Martins passed away, Hendrex chose to carry that friendship onto every competition mat — ensuring that his lost partner's name would be present at every milestone reached as a black belt.

The inscription is more than a memorial gesture. It represents the human cost behind a professional athletic career — the friendships, sacrifices, and losses that never appear in highlight reels or medal tallies. Every time Hendrex steps onto the mat wearing that belt, Ayan Martins is there with him.

Early Black Belt Dominance

Following his black belt promotion in December 2020, Hendrex moved quickly to validate his standing at the sport's highest level. He closed that year with gold at both the IBJJF South American Championship and the IBJJF South Brazilian Championship, signaling that his transition to black belt competition would be seamless. In 2021, he claimed the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals title, establishing himself firmly among Brazil's elite in the Peso Pluma division (64 kg / 141.5 lbs).

International Breakthrough: 2023

The international breakthrough accelerated through 2023, when Hendrex delivered some of the most significant results of his career. His victory at the 2023 AJP Abu Dhabi World Pro stands as one of the most prestigious titles in professional submission grappling, placing him among the sport's recognized elite. That same year, he added an AJP Grand Slam title in Rio de Janeiro and reached the podium at Grand Slam events in Miami, Abu Dhabi, and London — a level of consistency across multiple international stops that underscored his place among the world's top featherweight competitors.

Sustained Excellence: 2024–2025

The 2024 season brought further confirmation of his durability at the highest level. Hendrex claimed the AJP Grand Slam title in Dallas and returned to the podium in Rio de Janeiro and Istanbul — results that reflected sustained competitive excellence rather than a single peak moment. His trajectory extended into 2025 with a gold medal at the 2025 IBJJF European Championship, broadening his reach across both the AJP and IBJJF circuits and marking a continued rise on the global stage.

Over the course of his black belt career, Hendrex has cemented his reputation as one of Brazil's most consistent and formidable featherweight competitors — a distinction earned through years of preparation that began on a football pitch in Macapá and took definitive shape on the mats of PSLPB Cicero Costha in São Paulo.