Rodolfo Vieira (fighter)


Rodolfo Vieira Srour is a Brazilian mixed martial artist currently signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he competes in the middleweight division.
Vieira is a four time Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion and a seven time World Cup champion. Rodolfo's Jiu-Jitsu style displays a very diverse set of skills, allied with a fast pace guard passing style, great cardio and huge physical prowess, making him the most dominant Heavyweight in Jiu-Jitsu's recent years by completely dominating most of his fights. He is highly regarded for his guard passing skills. His recurrent matches with Marcus Almeida are among Jiu-Jitsu's most famous rivalries.

Background

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Rodolfo started training under Arlans Maia when he was 13, because he felt overweight. A few years later he joined the Gama Filho team under Julio Cesar Pereira, as a purple belt, where he would go on to receive his brown and black belts.

Grappling career

Rodolfo first made an impression on the international scene in 2009, by winning the World Cup Brazilian north trials as a brown belt in a mixed brown and black belt division. He went on to win his division World Cup with a victory over two-time world champion Braulio Estima, whilst he was still a brown belt, this earned him the nickname "black belt hunter". After promotion to black belt, injury sidelined him throughout most of 2010. He returned in 2011 at the black belt division, first winning his division and the absolute at the Pan American Championships then repeating the feat at the World Cup and then the World Championships, he faced Bernardo Faria in five out of the six finals. Vieira would go on to compete at the 2011 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, after defeating Joseph Lee Blaize and Antonio Peinado, he lost by heel hook to Dean Lister, in the semi-finals. In 2012 after winning double gold at the European Championships and the World Cup again, he went on to the World Championships. He suffered a defeat to Marcus Almeida in the quarter-finals of absolute division, he went on to defeat Xande Ribeiro to win his weight class for a second time. In 2013 he competed in the Copa Podio in Brazil, where he won his weight division and the absolute. He then competed at the World Cup, where he won his weight division but came second in the absolute again losing to Marcus Almeida. At the World Championships, Vieira retained his title in the -94 kg weight class but lost to Almeida in the final of the absolute. In 2014 in an effort to defeat Marcus Almeida Rodolfo put on more weight and moved up to the -100 kg weight class, at the 2014 World Cup he won his weight class defeating Luiz Panza in the final, but again was defeated by Marcus Almeida in the absolute final, however the match was much closer than their last previously contested matches.

Mixed martial arts career

Vieira retired from competing in jiu jitsu and transitioned to mixed martial arts together with his friend and rival Marcus Almeida in 2016.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

After racking up a 5–0 record in Brazilian and Russian promotions, Vieira was signed by UFC in June 2019.
Vieira made his debut at UFC, facing Oskar Piechota, at UFC on ESPN+ 14 on August 10, 2019. He won the fight via an arm-triangle submission in round two.
Vieira faced Saparbek Safarov on March 7, 2020 at UFC 248. He again won the fight via an arm-triangle submission in the first round.

Championships and accomplishments

Grappling

Grappling Record

ResultOpponentMethodEventDivisionTypeYear
WinMahamed AlyPointsBlack Belt CBD-100kgGi2018
WinKit DaleSubmissionBlack Belt CBD-100kgGi2018
LossJoão Gabriel Rochaopened the fightADCC World ChampionshipAbsoluteNogi2015
WinRafael Lovato Jr.Points ADCC World ChampionshipAbsoluteNogi2015
WinBenson HendersonSubmission ADCC World ChampionshipAbsoluteNogi2015
WinFelipe PenaReferee DecisionADCC World Championship-99 kgNogi2015
WinXande RibeiroPointsADCC World Championship-99 kgNogi2015
WinCassio SilvaPointsADCC World Championship-99 kgNogi2015
WinAdam SachnoffSubmission ADCC World Championship-99 kgNogi2015
LossMarcus AlmeidaPoints World ChampionshipAbsoluteGi2014
WinBernardo FariaSubmission World ChampionshipSuper HeavyweightGi2014
WinLeo NogueiraSubmission World ChampionshipSuper HeavyweightGi2014
WinJames PuepoloSubmission World ChampionshipSuper HeavyweightGi2014
WinHarlan BerkSubmission World ChampionshipSuper HeavyweightGi2014
WinBernardo FariaSubmission World ChampionshipAbsoluteGi2014
WinAlexander TransSubmission World ChampionshipAbsoluteGi2014
WinSean RobertsSubmission World ChampionshipAbsoluteGi2014
WinAJ AgazarmSubmission World ChampionshipAbsoluteGi2014
LossMarcus AlmeidaPoints World CupAbsoluteGi2014
WinAndré GalvãoSubmission World CupAbsoluteGi2014
WinLeandro LoSubmission World CupAbsoluteGi2014
WinLuiz PanzaSubmission World CupAbsoluteGi2014
WinLuiz PanzaSubmission World CupSuper HeavyweightGi2014
WinLucio RodriguesPoints World CupSuper HeavyweightGi2014
WinAntonio Braga NetoSubmission World CupSuper HeavyweightGi2014
WinLuke CostelloSubmission World CupSuper HeavyweightGi2014
WinLeandro LoSubmission Copa PodioAbsoluteGi2014
WinTravis StevensSubmission Copa PodioAbsoluteGi2014
DrawLeandro LoDrawCopa PodioAbsoluteGi2014
WinAlan BelcherSubmission Copa PodioAbsoluteGi2014
WinFaisal AlkitbeSubmission Copa PodioAbsoluteGi2014
WinAlexandre SouzaSubmission Copa PodioAbsoluteGi2014
WinBraulio EstimaDecisionMetamoris IISuperfightGi2013
LossMarcus AlmeidaPoints World ChampionshipsAbsoluteGi2013
WinNivaldo LimaSubmission World ChampionshipsHeavyweightGi2013
WinLeo LeiteSubmission World ChampionshipsHeavyweightGi2013
WinYuri SimoesPoints World ChampionshipsHeavyweightGi2013
WinJames PuopoloSubmission World ChampionshipsHeavyweightGi2013
WinLeo LeiteSubmission World ChampionshipsAbsoluteGi2013
WinJoão RochaSubmission World ChampionshipsAbsoluteGi2013
WinAntonio PeinadoSubmission World ChampionshipsAbsoluteGi2013
WinLucas SachsSubmission World ChampionshipsAbsoluteGi2013
WinRicardo AbreuAdvantages Copa PodioSuperfightGi2013
WinLeo LeiteSubmission Copa PodioSuperfightGi2013
LossMarcus AlmeidaPoints World CupAbsoluteGi2013
WinClaudio CalasansPoints World CupAbsoluteGi2013
WinPedro PeresSubmission World CupHeavyweightGi2013
WinRoberto AlencarPoints World CupHeavyweightGi2013
WinRodrigo RibeiroSubmission World CupHeavyweightGi2013
WinPedro HenriqueSubmission World Cup Brazilian TrialsHeavyweightGi2013
Leo NogueiraAdvantages Copa PodioAbsoluteGi2013
WinAlexandre SouzaSubmission Copa PodioAbsoluteGi2013
WinXande RibeiroAdvantages Copa PodioAbsoluteGi2013
WinKeenan CorneliusPoints Copa PodioAbsoluteGi2013
WinLeo NogueiraPoints Copa PodioAbsoluteGi2013
WinAlexandre CeconiSubmission Copa PodioAbsoluteGi2013
WinKim TerraSubmission RockstrikeAbsoluteGi2012
WinGilmar OliveiraSubmission RockstrikeAbsoluteGi2012
WinTarsis HumphreysPoints RockstrikeAbsoluteGi2012
WinLuciano GonçalvesSubmission RockstrikeAbsoluteGi2012
WinLuis Roberto PereiraSubmission RockstrikeAbsoluteGi2012
WinEnrico WesleySubmission Brazil. TeamsHeavyweightGi2012
WinKinter MouraSubmission Brazil. TeamsHeavyweightGi2012
WinXande RibeiroAdvantages World ChampionshipsHeavyweightGi2012
WinAlexandre CeconiSubmission World ChampionshipsHeavyweightGi2012
WinFabiano SouzaSubmission World ChampionshipsHeavyweightGi2012
WinAlan SalgadoSubmission World ChampionshipsHeavyweightGi2012
LossMarcus AlmeidaPoints World ChampionshipsAbsoluteGi2012
WinJames PuopoloSubmission World ChampionshipsAbsoluteGi2012
WinDiego VivaldiSubmisison World ChampionshipsAbsoluteGi2012
WinAndré GalvãoPoints World CupAbsoluteGi2012
WinBernardo FariaSubmission World CupAbsoluteGi2012
WinMarcus AlmeidaSubmission World CupAbsoluteGi2012
WinRoberto AlencarSubmission World CupHeavyweightGi2012
WinMarcelo BernardoSubmission World CupHeavyweightGi2012
WinCristiano CariocaSubmission World CupHeavyweightGi2012
WinLuiz PanzaSubmission World Cup Brazilian TrialsHeavyweightGi2012
WinLuís FelipeSubmission World Cup Brazilian TrialsHeavyweightGi2012
WinPedro BorgesSubmission World Cup Brazilian TrialsHeavyweightGi2012
WinOtavio CountinhoDisqualification World Cup Brazilian TrialsHeavyweightGi2012
WinBernardo FariaPoints European ChampionshipAbsoluteGi2012
WinRoberto TussaSubmission European ChampionshipHeavyweightGi2012
WinPaulo TarcisioSubmission European ChampionshipHeavyweightGi2012
WinGabriel KitoberSubmission European ChampionshipHeavyweightGi2012
WinLucio RodriguesSubmission European ChampionshipAbsoluteGi2012
WinVictor EstimaSubmission European ChampionshipAbsoluteGi2012
LossDean ListerSubmission ADCC World Championship-99 kgNogi2011
WinAntonio PeinadoPoints ADCC World Championship-99 kgNogi2011
WinJoseph Lee BaizeSubmission ADCC World Championship-99 kgNogi2011
WinBernardo FariaPoints World ChampionshipAbsoluteGi2011
WinBernardo FariaPoints World ChampionshipHeavyweightGi2011
WinRafael Lovato Jr.Points World ChampionshipHeavyweightGi2011
WinGybson SáSubmission World ChampionshipHeavyweightGi2011
WinDustin DenesPoints World ChampionshipHeavyweightGi2011
WinMarcus AlmeidaSubmission World ChampionshipAbsoluteGi2011
WinSérgio MoraesSubmission World ChampionshipAbsoluteGi2011
WinClaudio CalasansSubmission World ChampionshipAbsoluteGi2011
WinAntionio Braga NetoSubmission World ChampionshipAbsoluteGi2011
WinMatt JuberaSubmission World ChampionshipAbsoluteGi2011
WinBernardo FariaPoints Pan ChampionshipAbsoluteGi2011
WinBernardo FariaPoints Pan ChampionshipHeavyweightGi2011
WinDiego HerzogSubmission Pan ChampionshipHeavyweightGi2011
WinLeo NogueiraAdvantages Pan ChampionshipHeavyweightGi2011
WinMarcus AlmeidaSubmission Pan ChampionshipAbsoluteGi2011
WinAntonio PeinadoSubmission Pan ChampionshipAbsoluteGi2011
WinDan SimmlerSubmission Pan ChampionshipAbsoluteGi2011
WinRafael MendesReferee DecisionWorld CupAbsoluteGi2011
WinRafael Lovato Jr.PointsWorld CupHeavyweightGi2011
WinRafael MendesReferee DecisionNogi World CupAbsoluteNogi2011
LossRafael Lovato Jr.PointsNogi World CupHeavyweightNogi2011
WinAlexandre de SouzaPoints Pan ChampionshipxxxGi2010
WinAntonio PeinadoAdvantages World Cup-92 kgGi2009
WinBraulio EstimaAdvantage World Cup-92 kgGi2009
LossAndré GalvãoPoints ADCC 2009 Brazilian Trials-88 kgNogi2009
WinRicardo SeixasSubmission ADCC 2009 Brazilian Trials-88 kgNogi2009