Amaury Bitetti

Main Achievements

• 2x Absolute World Champion (1996 / 1997 – First in history)
• 2x Brazilian National Champion (1998 / 2000)
• 3rd Place — IBJJF World Championship (1999 bronze medalist)

Overview

Amaury Bitetti is a legendary 7th-degree red-and-black belt (coral belt) and a foundational icon of competitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Stemming from the historic Carlson Gracie lineage, Bitetti carved his name into grappling eternity by becoming the first person in history to win the prestigious IBJJF Open Weight (Absolute) World Championship twice in a row.

Early Life and Childhood

Amaury Bitetti was born into a rich martial arts tradition. He was the son of Amaury Senior, a close childhood friend and training partner of the legendary Master Carlson Gracie. The elder Bitetti was a key figure at the famous Carlson Gracie Academy on Figueiredo Magalhães in Copacabana—the training ground for legendary figures like De La Riva and Murilo Bustamante.

Given his family connections, Amaury Junior started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at just five years old. His early start paid off immediately; he completely dominated the junior competition scene, even gaining local media attention as a 10-year-old prodigy for securing lightning-fast submission victories.

Rising Through the Ranks

At just 17 years old, Bitetti’s skill level was so advanced that Carlson Gracie decided to enroll him in a local tournament in both the junior division and the adult black belt division. Though his father initially pushed back against the risky move, he ultimately relented. The gamble paid off spectacularly: young Bitetti captured four gold medals that day, winning both his weight class and the open weight (absolute) divisions for both the junior and adult categories.

Bitetti went on to become a powerhouse in sports jiu-jitsu during the 1990s. He cemented his status as an all-time great by becoming the first man in history to win the Open Weight World Championship twice, capturing back-to-back absolute titles in 1996 and 1997 with legendary victories over rivals like Fabio Gurgel and Royler Gracie.

Team Transition and MMA Career

When Carlson Gracie relocated to the United States to establish a new academy and manage the surging career of Vitor Belfort, many of his Brazilian students were left without direct guidance. While a large portion of his teammates broke away to form the legendary Brazilian Top Team (BTT), Bitetti chose a different path, joining forces with Osvaldo Alves, a highly revered Jiu-Jitsu pioneer and close friend of Carlson.

During this era, Bitetti also tested his skills in mixed martial arts (MMA), competing in the “Vale-Tudo” circuit and making appearances on the UFC roster between 1995 and 2000. He amassed a professional record of 5 wins and 2 losses, fighting primarily at light heavyweight and heavyweight.

Coaching and Promotional Legacy

After retiring from active MMA competition, Bitetti remained a vital figure in the sport. Due to his lifelong friendship with the Nogueira brothers (Rodrigo “Minotauro” and Rogerio “Minotouro”), he was brought in as the head grappling coach for Minotauro’s training camp, helping sharpen the elite ground games of some of Brazil’s top heavyweight talent.

Transitioning from coach to businessman, he founded Bitetti Combate, which grew into one of Brazil’s foremost MMA promotions. Through this organization, Bitetti helped launch the careers of major stars like Glover Teixeira and Fabio Maldonado, while providing a prominent platform for veteran icons like Pedro Rizzo and Ricardo Arona.