Daniel Wanderley

Daniel Souto Wanderley, widely known by his nickname “Cachorrão” (Portuguese slang for “Big Dog”), is an accomplished Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt and mixed martial arts (MMA) coach. Born on February 19, 1980, in Recife, Brazil, Wanderley began his martial arts journey at age 12 with capoeira and karate before finding his true calling in Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 20.He earned his black belt in February 2006 under Gutenberg Melo after just under six years of dedicated training. He famously earned his nickname on the mats when, with both hands occupied controlling a training partner, he used his mouth to untie and pass a lapel—prompting teammates to joke that he resembled a dog.Coaching Career & MMA InvolvementWanderley is highly regarded for his elite grappling instruction and his instrumental role in developing major MMA stars.Elite Coaching: In 2013, he joined the world-renowned Roufusport MMA Academy in Milwaukee, where head coach Duke Roufus appointed him as the team’s head BJJ coach.UFC Success: He famously coached former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, preparing him for his UFC 164 title victory (which Pettis won via armbar).The Ultimate Fighter: Wanderley served as the official grappling coach for Team Pettis on The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned (TUF 20).Notable Athletes: Throughout his coaching career, he has worked closely with other high-profile mixed martial artists, including Ben Askren and Erik Koch. His roots in MMA camps trace back to 2005, when he assisted in Stephan Bonnar’s training camp for the legendary TUF 1 Finale against Forrest Griffin.Competitive AchievementsAs a competitor, Wanderley has ventured into MMA and heavily distinguished himself on the international BJJ circuit, particularly excelling in the Master divisions.Main Titles & Medals:IBJJF Pan American No-Gi Champion (2010/2011 Master 1)IBJJF American Nationals Champion (2016/2018 Master 2)IBJJF American Nationals No-Gi Champion (2018 Master 2)UFC Fan Expo/Grapplers Quest No-Gi Advanced Champion (2013)IBJJF World No-Gi Championship Silver Medalist (2010/2014 Master 1, 2017 Master 2)Multiple-time champion at major IBJJF Opens, including New York, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, and Denver.Favorite Position: Closed GuardWeight Division: Peso Leve / Peso Médio (Lightweight / Medium-Heavyweight)