Helio Vigio Gomes

Hélio Vígio Gomes (1934–2016) was a 9th-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu red belt. He was a premier representative of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu academy during the 1950s, a feared Vale Tudo (No-Holds-Barred) competitor, one of the world’s most prominent combat sports referees, and a notoriously ruthless Brazilian police chief.

The Gracie Academy & Fight Career
Technical Standout: Vigio began training at the Gracie Academy in the 1940s. Training alongside heavy hitters like Carlson Gracie and Joao Alberto Barreto, Vigio was highly regarded as the most technical fighter on the mats, eventually earning a spot on the academy’s elite coaching staff in the 1950s.

The Final Fight: Vigio actively competed in both submission grappling and Vale Tudo. His competitive career famously ended in a bout against a Copacabana street hustler named Adão, who caught Vigio in a deep guillotine choke and put him to sleep as Vigio attempted a takedown.

Legendary Refereeing Career
Uncompromising Style: After retiring from active fighting, Vigio became a highly sought-after referee. He was known for enforcing a tough, old-school mentality. During a famous 1984 bout at the Maracanãzinho, Marcelo Behring was brutally beating his opponent, Flávio Molina. When Molina’s corner threw in the towel to surrender, Vigio famously picked up the towel and threw it back at them, allowing Behring to land a few more unanswered blows before finally stopping the fight.

UFC 1: Because of his elite credentials, Vigio made martial arts history when he was flown out alongside his lifelong friend Joao Alberto Barreto to serve as the official refereeing staff for the very first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC 1) in 1993.

Double Life: Law Enforcement & Controversy
The “Death Squad”: Outside of the gym, Vigio led a prominent and controversial career as a police officer from the 1960s to the 1990s, serving as head of both the Anti-Kidnapping Police and the Narcotics Bureau. He was widely known as a “trigger-happy” lawman and was documented as a member of the Esquadrão Le Cocq, a group of police officers who took justice into their own hands and ultimately gave birth to Brazil’s notorious “Death Squads.”

Corruption Charges: In 1994, Vigio was dismissed from the police force under allegations of corruption after his name was linked to an illegal gambling crook. However, he was legally cleared of the charges in 1998 and allowed back into the agency.

Legacy and Family
Vigio passed away in December 2016 at the age of 82. His martial arts legacy extended deeply into his family. His son, Redley Vigio, reached the rank of coral belt and famously continued to coach from a wheelchair after a tragic shooting incident left him paraplegic.