Alef Brito - Team Ares’s Top Grappler

Alef Brito is a BJJ black belt under Wellyton Menezes and Rildo Paiva. He fights as a representative of Ares Jiu-Jitsu at international competitions. The most famous moment in Brito’s career was defeating multiple-time IBJJF World Champion Tommy Langaker at the 2019 Copa Podio Lightweight Grand Prix.

Brito was born in Caxias, Maranhão in Brazil on January 19, 1995. Brito grew up in Buriticupu, a municipality in northeast Brazil.

Ever since he was a child, Brito always had an interest in sports. He joined his school’s soccer team. Brito’s time spent practicing other sports helped him develop the skills and instincts that would help him later on the mats.

While playing for the soccer team, Brito developed an interest in martial arts. When he was seven years old, Brito started practicing Capoeira and Taekwondo.

Brito was 11 years old when he started jiu-jitsu. He was introduced to BJJ by his friends who happened to be students of Menezes and Paiva.

Both Menezes and Paiva’s fighting styles helped influence Brito’s own as he adopted aspects of their techniques.

While training in BJJ, Brito also studied hard to get a degree in accounting.

To continue with his studies, Brito was forced to move to São Luis and leave his couches behind. However,, he continued his BJJ training on his own. After earning his degree, Brito resumed his training with Menezes.

After reuniting with Menezes in São Luis, Brito became motivated to pursue BJJ professionally. When Paiva came to São Luis, Brito was able to resume his BJJ training right where he and his coaches had left off. However, Brito also learned under a new instructor named Antonio Marcos Santana, a BJJ black belt under Ricardo Vieira. Thanks to Santana, Menezes, and Paiva’s teachings, Brito refined his BJJ skills.

Despite Brito being trained by experienced BJJ coaches, the lack of guidance from a certified BJJ academy was evident in his fighting style. He was also unaware of the rules and regulations of BJJ competitions and of upcoming championships he could participate in. Because of the lack of connections, Brito missed out on many tournaments that could have jumpstarted his professional BJJ career.

After Brito’s loss at the 2018 IBJJF Pan Championship, he decided to join a legitimate BJJ team. He contacted Osvaldo Moizinho, a 3rd-degree BJJ black belt and the co-founder of Ares Jiu-Jitsu, to ask if he could join Team Ares. In 2018, Brito officially joined Ares Jiu-Jitsu.

At the 2014, CBJJ Brazilian Nationals, Brito won first place as a purple belt.

At the 2016 CBJJE World Championship, Brito won first place as a brown belt.

At the 2018 ACB North America Championship, Brito won first place as a brown belt.

Brito performed poorly at the 2018 IBJJF Pan Championship due to not knowing many of the rules and lacking professional training.

On July 14, 2018, Brito was promoted to black belt by Menezes and Paiva. Santana was present only as a witness to the ceremony.

Brito was the IBJJF American Nationals Champion in 2019 and 2020.

At the 2019 IBJJF Orlando Spring Open Championship, Brito won first place.

At the 2022 IBJJF Santa Cruz International Open Championship, Brito won first place.

At the 2022 Santa Cruz Open, Brito competed against Rehan Muttalib. From the ground, Brito grabbed ahold of Muttalib’s gi, restricting his mobility. Muttalib tried to stand up, but Brito maintained his grip. Brito hooked his legs around Muttalib’s waist, while Muttalib transitioned into a dominant position, leaving Brito vulnerable. As Muttalib lifted Brito off the ground, Brito grabbed the pants of his opponent’s gi and sent him tumbling onto the mat. Leading by eight points, Brito grabbed Muttalib from the back and submitted him via a choke from the back.

At the 2019 Coliseu Jiu-Jitsu, Brito competed against black belt Marcelo Marques. From the ground, Brito grabbed Marques’s collar and got on top of him. Brito managed to mount from the back and submitted Marques via a bow and arrow choke.

At the 2023 Oklahoma City International Open Championship, Brito had a rematch with Muttalib. Brito managed to grab Muttalib by his gi and lifted him off the mat. However, Muttalib held his ground and managed to get on top of Brito. Quickly getting into a back mount, Brito submitted Muttalib via a bow and arrow choke within 4 minutes and 56 seconds.

At the 2020 IBJJF American Nationals Championship, Brito competed against Carlos Souza. Brito jumped on Souza, earning four points for the mount, and then submitted Souza via a bow and arrow choke within 7 minutes and 45 seconds.

At the 2020 IBJJF Orlando Open Championship, Brito competed against Leonidas Villagran in the finals. While Villagran was on the ground, Brito went from a standing position to behind Villagran’s back. Villagran tried to escape, but Brito adjusted his position to keep him from breaking free. From the back, Brito submitted Villagran via a cross collar choke within 42 seconds.

Alef Brito v Kevin Mahecha / Jiu-Jitsu Con 2022

Alef Brito v Jonata Gomes / World Championship 2022

Alef Brito v Rehan Muttalib / Santa Cruz Open 2022

Alef Brito vs Cole Franson / Fresno Open 2019

Fight to Win Pro 77: Pedro Silva (Ralph Gracie) vs. Alef Brito (Ares BJJ)

Alef Brito vs Jeremy Jackson / San Jose Open 2019

Alef Brito v Rodrigo Freitas / American National 2020

Photo Credit: @alefbrittobjj