BJJ

Bruno Malfacine - Rooster Weight BJJ King

Bruno Malfacine - Rooster Weight BJJ King

1. Bruno Malfacine details

Bruno Malfacine details
Given Name Bruno Da Silva Malfacine
Nickname Bad Boy
Born Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Current Residence Franca, Brazil
Date of Birth 28 August 1986
Nationality Brazilian
Last Fight December 12, 2021, in IBJJF World Championship
Weight Class Flyweight
Weight 57kg  125 lbs
Height 5’4’’
Reach 163 cm
Career Disclosed Earnings  $1-5 Million USD
Fighting out of Orlando, Florida
Foundational style Brazilian Jiu-Jisu
FavoriteTechnique Butterfly Guard
Pro MMA Record 3-0-0 (W-L-D)
Rank Black Belt
Awarded By  Vinicius Amaral and Santana
Head Coach Vinicius Amaral
Lineage Mitsuyo Maeda -> Carlos Gracie -> Helio Gracie -> Carlson Gracie -> Vinicius Amaral -> Bruno Malfacine
Team/Association Alliance Jiu Jitsu

2. Bruno Malfacine Biography

2.1. Who is Bruno Malfacine?

Bruno Malfacine was born on August 28, 1986, in Duque de Caxias in the state of Rio de Janeiro State Brazil. He started training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 1998 at the age of 11 under Carlos Santana. Malfacine was influenced by his uncle and started learning BJJ. Even when Malfacine was at the rank of an orange belt, he temporarily halted training because his coach Carlos Santana left the profession of training.

He started training again under new coach Vinicius Amaral, who is the founder of Academia Game Fight (that was an affiliate of Gama Filho Team) GFT, with great courage and new determination. Under the training of Vinicius Amaral, Bruno received his blue, purple, brown, and black belts. Bruno Malfacine is considered among the few athletes in jiu-jitsu who have secured 10 wins in IBJJF World Championships.

Who is Bruno Malfacine?

2.2. Early Life and Amateur Fights

Bruno Malfacine had a challenging childhood. His parents got divorced when he was a baby.   He didn't have his parents to support him when he needed the motivation and support the most, at the very start of his career. He lost his mother at the age of 16. In those uncertain circumstances, he has to relocate to another state to make his dreams come true.

After receiving his early training in BJJ from Carlos Santana, Mafacine completed his advanced training and received his belts from Vinicius Amaral. Meanwhile, he decided to move out of state and that's exactly what he did and eventually received his training from Fabio in São Paulo.

Malfacine said in an interview:
“I always wanted to have Jiu-Jitsu as a job and I would not be able to make it in Rio”.
Bruno also said;
“ I kind of had to make a decision that would change my life”.

The duration of Bruno’s training with Sao Paulo was from 2008 to 2012.

Bruno said,
“For me, it was something really incredible to move to Sao Paulo and be surrounded by so many World Champions, I think it's a kind of motivation. You can always think if they can make it, I can make it”.

He expressed,
“I received my back belt from Vinicius Amaral when I was nineteen years old. He promoted me to blue belt first and after winning so many titles in second year competing, he awarded me with a black belt. He made me a world champion.”

2.3. Training Under “The General”

By the end of 2018, Malfacine grabbed the opportunity to train with Fabio Gurgel aka, “The General” who is one of the most prestigious coaches of BJJ and was the leader of the Alliance Team in Brazil. Malfacine knew that he had to seize the opportunity, so he relocated to Sao Paulo and started his training at the headquarters of Alliance.

Under the coaching of Fabio Gurgel, Malfacine excelled at his skills and fighting techniques. In no time he has managed to prove himself as the best rooster weight champion of all time in the history of the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His name is included in the BJJ hall of fame fighters.

3. Bruno Malfacine’s Pro BJ Career

It is said that luck is when opportunity meets preparation. In the career of Bruno Malfacine, he grabbed the opportunity to train under the guidance of Fabio aka “The General” in the headquarters of Alliance. During that time Malfacine trained with all the big names and champions of the sport including middleweights, middle-heavy, and even heavyweight players.

Malfacine trained with players bigger than him and as the saying of BJJ goes, if you can't fight with guys bigger than you, then there is something wrong with your jiu-jitsu training. Bruno explained, “For me it was something really incredible to move to Sao Paulo and be surrounded by so many World Champions, I think it's a kind of motivation. You can always think if they can make it, I can make it”.

Bruno Malfacine broke the World Championship record of Omar Salum which was set in 2000.

3.1. Bruno Malfacine and Caio Terra

Bruno was an alpha fighter who disliked the taste of defeat and likes to train for the win. This is the reason he rarely lost in competitions. Despite his continuous winning streak, he lost against Caio Terra in the 2008 World Championship via rear naked choke. Although the loss  motivated him to train harder with reincarnated sheer determination.

Despite the defeat, Bruno believed that Terra was a skilled athlete and this defeat led him to more focused and dedicated training. In a way, this defeat motivated Bruno to level up his skills. After so many years, he was not a winning champ. The taste of defeat and aspiration to win made him complete his haul of 10 times BJJ World Champion. In 2016 Bruno finally faced Terra in the finals of the World Championship and won the fight. Although they are rivals, they made each other a better athlete. This is the real beauty of jiu-jitsu.

According to Bruno Malfacine,
“In all these years Caio Terra and I have created a higher level of value for our weight division”.

Bruno’s World Championship Record Against Caio Terra

Year Opponent W/L Competition Method Stage Weight
2008 Caio Terra L World Champ. RNC SF 57KG
2016 Caio Terra W World Champ. Advantage F 57KG


3.2. Bruno Malfacine’s Pro BJJ Combats

 Bruno had a professional upbringing of a champion. He has whatever it takes to be the best. With so many expectations, hard work, and continuous winning streaks, Bruno has secured his place among the BJJ hallmark heroes with 10 titles in World Jiu-Jitsu Championships. In 2018, Bruno reached the 10th title mark and continues to be a living legend.

According to Bruno Malfacine;
“I’m Glad I could make it. I’m finally happy and I don’t feel any more pressure on myself”.

Rooster Weight King and IBJJF Hall of Famer, Professor Bruno Malfacine shared his insights with students who were enthusiastic to learn from the best competitor of BJJ.

4. Bruno Malfacine’s MMA Debut

After an undefeated run in a competitive jiu-jitsu career, Bruno crossed over to MMA making his debut in Brazil. Bruno started his MMA career and his current professional fight record is 3 wins and 0 losses. In 2018, Bruno reigned from brave CF 11 for his pro-MMA combat against Rafael Vinicius. Bruno is considered a fierce fighter in MMA.

4.1. Malfacine’s Pro MMA Fight

After setting an unprecedented and legendary record of ten titles in the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships in a fashion that has only been achieved by Marcus Almeida, Roger Gracie, and Beatriz Mesquita. But in the Roosterweight category, Bruno Malfacine is the only bearer of this hallmark. 2018 he achieved that double-digit hallmark by defeating (submitting) every single opponent and grabbed the gold medal on the 3rd of June in Long Beach, USA. He left his belt on the Jiu-Jitsu mat, a traditional gesture to show his retirement from the tournament.

He said in an interview;
“Of course, I love to compete, I've been competing since I was 12 years old and I love Jiu-Jitsu. But at some point, Jiu-Jitsu was not making me happy anymore as it used to and that is the reason why I decided to do MMA”.

Bruno Malfacine Vs Christian Rodriguez

Round 1:

The sound of the bell was heard across the Mubadala Arena. It was a highly anticipated and tense fight. It was a purely technical and opponent-oriented bout with initially no takedown attempts by Malfacine. It seemed that Rodriguez finally succeeded in getting into the skin of Malfacine. Rodriguez was constantly trying to throw Bruno off the balance. Right after the 90-second mark, Malfacine skillfully cornered Rodriguez and tried his first takedown attempt.

He managed to hold back Rodriguez on the ground and the spectators saw the class of the 10 times Jiu-Jitsu World Champion proving himself in the MMA arena. After three minutes and eighteen seconds of the first round, Bruno Malfacine locked his arm around the neck of Rodriguez. In the next two seconds, the crowd saw three taps and the rest is history. Malfacine extended his MMA record to 3-0 and remained undefeated in his professional MMA career.

Bruno Malfacine Vs Rafael “Mini Man”

This historic bout took place in the 11th event of the Bravo Combat Federation at the Mineirao Stadium Terrace in Belo Horizonte, Brazil on April 13, 2018. It was the third Bahrain-based mixed martial arts event that took place in Brazil.

Round 1:

The bout started after the magical sound of the bell. Both fighters took their positions and touched their fists. Right after 10 seconds Bruno launched himself at the opponent and tried to land punches on the face but Rafael dodged all the jabs. Both fighters were cautious of giving any weak or uncalculated move to the opponent.

After almost 30 seconds of the nerve-racking tussle from both fighters, finally, Bruno landed a half punch and grabbed Rafael from behind, and took him down near the fence. He strangled his legs around his hips of Rafael and continued landing the punches on the side of his face. Rafael tried to free himself from the grip of 10 times jiu-jitsu Champion but struggled. Meanwhile, Bruno put an Armbar and strangled Rafael. After 3 minutes and 18 seconds of round 1,  Bruno was declared the winner.

Bruno Malfacine vs Romario Garcia

This highly anticipated bout was held on 13 April 2018 at the Arena Mineirinho, Belo Horizonte in Brazil.

Round 1:

The fight started and not only was Malfacine’s reputation high, but his fighting style was also elite. He grabbed the opponent and put him down on his back. While sitting on him Bruno continued punching Romario while sitting in the mount position.

While the opponent tried to control his right arm. Suddenly Romario reversed from the bottom mount and put himself on top of Bruno. Bruno applied a closed guard and locked his legs around the opponent. Right after the leg triangle grip, Bruno puts Romario in an Armbar, and Romario submitted by tapping out at 1:34 of the first round.

4.2. Bruno Malfacine’s MMA Fight History

Opponent W/L Method Competition Round Year Time
Christian Rodriguez W Submission Bravo CF 16-Abu Dhabi 1 21-09-2018 4:20
Rafael Pereira Costa W Submission (Armbar) Bravo CF 11-Mineiro vs Santiago 1 13-04-2018 3:18
Romario Gracia W Submission (Armbar) Shooto Brazil 74 1 27-08-2017 1:34

5. IBJJF Hall of fame

IBJJF  Hall of fame

In 2012, Bruno was inducted into the IBJJF Hall of Fame. This refers to an acknowledgment from the governing body of IBJJF for the accomplishments of the fighter. Bruno set a record of 10 times winning gold in the IBJJF World Championships and set the bar very high.

6. Bruno Malfacine Achievements and Championships

6.1. Main Achievements

Year Event Position
2021 IBJJF World Championship Silver
2019 IBJJF World Championship Bronze
2018 IBJJF World Championship Gold
2017 IBJJF World Championship Gold
2017 IBJJF Pan Championship Gold
2016 IBJJF World Championship Gold
2015 IBJJF World Championship Gold
2015 IBJJF Pan Championship Gold
2014 IBJJF World Championship Gold
2012 IBJJF World Championship Gold
2011 IBJJF World Championship Gold
2011 IBJJF Pan American Championship Gold
2011 IBJJF European Open Gold
2010 IBJJF World Championship Gold
2010 IBJJF European Open Gold
2010 CBJJ Brazilian Nationals Gold
2009 IBJJF World Championship Gold
2009 IBJJF Rio International Open Gold
2009 CBJJ Brazilian Nationals Gold
2009 CBJJ Brazilian No-Gi Nationals Gold
2008 IBJJF Pan Championship Gold
2008 IBJJF Rio International Open Gold
2008 CBJJ Brazilian Nationals Gold
2007 IBJJF World Championship Gold
2007 IBJJF Pan Championship Gold

6.2. Main achievements Belt

Year Event Position Belt
2005 IBJJF World Championship 1st Brown
2005 IBJJF Pan Championship 1st Purple
2005 CBJJ Brazilian Nationals 1st Purple
2004 IBJJF World Championship 1st Purple
2003 CBJJ Brazilian Nationals 1st Blue
2002 CBJJ Brazilian Nationals 1st Blue
1999 CBJJ Brazilian Nationals 1st Yellow

6.3. Achievements with Medals

Year Event Location Weight Class Medal
2021 World Champion California 57KG Silver
2019 World Champion California 57KG Bronze
2017 Pan American Championship California 57KG Gold
2016 World Champion California 57KG Gold
2015 Pan American Championship California 57KG Gold
2013 World Champion California 57KG Silver
2013 Pan American Championship California 57KG Silver
2012 Pan American Championship California 57KG Gold
2011 Pan American Championship California 57KG Silver
2011 European Championship Lisbon 64KG Silver
2011 Brazilian National Championship Rio de Janeiro 57KG Gold
2010 Pan American Championship California 57KG Gold
2010 European Championship Lisbon 57KG Gold
2010 Brazilian National Championship Rio de Janeiro 57KG Gold
2009 Brazilian National Championship Rio de Janeiro 57KG Gold
2008 World Champion California 57KG Bronze
2008 Pan American Championship California 57KG Gold
2008 Brazilian National Championship Rio de Janeiro 57KG Gold
2007 World Champion California 57KG Gold
2007 Pan American Championship California 57KG Gold

7. Bruno Malfacine Professional Record breakdown

7.1. Professional Grappling record

Grappling Record Breakdown
79 Matches Wins: 67 Losses: 12
By Advantages 7 2
By Submission 41 1
By Decision 4 1
By Points 15 8

7.2. Professional Grappling Submission Record

Grappling Submission Record
Submission Method Win: 41 Losses: 1
Back Choke 5 0
Toe Hold 3 0
Kneebar 2 0
Submission Method 2 0
Choke 1 0
Foot Lock 2 0
Triangle 2 0
RNC 2 1
Bow And Arrow 4 0
Armbar 12 0
Wristlock 1 0
Crucifix Choke 1 0
Triangle Armbar 1 0
Ezekiel 1 0
Heel Hook 1 0
Flying Armbar 1 0

7.3. Professional MMA Record

Professional Record Breakdown
3 Matches Wins: 3 Losses: 0
By Submission 3 0
Draws 0

7.4. professional MMA Submission Record

Grappling Submission Record
Submission method Win: 3 Losses: 0
Submission 1 0
Armbar 2 0

8. Bruno Malfacine Fight History

8.1. BJJ fight History

Year Opponent W/L/D Competition Method Stage Weight
2021 Thalison Soares W World Champ. Referee Decision 4F 57KG
2021 Rodnei Barbosa W World Champ. Pts: 2x2, Adv SF 57KG
2021 Mikey Musumeci L World Champ. Pts: 6x0 F 57KG
2020 Thalison Soares L European Open Pts: 4x4, Adv 4F 57KG
2019 Javier Gomez W World Champ. Armbar R1 57KG
2019 Caio Terra W World Champ. Referee Decision 4F 57KG
2019 Mikey Musumeci L World Champ. Pts: 10x8 SF 57KG
2018 Nobuhiro Sawada W World Champ. Bow and arrow R2 57KG
2018 Juan Lopes W World Champ. Choke from back 4F 57KG
2018 Tomoyuki Hashimoto W World Champ. Arm in Ezekiel SF 57KG
2018 Rodnei Barbosa W World Champ. Armbar F 57KG
2017 Chad Lundy W Pan American Armbar 4F 58KG
2017 Eduardo Barboza W Pan American Bow and Arrow SF 58KG
2017 Lucas Pinheiro W Pan American Pts: 9x2 F 58KG
2017 Javier Gomez W World Champ. Triangle armbar 4F 58KG
2017 Tomoyuki Hashimoto W World Champ. Armbar SF 58KG
2017 Caio Terra W World Champ. Pts: 4x4, Adv F 58KG
2016 Rodnei Barbosa W World Champ. Pts: 7x0 4F 57KG
2016 Tiago Barros W World Champ. Armbar SF 57KG
2016 Caio Terra W World Champ. Pts: 0x0, Adv F 57KG
2016 Jeff Glover D Metamoris 7 --- SPF ABS
2015 Koji Shibamoto W Pan American Pts: 3x2 SF 57KG
2015 Caio Terra W Pan American Choke from back F 57KG
2015 Washington Lima W World Champ. Crucifix choke 4F 57KG
2015 Rafael Freitas W World Champ. Armbar SF 57KG
2015 Joao Miyao W World Champ. Adv F 57KG
2015 Rafael Freitas W W. Fitness Expo Heel hook SPF ABS
2014 Joao Kuruoka W World Champ. Armbar RDS 57KG
2014 Brandon Mullins W World Champ. Bow and Arrow 4F 57KG
2014 Joao Miyao W World Champ. Referee Decision F 57KG
2013 Jeff Glover W World Expo Pts: 5x2 SPF ABS
2013 Takahiko Yoshioka W Pan American Armbar 4F 57KG
2013 Felipe Costa W Pan American Submission SF 57KG
2013 Caio Terra L Pan American Pts: 2x0 F 57KG
2013 Raul Gomes W World Champ. Submission 4F 57KG
2013 Felipe Costa W World Champ. Triangle SF 57KG
2013 Caio Terra L World Champ. Pts: 4x2 F 57KG
2012 Daniel Beleza W Pan American Foot Locker 4F 64KG
2012 Guilherme Mendes W Pan American Pts: 2x0 F 64KG
2012 Samir Chantre W NYC World Trials Points F 65KG
2012 Jordy Pete W World Champ. Armbar R2 57KG
2012 Joao Carlos Hiroshi W World Champ. Armbar 4F 57KG
2012 Rafael Freitas W World Champ. Bow and arrow SF 57KG
2012 Caio Terra W World Champ. Referee Decision F 57KG
2011 Gabriel Willcox W World Pro Trials Adv SF 69KG
2011 Theodoro Canal L World Pro Trials Referee Decision F 69KG
2011 Leandro Martins W European Points SF 64KG
2011 Ary Farias L European Pts: 6x4 F 64KG
2011 Unknown W Pan American Wristlock 4F 64KG
2011 Wellington Dias W Pan American Flying armbar SF 64KG
2011 Caio Terra L Pan American Pts: 2x0 F 64KG
2011 Reinaldo Ribeiro W World Pro. Pts: 2x0 R1 65KG
2011 Bruno Frazatto W World Pro. Points 4F 65KG
2011 Rafael Mendes L World Pro. Pts: 7x0 SF 65KG
2011 Wellington Dias W World P. NoGi Triangle R1 64KG
2011 Bruno Frazatto L World P. NoGi Pts: 2x2, Adv 4F 64KG
2011 Felipe Costa W Brasileiro Pts: 23x0 F 57KG
2011 Koji Shibamoto W World Champ. Choke from back RDS 57KG
2011 Brandon Mullins W World Champ. Pts: 13x0 4F 57KG
2011 Josef Manuel W World Champ. Pts: 10x0 SF 57KG
2011 Caio Terra W World Champ. Pts: 4x2 F 57KG
2010 Andrea Verdimari W European Kneebar SF 57KG
2010 Wekcilley Cruz W European Toe hold F 57KG
2010 Felipe Costa W Pan American Choke from back F 57KG
2010 Felipe Costa W Brasileiro Pts: 9x0 F 57KG
2010 Marcelo Pereira W World Champ. Choke 4F 57KG
2010 Caio Terra W World Champ. Adv F 57KG
2009 Narciso Vilaca W Brasileiro CBJJE RNC 4F 57KG
2009 William Campos W Brasileiro CBJJE Toe hold SF 57KG
2009 Jonas Fortunato W Brasileiro CBJJE Toe hold F 57KG
2009 Leandro Escobar W Brasileiro NoGi Kneebar F 64KG
2009 Mikio Oga W World Champ. Choke from back 4F 57KG
2009 Felipe Costa W World Champ. Armbar SF 57KG
2009 Caio Terra W World Champ. Adv F 57KG
2008 Felipe Costa W Brasileiro Armbar F 57KG
2008 Caio Terra L World Champ. RNC SF 57KG
2007 Felipe Costa W World Champ. Foot Locker 4F 57KG
2007 Oga Mikio W World Champ. Points SF 57KG
2007 Yusuke Honma W World Champ. RNC F 57KG
2006 Felipe Costa L World Champ. Pts: 4x2 4F 57KG

8.2. MMA Fight History

Year Opponent W/L Record Method Event Round
2018 Cristian Rodriguez W 3–0 Submission Brave CF 16: Abu Dhabi 1
2018 Pereira Costa W 2–0 Armbar Brave CF 11 1
2018 Rafael Vinicius W 2–0 Armbar Brave CF 11 1
2017 Romario Garcia W 1–0 Armbar Shooto Brazil 74 1

9. Video Links

Bruno Malfacine vs Tomoyuki Hashimoto / World Championship 2018

2014 World Jiu Jitsu - Bruno Malfacine vs Joao Miyao - Black Belt FINALS

Bruno Malfacine VS Caio Terra / World Championship 2019

Bruno Malfacine Behind The Scenes Look

Bruno Malfacine / European Championship 2011

Bruno "Bad Boy" Malfacine

Photo credit: @bmalfacine

Reading next

Krav Maga VS Jiu Jitsu
9 Best BJJ Heavy Bag Drills

Leave a comment

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.