BJJ

Gabriel Arges - Best BJJ Prodigy Fighter

Gabriel Arges - Best BJJ Prodigy Fighter

1. Gabriel Arges Details

Gabriel Arges Details
Name Gabriel Arges de Sousa
Nickname Frodo
Born  Brazil  (Minas Gerais)
Date of Birth 29th January, 1993
Nationality Brazilian
College/University N/A
Last Fight  8 June 2021 
Weight Division Peso Médio (82,30 kg/181.5 lbs)
Weight 83kg
Height 5 ft 11 inch. 
Career Disclosed Earning N/A
Fighting Out of Brazil
Foundational Style Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Favorite Technique X + Single X Guards
Belt Rank BJJ Black Belt
Awarded by Romulo Barral & Felipe Preguica
Head Coach Romulo Barral & Felipe Preguica
Lineage Carlos Gracie (Sr) -> Helio Gracie -> Carlos Gracie Junior -> Vinícius Magalhães -> Rômulo Barral -> Gabriel Arges
Team/Association Gracie Barra

2. Gabriel Arges Biography

Gabriel Arges, famous for the “Lord of the Ring '' inspired the nickname “Frodo”, is one of the top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champions. He has practiced martial arts since his childhood, his early martial art experience was Thai boxing. Frodo also participated in his high school Soccer team. Gabriel Arges has earned his BJJ Black Belt from Romulo Barral and Felipe Preguiça. Frudoalso practiced extensively with Marcelo "Uirapuru" while fighting for the Gracie Barra Academy. He won his first World Champion title in 2014.

2.1. Early life Of Gabriel Arges

Gabriel Arges was born on 29 January,1993 in Belo Horizonte, Minas Brazil. In his early life, Gabriel Arges had friends that played an important role in developing his interest in BJJ. They frequently invited Gabriel to their tournaments and even open mat sessions.

2.2. Early BJJ Training of Gabriel Arges

When Frodo was 16 years old, he joined a local BJJ gym. There he met his first instructor, Fernando Fialho, who was also at the start of his career. He liked to spend time with his students and soon he realized the potential in the teen Frodo. Frodo trained hard and earned his Blue Belt in the span of 18 months. It was then he realized that he should compete more often.

There was a serious problem with the continuation of his training. Fernando’s gym offered training only at the blue belt level players. His instructor, Fernando, allowed him to join another gym and Frodo joined at the Gracie Barra Belo Horizonte (GB-BH) Headquarters operated by Marcelo Azevedo. 

2.3. The Duo of Frodo and Pena

It was in GB-BH, Frodo met Felipe “Preguica” Pena around 2010, who was at the level of Purple Belt. For many years, both trained shoulder-to-shoulder under the Gracie Barra banner. It is amazing to know that both Gabriel and Felipe were bestowed with Black Belt at the same time and at the same podium, on the stage of the 2015 No-Gi World Championship.

2.4. Colored Belt Achievements of Gabriel Arges

Frodo has earned a good name for himself in the BJJ colored division bouts. At the purple and brown belt levels during 2013-2015, Frodo won many titles including European Open Championship, American National, Pan American, and Both BJJ Gi and No-Gi IBJJF World Championship.

2.5. Competed for No. 1 in Men’s Athlete of 2016-2017

Gabriel Arges competed for UAEJJF Grand Slam Athlete of the session 2016-2017.

With 6 Gold and 1 Silver medal aimed for the grand prize of $25,000. Gabriel was well prepared for future competitions and had plans for investing the prize money into his website.

Gabriel expressed:
"It's not easy," Arges said. "You can't train as much when traveling every week. But the good side of it is you get a lot of tournament experience. I've been competing very calmly. It's almost like the competition becomes my training at that point."

3. Colored Belt Achievements of Gabriel Arges

Year Event Belt Medal
2014 IBJJF World Championship Purple Gold
2015 IBJJF World No Gi Championship Purple Gold
2014 IBJJF World No Gi Championship Brown Gold
2015 UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Championship Purple Gold
2014 UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Championship Brown Gold
2014 IBJJF Pan American Championship Purple Gold
2014 IBJJF European Open Championship Purple Gold
2015 IBJJF American National Championship Brown Gold
2015 IBJJF American National No Gi Championship Brown Gold
2015 IBJJF World Championship 3rd Place Brown Gold
2014 IBJJF World No Gi Championship Brown Bronze
2015 IBJJF Pan American Championship Brown Bronze
2013 IBJJF Pan American Championship Purple Bronze

4. Black Belt Achievements of Gabriel Arges

Year Event Belt Medal
2017 IBJJF World Championship Black Belt Gold
2016 IBJJF World Championship Black Belt Gold
2019 IBJJF World Championship Black Belt Gold
2019 UAEJJF King of Mats Black Belt Gold
2017 UAEJJF Grand Slam Abu Dhabi Black Belt Gold
2016 UAEJJF Grand Slam Los Angeles Black Belt Gold
2016 UAEJJF Grand Slam Tokyo Black Belt Gold
2016 IBJJF European Open Champion Black Belt Gold
2017 ACBJJ Grand Prix Black Belt Gold
2016 UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Black Belt Gold
2017 UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Black Belt Gold

5. Technical Analysis of Frudo’s Fighting Style

Fighting Analytics Figures
Win Ratio 91%
Submission Ratio 45% Wins by Submission
Diversity in Submission Style Used 4 Different Types of Submissions
Diversity in Sweeps Used 6 Different Types of Sweeps
Style of Passing 80% Passes Occurs In Standing Position
Prominent Sweep Style 50% Sweeps were from De la Riva Guard

These analytics are based on his fights from 2014-2017.

6. Rise of Gabriel Arges

Gabriel Arges is among the very few BJJ fighters who in a very short span of time secured a place among the top BJJ contenders. Frodo received a Purple belt in 2014. After two years, Frodo won the title of Middleweight division as a Black Belt in 2016.

Don’t be surprised about his swift Black Belt achievement and title win because, on his way to the title, he submitted those opponents who were World Champions prior to Frodo, like Claudio Calasans. He earned the title of top Middleweight Fighter.

6.1. Fighting Style of Gabriel Arges

In BJJ communities, it is believed that the improvement margin for a black belt is a very steep uphill endeavor. The key component in the diversity of style and success ratio in Frodo's fighting technique is his constant tendency of learning and improving his BJJ game. In almost all of Frodo's fights, it is observed that he used his guard very efficiently. No matter who the opponent is, Frodo pulled his guard.

6.2. The Favorite Guard of Gabriel Argues

Frodo always preferred closed guards but like everybody else, he also has a favorite. It is observed that 50% of his sweeps were transitioned from De la Riva Guard. Frodo also liked to mix the Closed guard with De la Riva Guard and confuse his opponent.

6.3. The instructors of Gabriel Arges

Frodo received his early BJJ training from his first instructor, Fernando Fialho, who was also at the start of his teaching career. Gabriel won his first Blue Belt under the supervision of Fernando within a short span of 18 months.

Gabriel got his Brown Belt BJJ coaching from Fernando Fialho from Gracie Barra Belo Horizonte (GB-BH) partnership.

Then he chose to compete consistently after getting his blue belt. Arges decided to divide his practice among Fialho and the GB-BH headquarters' sessions, which were led by Marcelo "Uirapuru" Azevedo.

In the BH academy's headquarters, Gabriel Arges met Felipe "Preguiça" Pena, a great coach. Pena had a purple belt at that time. Here, Gabriel won his Championship under Pena’s guidance.

Pena, along with veteran coach Uirapuru, assisted in upscaling Arges' performance.

In 2012, Pena decided to go back to his previous academy, to Romulo Barral. Arges accepted Pena's invitation and this marked the beginning of another significant student-coach relationship in Arges' life—this time with Barral.

7. Historic Fights of Gabriel Arges

7.1. Gabriel VS Claudio Calasans World Championship

This was a very interesting match. Three minutes into the fight and both fighters scored 2 points each. Claudio put on a very competitive fight but in the last seconds of the fourth minute, Gabriel applied a lethal Knee Bar and Claudio instantly tapped.

7.2. Gabriel Arges VS Isaque Bahiense: World Championship Final

In January 2019, the Championship final was held in Mubadala Arena, Abu Dhabi. This was a highly anticipated middleweight bout between Gabriel and Isaque, who is the World Champion of 2018. Gabriel won incredibly by turning over the game in the last 10 seconds and winning the bout.

8. Championships and Accomplishments

8.1. Records/Medals

  • 1st position in UAEJJF Grand Slam
  • IBJJF European Open Champion
  • IBJJF Pans Champion
  • IBJJF World Champion
  • IBJJF World No-Gi Champion
  • IBJJF American Nationals Champion
  • IBJJF American Nationals No-Gi Champion
  • 1st position in ACBJJ 4 85 kg Grand Prix
  • 1st position in UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro
  • 1st position in UAEJJF King of Mats Champion
  • UAEJJF Grand Slam, Abu Dhabi Champion
  • UAEJJF Grand Slam, Los Angeles Champion
  • UAEJJF Grand Slam, Tokyo Champion

8.2. BJJ Training Course of Gabriel Arges

9. Gabriel Arges’s Main Achievements

IBJJF World Championship

Year Medal
2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 Gold

UAEJJF World Championship

Year Medal
2017 Gold

IBJJF Pan American Championship

Years Medal
2018, Gold
2016 Gold

IBJJF European Open Champion

Years Medal
2016 Gold

ACB Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Years Medal
2018 Gold

UAEJJF Grand Slam, Abu Dhabi Championship

Years Medal
2017 Gold

UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Championship

Years Medal
2016, 2017 Gold

UAEJJF Grand Slam, Los Angeles Championship

Years Medal
2016 Gold

Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Championship

Years Medal
2019 Gold

UAEJJF Grand Slam, Tokyo Championship

Years Medal
2016 Gold

UAEJJF King of Mats Championship

Years Medal
2019 Gold

ACBJJ 4 Grand Prix Championship

Years Medal
2017 Gold

IBJJF LA Open Championship

Years Medal
2018 Silver

10. Gabriel Arges Main Achievements (Belts)

10.1. Gi Tournaments

Year Events (GI) Belt Position
2014 IBJJF World Championship Purple 1st
2014 UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Purple 1st
2015 UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Brown 1st
2014 IBJJF Pans Championship Purple 1st
2014 IBJJF European Open Purple 1st
2015 IBJJF American Nationals Brown 1st
2015 IBJJF World Championship Brown 3rd
2013 IBJJF Pan Championship Purple 3rd
2015 IBJJF Pan Championship Brown 3rd

10.2. No-Gi Tournaments

Year Events (No-GI) Belt Position
2013 IBJJF World No-Gi Championship Purple 1st
2015 IBJJF World No-Gi Championship Brown 1st
2015 IBJJF American Nationals Brown 1st
2014 IBJJF World No-Gi Championship Brown 3rd

11. Professional Record Breakdown

114 Matches 90 Wins 24 Losses
By Submission 33 4
By Points 32 9
By Advantage 15 2
By Decision 10 5
By DQ 0 3
Other 0 1

12. Gabriel’s Submission Techniques Breakdown

Submission Techniques 33 Wins 4 Losses
By Botinha 0 1
Dogbar 0 1
Choke From Back 11 0
RNC 6 1
Armbar 2 0
Toe Hold 1 1
Submission 1 0
Kneebar 6 0
Triangle 3 0
Mounted Triangle 2 0
Mounted X Choke 1 0

13. GABRIEL ARGES FIGHT HISTORY

Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Weight Class Stage
2022 NoGi Pan Matheus Martinez W Pts: 8x4 85KG R1
2022 NoGi Pan Manuel Ribamar L Pts: 9x0 85KG 8F
2021 F2W 180 Rafael Lovato L Referee Decision 92KG SPF
2021 GB Arizona SM Thiago Aso W Pts: 2x2, Adv N/A SPF
2020 3CG Kumite Jake Watson W RNC 88KG 4F
2020 3CG Kumite Gustavo Batista L Points 88KG SF
2020 F2W 151 Marcio Andre W Referee Decision 84KG SPF
2019 Grand Slam AD Thabet AlTaher W RNC 85KG R1
2019 Grand Slam AD Rudson Mateus L Pts: 2x2, Adv 85KG 4F
2019 King of Mats II Espen Mathiesen W Choke from back 85KG RR
2019 King of Mats II Lucas Barbosa L Pts: 3x0 85KG RR
2019 King of Mats II Caio Caetano W Referee Decision 85KG RR
2019 King of Mats II Rudson Mateus W Pts: 2x2, Adv 85KG RR
2019 King of Mats II Manuel Ribamar W Pts: 4x2 85KG SF
2019 King of Mats II Isaque Bahiense W Pts: 6x2 85KG F
2019 GrappleFest 4 Craig Jones L RNC ABS SPF
2019 F2W 112 Matheus Diniz W Referee Decision 88KG SPF
2019 World Champ. Dante Leon W Pts: 4x0 82KG R2
2019 World Champ. Claudio Calasans W Pts: 6x4 82KG 4F
2019 World Champ. Marcos Tinoco W Pts: 2x0 82KG SF
2019 World Champ. Isaque Bahiense W Pts: 2x2, Adv 82KG F
2019 F2W 123 Dante Leon W Referee Decision 85KG SPF
2019 ADCC Alec Baulding W Pts: 5x0 88KG R1
2019 ADCC Matheus Diniz L Referee Decision 88KG 4F
2019 Templum FN Gustavo Batista L Points ABS SPF
2019 Spyder Invitational Levi Jones L Referee Decision 76KG 4F
2018 LA Open Gianni Crivello W Choke from back 88KG SF
2018 LA Open Gabriel Vieira W Choke from back 88KG F
2018 Pan American Igor Paiva W Pts: 8x0, Adv 82KG 8F
2018 Pan American Felipe Cesar W Pts: 2x0 82KG 4F
2018 Pan American Ygor Dantas W Triangle 82KG SF
2018 Pan American Marcos Tinoco W Pts: 0x0, Adv 82KG F
2018 ACBJJ 13 Leandro Lo L Points 85KG SPF
2018 World Champ. Edson Antonio W Pts: 0x0, Adv 82KG R2
2018 World Champ. Dante Leon W Pts: 12x8 82KG 8F
2018 World Champ. Tommy Langaker L DQ 82KG 4F
2018 King of Mats Adam Wardzinski L Pts: 2x0 110KG RR
2018 King of Mats Tanner Rice W Pts: 4x0 110KG RR
2018 King of Mats R. Evangelista L Pts: 2x0 110KG RR
2018 King of Mats Gutemberg Pereira L Pts: 2x2, Adv 110KG RR
2018 WSOG 2 Lucas Rocha W Armbar 81KG R1
2018 WSOG 2 I. Sousa W Referee Decision 81KG 8F
2018 WSOG 2 R. Junior W Referee Decision 81KG 4F
2018 WSOG 2 Manuel Ribamar L Referee Decision 81KG SF
2018 WSOG 2 J. Gracie W Choke from back 81KG 3RD
2018 NoGi Worlds Isiah Wright W Mounted triangle 85KG R1
2018 NoGi Worlds Nick Calvanese W Pts: 2x2, Adv 85KG R2
2018 NoGi Worlds Marcos Tinoco L Pts: 6x4 85KG 4F
2017 Grand Slam AD Marcos Costa W Choke from back 85KG 4F
2017 Grand Slam AD Jaime Canuto W Pts: 0x0, Adv 85KG SF
2017 Grand Slam AD Matheus Spirandeli W RNC 85KG F
2017 UAEJJF Orlando Victor Silverio W Pts: 6x2 85KG F
2017 Manaus Nat. Pro Alexsandro Pereira W Triangle 77KG 4F
2017 Manaus Nat. Pro Mateus Bernardi W Points 77KG SF
2017 Manaus Nat. Pro Talison Soares W Points 77KG F
2017 Manaus Nat. Pro Johnny Loureiro W Pts: 4x2 ABS F
2017 Argentina Pro Enrique March W Submission 85KG SF
2017 Argentina Pro Enrique March W Choke from back 85KG F
2017 Argentina Pro Giovanni Della W Pts: 4x2 ABS R1
2017 Argentina Pro Facundo Acosta W RNC ABS 4F
2017 Argentina Pro Alexandre Ribeiro L Referee Decision ABS SF
2017 ACBJJ 4 Josh Hinger W Points 85KG 4F
2017 ACBJJ 4 Arnaldo Maidana W Triangle 85KG SF
2017 ACBJJ 4 Otavio Sousa W Kneebar 85KG F
2017 Grand Slam LDN Gabriel Lucas W Pts: 2x0 110KG SF
2017 Grand Slam LDN Jose Junior L Pen 110KG F
2017 World Pro Akira Osokawa W RNC 77KG 4F
2017 World Pro Isaque Bahiense W Pts: 4x4, Adv 77KG SF
2017 World Pro Edwin Najmi W Pts: 2x0 77KG F
2017 World Champ. Jonathan Satava W Choke from back 82KG 8F
2017 World Champ. Felipe Cesar W Pts: 4x4, Adv 82KG 4F
2017 World Champ. Jaime Canuto W Referee Decision 82KG SF
2017 World Champ. Marcos Tinoco W Choke from back 82KG F
2016 European Open Jurandir Conceicao W Pts: 8x4 88KG R1
2016 European Open Tero Pyylampi W Pts: 14x6 88KG 4F
2016 European Open Patrick Gaudio W Referee Decision 88KG SF
2016 European Open Jackson Sousa L Toe hold ABS R2
2016 PNB JJC Luca Anacoreta W Pts: 4x4, Adv 88KG GP
2016 PNB JJC Gregorio Thomaz W Armbar 88KG GP
2016 PNB JJC Alan Finfou L DQ 88KG GP
2016 Pan American Manuel Diaz W Pts: 16x0 88KG 8F
2016 Pan American Leandro Lo L Pts: 12x6 88KG 4F
2016 Pan American Arnaldo Maidana W Pts: 10x4 ABS R2
2016 Pan American Pedro Moura W Referee Decision ABS 8F
2016 Pan American Bernardo Faria L Dogbar ABS 4F
2016 World Pro Andre Almeida W Toe hold 77KG R1
2016 World Pro Sam Gibson W Pts: 8x0 77KG 8F
2016 World Pro Cesar Miyahira W Pts: 2x0 77KG 4F
2016 World Pro Johnny Loureiro W Pts: 3x2 77KG SF
2016 World Pro Roberto Satoshi W Pts: 6x2 77KG F
2016 World Champ. Manuel Ribamar W Pts: 8x8, Adv 82KG R2
2016 World Champ. Celso Vinicius W Pts: 8x7 82KG 8F
2016 World Champ. Claudio Calasans W Kneebar 82KG 4F
2016 World Champ. Marcos Tinoco W Kneebar 82KG SF
2016 Berkut 3 Alan Finfou W Referee Decision ABS SPF
2016 Grand Slam LA Lucas Barbosa W Pts: 4x2 85KG SF
2016 Grand Slam LA Otavio Sousa W Pts: 2x0 85KG F
2016 BJJ Pro LA Otavio Sousa L Botinha 82KG SF
2016 Las Vegas Pro Gottrell King W Kneebar 85KG SF
2016 Las Vegas Pro Nathan Mendelsohn W Kneebar 85KG F
2016 Grand Slam TYO Yongam Noh W Pts: 2x2, Adv 85KG SF
2016 Grand Slam TYO Faisal AlKitbe W Pts: 2x0 85KG F
2016 Grand Slam RJ Ricardo Filho W Kneebar 85KG 8F
2016 Grand Slam RJ Manuel Ribamar L DQ 85KG 4F
2016 Curitiba Pro David Aghion W Choke from back 85KG RR
2016 Curitiba Pro David Aghion W Mounted X choke 85KG F
2016 Belem Int. Pro Flavio Santos W Mounted triangle 85KG 4F
2016 Belem Int. Pro Luis Nogueira W Choke from back 85KG SF
2016 Belem Int. Pro Wanderley Fr. W Choke from back 85KG F
2016 Colombia Nat. Pro Jhonathan Ramos W RNC 85KG F
2015 Irvine Open Lucas Barbosa W Pts: 6x4 88KG RR
2015 Irvine Open Lucas Barbosa W Pts: 2x2, Adv 88KG F
2015 Irvine Open Carlos Farias W Adv ABS 4F
2015 Irvine Open Lucas Barbosa W Pts: 8x6 ABS SF

14. Famous Fights of Gabriel Arges

GABRIEL ARGES HIGHLIGHT 2016

Gabriel Arges vs Isaque Bahiense - Final

Gabriel Arges VS Claudio Calasans / World Championship 2016

Gustavo Batista vs Gabriel Arges - 3CG Kumite I

Abu Dhabi World Pro 2017 - Gabriel Arges x Isaque Bahiense

Photo credit: @gabrielarges

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