BJJ

Pablo Popovitch - No-Gi BJJ World Champion

Pablo Popovitch - No-Gi BJJ World Champion

1. Pablo Popovitch’s Details

Pablo Popovitch’s Details
Name  Pablo Popovitch
Nickname  N/A
Born  Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Age  43
Date of Birth  9/9/1979
Weight  82 kg (181 lbs)
Weight Division Medio (82 kg-181 lbs)
Last Weigh-in 92 kg
Height  5’10’’
Foundational Style  BJJ
Career Disclosed Earnings  N/A
College University  N/A
Rank 4th Degree Black Belt
Head Coach  Jorge Popovitch
Last Fight  European NoGi
Favorite Technique Double Leg Takedown, Guard Pass
Lineage  Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Crolin Gracie > Jorge Popovitch > Pablo Popovitch
Team Association  Team Popovitch/The Avengers

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2. Pablo Popovitch’s Biography

Pablo Popovitch was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 9, 1979. He started his jiu-jitsu training during his early childhood. Pablo Popovitch won various championships and earned a name in the grappling circuit. Now he is running his own academy, Team Popovitch,  along with his father, Jorge Papovitch.

2.1. Started Jiu-Jitsu Training in Early Childhood

Born into a jiu-jitsu family, Pablo started his jiu-jitsu training at the age of five. His father, Jorge, was heavily involved in and practiced jiu-jitsu for a long time. His aunt was married to Crolin Gracie. So, Jorge enrolled Pablo in the academy at a very early age. 

2.2. Moved to Florida

At the age of 15, Popovitch relocated to Florida with his family. In Florida, Pablo did not continue his BJJ training as he could not find any training partners. But later, Pablo resumed training with Carlson Gracie and his father. 

2.3. Learned Wrestling to Improve BJJ Skills

To improve his BJJ skills, Popovitch joined college wrestling during high school. He wanted to incorporate wrestling into his BJJ game.   

2.4. Opening Team Popovitch

While Pablo was in high school, Jorge opened his own BJJ center in Fort Lauderdale called Team Popovitch. Currently, this academy is being run by both Pablo and Jorge Popovitch.    

2.5. Popovitch BJJ Pro Combats

2009 ADCC World Champion

Popovitch was runner-up in the 2005, 2007, and 2011 ADCC World Championships. He was also the bronze winner in the 2011 absolute weight division. But his performance in 2011 ADCC World Championship in the middleweight division is when he finally gained recognition in the grappling circuit. Popovitch defeated the ADCC Champion and BJJ World fighter Marcelo Garcia in the finals and became the 2009 ADCC Champion.  

Four-Time World No-Gi Champion

Pablo Popovitch is a four-times World Champion in No-Gi. In 2007 and 2012, he was No-Gi World Champion in his weight division. In 2010, Popovitch was World Champion in both the weight and absolute divisions.      

Victories in NAGA Championship

Popovitch was the NAGA Champion in 2001 and 2007. In the NAGA Super Fight Championship, he was the champion in 2003, two-time champion in 2005, and two-time champion in 2004.  

Four-Time Pan American No-Gi Champion 

Popovitch is a No-Gi champion who has also fought and won several No-Gi Pan championships. In 2008, he won the No-Gi Pan Championship in the weight division. In 2012, Popovitch was the Absolute Weight No-Gi Pan Champion. In 2010, Pablo won in both the No-Gi Pan Championship weight and absolute divisions.   

Victories in Grappler Quest

Popovitch also won in the Grappler Quest Championships. He was the Grappler Quest Pro All-Star Champion in 2009 and the Grappler Quest Superfight Champion in 2004 and 2010.   

Grappling Hall of Fame  

For his record grappling achievements, Popovitch was inducted into the Grappling Hall of Fame on February 13, 2010, by the North American Grappling Association.

BJJ Fighter of the Year  

Popovitch received the “BJJ Fighter of the Year Award” from a famous Brazilian jiu-jitsu magazine, the Gracie Mag.   

Mixed Martial Arts Record

Popovitch’s mixed martial arts debut was on April 6, 2010. This was his first and last fight in MMA, winning it via submission.


1 match 1 win 0 losses
By knockout 0 0
By submission 1 0
By decision 0 0
Draws 0
No contests 0

Date Result Record Opponent Event Method Round Time Location
6/04/2010 Win 1-0 Jeff Savoy Rock and Rumble 3 Submission (punches) 2 3:32 Hollywood, Florida 

3. Pablo Popovitch’s Historic Fights

3.1. Pablo Popovitch Vs. Don Ortega

Popovitch faced Don Ortega in the first round of the 2009 ADCC. Popovitch started the match by getting Ortega on the ground by pulling his legs and attempting a takedown. Popovitch then mounted Ortega to keep him from escaping.


On the other hand, Ortega kept his back from touching the ground and prevented Popovitch from scoring any points. Popovitch remained on top for more than 2 minutes until he finally managed to take  Ortega from the back. Popovitch applied a rear naked choke and submitted Ortega within just 3 minutes.   


Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Weight Class Stage
2009 ADCC Don Ortega Win Submitted by RNC 77 kg R1

3.2. Pablo Popovitch Vs. Ben Askren

Popovitch faced Ben Askren in the 2009 ADCC World Championship quarterfinals. This was one of the best matches of Popovitch’s BJJ career. He started the match with a pull guard and grappled one of Askren’s legs with both legs. Askren tried to apply pressure with one leg onto his head. Popovitch countered by grasping Askren’s leg and applying a toe hold. At the end of the fight, Pablo submitted Askren via a toe hold within 45 seconds.    


Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Weight Class Stage
2009 ADCC Ben Askren Win Submitted by Toe Hold 77 kg Quarter Final

3.3. Pablo Popovitch Vs. Ben Askren

Popovitch faced Romulo Barral in the 2012 World No-Gi finals. Popovitch started the match by taking the top position. Popovitch tried his best to control Barral’s movements, but Barral managed to resist. Popovitch managed to mount him completely, while Barral applied a full guard.


Popovitch managed to escape from the guard and tried to attack from the side. Barral tried to apply an armbar but failed. Once again, Popovitch tried to grapple his opponent, but Barrel trapped his head between both legs.


Again, Popovitch managed to get free. Again, he went for the side and managed to score three points. Barral escaped but could not secure the top position for himself. Near the end of the match, Barral was on the ground while Popovitch was on top trying to subdue him.


At the end of the fight, Popovitch won the match with a score of 3-0 and became the 2012 No-Gi World Champion.


Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Weight Class Stage
2012 World No-Gi  Romulo Barral Win Pts: 3x0 88 kg Final

4. Pablo Popovitch’s Main Achievements

4.1. Pablo Popovitch’s International Achievements

Year Event Weight Division
2001 NAGA Champion N/A
2003 NAGA Superfight Champion Middleweight
2004 NAGA Superfight Champion x 2 Middleweight
2004 Quest Superfight Champion Medium Heavy
2005 NAGA Superfight Champion x 2 N/A
2007 World Nogi Champion Middleweight
2007 NAGA Champion Medium Heavy
2008 Pan American No Gi Champion Medium Heavy
2009 ADCC Champion 77 kg
2010 World Nogi Champion Medium Heavy
2010 Pan American No Gi Champion Medium Heavy
2010 Grapplers Quest Superfight Champion N/A
2010 Copa America Champion Absolute
2012 World Nogi Champion Medium Heavy

4.2. Pablo Popovitch’s Main Achievements as Black Belt

Year Event Belt Position
2002 ADCC North American Championships Black Belt 1st
2005 ADCC World Championship Black Belt 2nd
2007 ADCC World Championship Black Belt 2nd
2007 No-Gi World Championship Black Belt 1st
2008 No-Gi Pan American Championship Black Belt 1st
2009 ADCC World Championship Black Belt 1st
2010 No-Gi World Championship Black Belt 1st
2010 No-Gi World Championship Black Belt 1st
2010 No-Gi Pan American Championship Black Belt 1st
2010 No-Gi Pan American Championship Black Belt 1st
2011 ADCC World Championship Black Belt 2nd
2011 ADCC World Championship Black Belt 3rd
2011 No-Gi World Championship Black Belt 2nd
2012 No-Gi World Championship Black Belt 1st
2012 No-Gi Pan American Championship Black Belt 1st
2012 No-Gi Pan American Championship Black Belt 3rd

5. Pablo Popovitch’s Professional Record Break Down

5.1. Pablo Popovitch’s Professional Record

53 Matches 41 Wins 12 Losses
By Points  31 6
By Advantages  3 0
By Submission  5 5
By Decision  2 1
By Penalties  0 0
By DQ 0 0

5.2. Method of Submission

Method 5 Wins 5 Losses
RNC 4 0
Toe Hold  1 1
Triangle  0 1
North South Choke  0 1
Verbal Tap  0 1
Wrist Lock  0 1

6. Pablo Popovitch’s Fight History

Year Competition Opponent W/L Method Weight Stage
2002 Grapplers Quest Alexandre Ribeiro L Triangle ABS 4F
2003 ADCC Marcio Feitosa W Points 77KG R1
2003 ADCC Vitor Shaolin L Points 77KG 4F
2003 GQ USA Trials Kenny Florian W Points N/A SF
2003 GQ USA Trials N. Phungephorn W Points N/A F
2004 Texas Challenge Chris Bowles W Points 78KG 4F
2004 Texas Challenge Eric Davila W Points 78KG SF
2004 Texas Challenge Diego Sanchez W Points 78KG F
2005 ADCC Renzo Gracie W Pts: 4x0 77KG R1
2005 ADCC Roan Jucao W Pts: 2x0 77KG 4F
2005 ADCC Jake Shields W Pts: 5x0 77KG SF
2005 ADCC Marcelo Garcia L Wristlock 77KG F
2007 GQ All Star Pro Gary Grate W Pts: 2x0 81KG 4F
2007 GQ All Star Pro Sean Sprangler W Pts: 2x0 81KG SF
2007 GQ All Star Pro Saulo Ribeiro W Pts: 0x0, Adv 81KG F
2007 ADCC Eric Dahlberg W Points 77KG R1
2007 ADCC Andre Galvao W Points 77KG SF
2007 ADCC Marcelo Garcia L North south choke 77KG F
2007 World NoGi Daniel Moraes W Points 79KG F
2009 ADCC Don Ortega W RNC 77KG R1
2009 ADCC Ben Askren W Toe hold 77KG 4F
2009 ADCC Gregor Gracie W Pts: 3x0 77KG SF
2009 ADCC Marcelo Garcia W Pts: 3x0 77KG F
2010 No Gi Worlds Ben Baxter W RNC 86KG 4F
2010 No Gi Worlds Murilo Santana W Points 86KG SF
2010 No Gi Worlds Daniel Moraes W Pts: 6x0 86KG F
2010 No Gi Worlds Flavio Almeida W Pts: 2x0 ABS 8F
2010 No Gi Worlds Caio Terra W RNC ABS 4F
2010 UFC Expo Lucas Lepri W Adv ABS SPF
2011 ADCC Zbigniew Tyszka W Points 88KG R1
2011 ADCC Sergio Moraes W Pts: 2x0 88KG 4F
2011 ADCC Andre Galvao L Pts: 2x0 88KG SF
2011 ADCC Rafael Lovato W Points 88KG 3PLC
2011 ADCC Janne-Pekka W Points ABS R1
2011 ADCC Victor Estima W Pts: 2x0 ABS 4F
2011 ADCC Alexandre Ribeiro W Referee Decision ABS SF
2011 ADCC Andre Galvao L Toe Hold ABS F
2011 No Gi Worlds Ben Baxter W Pts: 2x0 88KG 4F
2011 No Gi Worlds Unknown W Pts: 2x0 88KG SF
2011 No Gi Worlds Rafael Lovato L Pts: 4x0 88KG F
2012 NoGi Pan American Ezra Lenon L Points 88KG SF
2012 NoGi Worlds Bruno Antunes W Pts: 2x0 88KG 4F
2012 NoGi Worlds Ezra Lenon W Pts: 0x0, Adv 88KG SF
2012 NoGi Worlds Romulo Barral W Pts: 3x0 88KG F
2013 ADCC Doorwang Jeon W Pts: 3x0 88KG R1
2013 ADCC David Avellan W Points 88KG 4F
2013 ADCC Rafael Lovato L Points 88KG SF
2013 ADCC Keenan Cornelius L Verbal tap 88KG 3PLC
2015 Polaris Eduardo Rios D --- ABS SPF
2015 ADCC Zbigniew Tyszka W RNC 88KG R1
2017 AD Grand Slam NG Bruno Oliveira W Points 92KG SF
2017 AD Grand Slam NG Thiago Pessoa L Pts: 2x0 92KG F
2017 European NoGi Adam Wardzinski W Referee Decision 92KG SF
2017 European NoGi Thiago Sa L Referee Decision 92KG F

7. Pablo Popovitch’s Top Fights Links

Pablo Popovitch vs Ben Askren | 2009 ADCC World Championship

Romulo Barral x Pablo Popovitch: 2012 No Gi Worlds

Photo Credit: @therealpablopopovitch

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