BJJ

Yara Soares - Fastest Promoted BJJ Black Belt

Yara Soares - Fastest Promoted BJJ Black Belt

1. Yara Soares Details

Yara Soares Details
Name  Yara Soares do Nascimento
Nickname  N/A
Born  Guarapari, Espírito Santo, Brazil
Date of Birth  07 November 1995
Nationality  Brazilian
College/University  Guigo JJ
Last Fight  2024
Last Weigh In  Absolute Weight
Weight Class  Super Pesado (79 Kg/174 lbs)
Weight  79 Kg/175.0 lbs
Height  N/A
Career Disclosed Earning  N/A
Fighting out of  Brazil
Foundational Style  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Favorite Technique  Lasso Guard
Rank  BJJ Black Belt
Awarded by  Luiz Guilherme
Head Coach  Luiz Guilherme
Lineage  Carlos Gracie -> Helio Gracie -> Rickson Gracie -> Jorge Pereira -> Luiz Guilherme -> Yara Soares
Team Association  Dream Art
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2. Yara Soares Biography

Yara Soares is a BJJ Black Belt under Luiz Guilherme, who is a former IBJJF World Champion. She is now associated with The Dream Art Team and has won many Gold and Silver Medals. She is one of the most recognized female BJJ fighters in the super heavyweight division of the IBJJF.

2.1. Yara Soares Early Life

Yara Soares was born on 7 November 1995 in Guarapari. It is a big town located in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo.

Yara Soares as an Athlete

Soares belongs to an extensive line of athletes. She actively participated in long-distance running. This athleticism resonated with her BJJ career.

Appeared on the Podium

She also earned many titles in running at the age of 8 and hence, appeared on the podium for the very first time. She was an excellent and fast runner.

Yara Soares and Handball

Yara also competed in Handball. She continued playing for a few years. It increased her flexibility and grip strength. These skills, later on, helped her to excel in BJJ. It also taught her to defend and stay in a balanced position.

How She Got Into BJJ?

When Soares turned 18, she realized that there was no financial career in Handball. She was a good player in Handball but the realization of having no career in it made her very upset.


She took the leap of faith and decided to try something new, she joined BJJ in April 2014. Her coach was Tony Bergamo who trained her and later she became a BJJ star.

Pursued BJJ as A Career

She wanted to join an academy that was more focused on the competition side of sports Jiu-Jitsu. She then joined The Striker Academy. Thiago Oliveira was the owner and head coach there. She developed an interest in BJJ and decided to pursue it as a professional career.

Joined The Striker Academy

The Striker Academy is one of those academies which produced excellent BJJ fighters such as Fernanda Mazzelli and many more like him. Yara spent 18 months at The Striker Academy.

Earned Her Blue Belt

Yara Soares got her Blue Belt from Thiago Oliveira.

2.2. Yara Soares Pro BJJ Combats

Accepted Scholarship From Luiz Guilherme

She only spent 1.5 years at The Striker Academy. It is because she was offered a scholarship by Luiz Guilherme to train at his academy in Sao Paulo and it was an opportunity to upscale her BJJ game and training opportunity with legends of BJJ. Luiz Guilherme is a former IBJJF World Champion. Being under such a coach, Soares decided to compete in São Paulo which was also called the center of Grappling in Brazil.

IBJJF World Champion

Under the guidance of Luiz, Soares won many championships as a BJJ colored belt. As a Blue Belt, she earned the 3rd position in the 2017 IBJJF World Championship.

Competed in US Under Team LI

After the merger of Guilherme and Lloyd Irvin, Soares took training from Lloyd Irvin and competed in the US under the banner of Team Ll’s.

Promoted To Brown Belt

She won double gold at the Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship in 2019. Lloyd Irvin promoted her to Brown Belt in March 2019.

Promoted to Black Belt in a Very Short Time

Only after 2 months, she won the World Championship as a Brown Belt. She became extremely victorious at the Sao Paulo Open and Sao Paulo BJJ Pro. This led to her promotion to Black Belt in December 2019. She went from Brown to Black Belt in just 9 months.

Blocked From Competing in IBJJF Tournaments

It takes 3 to 5 years for a Brown Belt to become a Black Belt in BJJ. But for Soares, it took only a few months. Due to this, she was blocked from competing in the tournaments organized by IBJJF for some months.

IBJJF Pan Champion

She was the IBJJF Pan Champion in 2021 and won the 1st position.

Joined The Dream Art Team

In 2021, Soares joined The Dream Art Team whose head coach was Isaque Bahiense.

2.3. Yara Soares Historic Fights

Yara Soares Vs. Gabi Garcia

The match was a historic fight for Yara Soares. IBJJF Hall of Famer and multiple times world champion, Gabi Garcia was heavier and stronger than Yara. Gabi Garcia is a potentially strong opponent tried many times to take down Soares.


But the balance of Soares kept her safe. Soares secured 2 points against Gabi by applying a sweep. Soares grabbed the collar and the leg of Gabi to gain a dominant position. And then applied the collar choke and submitted the legend, Gabi Garcia. Soares submitted Gabi in just 8 minutes.


Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Stage Weight Class Location
2021 IBJJF World Championship Gabi Garcia Win Submission by Collar Choke Semi Final Open Class California

Yara Soares Vs. Ana Vieira

The triangle and spin game of Soares is very refined. When Ana tried to apply guard, Soares passed right underneath her and gained the dominant position.


Having long legs makes it easy for Soares to apply the Lasso Guard. She pointed her right knee out which tilted Ana to the left side and hence did not allowed her to make moves. Soares elevated Ana with one leg and Ana was imbalanced. It showed the strong balance game of Soares and how composed she is in her movements.


She then got the Lasso sweep she was trying to apply from the advent of the match and got 2 points. She also gained 1 advantage point.


This was the most anticipated match of the 2021 Pan Championship. An interesting turn of events made Yara Soares face Ana Vieira in the finals for the Gold. In previous matches of Pan 2021. Ana defeated Gabi Pessanha. Gabi Passanha defeated Yara Soares and in the Final, Yara defeated Ana Vieira.


Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Stage Weight Class Location
2021 IBJJF Pan Championship Ana Vieira Win Pts:2x0 Final Open Class California

Yara Soares Vs. Gabrieli Pessanha

The fighting style of Gabrieli was very explosive. Both fighters tried to gain the dominant position throughout the match. Soares earned 2 points by applying a sweep from the guard position. She then again secured 2 points but this time by taking down Gabrieli. She also gained 1 advantage point. Soares gained 2 more points for the successful takedown and Won the Gold.


Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Stage Weight Class Location
2021 IBJJF Brasileiro Gabrieli Pessanha Win Pts:6x4 Final Super Heavy California

Yara Soares Vs. Mayara Custodio

The Lasso Guard of Soares was a very refined and lethal weapon in the arsenal of her techniques. She gained an advantage point in the start of the match because of her Lasse guard and Lasso hooks. She gained 2 points for the sweep. The match ended in almost 8 minutes when Soares applied the Cross Collar Choke from mount and Custodio Tapped.


Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Stage Weight Class Location
2021 IBJJF World Championship Mayara Custodio Win Submission (Cross Collar Choke) Semi Final Super Heavy California

Yara Soares Vs. Sarah Rice

Soares dominated the fight and couldn't let Sarah to even get comfortable. She won the match by Cross Collar Choke from Back and Sarah tapped out. The match ended in only 2 minutes and 8 seconds.


Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Stage Weight Class Location
2021 IBJJF Pan Championship Sarah Rice Win Submission(Cross Collar Choke from Back) 8F Open Class California

2.4. Yara Soares Championships

National

Year National Championship Position Belt
2018 IBJJF Sao Paulo Open 1st Purple
2019 IBJJF Sao Paulo Open 1st Brown
2019 IBJJF Sao Paulo BJJ Pro 1st Brown
2018 IBJJF Rio Open 1st Purple
2016 CBJJ Brazilian Nationals 3rd Blue

International

Year International Championship Position Belt
2021 IBJJF Pan Championship 1st Black
2021 AJP Grand Slam, RJ 2nd Black
2020 AJP Grand Slam, AD 2nd Black
2020 AJP Grand Slam, LDN 2nd Black
2018 IBJJF World Championship 1st Purple
2019 IBJJF World Championship 1st Brown

Record

  • IBJJF Pan Champion (2021)
  • IBJJF South American Champion (2016, 2017)
  • CBJJE World Champion (2018)

3. Yara Soares Main Achievements (Belts)

3.1. Black Belts

Year Event Position Belt
2021 IBJJF Pan Championship 1st Black
2021 AJP South American Continental Pro 1st Black
2021 AJP Abu Dhabi World Pro 1st Black
2021 AJP Grand Slam, MIA 1st Black
2021 AJP Grand Slam, AD 1st Black

3.2. Colored Belts

Year Event Position Belt
2019 IBJJF European Open 1st Brown
2019 IBJJF Pans Championship 1st Purple
2018 IBJJF World Championship 1st Purple
2019 IBJJF World Championship 2nd Brown
2016 IBJJF South American Championship 1st Blue
2017 IBJJF South American Championship 1st Blue
2018 IBJJF Sao Paulo Open 1st Purple
2019 IBJJF Sao Paulo Open 1st Brown
2019 IBJJF Sao Paulo BJJ Pro 1st Brown
2017 IBJJF World Championship 3rd Blue
2019 IBJJF World Championship 3rd Brown

4. Yara Soares Professional Record Breakdown

80 Matches 61 Wins 19 Losses
By Submissions 33 2
By Points 25 15
By Advantages 1 1
By Decision 2 1
By Penalties 0 0
By DQ 0 0

4.1. Submission W/L Methods

Submission Methods 33 Wins 2 Losses
Choke From Back 8 0
Choke 6 0
Armbar 2 0
Americana 1 0
Reverse Triangle 1 0
Verbal Tap 1 0
Clock Choke 1 0
Kneebar 2 0
Bow and Arrow 6 0
Submission 5 0
Straight Ankle Lock 0 2

5. Yara Soares Fight History

Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Weight Class Stage
2019 Grand Slam RJ Ericka Cunha W Submission 95 Kg R1
2019 Grand Slam RJ Mayara Oshi W Submission 95 Kg 4F
2019 Grand Slam RJ Gabrieli Pessanha L Pts:4x2 95 Kg SF
2020 Grand Slam AD Nathiely Jesus W Referee decision 95 Kg 4F
2020 Grand Slam AD Kendall Reusing W Submission 95 Kg SF
2020 Grand Slam AD Gabrieli Pessanha L Pts:10x7 95 Kg F
2020 Grand Slam LDN Claire Thevenon W Pts:3x2 95 Kg 4F
2020 Grand Slam LDN Ane Svendsen W Submission 95 Kg SF
2020 Grand Slam LDN Gabrieli Pessanha L Pts:4x3 95 Kg F
2020 BJJ Bet Gabrieli Pessanha L Pts:12x10 85 Kg SPF
2020 Grand Slam RJ Thaynara Dias W Choke From back 95 Kg 4F
2020 Grand Slam RJ Ingridd Sousa W Pts:2x0 95 Kg SF
2020 Grand Slam RJ Gabrieli Pessanha L Pts:1x0 95 Kg F
2021 Grand Slam AD Thayara Dias W Americana 95 Kg RR
2021 Grand Slam AD Michele Xavier W Pts:3x1 95 Kg F
2021 WP BR Qualifier Michele Xavier W Pts:7x0 95 Kg RR
2021 WP BR Qualifier Thaynara Dias W Pts:2x0 95 Kg RR
2021 World Pro Kendall Reusing W Pts:4x0 95 Kg RR
2021 World Pro Gabrieli Pessanha L Pts:3x3 95 Kg RR
2021 World Pro E.Christodoulou W Choke 95 Kg RR
2021 SA Cont. Pro Adriane Alves W Choke From Back 95 Kg 4F
2021 SA Cont. Pro Ingridd Alves W Pts:2x0 95 Kg SF
2021 SA Cont. Pro Gabrieli Pessanha W Pts:4x2 95 Kg F
2021 Grand Slam MIA Sarah Rice W Choke 95 Kg RR
2021 Grand Slam MIA Tara White W Armbar 95 Kg RR
2021 Pan American Gabrieli Pessanha L Pts:4x2 84 Kg F
2021 Pan American Sarah Rice W Choke From Back ABS 8F
2021 Pan American Nathalie Ribeiro W Choke From Back ABS 4F
2021 Pan American Bianca Basilio W Referee Decision ABS SF
2021 Pan American Ana Vieira W Pts:2x0 ABS F
2021 Grand Slam MSK Y. Poznyakova W Choke From Back 95 Kg RR
2021 Grand Slam MSK Y. Poznyakova W Clock Choke 95 Kg RR
2021 Brasileiro Joaquina Bonfim W Reverse Triangle Over 79 Kg SF
2021 Brasileiro Gabrieli Pessanha W Pts:6x4 Over 79 Kg F
2021 Brasileiro Juliana Araujo W Kneebar ABS 4F
2021 Brasileiro Graciele Fava W Choke From Back ABS SF
2021 Brasileiro Gabrieli Pessanha W Injury ABS F
2021 Grand Slam RJ Graciele Carvalho W Pts:5x0 95 Kg SF
2021 Grand Slam RJ Gabrieli Pessanha W Pts:2x0 95 Kg F
2021 World Pro Claire Thevenon W Choke From Back 95 Kg RR
2021 World Pro Yasmira Dias W Pts:1x0 95 Kg RR
2021 World Pro Lama Qubbaj W Choke From Back 95 Kg RR
2021 World Pro Gabrieli Pessanha L Pts:3x2 95 Kg RR
2021 IBJJF World Championship Maria Malyjasiak W N/A ABS 4F
2021 IBJJF World Championship Gabi Garcia W Choke ABS SF
2021 IBJJF World Championship Gabrieli Pessanha L Points ABS F
2021 IBJJF World Championship Mayara Custodio W Verbal Tap Over 79 Kg SF
2021 IBJJF World Championship Gabrieli Pessanha L Pts:2x0 Over 79 Kg F
2022 Guarapari Pro Juliana Araujo W Pts:8x2 95 Kg F
2022 Gramado Pro Cintia Honorato W Submission 95 Kg F
2022 Grand Slam LDN Yasmira Dias W Kneebar 95 Kg SF
2022 Grand Slam LDN Gabrieli Pessanha L Pts:2x0 95 Kg F
2022 IBJJF Pan American Championship Elizabeth Mitrov W Bow and Arrow ABS 4F
2022 IBJJF Pan American Championship Maria Malyjasiak W Bow and Arrow ABS SF
2022 IBJJF Pan American Championship Gabrieli Pessanha L N/A ABS F
2022 IBJJF Pan American Championship Mayara Custodio W Bow and Arrow Over 79 Kg RR
2022 IBJJF Pan American Championship Gabrieli Pessanha L Pts:4x0 Over 79 Kg F
2022 Queen of Mats Rebeca Lima W Pts:7x6 95 Kg RR
2022 Queen of Mats Thalyta Lima W Pts:2x1 95 Kg RR
2022 Queen of Mats Ingridd Alves W Pts:3x2 95 Kg SF
2022 Queen of Mats Rafaela Bertolot W Choke 95 Kg F
2022 Grand Slam AD M. Cantanhede W Pts:10x0 95 Kg SF
2022 Grand Slam AD Silvia Scomparin W Bow and Arrow 95 Kg F
2022 IBJJF World Championship Claire Thevenon W Armbar Over 79 Kg SF
2022 IBJJF World Championship Amy Campo L Pts:4x2 ABS 4F
2023 Floripa WO Patricia Ferreira W Pts: 4x0 ABS SF
2023 BJJ Stars Mica Lima W Pts: 2x2, Adv ABS 4F
2023 BJJ Stars Tayane Porfirio W Points ABS SF
2023 BJJ Stars Gabrieli Pessanha L Straight ankle lock ABS F
2023 ADGS Miami Raiane Santos W Choke 95KG 4F
2023 ADGS Miami Kauane Silva L Pts: 3x3 95KG SF
2023 ADGS Miami Tammy Griego W Pts: 8x1 95KG RPC
2023 ADWP Qualifier Tamiris Silva W Pts: 2x1 120KG 4F
2023 ADWP Qualifier Stephany Helen W Bow and arrow 120KG SF
2023 ADWP Qualifier L. dos Santos W Pts: 4x0 120KG F
2023 World Pro Yasmira Dias W Pts: 2x0 95KG RR
2023 World Pro Gabrieli Pessanha L Straight ankle lock 95KG RR
2024 European Open Maria Vicentini W Bow and arrow ABS R1
2024 European Open Salla Simola W Choke ABS 4F
2024 European Open Gabrieli Pessanha L Referee Decision ABS SF
2024 European Open Tayane Porfirio L Pts: 0x0, Adv Over 79 Kg SF

6. Yara Soares Top Fight Links

Yara Soares v Gabi Garcia / World Championship 2021

Yara Soares VS Sarah Rice / World Championship 2019

Yara Soares v Sarah Rice / Pan Championship 2021

Yara Soares v Mayara Custodio /World Championship 2021


Photo credit: @yabjj

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