David Vieira (fighter)
Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
David Vieira (born February 28, 1982) is a 5th degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ), BJJ competitor, instructor, professional mixed martial artist fighter, and the 2022, 2023 and 2024 World Master IBJJF Champion.[1]
February 28, 1982
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| David Vieira | |
|---|---|
| Born | David Vieira da Silva February 28, 1982 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st) |
| Division | Welterweight |
| Reach | 78 in (198 cm) |
| Fighting out of | Tampa, Florida, United States |
| Team | DVBJJ |
| Rank | 5th degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu |
| Years active | White belt 2000, blue belt 2002, purple belt 2003, brown belt 2004, black belt 2005, 1st degree black belt 2008, 2nd degree black belt 2011, 3rd degree black belt 2014, 4th degree black belt 2019 and 5th degree black belt 2024 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 5 |
| Wins | 5 |
| By submission | 5 |
| Losses | 0 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Main Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments
| ||
| World Championship | ||
 | 2026 Las Vegas | -97.5kg |
 | 2024 Las Vegas | -97.5kg |
| 2023 Las Vegas | -97.5kg |
| 2022 Las Vegas | -97.5kg |
| 2018 Rio de Janeiro | -91.5kg |
 | 2004 Rio de Janeiro | Absolute |
| 2003 Rio de Janeiro | Absolute |
| 2002 Rio de Janeiro | -79.5kg |
| 2002 Rio de Janeiro | Absolute |
| Copa Podio | ||
| 2019 Vieira vs Thales Leites | -91.5kg |
| 2016 Vieira vs Robson Gracie | -91.5kg |
| National Championship | ||
| 2019 Rio de Janeiro | -91.5kg |
| 2017 Rio de Janeiro | -91.5kg (NoGI) |
| 2015 Rio de Janeiro | -91.5kg (NoGI) |
| 2015 Rio de Janeiro | -91.5kg |
| 2005 Rio de Janeiro | -85.5kg |
| 2005 Rio de Janeiro | Absolute |
| 2003 Rio de Janeiro | -79.5kg |
| 2003 Rio de Janeiro | Absolute |
| 2001 Rio de Janeiro | -79.5kg |
| State Championship | ||
| 2014 Rio de Janeiro | -85.5kg (NoGI) |
| 2011 Rio de Janeiro | -85.5kg (NoGI) |
| 2005 2nd Rio de Janeiro | -85.5kg |
| 2005 1st Rio de Janeiro | -85.5kg |
| 2005 1st Rio de Janeiro | Absolute |
| 2003 3rd Rio de Janeiro | -79.5kg |
| 2003 1st Rio de Janeiro | -79.5kg |
| 2002 2nd Rio de Janeiro | -79.5kg |
| 2002 3rd São Paulo | -79.5kg |
| 2002 2nd São Paulo | -79.5kg |
| 2002 1st São Paulo | -79.5kg |
| European Championship | ||
| 2011 Portugal | -85.5kg |
| 2009 Portugal | -85.5kg |
| Pan American Championship | ||
| 2023 Kissimmee | -97.5kg |
| 2017 Rio de Janeiro | -91.5kg |
| 2017 Rio de Janeiro | Absolute |
| 2006 Los Angeles | -85.5kg |
| 2004 Los Angeles | -85.5kg |
| 2002 Orlando | -79.5kg |
| International Open Championship | ||
| 2018 Rio de Janeiro | -91.5kg |
| 2018 Florianopolis | -91.5kg |
| 2018 Florianopolis | Absolute (NoGI) |
| 2018 Florianopolis | -91.5kg (NoGI) |
| 2018 Florianopolis | Absolute |
| 2017 São Paulo | -91.5kg |
| 2016 Curitiba | -91.5kg |
| 2016 Curitiba | -91.5kg |
| 2015 Florianopolis | -91.5kg |
| 2015 Florianopolis | Absolute |
| 2015 Florianopolis | -91.5kg (NoGI) |
| 2015 Florianopolis | Absolute (NoGI) |
| 2015 Curitiba | -91.5kg |
| 2014 São Paulo | -85.5kg |
| 2014 São Paulo | Absolute |
| 2014 São Paulo | -85.5kg (NoGI) |
| 2014 São Paulo | Absolute (NoGI) |
| NAGA Grappling Championship | ||
| 2007 Miami | -85.5kg |
| 2006 Miami | -85.5kg |
| 2006 Miami | -85.5kg |
| Absolute/open weight class | ||
Background
Vieira was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and was seventeen when he started practicing jiu-jitsu. His first instructors were Alexandre de Lima and Rogerio Poggio at Infight Jiu-Jitsu Academy[2] in Rio de Janeiro.
After winning gold in the -77 kg and Absolute divisions of the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in 2002, Vieira went to São Paulo to train with the founder of Infight Academy, 6th degree BJJ black belt Totila 'Pitoco' Jordan Neto.[3]
In 2004, Vieira came to the United States to compete at the Pan American Championship. There, he was introduced to Gracie Barra by Eduardo de Lima. When Vieira went back to Brazil, he joined Gracie Barra Academy, where in 2005 he was awarded his black belt.
Currently Vieira holds gold medals as a six-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion, 5-time National Champion (in both GI and No GI), 10-time State Champion (in both GI and No GI), two-time Pan American Champion, and 15-time International Open Champion (in both GI and No GI). As a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and mixed martial arts (MMA) competitor, he is also an instructor, and has coached students who have won titles in BJJ, MMA, and grappling tournaments.
Vieira was the founder and head instructor of DVBJJ Academy in 2006, located in Tampa, Florida, with affiliated schools in Brazil, France, Morocco, Belgium, United States and Australia.
In early 2022, Vieira moved to the United States and teamed up with Ross Kellin, founder of Champions MMA.
BJJ black belts
Vieira has awarded black belts to:
- 2008: Ciro Moura (Brazil) and Chad Robichaux (USA)
- 2010: Hammoud Soufiane (France) and Antoine Bachelin (France)
- 2012: Hicham Hakam [4] (first BJJ black belt in Morocco) and Diego Lander (Brazil)
- 2013: Abderrahim Bounouch (Belgium), Rodrigo Calazans (Brazil), Rafael Garritano (Brazil), Joao M. Madureira (Brazil), Rafael Lopes (Brazil), Marcelo Carvalho (Brazil), Nick Antunes (Brazil) and Marcio Moreira (Brazil)
- 2017: Ricardo Rodrigues (Brazil), Renzzo Caenazzo (Brazil), Henrique Oliveira (Brazil), Daniel Albuquerque (Brazil), Eduardo Liberman (Brazil) and Wilhiam Almeida (Australia)
- 2025: Joseph Hicks (USA), Charlotte Hicks (USA)
BJJ highlights
Vieira's notable wins via submission:
- Thales Leites from Nova Uniao via choke
- Sergio Moraes from Alliance Jiu Jitsu via triangle choke
- Tarsis Humphreys from Alliance Jiu Jitsu via choke
- Delson Heleno form Gordo Jiu-Jitsu via choke
- Vagner Rocha from Team Popovitch 2x via triangle choke and armlock
- Vinicius Marinho from GFTeam via choke
- Mario "Big Hurt" Rinaldi from ATT via rear naked choke
- Moacir "Boca" Oliveira from Team De La Riva via armlock
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Vieira became a professional MMA fighter in 2007. That same year, he was featured in the MMA Authority Magazine as the new up-and-coming fighter, and was described by the magazine as the "Brazilian Prodigy." After four successful MMA fights in the United States, he went back to Brazil to improve his MMA game and become a more complete fighter. He continued his MMA training, but took some time off from professional MMA fighting to focus on running his jiu-jitsu school in Brazil.
The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil
Vieira was chosen from a list of over 300 applicants at The Ultimate Fighter tryouts in Rio de Janeiro. Ranging from 18 to 35 years of age, these fighters came from all corners of Brazil, as well as countries such as Argentina and the United States. The fighters underwent interviews and medical exams, and were tested on their striking and grappling skills, until the final 28 emerged.
The group of 28 welterweights battled it out in elimination scraps in episodes one and two, until only half of them remained. The 14 winners became the official cast members of The Ultimate Fighter house, where they were divided into two opposing teams.
Episode One: In March 2013, it was revealed that Vieira was a cast member of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2.[5]
Episode Two: Vieira won his elimination fight to get into the TUF house, defeating Leandro Silva (11-0) by unanimous decision. He was chosen as a member of Team Nogueira.
Episode Three: In his second fight, Vieira clashed with another undefeated fighter, Yan Cabral (10-0), and lost by submission in the second round.
Episode Nine: Luis Dutra had to withdraw due to injury, and Vieira was chosen to replace his teammate. It was announced that he would face the experienced Viscardi Andrade in the quarterfinals.
Episode Ten: Vieira lost his quarterfinals match by unanimous decision to Andrade, ending his run at becoming the next Ultimate Fighter.[6]
Mixed martial arts record
| 5 matches | 5 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 0 | 0 |
| By submission | 5 | 0 |
| By decision | 0 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 5–0 |  Andre Chatuba |
Submission (rear naked choke) | Fight for Life 3 | April 4, 2019 | 1 | 1:38 | Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL | Fought at 185 |
| Win | 4–0 |  Efrain Ruiz |
Submission (rear naked choke) | WFC VI | March 22, 2008 | 1 | 3:26 | Florida, US | Fought at 170 |
| Win | 3–0 | Zack Barrios |
Submission (rear naked choke) | RFC XI | February 23, 2008 | 1 | 1:22 | Florida, US | Fought at 170 |
| Win | 2–0 | Benjamin Jordan |
Submission (triangle choke) | WFC IV | July 13, 2007 | 1 | 2:42 | Florida, US | Fought at 170 |
| Win | 1–0 | Fred Salsaverda |
Submission (triangle choke) | WFC III | April 7, 2007 | 1 | 1:28 | Florida, US | Fought at 170 |
Mixed martial arts exhibition record
| Exhibition record breakdown | ||
| 3 matches | 1 win | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 0 | 0 |
| By submission | 0 | 1 |
| By decision | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1–2 | Viscardi Andrade |
Decision | The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2 | N/A | 2 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | Fought at 170 |
| Loss | 1–1 | Yan Cabral |
Submission (rear-naked choke) | The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2 | N/A | 2 | 2:59 | São Paulo, Brazil | Fought at 170 |
| Win | 1–0 | Leandro Silva |
Decision | The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2 | N/A | 2 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | Fought at 170 |
Reality TV show
At the end of 2010, Vieira was invited to be in a reality show in Brazil that aired nationwide on the Multishow channel in May 2011. Minha Praia (Portuguese for "My Beach") is an original reality television adventure/reward game show in which teams of two people, men and women, compete for prizes. Contestants are isolated on a secluded beach in Brazil. The show uses a system of progressive elimination, allowing the contestants to vote off other rival team members. At the end of the show, Vieira and his teammate Mirella Vieira finished as runner-up, after they lost in the final round of elimination in a kayak competition.[7]