Roberto Traven
Brazilian grappler and mixed martial arts fighter
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Roberto "Spider" Traven (born September 16, 1968) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) Coral Belt [1] practitioner. He is a former ADCC Absolute Champion, IBJJF World Champion, and UFC veteran. Traven is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the global BJJ community, known for both his competitive achievements and his coaching legacy.[2]
BornRoberto Traven
September 16, 1968
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
September 16, 1968
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Other namesSpider
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st)
| Roberto Traven | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | Roberto Traven September 16, 1968 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other names | Spider | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Division | Heavyweight | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Style | Brazilian jiu-jitsu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | Roberto Traven BJJ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | 7th deg. BJJ coral belt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By submission | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By decision | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Losses | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By submission | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By decision | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draws | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Early life and Brazilian jiu-jitsu career
Traven was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 16 under Romero "Jacaré" Cavalcanti,[3] founder of Alliance Jiu-Jitsu. He earned his black belt in just four years, training alongside future legends such as Fábio Gurgel,[4] Léo Vieira,[5] and Eduardo "Jamelão" da Conceição.[6] His natural talent and dedication led him to train three times a day, enabling him to quickly rise through the ranks. He was promoted to Corel Belt (7th degree black)[1] on July 10, 2021. There are only approximately 50 to 60 living BJJ coral belts worldwide.[2]
Competitive achievements
- First Place - Brazilian National Championship - 1995 [7]
- First Place - Brazilian Team Championship - 1995 [7][2]
- First Place - Brazilian Team Championship – 1996[7][2]
- First Place - AFC Russia Ultimate Fighting – 1997 [7]
- First Place - World Jiu-Jitsu Championship – 1998 [8]
- First Place - open class in the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship (grappling) – 1999[2][7]
- First Place - Brazilian Team Championship – 1999 [7][2]
- First Place - World Jiu-Jitsu Championship – 1999 [9]
- First Place - Rings Japan – 2000 [7]
- Second Place - Super fight in the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship (grappling) – 2000 [7]
- Second Place - Masters World Championship– 2002 [7]
- First Place - Master's World Cup super heavy-weight – 2002 [7]
- First Place - Master's World Cup open class – 2002 [7]
- First Place - Master's World Cup heavyweight – 2003 [7]
- First Place - Pan Ams open and super heavy weight division (class Senior I) - 2006 [7][2]
- First Place - Pan American Senior II Heavy Weight division - 2010 [7]
- Third Place - ADCC Trials New Jersey Adult division - 2011 [7]
- First Place - World Master Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship Heavy Weight Division (class Master IV) - 2014 [10]
- First Place - Pan Ams open and super heavy weight division (class Master IV) - 2015 [11]
- First Place - World Master Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship Heavy Weight Division (class Master IV) - 2016 [12]
- First Place - IBJJF World No-Gi Championship - 2024 [13]
Mixed martial arts career
Mixed martial arts record
| 11 matches | 6 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 2 |
| By submission | 2 | 1 |
| By decision | 2 | 1 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 6–4–1 | John Salter | KO (punches) | Adrenaline MMA 3 | June 13, 2009 | 1 | 2:15 | Birmingham, Alabama, United States | |
| Draw | 6–3–1 | Yukiya Naito | Draw | Warriors Realm 3 | March 15, 2005 | 3 | 5:00 | Brisbane, Australia | |
| Loss | 6–3 | Elvis Sinosic | KO (punch) | Warriors Realm 1 | September 3, 2004 | 2 | 0:35 | Queensland, Australia | |
| Loss | 6–2 | Frank Mir | Submission (armbar) | UFC 34 | November 2, 2001 | 1 | 1:05 | Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| Loss | 6–1 | Dave Menne | Decision (unanimous) | Rings: King of Kings 2000 Block A | October 9, 2000 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 6–0 | Mikhail Borissov | Decision (unanimous) | Rings: King of Kings 2000 Block A | October 9, 2000 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 5–0 | Gueorguiev Tzvetkov | Decision (majority) | Rings: Millennium Combine 2 | June 15, 2000 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 4–0 | Maxim Tarasov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Absolute Fighting Championship 2 | April 30, 1997 | 1 | 2:47 | Moscow, Russia | Won IAFC 2 Day 1 Tournament |
| Win | 3–0 | Leonid Efremov | TKO (submission to punches) | Absolute Fighting Championship 2 | April 30, 1997 | 1 | 2:54 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Win | 2–0 | Artyom Vilgulevsky | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Absolute Fighting Championship 2 | April 30, 1997 | 1 | 2:28 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Win | 1–0 | Dave Berry | TKO (submission to strikes) | UFC 11 | September 20, 1996 | 1 | 1:23 | Augusta, Georgia, United States |
Grappling record
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Gi/No-Gi | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | Jefferson Moura | Submission (Triangle) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - -94 kg Division semi finals | Gi | 2003 | [15] |
| Win | Charles Faria | Points | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - -94 kg Division first round | Gi | 2003 | [15] |
| Loss | Tom Erickson | N/A | ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - +99 kg first round | No-Gi | 2001 | [16] |
| Loss | Mario Cruz | Points | ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - Absolute Division first round | No-Gi | 2001 | [16] |
| Loss | Mario Sperry | Points | ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - Super Fight | No-Gi | 2000 | Silver in ADCC Super Fight[17] |
| Win | Hayato Sakurai | Points (2x0) | ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - Absolute Division finals | No-Gi | 1999 | Wins Gold in Absolute[18] |
| Win | Garth Taylor | Points (5x0) | ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - Absolute Division semi finals | No-Gi | 1999 | [18] |
| Win | Luis Roberto | Points (6x0) | ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - Absolute Division quarter finals | No-Gi | 1999 | [18] |
| Win | Fabiano Capoane | Points (2x0) | ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - Absolute Division first round | No-Gi | 1999 | [18] |
| Loss | Jeff Monson | Points (0x3) | ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - +99 kg Division semi finals | No-Gi | 1999 | [18] |
| Win | Jurie Rachel | Submission | ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - +99 kg Division first round | No-Gi | 1999 | [18] |
| Win | Andre Marques | N/A | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - +100 kg Division semi finals/ finals | Gi | 1999 | Wins Second Gold[15] |
| Win | Minotauro Nogueira | Points | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - +100 kg Division quarter finals | Gi | 1999 | [15] |
| Win | John Machado | Points (10x0) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - +100 kg Division finals | Gi | 1998 | Wins First Gold[15] |
| Win | Otavio Duarte | Penalty | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - +100 kg Division semi finals | Gi | 1998 | [15] |
| Win | Roberto Godoi | N/A | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - +100 kg Division quarter finals | Gi | 1998 | [15] |
Notable Black Belts Associated with Roberto Traven
- Muzio de Angelis[19] – One of Traven’s earliest students and later his business partner in Brazil.
- Jared Dopp[20] – High-level competitor and ADCC veteran, known to have trained under Traven at various points.
- Raphael Assunção[21] – UFC veteran and BJJ black belt under Traven.
- Jeff Joslin[22] – Canadian BJJ black belt and MMA fighter, trained under Traven.
- Carlos David Oliveira - 5th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, under Roberto Traven.
- Anna Salome - Roberto Traven's first female black belt, promoted on September 9, 2017
Many of Traven’s black belts are instructors at Team Octopus locations or affiliated academies across the U.S., especially in the Southeast.[23]