What makes someone a fighter? The idea of stepping onto a mat, into a ring, or getting locked inside a cage as a ref asks are you ready isn’t something that most people would think of as particularly enjoyable, let alone a path to make a living out of. Yet for some people, there’s nothing they’d rather be doing. Ever since I grew out of my football-playing days as a youth, the world of fighting has taken over. Starting with boxing when I trained at a local gym in Tokyo, before discovering mixed martial arts (MMA) and the UFC which sent me down a rabbit-hole and showed me the extent of fighting’s historical depth and modern breadth. Whether it be admiring the athleticism of sumo legends like Chiyonofuji, wincing with every strike at clips of Myanmar’s Lethwei, or marvelling at stories of champions who’ve come from the gutters, there was always something new and exciting to learn. And throughout it all, the question remained: what makes someone a fighter? Despite having experience in boxing and jiu jitsu, I don’t consider myself to be a fighter. Felipe, on the other hand, is different.
Born in Curitiba, the capital of the state of Paraná in Southern Brazil, Felipe relocated to the beachside city of Guaratuba where he spent most of his youth. The area was something of a picture-postcard idea of Brazil, with long stretches of deep blue sea right by lush, green mountainscapes. As a child, Felipe got the most out of his surroundings and spent a lot of time surfing, hanging out with friends, and wandering the streets and mountains. He recalled the period fondly, saying there was an innate freedom in being a kid at that time, in that place. Days weren’t spent staring at phones but running around, exploring, and occasionally getting into a bit of trouble. As for school, Felipe wasn’t an out-and-out bad kid but he didn’t really care much for studying. All that mattered was getting out and playing. At the age of seven, he started jiu jitsu but only trained for about a month before he had to stop. It was difficult to get consistent training because he moved around a lot. This meant that although he grew up in Guaratuba, his family were moving from home to home—so much so that when he added it up, he says they probably lived in five different locations in Guaratuba. Was Felipe a “fighter” in the traditional sense at that point? Who’s to say. Of course, life makes fighters out of all us, just by the struggle of living itself. While he wasn’t training jiu jitsu consistently yet, tough times abound when you’re not born with a silver spoon. Still, when Felipe spoke of growing up in Brazil, his memories reflected more of the beauty than the pain.
At seventeen, Felipe started focusing on jiu jitsu by joining one of the top gyms in his hometown, Gracie Barra Guaratuba. Immediately it was clear that Felipe had some natural talent in the martial art. It wasn’t long before he started competing. When I asked about his first ever match, Felipe laughed. He remembered. The fear leading up to the event. Warming up in the bullpen, he waited for his name to be called and when it was, he headed over to his mat but didn’t see his professors. More nerves—was he supposed to do this all alone? Eventually they showed up to coach him and it ended up being a tight one. He escaped two armbar attempts but got put in a guard he didn’t know and lost by points. Defeat, and yet a satisfaction at having at least tried. After that, Felipe competed non-stop. He was a teenager on a mission, seeking improvement in the training room and showcasing his skills through competitions. He placed silver at his second tournament and in his third, beat the guy who he’d previously lost to and took first place. It was around this time that Felipe started to notice a different aspect of martial arts: the mental game. So much of fighting appears purely physical when what’s most important is hidden from the coaches, spectators, and fighters themselves. Though he was only a teenager, he realised that his self-defeating mindset wasn’t serving him in a positive way. He needed more self-belief. Felipe needed to learn to believe in Felipe.
Non-stop competitions meant that eventually, Felipe was going up against better guys. In the summers there were larger tournaments that hosted jiu jitsu practitioners from different parts of Paraná and Felipe, ever-willing to prove his mettle, started fighting against guys from all around. He did well against the tougher competition, proving not only to himself but to everyone around him that he could hang with the bigger fish. So he started to wonder: he was good at jiu jitsu, but did he want to be great? Just as the boy outgrows his home and must seek learning away from the comforts of what he’s known, the fighter who wants to make it to the top must strive to surround himself with those who are better than he is. The boy, deciding it was time to be a man, made his choice. Felipe moved to Curitiba by himself to pursue jiu jitsu full time.
So began a period in Felipe’s life where everything revolved around jiu jitsu. From the moment he woke until sleep carried him away in the evenings, he was training and thinking about how he could improve. He admitted it was a difficult time. He was, after all, still a teenager and to move away from his family to pursue glory through fighting wasn’t exactly a stable road that promised a happy ending. Despite that, the struggle gave his life a sense of purpose. As if he’d finally taken matters into his own hands and there was no one responsible for his failure or success but himself. In his first year in Curitiba he lived with his aunt. In his second he moved into a home with friends. To support himself, Felipe worked in a clothing factory and as a bartender. It was during this time—as a blue belt in jiu jitsu—he says he competed the most. He was improving every single day, rising through the ranks, earning stripes on his belt which led to promotions, and developing a deeper, more holistic understanding of jiu jitsu. However, he wasn’t just improving in the martial art. His coaches at Gracie Barra Curitiba—Rodrigo Pimpohlo and Nika Schwinden—were firm believers in teaching their students not just how to be better at jiu jitsu but how to be better people in general. Their philosophy went beyond martial arts to develop individuals who had character. Those that were conscientious, respectful, and strong both mentally and physically. Eventually, Felipe had reached such a level that he started asking himself another question: would he be able to hold his own in an MMA fight?
There comes a point in the journey of every fighter when they start to question the limits of their own power. Every martial art is different, with its own unique blend of techniques that make it effective in some areas and ineffective in others. Once a fighter realises this, they might look elsewhere in order to fill in those gaps. This reason is why for many, MMA stands at the pinnacle of what it means to be a through and through fighter. You’re not just focused on one martial art, you’ve mixed a variety of disciplines together in an effort to create a system of fighting that ensures you’re equipped with more strengths than weaknesses. For Felipe, the transition to MMA came at a time when he was reaching heights in jiu jitsu he never thought he’d get to. However, just as when you climb one mountain you realise there’s another one to scale behind it, once Felipe witnessed how far he’d come with jiu jitsu, he knew that if he put his mind to it, he could be so much more than he’d ever believed possible. He’d already had a few training partners who competed in the UFC—the world’s largest MMA organisation—and he did well against them in jiu jitsu sparring rounds. Not to mention MMA legends like Anderson Silva, Wanderlei Silva, and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua also came from Felipe’s birthplace of Curitiba. If they could, why couldn’t he?
During the leadup to his first amateur MMA fight, Felipe experienced a bout of fear similar to the one prior to his first jiu jitsu competition. After the weigh-in’s he did a face-off with his opponent and though he tried to appear tough and indifferent, his heart was beating so fast he could feel it drumming against his bones. Still, when it came to fight he remained composed and ended up finishing the guy with an armbar. He quickly followed the first fight with two more, also submitting his opponents with an armbar in those bouts. With all this momentum he’d picked up, his fourth fight was booked against a much more seasoned fighter. There were three-thousand people in attendance at that event, and for the young Felipe it was as if he’d made it to the big stage. Despite his best efforts, the fight went the distance and ultimately, his opponent’s experience and skill proved to be too much. Felipe lost by decision though he was far from being defeated by the result. He knew how far he’d come, and that if he continued to dedicate himself to martial arts, the sky was the limit. Then Covid hit.
Covid put Felipe’s fighting career on pause. Right when things were picking up he had to slam on the breaks, which made him question a few things. He started thinking about whether he should return to his family in Guaratuba but his coaches Rodrigo Pimpohlo and Nika Schwinden convinced him to stay. He could live in the gym if he wanted and focus on training jiu jitsu, as well as getting involved in some coaching as well. In the end he stayed. He received his black belt during this period. Seven and a half years since the boy first stepped onto the mat and now he’d reached what many consider to be mastery of the martial art. Felipe knew that wasn’t the case. For most individuals, reaching that point is an emotional one, given how long, tough, and arduous the journey might’ve been. However, they also recognise that a black belt isn’t the end. For Felipe, it was a stamp of approval, a recognition of all the blood, sweat, and tears he’d sacrificed. But there was still so much left that he had yet to understand, so much room for growth and continued self-discovery.
Once Covid restrictions were lifted, Felipe spent a few months teaching jiu jitsu in South Africa. He returned after three months and stayed in Brazil where he planned his next move. Vietnam. Felipe had a friend—a pilot for Vietnam Airlines—who’d received his black belt at the same time as him. He’d always told him about the country and suggested Felipe come visit. Through his friend he got in contact with Jiboia C88, one of Saigon’s premier MMA, fitness, and yoga gyms. It was through this connection that Felipe was able to move to Vietnam. C88 supplied visas and brought him over to the country where he would work as one of their jiu jitsu coaches, as well as fight under the C88 banner. And so it began. Life in Vietnam. Though he was across the world, it didn’t take long for Felipe to fall in love with the place. In a way, it was no different to Brazil with the tropical weather, the sense of freedom, and even just the act of riding a motorbike around reminded Felipe of home. Then there was the fact that he was living with three other Brazilian MMA fighters and jiu jitsu athletes: Robson, Pablo, and Lucas. Each was on their own path but living and training together, which imbued Felipe with a spirit of brotherhood and a deeper sense of purpose. He competed in jiu jitsu non-stop and soon he was booked for his first MMA fight with the Angels Fighting Championship (AFC) at the Grand Hồ Tràm. Despite how good of a start his life in Vietnam had gotten off to, Felipe was in for a rude awakening.
His first fight at AFC was in the 61kg weight class, which meant that Felipe had to cut a significant amount of weight. While most of his training camp had proceeded smoothly, weight wasn’t coming off as he’d hoped and it got to the point where he had to cut ten kilograms in 18 hours. The whole ordeal messed him up and when it came time to fight, Felipe was out of sorts. He gassed out to the point where he felt like a zombie and by then he was more just taking blows and not really able to give anything back. He lost and felt horrible. This wasn’t how this was supposed to go. Still, rather than wallow in misery, he knew there was no one to blame but himself. After that first fight he devoted himself even further to training. His following fight was with a fighter from Korean Zombie’s gym (a Korean UFC legend). He knew his opponent underestimated him, that their team had travelled to Hồ Tràm with the intention of partying once the fight was over. Felipe had other plans. What ensued was an all-out war. When I asked how he handles fights like that, he said, “When it’s war all you have to focus on is executing the plan. The mind can be negative so I switch off my mind and stop thinking about anything else.” It was a close fight but Felipe came out victorious.
After two fights in the AFC, Felipe went to compete in the 65kg division of Vietnam’s premier MMA organisation, the Lion Championship. From the moment he entered the big leagues he was calling for the belt. He was confident in himself. All the hours he’d spent grinding in the training room and competing had given Felipe the type of self-assuredness that only comes about when you’ve put in the time and effort. Still, he wasn’t just going to be handed a title shot on a plate. He had to earn it. His first three fights in Lion ended with one knockout victory and two submission wins. At that point they couldn’t ignore him.
The title shot took place in Hanoi, the homeground of the then champion. Felipe recalled how he got booed throughout fight week and then on fight night, the jeers from the crowd were even louder. Still, he remained composed. He was a different fighter now. One that understood the value of his fear and didn’t try to contend against it. Felipe scored a takedown in the first round and proceeded to secure mount (a position where you’re sitting on your opponent’s torso) where he rained down fists in a hail of ground and pound. Then came some controversy. Felipe came close to hitting his opponent with his elbow and the ref interfered, stopping the fight and allowing the hometown champion to regroup and regain his composure. It was a different fight after that. Rounds two and three were much tighter—the fight turned into a war and though negative thoughts crept into Felipe’s mind, he knew he just had to switch those off and execute the plan. In the fourth round, his patience paid off. He won by a submission and that was that. Champion. Another mountain conquered. But of course, there’s always another waiting right behind it.
After making it to the top of Lion Championship's 65kg weight class, Felipe had a fight at ONE Championship. As a globally recognised combat sports promotion, ONE was a step-above anything Felipe had been a part of in the past. It was 2024, and though he had a wealth of experience and developed his skills to a level where he could hang with the best, his opponent for his ONE bout proved to be much bigger and stronger than any he’d fought before. Though he stuck through and fought till the bitter end, he lost by decision. Still, there was no reason to hang his head. The kid from Curitiba had come a long way. Gone through countless successes and failures and at that point, all that really interested him was going back to Brazil and seeing his family. He spent a month there. It was a chance to rest and recoup, to think about all that he’d done and consider his next move. When he returned to Vietnam after the month was up, Felipe had made his decision. Leaving C88 due to disagreements with a few individuals in the organisation, Felipe joined Thanh Bình MMA. Though he valued the freedom the new team gave him, the truth was, its facilities paled in comparison to most other MMA gyms and training partners just weren’t up to the standard that he needed. His mindset took a hit—the worst time they could’ve taken a hit because he was booked to defend his title against a hungry and dangerous striker. With all the stress he’d been dealing with—traveling, changing teams, adjusting to new facilities—Felipe ended up losing. Ultimately, it was an important lesson in Felipe’s journey. He credits his opponent with being the better man that night, but he also realised something about fighting. Sometimes fighters make the mistake of thinking their bravery will lead them to victory, when ultimately being smart and strategising is most important. Felipe hadn’t done that, and that had cost him his belt.
In 2025, Felipe’s been refocusing on jiu jitsu. The stress of 2024 has left him and he’s regaining confidence now with an array of gold medals in various competitions across Southeast Asia. This, however, isn’t the biggest change of the year. The transition of a fighter into a coach is, after a while, a natural one. If you’ve dedicated your life to a sport or martial art, one of the best ways to give back is by teaching. This is exactly what Felipe wanted to do, which is why he started looking around for opportunities. During his search he came across Primal Performance Lab, a sort of one-stop-shop for all things fitness related in Thảo Điền. After a few talks with the management team, they decided to start a jiu jitsu program with Felipe as the head coach. He’s loved the role from the beginning. Ultimately, his belief is that jiu jitsu can change your life. Not just in terms of how physically fit it can make you, but also due to its numerous mental benefits. You develop confidence, resilience, and can relieve stress by training the martial art, which is why Felipe is so keen on spreading its positive effects to as many people as possible. In a way, Felipe’s now paying it forward. A lot of what he teaches his students now are reminiscent of the philosophical approach his coaches Rodrigo Pimpohlo and Nika Schwinden imbued in him. Similar to them, Felipe isn’t just interested in creating fighters. He wants to nurture good habits and build character.
Alongside work as head coach of Primal and non-stop competitions, Felipe’s also developed an interest in studying. It’s funny how much he’s changed. Back in school he was never that interested in class but now he claims to always have a new book opened and a new subject that’s piqued his curiosity. From business, psychology, nutrition, to spirituality, his interests know no bounds and he’s on a constant search for knowledge and understanding. I’ve only ever trained with Felipe so to find out this side of him was a surprise. When you’re on the mats and someone’s choking you out you don’t think of them as necessarily thoughtful individuals. And yet through our conversation Felipe proved to be so much more than just a jiu jitsu black belt or MMA fighter. Case in point, when I asked him what the worst part of fighting was, he said, “making money.” The answer took me off guard until he went on, “You need to learn how to make money and manage your finances as a fighter but no one teaches you how. Before I’d spend a lot of the money I made after I won a fight. Now I’m learning how to be smarter about my money.” It was this considered approach to subjects like financial literacy that I frankly didn’t expect, but the reality is, Felipe is thinking long-term. He sees Vietnam as a country where the grappling and MMA culture is on a steady rise, and as someone with a wealth of knowledge in both fields, he can serve as someone who helps elevate the next generation of fighters.
The future’s looking bright for Felipe. He’s got work doing what he loves, trains constantly, and is developing skills in numerous areas besides fighting. The next biggest competition he’s aiming for is the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation’s (IBJJF) No-Gi Worlds. He’s earned enough points through winning other competitions to compete in the adult black belt division, which he aims to do in late 2026. All in all, Felipe will keep striving to be better. Ultimately, I suppose that’s what makes someone a fighter. The will to keep improving no matter how tough a situation is or how bad a card you get handed by life. Felipe exemplifies this, which is why as we wrapped up our conversation he left me with a quote he reminds himself every morning, “No matter how difficult this moment is, keep on believing in yourself. The glory of today is a result of the effort you put in yesterday, so if you find yourself in a bad moment, just realise it’s an opportunity to grow and become stronger.”
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