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.
David Vieira (born February 28, 1982) is a 5th Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), a BJJ competitor, instructor, a professional mixed martial artist (MMA) fighter and the current 2022, 2023 and 2024 World Master IBJJF Champion ([1] IBJJF).
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.
In 2004, Vieira came to the United States to compete at the Pan American Championship and that is when he was introduced to Gracie Barra by Eduardo de Lima. When Vieira went back to Brazil, he decided to join Gracie Barra Academy where in 2005 he was awarded his black belt.
Today Vieira proudly holds gold medals as a 6-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), 2-time Pan American Champion, and an astounding 15-time International Open Champion (in both GI and No GI), among other accolades. Vieira is not only a very well accomplished BJJ competitor and MMA athlete but as an instructor he has also led his students to many victories at BJJ, MMA and Grappling Tournaments.
Vieira became a professional MMA fighter in 2007, and 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 4 successful MMA fights in the United States David went back to Brazil to improve his MMA game and become a more complete fighter. Even though Vieira continued his MMA training, he decided to take some time off from professional MMA fighting to focus on running his jiu-jitsu school in Brazil.
The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil
David was chosen from an initial list of over 300 applicants at the TUF™ 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, 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 Two: Vieira won his elimination fight to get into the TUF house, defeating Leandro Silva (11-0) by unanimous decision and he was chosen to be 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 withdrawal 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.[5]
At the end of 2010 David was invited to be in a reality show in Brazil that aired nationwide at the Multishow channel in May 2011. The show is called Minha Praia (Portuguese for My Beach) and it's an original reality television adventure/reward game show in which teams of two people, man and women, compete with other teams. Contestants are isolated in a secluded beach in Brazil to compete for prizes. The show uses a system of progressive elimination, allowing the contestants to vote off other rival team members. At the end of the show David and his teammate Mirella Vieira finished as runner up, after they lost in the final round of elimination in a kayak competition.[6]
