David Vieira

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.

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 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.

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 (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.

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.

Mixed martial arts record Win

Andre Chatuba Submission (rear naked choke) Fight for Life 3

Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL Fought at 185 Win

Efrain Ruiz Submission (rear naked choke) WFC VI

Florida, US Fought at 170 Win

Zack Barrios Submission (rear naked choke) RFC XI

Florida, US Fought at 170 Win

Benjamin Jordan Submission (triangle choke) WFC IV

Florida, US Fought at 170 Win

Fred Salsaverda Submission (triangle choke) WFC III

Florida, US Fought at 170

Mixed martial arts exhibition record Loss

Viscardi Andrade Decision The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2 N/A

São Paulo, Brazil Fought at 170 Loss

Yan Cabral Submission (rear-naked choke) The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2 N/A

São Paulo, Brazil Fought at 170 Win

Leandro Silva Decision The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2 N/A

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.