Giva Santana

Giva Santana (born November 20, 1971) is a Brazilian retired professional mixed martial artist, who last fought in Bellator's Middleweight division. Santana also competed in the promotions ShoXC and M-1 Global. He is a decorated jiu-jitsu competitor, both gi and no-gi, and has won numerous titles including the Pan American Championship and the No-Gi World Championship.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Giva Santana has been training Brazilian jiu-jitsu for 25 years and is a fourth degree black belt under Lotus Club from São Paulo, Brazil. Santana has conquered numerous prestigious titles in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu including the Pan American Championship, World No Gi Championship, Masters World Championship, and the World Cup Championship (among others). He was awarded his black belt from Master Moises Muradi on January 23, 1999.

Team Oyama / One Jiu-Jitsu Santana was the head jiu jitsu trainer for Team Oyama where he has trained Rob Emerson, Jared Rollins, Bao Quach, and Ian McCall. He now runs his own jiu jitsu academy, One Jiu Jitsu and Fitness, located in Tustin, CA.

Mixed martial arts career Santana received the nickname "Arm Collector" because 13 out of his 18 wins are by armbar (10 of them wins in a row). He has participated in ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series.

Tachi Palace Fights Santana was scheduled to face Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran David Loiseau at Tachi Palace Fights 10 for the Tachi Palace Fights Middleweight Championship. Loiseau pulled out of the fight due to an undisclosed injury requiring surgery, so Santana instead faced former WEC champion Doug Marshall in a middleweight non-title bout which he won by submission in the first round.

Bellator MMA In 2011 Santana has signed with Bellator Fighting Championships. In his debut, Santana fought Darryl Cobb at Bellator 53 and won via submission in the first round.

Santana faced Bruno Santos in the quarterfinal match of Bellator season six middleweight tournament on March 16, 2012 at Bellator 61. He lost via unanimous decision.

Santana faced Brendan Sequin on November 30, 2012 at Bellator 82. Santana won via submission in the second round.

Santana faced Jason Butcher on September 7, 2013 at Bellator 98 in the quarterfinal match of Bellator Season Nine Middleweight Tournament. After dominating the first round, he was stopped for the first time in his career by TKO in the second round. Following the loss, Santana announced his retirement from MMA.

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Jason Butcher TKO (punches) Bellator 98

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Brendan Sequin Submission (kneebar) Bellator 82

Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, United States Loss

Bruno Santos Decision (unanimous) Bellator 61

Bossier City, Louisiana, United States Bellator Season 6 Middleweight Tournament Quarterfinal Win

Darryl Cobb Submission (armbar) Bellator 53

Miami, Oklahoma United States Bellator debut Win

Doug Marshall Technical submission (rear-naked choke) TPF 10: Let The Chips Fall

Lemoore, California, United States Win

Anthony Ruiz Submission (armbar) MEZ Sports: Pandemonium 3

Los Angeles, California, United States Win

Lodune Sincaid TKO (punches) Collision in the Cage

Irvine, California, United States Win

Radmir Gabdullin Submission (triangle choke) M-1 Challenge 17: Korea

Seoul, South Korea Win

Min Suk Heo Submission (armbar) M-1 Challenge 14: Japan

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Jaime Jara Decision (split) ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series

Santa Ynez, California, United States Win

Matt Lucas Submission (armbar) ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series

Friant, California, United States Win

Jaime Fletcher Submission (armbar) ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series

Santa Ynez, California, United States Win

Aram Ghukasyan Submission (armbar) Independent Event

Highland, California, United States Win

Chris Ledwidge Submission (armbar) Battle in the Ballroom 1

Orange County, California, United States Win

Michele Verginelli Submission (armbar) Fury FC 2: Final Combat

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Boris Jonstomp Submission (armbar) Fury FC 1: Warlords Unleashed

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Mavrick Harvey Submission (armbar) Invincible: Fist of Fury

Ontario, California, United States Win

Jun Soo Lim Submission (armbar) WXF: X-Impact World Championships

Korea Win

Edwin Aguilar Submission (armbar) WXF: X-Impact World Championships

Korea Win

Zamirbek Syrgabayev Submission (armbar) WXF: X-Impact World Championships

Korea Win

Noriki Miyashita Decision (unanimous) WXF: X-Impact World Championships

Korea