Vinicius Moreira

Vinicius Moreira Castro (born February 28, 1989) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist currently competing in the Light heavyweight division. He is most known for his time spent fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Background Inspired by Minotauro Nogueira's fights in Pride FC, Moreira started training jiu-jitsu in 2006 as his first martial art.

Dana White's Contender Series Brazil Moreira faced John Allan on August 11, 2018, at Dana White's Contender Series Brazil 3. He won the fight via submission with a triangle choke and was awarded with a UFC contract.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Moreira made his UFC debut against Alonzo Menifield on January 19, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw. He lost the fight via technical knockout due to punches in the first round.

Moreira then faced Eryk Anders on June 29, 2019, at UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. dos Santos. He lost the fight via knockout due to punches in the first round.

Moreira next faced Paul Craig on September 21, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens. He lost the fight via submission with a rear-naked choke in the first round.

Moreira was scheduled to face Tyson Pedro on February 23, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker. However, Pedro withdrew from the bout in early January due to an undisclosed injury.

Moreira was expected to face Modestas Bukauskas on July 15, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 172. However, on July 3, Moreira tested positive for COVID-19 and was removed from the event.

On January 15, Moreira received a public warning by USADA due to an out-of-competition positive test for anastrozole in September 2020. He had provided a supplement that was proven to be tainted with the substance.

Moreira was scheduled to face Ike Villanueva on January 30, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 186. In late December 2020, the UFC opted against holding an event on a planned January 30 date and decided to reschedule several bouts to January 20, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Magny vs. Chiesa. He lost the fight by knockout in the second round.

On February 4, 2021, it was announced that Moreira was released from his UFC contract.

Post UFC Moreira made his first appearance after his UFC release against Rodrigo Duarte on August 8, 2021, at Brazilian Fighting Series 1. He won the bout after the bout was stopped by the doctor after the first round.

Moreira faced Aleksandr Maslov at Open Fight Championship 9 on August 27, 2021, for the OFC Heavyweight Championship. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Moreira faced Mikhail Mokhnatkin on December 19, 2021, at Open Fighting Championship 15. He lost via unanimous decision.

Moreira returned against Sergey Dyakonov at MMA Series 53 on June 24, 2022. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Moreira faced Maico Machado for the inaugural SC Light Heavyweight Championship at "Soldado Combat 3" on August 24, 2024 and won the championship by first round arm-triangle choke submission.

Championships and accomplishments Jungle Fight Jungle Fight Light Heavyweight Championship (One time; current) Fam Fight MMA FFMMA Heavyweight Championship (One time) Soldado Combat SC Light Heavyweight Championship (First, inaugural, current)

Mixed martial arts record Win

Luiz Carlos Alves Submission (arm-triangle choke) BSB Fight 3

Brasília, Brazil Win

Daniel Bucher TKO (retirement) BSB Fight 2

Brasília, Brazil Loss

Tanner Boser TKO (retirement) UAE Warriors 60

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Andre Miranda Submission (kneebar) Jungle Fight 131

Brasília, Brazil Win

Maico Machado Submission (arm-triangle choke) Soldado Combat 3

Brasília, Brazil Win

Daniel Bucher Submission (rear-naked choke) Soldado Combat 1

Brasília, Brazil Win

Willian Roberto Alves Submission (armbar) Fight Music Show: Fight Night

Curitiba, Brazil Loss

Sergey Dyakonov Decision (unanimous) MMA Series 53

Moscow, Russia Loss

Mikhail Mokhnatkin Decision (unanimous) Open FC 15

Moscow, Russia Loss

Aleksandr Maslov Decision (unanimous) Open FC 9

Ekaterinburg, Russia Win

Rodrigo Duarte TKO (doctor stoppage) Brazilian Fighting Series 1

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Loss

Ike Villanueva KO (punch) UFC on ESPN: Magny vs. Chiesa

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Loss

Paul Craig Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens

Mexico City, Mexico Loss

Eryk Anders KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. dos Santos

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Loss

Alonzo Menifield TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw

Brooklyn, New York, United States Win

John Allan Submission (triangle choke) Dana White's Contender Series Brazil 3

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jason Radcliffe Submission (arm-triangle choke) Super Fight League 2018 Semi-Finals: Haryana Sultans vs. U.P. Nawabs

Mumbai, India Win

Sachin Kumar Submission (armbar) Super Fight League 2018: Sher-E-Punjab vs. Haryana Sultans

Mumbai, India Win

Amit Thapa Submission (rear-naked choke) Super Fight League 2018: Haryana Sultans vs. Mumbai Maniacs

Mumbai, India Win

José Aparecido Santos Gomes Submission (arm-triangle choke) Super Fight League 2018: Haryana Sultans vs. Bengaluru Tigers

Mumbai, India Loss

Rafael Celestino KO (punches) Shooto Brazil 77

Brasília, Brazil Win

Renan Ferreira Submission (armbar) FAM Fight Night 1

Goiânia, Brazil Win

Vinicius Lima Submission (keylock) The Warriors Combat 3

Brasília, Brazil Win

Gustavo Moralis TKO (punches) Magal Fight 1

Alexânia, Brazil Win

Gabriel Scheufler Submission (rear-naked choke) Fight K Águia 1

Gama, Brazil