In 1996, American-based Mixed Martial Arts was a quickly growing sport. While the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) had been founded in the name of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the defining martial art of ...

Vale tudo became MMA, jiu-jitsu became professional and as a result of this natural evolution, almost all of the great rivalries that marked the history of both sports in Brazil were resolved. Today, ...

Feet pad on the mat as two Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitors cautiously approach each other at the beginning of a face-off. The pair’s cotton gi robes rub together as they become embroiled in a grapple.