Valdir Araujo: Record, Net Worth, Weight, Age & More!

Who Is Valdir Araujo?

Valdir Araujo is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and a highly accomplished competitor in the sport. Araujo has many awesome accomplishments in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition with a focus on no gi. He has won the IBJJF European Open and placed at several other major events as a heavyweight competitor. Valdir is also known as “Baby Monster”, a reference to his size and aggression. His lineage is as pure as the come, having received his black belt directly from Osvaldo Alves’ student Danile Valverde. 

Who Is Valdir Araujo?

Valdir Araujo is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and a highly accomplished competitor in the sport. Araujo has many awesome accomplishments in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition with a focus on no gi. He has won the IBJJF European Open and placed at several other major events as a heavyweight competitor. Valdir is also known as “Baby Monster”, a reference to his size and aggression. His lineage is as pure as the come, having received his black belt directly from Osvaldo Alves’ student Danile Valverde. 

What this article covers:

• Who Is Valdir Araujo?
• How Old Is Valdir Araujo?
• How Much Does Valdir Araujo Weigh?
• Valdir Araujo Fight List
• Valdir Araujo's Best Fight of All Time
• Valdir Araujo Record
• Is Valdir Araujo Retired?

Valdir Silva Ferreira Araujo was born on December 14th 1984 in Gama Brazil. Although this was his birthplace, Valdir’s family moved him to the nearby state of Bahia, Brazil as a child. At first, he competed in traditional sports including soccer, where he was very competitive. Eventually, Araujo was introduced to the sport in the homeland of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Araujo's journey in the world of martial arts began when he was introduced to jiu jitsu by Helio Moura, a respected black belt from Bahia. Their connection grew stronger when Valdir's father sponsored Helio for a few jiu-jitsu events. From his very first class in December 1998, Valdir realized that grappling was his passion and something he wanted to pursue as both a career and a lifestyle.

Valdir's training took an unexpected turn when Helio Moura moved away from Bahia, leaving him without a mentor. Determined to continue his journey, Valdir sought out a new gym and found Daniel Valverde, a renowned judoka and BJJ black belt under the legendary Osvaldo Alves. Under Valverde's guidance, Valdir progressed from a white belt to a black belt, which he proudly achieved in 2007.

Judo Takedowns For No Gi by Valdir Araujo

In 2001, when coach Daniel Valverde relocated to the United States to form an alliance with Rodrigo Nogueira, Valdir decided to embark on his own adventure. He spent the following year in São Paulo, dedicating himself to judo and even earning a brown belt in the art of throwing after just one year of training. Valdir's love for judo continued to grow, and he later trained with Flamengo's prestigious judo club in Rio de Janeiro, eventually attaining his black belt in 2006.

In 2008, Daniel Valverde joined Rodrigo Minotauro's coaching staff for the reality TV/MMA show "The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir." To cover Valverde's gym classes during his relocation to Las Vegas for the show, Valdir was entrusted with the responsibility. This experience in the United States presented Valdir with a multitude of training opportunities, and he began incorporating striking into his repertoire, ultimately delving into the world of MMA.

Valdir Araújo's dedication to his craft led him to a successful career inside the cage. In 2015, he joined the renowned Blackzillians MMA team, furthering his career in cage fighting. This move also earned him a spot in "The Ultimate Fighter" (TUF 21) - a showdown between American Top Team and Blackzilians, where he showcased his skills and went 1-1 in the competition.

Following the unfortunate passing of Glenn Robinson, the founder of Blackzillians, the team disbanded. This prompted Valdir to make a resolute return to the grappling world, focusing on training and representing the Fight Sports Academy in Florida, USA. During this period, he achieved significant victories and earned prestigious medals, solidifying his presence in the grappling community.

Valdir Araújo's time spent on the mat is substantial and now he brings that experience to bear in a new offering from BJJ Fanatics, “Judo Takedowns for No Gi”. This series is designed to elevate your takedown game in the world of no-gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. With his extensive background in judo and MMA, Vladir Araújo brings his wealth of knowledge and expertise to this instructional, providing you with a systematic approach to mastering takedowns in a no-gi setting.

The No Gi Judo Collection by Matt D'Aquino

How Old Is Valdir Araujo? 

Valdir Araujo was born on December 14, 1984, which means he is about 38 years old at the time of writing in 2023.

Valdir Araujo Family

Not much has been published about Valdir Araujo’s family. He maintains a private life, preferring to focus on the sport when interviewed.

How Much is Valdir Araujo Worth?

Valdir Araujo’s net worth is not public information. He is one of the most promising MMA and grappling prospects to come out of Brazil in the modern era, and we’re excited to watch as he works his way back towards ADCC and other major tournaments before finally deciding to hang it up and focus on coaching full time.

How Tall is Valdir Araujo?

As a professional grappler, Valdir Araujo doesn’t have to publish his height for competition. He’s a stocky heavyweight who stands about 5’10” tall. That’s roughly 178 cm for our folks across the pond.

How Much Does Valdir Araujo Weigh? 

Valdir Araujo has competed in a variety of weight classes throughout his career in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and in Mixed Martial Arts. He competed as a welterweight in the UFC at 170 pounds, but was cutting a serious amount of weight to get down to that mark for the weigh-ins. He usually competes much heavier, in the heavyweight division of the international BJJ competitions he enters. Those brackets are typically capped just under 94kg, somewhere around 208 pounds.

More recently, Arujo has dropped some weight in what looks to be a permanent shift to the 88kg weight category (194 pounds).

Valdir Araujo Fight List

As a grappler, Valdir Araujo has had far too many bouts to list them all here, nearly 200 bouts as a professional! Instead of listing every name, let's look at his absolute dominance by tournament and year: 

• 2009 Gold - IBJJF European Open
• 2016 Bronze - IBJJF World Championship NoGi
• 2016 Bronze - IBJJF American Nationals NoGi
• 2017 Silver - IBJJF American Nationals
• 2017 Silver - ADCC São Paulo Trials
• 2017 Bronze - ADCC Rio de Janeiro Trials
• 2019 Silver - ADCC São Paulo Trials
• 2022 Silver - ADCC Brazilian Trials

Valdir Araujo's Best Fight of All Time

It’s hard to identify a single victory among hundreds of competitive matches across several combat sports, but we think that Araujo’s 2022 run at the ADCC Trials were a milestone for him. Although he didn’t come out on top, Araujo faced Luan Carvalho, one of the greatest medium heavyweights of this generation in the quarter finals. The two squared off at 88 kg that day, and Araujo was able to win the match by decision to claim his second ADCC Trials silver medal in a so-far impressive career.

Who Did Valdir Araujo Lose To?

In Valdir Araujo's 2022 run at the ADCC Trials in Brazil, as mentioned above, he wasn’t able to come out on top and win the gold. This was in large part due to fellow rising star and Team Alliance standout, Rafael Paganini. Although he didn’t win the match, Valdir also wasn’t submitted. This is a testament to his hard work and focus, and the loss was fire for future victories. Given that this was at last year's ADCC Trials, we’re hoping to see Araujo back at it in 2023.

Valdir Araujo Record

Valdir Araujo has competed all over the world and in many professional leagues. No complete record of his matches exists, particularly during his time as a colored belt. What we do have is his professional record as a black belt, which is 38-33. As you might expect from a professional Mixed Martial Artist, Araujo plays a strong positional game and is very hard to tap. As a result, only 8 of his 74 black belt bouts have ended via submission. There are only three people who have tapped him in competition.

Valdir Araujo Injuries

Like many high-level athletes, especially in combat sports, it is likely that Araujo has had to deal with various minor injuries and wear-and-tear over the years, but he has continued to compete at a high level nonetheless.

Is Valdir Araujo Retired?

Valdir Araujo is still in his athletic prime and is not officially retired. He competed as recently as 2022, where he competed in the ADCC Trials looking to earn his spot at the biggest no gi tournament.

Beyond his time spent as a competitor, Valdir Araujo is also a great teacher and coach. His lifetime of experience is on full display with “Judo Takedowns for No Gi”. In this instructional series, Vladir Araújo shares his unique insights and techniques that have proven successful throughout his martial arts career. Whether you're a beginner looking to improve your takedowns or an experienced practitioner seeking to refine your technique, these tips are suitable for all skill levels.

Vladir takes you step-by-step through a wide range of takedowns specifically tailored for the no-gi environment. From the fundamental concepts and principles to the intricacies of grip fighting and off-balancing your opponent, you'll gain a deep understanding of how to effectively execute takedowns without the traditional gi grips.

With clear and concise explanations, detailed demonstrations, and multiple camera angles, Vladir Araújo breaks down each technique, ensuring that you grasp the nuances and mechanics behind every move. You'll learn a diverse array of throws, trips, and sweeps that seamlessly integrate into your no-gi game, giving you the upper hand in competitions or live sparring.

With "Judo Takedowns for No-Gi" by Vladir Araújo, you'll acquire the skills and knowledge to elevate your takedown game in the realm of no-gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn from a seasoned martial artist and enhance your grappling repertoire. Start mastering the art of takedowns today and unleash your full potential on the mats.

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