ADCC informed via Instagram that Rafael Mendes, who is the youngest champion in competition history is the newest inductee into its’ Hall of Fame.
Mendes, who is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Ramon Lemos and co-founder of California’s Art of Jiu-Jitsu Academy, has won his first ADCC gold in 66 kg division when he was only 19 years old. The lighting struck twice two years later. Mendes was stopped in 2013 in Beijing, taking second after the loss to Rubens Charles. He has over a 54% submission rate in ADCC competition.
Outside the ADCC competition circuit made few appearances and No-Gi events, including time limit draw against Clark Gracie at Metamoris 3. He’s also No-Gi World Cup winner in 65 kg division from 2011.
His biggest accolades are in the world of traditional BJJ competition, as Mendes is six times IBJJF World champion in 70kg weight class, and two-time IBJJF Pan American champion.
Mendes had a long-standing rivalry with the aforementioned Charles, better known as ‘Cobrinha’. Both of them met 14 times at various competitions, no-gi, and gi. The final score is 10 – 4 for Mendes.
He decided to retire in his mid-20-s in order to focus on his family and his work as a coach. He was one of the authors of Art of Jiu-Jitsu Academy’s kids program that produced 18 years old black belt, Jessa Khan.
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