Rodrigo Mariani

Rodrigo began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2014, initially taking up the sport to lose weight. Originally from Brazil, he moved to London at the age of 12 and began training at Fightzone shortly afterwards. What started as a struggle on the mats soon became a defining part of his life, giving him direction and a passion that led him to pursue Jiu-Jitsu full-time. At 17, Rodrigo moved to the United States, where he spent four years training alongside high-level competitors including Jansen Gomes, Leo Vieira and Gabriel Almeida, before earning his black belt under Marco Canha and returning to Fightzone. Rodrigo won the IBJJF No-Gi World Championship at brown belt before establishing himself as a black belt competitor. His game draws on the influence of the coaches and athletes he has trained with, with an explosive style built around back takes, crab rides and chokes. He continues to develop his game at Fightzone London, where Marco Canha remains an important influence on his Jiu-Jitsu.