Bibiano Fernandes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bibiano Fernandes |
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Fernandes with his DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix championship belt, 2010
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| Born | Bibiano Fernandes da Silva Neto March 30, 1980 Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil |
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| Other names | The Flash | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Brazilian & Canadian | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Division | Bantamweight Featherweight |
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| Reach | 67.5 in (171 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Style | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Pankration | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fighting out of | Langley, Canada | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | Flash Academy BJJ, in Canadá | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trainer | Faustino Neto, Osvaldo Alves | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | 1st degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Oswaldo Alves | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years active | 2004–2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By submission | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By decision | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By disqualification | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Losses | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By decision | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Bibiano Fernandes da Silva Neto (born March 30, 1980) is a Brazilian former professional mixed martial artist. He is also a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ). He competed in ONE Championship, where he was a two-time ONE Bantamweight Champion. He holds the record for most title fight wins (11) in ONE Championship. He is also tied for most consecutive title defenses (7).
Bibiano is a five-time World Jiu-Jitsu champion. He is also a three-time Pan American champion. Before starting MMA, he was considered the best light-featherweight in his sport. He also fought for other big organizations like K-1 and DREAM. Bibiano was once ranked among the top bantamweight fighters in the world.
| Top - 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
About Bibiano Fernandes
Bibiano Fernandes was born in Manaus, Brazil. He grew up in a neighborhood called Coroado. As a child, he loved playing soccer. When Bibiano was seven years old, his mother became very sick and passed away. His father, Inacio, sent Bibiano and his siblings to live with their aunt. They lived in the Amazon rainforest, near the Ituxi River.
While in the rainforest, Bibiano caught malaria. His father brought him back to Manaus for medical help. At nine years old, Bibiano went to school for the first time.
Bibiano's Mixed Martial Arts Journey
When Bibiano was 13, he discovered Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ). His family was poor, so he could not pay for lessons. His instructor allowed him to train if he cleaned the gym after class. This made Bibiano very grateful for the gym and what he learned there. He often told himself, "Good job! You held your ground and believed what you believed."
Starting His Career
Bibiano faced tough opponents early in his MMA career. In his second professional fight, he lost to Urijah Faber. This happened at a King of the Cage event in Nevada. Bibiano started strong, but the fight was stopped due to a deep cut on his forehead. In his next fight, he lost to Norifumi Yamamoto in Japan. After these two losses, Bibiano won four fights in a row. This led him to the DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix.
Fighting in DREAM
Bibiano won the DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix at Dream 11. He defeated Joe Warren and Hiroyuki Takaya on the same night. This made him the first DREAM Featherweight Champion. He won against Warren with an armbar in the first round. His fight with Takaya was very close, and Bibiano won by a split decision.
Bibiano defended his title against Joachim Hansen at Dream 13 in March 2010. He won that fight by split decision too. Later, at K-1 Dynamite!! 2010, he had a rematch with Takaya. This time, Bibiano lost his title by unanimous decision.
Bibiano then entered the bantamweight tournament. He defeated Takafumi Otsuka by submission in the first round at Dream 17. In the semifinals, he beat Rodolfo Marques by unanimous decision. In the finals, Bibiano defeated Antonio Banuelos by TKO. This made him the first ever DREAM Bantamweight Champion.
Joining ONE Championship
In June 2012, Bibiano signed with ONE Championship. He made his debut at ONE FC 5. He won his first fight against Gustavo Falciroli by unanimous decision.
Becoming a Champion in ONE
Bibiano fought Koetsu Okazaki for the Interim ONE Bantamweight Championship. He won the fight by unanimous decision at ONE FC 9: Rise to Power.
Later, at ONE FC 11: Total Domination, Bibiano fought Soo Chul Kim. He won by unanimous decision and became the undisputed ONE Bantamweight Champion.
He successfully defended his title many times. He beat Masakatsu Ueda in May 2014. In December 2014, he defeated Dae Hwan Kim by submission. In January 2016, he won against Kevin Belingon with a kimura submission. He also defended his title against Reece McLaren in December 2016.
Losing and Regaining the Title
Bibiano fought Kevin Belingon again in November 2018. This time, he lost his title by split decision.
They had a third fight in March 2019 at ONE Championship: A New Era. Bibiano won the title back when Belingon was disqualified for an illegal elbow.
They fought for a fourth time in October 2019 at ONE Championship: Century. Bibiano won by submission in the second round.
Bibiano was scheduled to fight John Lineker in 2021, but the fight was postponed. They finally fought in March 2022. Bibiano lost his title by knockout in the second round. In November 2022, he lost to Stephen Loman by unanimous decision.
Retirement and Hall of Fame
On December 23, 2023, Bibiano announced he was no longer with ONE Championship. He fought Kevin Belingon one last time on February 20, 2025, at ONE 171. Bibiano won the fight by split decision. After this win, he announced his retirement from fighting.
The day after his retirement, on February 21, 2025, it was announced that Bibiano would be the second person inducted into the ONE Hall of Fame. He was officially inducted by Chatri Sityodtong, the CEO of ONE Championship, on March 23, 2025.
Bibiano's Grappling Achievements
Bibiano Fernandes is a highly skilled grappler. He is a three-time IBJJF World Champion. He is also a three-time IBJJF Pan Champion.
In 2024, Bibiano returned to Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition. He won a gold medal at the IBJJF Pan Championship in the Master 3 featherweight division. He also faced Urijah Faber in a grappling match in August 2024, which he lost by decision.
Bibiano is also a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor. He has trained and taught other famous fighters. One of his students is Demetrious Johnson, a former UFC and ONE Flyweight World Champion. Bibiano awarded Demetrious his first-degree black belt in April 2024.
Personal Life
Bibiano Fernandes is married to Amanda. They have three sons named Elijah, Gabriel, and Lucas.
Jiu-Jitsu Family Tree
Bibiano's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lineage shows who taught whom:
- Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda
- Carlos Gracie, Sr.
- Reyson Gracie
- Osvaldo Alves
- Faustino 'Pina' Neto
- Bibiano Fernandes
Awards and Honors
Mixed Martial Arts
- DREAM
- DREAM Bantamweight Championship (One time)
- DREAM 2011 Bantamweight World Grand Prix Champion
- DREAM Featherweight Championship (One time; first ever)
- One successful title defense
- DREAM 2009 Featherweight World Grand Prix Champion
- ONE Championship
- ONE Bantamweight Championship (Two times)
- Seven successful title defenses (first time as champion)
- One successful title defense (second time as champion)
- Interim ONE Bantamweight Championship (One time)
- Most title fights in ONE history (13)
- Most title fight wins in ONE history (11)
- Tied for most consecutive title defenses in ONE history (seven, with Xiong Jing Nan and Nong-O Gaiyanghadao)
- Most title defenses in ONE's bantamweight division (seven)
- ONE Hall of Fame (Class of 2025)
- ONE Bantamweight Championship (Two times)
- Sherdog
- 2011 All-Violence Second Team
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation
- 2024 Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship Master 3 Featherweight Gold Medalist
- 2007 Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship Black Belt Bronze Medalist
- 2006 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship Black Belt Gold Medalist
- 2006 Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship Black Belt Gold Medalist
- 2005 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship Black Belt Gold Medalist
- 2005 Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship Black Belt Gold Medalist
- 2004 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship Black Belt Silver Medalist
- 2004 Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship Black Belt Gold Medalist
- 2003 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship Black Belt Gold Medalist
- 2003 Brazil National Jiu-Jitsu Championship Black Belt Gold Medalist
- 2002 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship Brown Belt Gold Medalist
- 2002 Brazil National Jiu-Jitsu Championship Brown Belt Gold Medalist
- 2001 Brazil National Jiu-Jitsu Championship Purple Belt Gold Medalist
- 1998 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship Blue Belt Bronze Medalist
- 1997 Brazil National Jiu-Jitsu Championship Blue Belt Gold Medalist
Images for kids
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Fernandes with his DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix championship belt, 2010
