From his first days on the mats in Brazil to standing atop the podium as the 2025 IBJJF Featherweight World Champion, João “Bisnaga” Mendes shares his inspiring journey.

In this exclusive 24-minute interview, Bisnaga opens up about:

How his father introduced him to Jiu-Jitsu and his early struggles competing against bigger, older athletes

The turning point of joining Atos HQ under André Galvão

Breakthrough moments at The Crown and against some of the toughest names in the featherweight division

Overcoming 7 years of challenges as a black belt before finally achieving his dream of becoming World Champion

What it means to win in one of the deepest and most unpredictable divisions in Jiu-Jitsu

Featherweight has crowned 9 different champions in the last 9 years, and in 2025, João Mendes proved that persistence, belief, and relentless training can turn dreams into gold.

📺 Watch now and hear the story behind one of the most inspiring championship runs in IBJJF history.

ADULT / BLACK-BELT / MALE / MIDDLE – SEMIFINAL

ADULT / BLACK-BELT / FEMALE / SUPER-HEAVY – FINAL

ADULT / BLACK-BELT / MALE / LIGHT – FINAL

ADULT / BLACK-BELT / MALE / LIGHT-FEATHER – FINAL

ADULT / BLACK-BELT / MALE / ULTRA-HEAVY – QUALIFIER

ADULT / BLACK-BELT / MALE / LIGHT – QUALIFIER

ADULT / BLACK-BELT / FEMALE / FEATHER – FINAL

ADULT / BLACK-BELT / FEMALE / MEDIUM-HEAVY – FINAL

Boston Summer International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mat #2) – September 21st.

Fights from the 2025 Boston Summer International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship located at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Boston, MA.

Order of fights located @ https://www.bjjcompsystem.com
Live Stream of Mat 1 – CLick Link ()

Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu Sem Kimono Crianças 2025 (Mat#4) -Set 21th

Fights from the 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu Sem Kimono Crianças located at the Arena Carioca 1
Av. Embaixador Abelardo Bueno, 3401, Barra da Tijuca
Rio de Janeiro
RJ – 22775-039
Brasil

Order of fights located https://www.bjjcompsystem.com/

Live Stream of Mat 1 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cux9pX_9T_o)
Live Stream of Mat 2 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWs9UwtW9wE)
Live Stream of Mat 3 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF0BuSVHpb0)
Live Stream of Mat 5 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqXKmXEtn7o)
Live Stream of Mat 6 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gCDAvOfTtQ)
Live Stream of Mat 7 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG_QrV8_J90)
Live Stream of Mat 8 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf_FKSzCY7s)
Live Stream of Mat 9 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewANwmxKhYc)
Live Stream of Mat 10 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFqHHykJD-U)
Live Stream of Mat 11 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSjN2TuSq5w)
Live Stream of Mat 12 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2-D2CQA6Vo)

Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu Sem Kimono Crianças 2025 (Mat#7) -Set 21th

Fights from the 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu Sem Kimono Crianças located at the Arena Carioca 1
Av. Embaixador Abelardo Bueno, 3401, Barra da Tijuca
Rio de Janeiro
RJ – 22775-039
Brasil

Order of fights located https://www.bjjcompsystem.com/

Live Stream of Mat 1 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cux9pX_9T_o)
Live Stream of Mat 2 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWs9UwtW9wE)
Live Stream of Mat 3 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF0BuSVHpb0)
Live Stream of Mat 4 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAtTinPe3P8)
Live Stream of Mat 5 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqXKmXEtn7o)
Live Stream of Mat 6 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gCDAvOfTtQ)
Live Stream of Mat 8 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf_FKSzCY7s)
Live Stream of Mat 9 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewANwmxKhYc)
Live Stream of Mat 10 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFqHHykJD-U)
Live Stream of Mat 11 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSjN2TuSq5w)
Live Stream of Mat 12 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2-D2CQA6Vo)

Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu Sem Kimono Crianças 2025 (Mat#5) -Set 21th

Fights from the 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro de Jiu-Jitsu Sem Kimono Crianças located at the Arena Carioca 1
Av. Embaixador Abelardo Bueno, 3401, Barra da Tijuca
Rio de Janeiro
RJ – 22775-039
Brasil

Order of fights located https://www.bjjcompsystem.com/

Live Stream of Mat 1 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cux9pX_9T_o)
Live Stream of Mat 2 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWs9UwtW9wE)
Live Stream of Mat 3 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF0BuSVHpb0)
Live Stream of Mat 4 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAtTinPe3P8)
Live Stream of Mat 6 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gCDAvOfTtQ)
Live Stream of Mat 7 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG_QrV8_J90)
Live Stream of Mat 8 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf_FKSzCY7s)
Live Stream of Mat 9 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewANwmxKhYc)
Live Stream of Mat 10 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFqHHykJD-U)
Live Stream of Mat 11 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSjN2TuSq5w)
Live Stream of Mat 12 – CLick Link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2-D2CQA6Vo)