A historic day unfolded for Brazilian jiu-jitsu as Murilo Bustamante received his coral belt, marking his promotion to 8th degree black belt. The ceremony took place Sunday morning at the AABB Lagoa in Rio de Janeiro, the home of BTT Lagoa.
Masters Fernando Pinduka, Rosado, and Otávio Peixotinho presented the red and white belt to Bustamante, recognizing a lifetime dedicated to the martial art and the development of countless athletes.
Born on July 30, 1966, in coastal Rio de Janeiro, Bustamante initially dreamed of professional surfing before beginning his jiu-jitsu training around age 10 following an early altercation. He started competing officially at 15, later adding judo to his repertoire and boxing at 18.
Training under the renowned Carlson Gracie, Bustamante accumulated an impressive collection of world titles in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, including the Mundials World Championships in 1999 and four Brazilian National Championships.
His grappling credentials extend to the ADCC World Submission Wrestling Championships, where he competed in the 194-216 lbs (88-98 kg) division in both 1999 and 2000, as well as the Absolute tournament in 1999, compiling a 3-2 record.
Bustamante’s mixed martial arts career reached its peak when he captured the UFC Middleweight Championship. After signing a four-bout deal with the organization, he debuted at UFC 25 on April 14, 2000, securing a second-round submission victory over Yoji Anjo.
Following a controversial unanimous decision loss to future champion Chuck Liddell at light heavyweight in September 2001, Bustamante returned to middleweight and earned an immediate title opportunity against reigning champion Dave Menne at UFC 35 on January 11, 2002. He claimed the championship via second-round technical knockout.
His first title defense against Matt Lindland at UFC 37 on May 10, 2002, became one of the most controversial bouts in UFC history. Referee John McCarthy initially stopped the contest in the first round after what appeared to be a tap to an armbar, but Lindland protested and the match resumed. Bustamante ultimately secured a definitive submission victory in the third round to retain his championship.
Beyond his competitive achievements, Bustamante co-founded Brazilian Top Team in 2000, an organization that has become one of the most respected teams in combat sports worldwide.
The ceremony also served as an opportunity to honor those who built BTT alongside him. Bustamante recognized Professors Marcelo Perdomo, Ricardo Marques, Fábio Holanda, and Daniel Gazoni as Honorary Members of Brazilian Top Team, acknowledging their contributions to the team’s success.
Special recognition went to Master Ricardo Libório, Bustamante’s lifelong friend and fellow BTT founder. The organization’s story remains inseparable from Libório’s contributions, as he helped establish the team’s foundation and continues serving as an inspiration to everyone within the BTT family.
