Vagner Rocha Explains Why Rolling With Lower Belts Is What Builds Skill
Jul 17, 2026BJJEE1 Admin
Vagner Rocha has spent decades on the mats, and his approach to improving no longer aligns with the common instinct in grappling gyms – seeking out the hardest possible rounds. Still competing and...
Jacob Rodriguez Set To Face Vagner Rocha In Karate Combat 62 Comeback
Jul 07, 2026BJJEE1 Admin
Jacob Rodriguez has an opponent for his return to competition: Vagner Rocha, booked for Karate Combat 62 on July 24th. The two have never grappled each other directly, but their families carry a...
Vagner Rocha To Challenge Andrew Tackett For UFC BJJ Welterweight Title
Mar 15, 2026BJJEE1 Admin
Vagner Rocha is set to challenge Andrew Tackett for the UFC BJJ welterweight title in the main event of UFC BJJ 7, scheduled for April 2, 2026. Despite the card already featuring two additional title...
Vagner Rocha Criticizes ADCC Pay Structure: “Prestige Is Cool, But…”
Mar 04, 2026BJJEE1 Admin
Veteran competitor Vagner Rocha has voiced criticism of ADCC’s long-standing approach to athlete compensation… Contrasting it with recent efforts by the IBJJF to provide financial incentives...
Vagner Rocha Returns From Heart Failure To Face Kit Dale At WNO 29
Jul 19, 2025BJJEE1 Admin
Vagner Rocha is making a return to professional Jiu-Jitsu after suffering heart failure just six months ago! He’ll step back onto the mats at Who’s Number One (WNO) 29 on July 25th, 2025, in a...
Vagner Rocha Talks Cowardice In Jiu-Jitsu: “I Can’t Understand It”
Apr 16, 2025BJJEE1 Admin
Vagner Rocha voiced concerns about what he sees as a troubling trend in modern jiu-jitsu: top athletes avoiding high-level matchups. Rocha specifically pointed to the long-anticipated (but still...
Vagner Rocha Opens Up On Heart Failure: “You’re In A Lot Of Danger”
Apr 14, 2025BJJEE1 Admin
Vagner Rocha recently opened up about a frightening chapter in his life – his recent diagnosis with heart failure. Joined by his son Achilles Rocha, the two discussed the series of events that...
Vagner Rocha Released From Hospital After Heart Failure
Jan 26, 2025BJJEE1 Admin
Vagner Rocha has been released from the hospital after a five-day stay, during which he was diagnosed with heart failure. The 42-year-old grappling legend shared the news on Instagram: Spent the last...
42-Year-Old ADCC Silver Medalist Vagner Rocha Hospitalized After Heart Failure Diagnosis
Jan 23, 2025BJJEE
At 42 years old, Vagner Rocha has solidified his reputation as one of the toughest and most accomplished competitors in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. A black belt with over two decades of experience, Rocha...
Nicholas Meregali Defends Vagner Rocha: “Put Some Respect On Vagner’s Name”
Apr 08, 2024BJJEE1 Admin
Nicholas Meregali and Vagner Rocha are set to compete against each other in a heavyweight submission-only match, headlining the upcoming Who’s Number One event (WNO 23) on Friday, May 10. However,...
Coach: This is How Vagner Rocha Will Beat Nicholas Meregali
Apr 06, 2024BJJEE
In an intriguing matchup at WNO, Vagner Rocha prepares to face Nicholas Meregali. Viktor Doria, Rocha’s manager and a seasoned Jiu-Jitsu black belt, sheds light on how Rocha might emerge...
WNO 23: Nicholas Meregali vs Vagner Rocha Submission-Only Match Announced
Apr 03, 2024BJJEE1 Admin
Nicholas Meregali and Vagner Rocha are set to compete against each other in a heavyweight submission-only match, headlining the upcoming Who’s Number One event (WNO 23) on Friday, May 10!...
Vagner Rocha Explains Why He’s On TRT, & What Benefits He Sees in Jiu-Jitsu
Feb 25, 2024BJJEE
Vagner Rocha is 41 years old, but he continues to train and compete at the highest level of professional grappling. For instance, his latest appearance at a major tournament was at ADCC 2022 –...
Vagner Rocha Explains His Approach To Rolling with Heavier & Aggressive Training Partners
Feb 25, 2024BJJEE
In a recent episode of the Mayn Idea Podcast, 2 x ADCC bronze medalist and UFC vet, Vagner Rocha, a renowned Jiu-Jitsu black belt, shared valuable insights on how to spar with larger teammates. His...
Vagner Rocha Defeats 20yrs Younger & 40lbs Heavier Luke Griffith: “Always Challenge Myself”
Jan 28, 2024BJJEE1 Admin
Karate Combat Kickback 1, the latest event from the renowned karate promotion, showcased not only captivating karate bouts but also the inaugural “Pit Submission Series” – featuring...
Vagner Rocha Explains How To Do The Ankle Pick Takedown
Sep 12, 2023BJJEE1 Admin
The Ankle Pick is such a great takedown for jiujiteiros – even though it does (as all techniques do, truth be told) require a bit of practice and repetition in order to pull it off more...
Vagner Rocha Discusses St*roid Use: “I Have No Shame In This”
May 12, 2023BJJEE1 Admin
Back in March 2023, the IBJJF announced that five black belt competitors are to face doping sanctions – after four of them tested positive for PEDs use in the 2022 IBJJF No-Gi World...
Vagner Rocha Opens Up On Using TRT: “I Recommend Younger Athletes To Not Use PEDs”
Feb 15, 2023BJJEE1 Admin
Vagner Rocha is 40 years old, but he continues to train and compete at the highest level of professional grappling. For instance, his latest appearance at a major tournament was at ADCC 2022 –...
BJJ Black Belt Instructor Starts a Fight with Vagner Rocha’s 15 Year Old Son After Losing to Him at ADCC Trials
Nov 10, 2021BJJEE
An unfortunate incident happened last weekend at the ADCC North American trials. An adult 10th planet black belt Quentin ‘The Hitman’ Rosenzweig faced Vangner Rocha’s 15 year old...
Vagner Rocha Issues Updated Statement On Marcel Goncalves
Aug 17, 2021BJJEE1 Admin
Marcel Goncalves – a BJJ black belt and former Fight Sports affiliate instructor – was arrested and charged with multiple counts of sexual assault in March 2018; due to the allegations that he...
The Python Trap: Vagner Rocha’s Infamous Back/Strangle Combination
Apr 20, 2020BJJEE
On the back position in Jiu-Jitsu, the famed John Danaher has this to say: No other weapon in the jiu jitsu submission arsenal offers such variation in severity of application as the back/strangle...
Vagner Rocha’s Savage Body Triangle Will Get You Taps
Feb 18, 2019BJJEE
Many of us will get to to our training partner’s back and immediately focus on securing a choke or armbar. There is an easier option that many forget: The body triangle submission. Yes,...
Polaris announces Vagner Rocha & Benson Henderson Match
Nov 08, 2018BJJEE
Polaris just announced its most explosive match up to date – it will be featuring two fisty jiu jitsu practitioners – both former UFC fighters in a match against each other. Epic fight...
Vagner Rocha On “No Nutella BJJ” Movement: Have You Ever Fought Someone Really Trying To Kill You?
Aug 29, 2018BJJEE
Nowadays it’s common to hear the buzzwords “no nutella” or “Porrada” used by Jiu-JItsu practitioners. It’s been used in Brazil for years, but has only recently...
