While knockouts often dominate MMA highlights, Gabriel Bonfim has proved that submissions are just as worthy of attention inside the Octagon! His every move, choke, and transition feels almost surgical. The 28-year-old welterweight with a 60% submission rate in the UFC isn’t just another fighter trying to climb the rankings; he’s a grappling technician, molded by years of mat work and quiet obsession.

Fresh off his split-decision win over Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson at UFC on ESPN 70, Bonfim has once again reminded fans why his nickname ‘Marretinha’, meaning “Little Sledgehammer”, fits perfectly. But the real question is, what makes his ground game so lethal? Let’s dive into the roots of his jiu-jitsu mastery, his submission highlights, and how a major team switch reshaped his career!

Gabriel Bonfim’s BJJ Black Belt Status and Training

Gabriel Bonfim is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. And it shows every time he locks in a choke. Alongside his brother, Ismael Bonfim, the Brazilian phenom earned his black belt after years of competition and training across the country. Both brothers grew up in Brasília, sharpening their ground game under some of Brazil’s most respected grappling coaches.

Bonfim began boxing at 14 but found his true calling in MMA at 17. What started as cross-training in jiu-jitsu quickly became his foundation. His transition to MMA only amplified that skillset, and it’s now his most reliable weapon in the Octagon, with 3 of his 5 UFC wins coming via submission.

Top Stories

Dana White Cuts Former MMA Champ From the UFC, Again

Jake Paul Did Not Earn $92 Million Fighting Anthony Joshua, Claims UFC Legend

Arman Tsarukyan Seemingly Calls Ilia Topuria a Hypocrite Amid “Family Issues”

Eerie Coincidence Leaves Even Conor McGregor ‘Mind Blown’ Over His Own Wedding

Who Is Arman Tsarukyan’s Father? Nairi Tsarukyan’s Net Worth, Profession & Businesses

Throughout his career, Gabriel Bonfim’s approach to BJJ has been aggressive yet controlled. He doesn’t rely on pure strength but rather on precision as he prefers to make the opponent defend the body before attacking the neck, a method that sets up his submissions perfectly.

Before founding his own gym, Bonfim trained with world-class fighters like Gilbert Burns and Vicente Luque at Cerrado MMA, a camp known for producing Brazilian ground specialists. It was here that Bonfim refined the skills that would make him a nightmare for strikers. But while his belt color confirms his expertise, his performances in the UFC have been the true proof of mastery.

Submission Victories and Grappling Expertise

If Gabriel Bonfim has a signature, it’s the sound of gloves tapping canvas. He’s ended fights faster than some fans can settle into their seats. His UFC debut at UFC 283 set the tone as ‘Marretinha’ submitted Mounir Lazzez in just 49 seconds with a textbook guillotine choke, one of the fastest finishes of the night.

He followed that up at UFC 291, choking out Trevin Giles in the first round, again, via guillotine. The pattern was clear. Give Bonfim an inch, and he’ll take your neck.

His most recent submission masterclass came at UFC Fight Night 251. Originally scheduled to face Rinat Fakhretdinov, Bonfim instead fought Khaos Williams, who was choked unconscious in round two by a perfectly executed brabo choke. 

The performance earned him a Performance of the Night bonus, cementing his place as one of the welterweight division’s most dangerous submission artists. Still, Bonfim’s evolution as a fighter isn’t just about skill. It’s also about where and with whom he trains.

Training Partners and Cerrado MMA Affiliation

For years, Cerrado MMA in Brasília was home to both Bonfim brothers. It was where they grew, sparred with elite fighters, and developed into complete mixed martial artists. But in 2024, a major shift occurred. After more than a decade at Cerrado, the brothers decided it was time for a change.

As Gabriel Bonfim told MMA Fighting, “We switched teams and a lot has changed in our lives. This training camp was the best I’ve ever had, and I’m not saying that only because I’m about to fight now. It was my best camp ever in terms of training, technique, conditioning, everything.”

The move wasn’t without reason. After a disappointing loss to Nicolas Dalby at UFC São Paulo in 2023, the first of his career, Bonfim realized something was missing. As he explained, “I didn’t do the camp that had to be done. I was being kind of forced to the gym basically, and now we have our own team. I feel the desire to work now, and that’s how I feel every single day of my life. I feel good being and training where I am.”

Together, he and Ismael founded Bonfim Brothers, their own gym in Brasília, where they now train alongside a growing roster of fighters, including Herbeth Sousa, Marcio Cabral, Leon Soares, Daniel Araujo, and Alex Reis.

As Bonfim prepares for his UFC on ESPN 73/UFC Vegas 111 main event against Randy Brown, one thing is clear: ‘Marretinha’ stands as both student and teacher, a black belt still learning, still evolving, and still dangerous!