In 2004 he won the São Paulo championship again, the Copa Nação Jiu-Jitsu in 2005 and in 2006 won a total of 16 medals. By 2007 he started to steer his career to focus on MMA. He was awarded his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Ericson Cardoso and Jorge "Macaco" Patino in 2010.