34 Facts About Paulo Filho

Paulo Fernando de Souza Leite Filho, better known as simply Paulo Filho, is a Brazilian retired mixed martial artist who last competed in the Middleweight division.

Paulo Filho was born in Governador Island to a Jewish-Brazilian dad and a Pernambuco native mom, in Rio de Janeiro, he is the only child and was raised in Cocota until he and his family moved to Zona Sul when Paulo Filho was eight years old.

Paulo Filho did extremely well in judo competitions and in jiu-jitsu competitions becoming one of Carlson Gracie protege and he received his Black Belt in Jiu-Jitsu from Carlson Gracie himself when he was 20 years old.

Paulo Filho has stated in several interviews that his career's goal have always been to defend Jiu-Jitsu and specially the Gracie Family as a whole.

Paulo Filho has stated that "It is because of this family that I have everything in my life and for that I am forever grateful" Paulo Filho is well respected in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community not just from fans but from high level competitors that have trained with him and consider him to be one of the best in the world.

Paulo Filho is a pit bull lover and has a pit bull tattoo in his stomach.

Unfortunately, Paulo Filho suffered a ruptured membrane in his knee during the fight, forcing him to withdraw from the Grand Prix finals match against Denis Kang, who suffered injury with a torn biceps in the semi-finals.

Paulo Filho was replaced by Misaki, who went on to defeat an already injured Kang and claim the Grand Prix title.

Paulo Filho signed with the World Extreme Cagefighting and fought for the vacant middleweight title on August 5,2007, at WEC 29.

Paulo Filho defeated Canadian jiu-jitsu fighter Joe Doerksen via TKO at 4:07 of the first round.

However, Paulo Filho pulled out of this bout because he had checked into a substance abuse rehab facility.

Paulo Filho missed weight for this match, however the contest went ahead as a non-title three round fight.

Paulo Filho made his DREAM debut on July 20,2009, when he took on light heavyweight Melvin Manhoef at Dream 10 in Saitama, Japan.

Paulo Filho showed great perseverance and a good chin in the fight, weathering an onslaught of strikes from the dangerous Manhoef before executing a powerful takedown that immediately put him in half guard, from which he then swiftly transitioned into a full mount whilst at the same time trapping Melvin's left arm; he quickly secured an armbar to win the bout in the first round.

Paulo Filho was scheduled to face Yoon Dong-Sik on October 25,2009, at Dream 12, but failed to show up and was replaced on the card.

Paulo Filho made his debut in one of Brazil's top promotions, Bitetti Combat, on September 12,2009, at Bitetti Combat's 4th event against Argentinian Alex Schoenauer.

Paulo Filho controlled throughout the whole fight and pulled off a unanimous decision.

Paulo Filho then fought Tatsuhiko Nishizaka on December 12,2009, at Bitetti Combat 5.

Paulo Filho easily took the fight to the ground, controlled and secured a Kimura in the very first round.

Paulo Filho was scheduled to fight Yuki Sasaki in the main event at Bitetti Combat 6 on February 25,2010, but it was announced on February 22 that he had withdrawn from the bout due to "personal problems".

Paulo Filho then failed to show for the event's weigh-in, forcing a last minute cancellation of his bout with Sasaki.

Paulo Filho was scheduled to face Bellator Fighting Championships Middleweight champion Hector Lombard in a non-title bout on May 13,2010, at Bellator 18, but Paulo Filho pulled out of the bout due to visa issues and was replaced by Jay Silva.

Paulo Filho made his Heavyweight debut and defeated Chilean newcomer Daniel Villegas on June 4,2010, via first-round submission due to strikes.

Paulo Filho faced Denis Kang on July 17,2010, for the Australian-based promotion Impact Fighting Championships.

In what came as a surprise decision to many, Paulo Filho was invited to participate in the ADCC submission grappling championship in Nottingham, England.

On October 19,2011 Paulo Filho made the announcement he would be retiring from Mixed Martial Arts and may or may not fight at KSW.

Paulo Filho returned from retirement to face former UFC fighter Dave Branch in the World Series of Fighting 2 event on March 23,2013.

Paulo Filho was dominated by Branch in every aspect of the fight and lost a unanimous decision.

Paulo Filho fought Andre Muniz at the Bitetti Combat 19 event on February 6,2014.

Paulo Filho again lost via a one sided unanimous decision.

Paulo Filho was expected to face Amilcar Alves at Fatality Arena 7 on September 21,2014.

However, Paulo Filho was pulled from the bout due to an apparent seizure.

Paulo Filho has made a full recovery and spends his time now speaking with children and teaching Jiu-Jitsu in Rio de Janeiro.

Paulo Filho got his Black Belt in Judo in '96 from Clube de Regatas Flamengo.