Training: Weights in the morning, grappling in the afternoon, and boxing at night.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started fighting professionally in 2004. The reason that I started to fight is that I always saw myself as a fighter. Even in real life I’ve had to fight for everything I have. Everything they gave me was because I earned it through fighting, so why not get paid for it.

What ranks and titles have you held? Only the second person in the world to go from purple to black belt in only four years – black belt from Osvaldo Alves in 1998. 4 time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion “as a black belt”: 1998, 2001, 2002, 2005. 9 time Brazilian National Champion: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004. 5 time Copa Osvaldo Alves Champion: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000. Nominated as the most technical jiu-jitsu practitioner in Brazil in 1996.

Do you have any heroes? My hero is my mother, whose efforts in her life made me who I am today.

What is your favorite technique? I don’t have a favorite technique, but they know me all over as the King of Wristlocks.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? To be fighting for the UFC is the greatest honor for a fighter; for me, it is more like my lifelong dream, I can't find the words to describe the feeling. I thank the UFC for giving me the opportunity to fight for them.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I never had the chance to go to college, because I had to go out on the streets and work to help support my mother and brothers.

What was your job before you started fighting? The last job that I had before I started fighting was as a walking ice-cream vendor.