Cyborg Abreu

Roberto de Abreu Filho (commonly known as "Cyborg" Abreu) is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) competitor, academy owner and instructor. A 7-time World No-Gi Champion, Abreu is known for his trademark Tornado Guard position which involves inverting underneath the opponent and elevating them into a sweep.^[2]

Cyborg Abreu
Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu uses his gi to choke his opponent at the 2009 Pan-Am Championship.
Born	Roberto de Abreu Filho (1980-12-20) December 20, 1980 (age 43) Campo Grande, Brazil
Other names	Roberto de Abreu Filho
Residence	Miami, Florida, United States
Nationality	Brazilian
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	222 lb (101 kg; 15.9 st)
Division	Ultra-Heavyweight
Style	Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Fighting out of	Miami, Florida, United States
Team	Fight Sports Miami Nova Geracao
Teacher(s)	Francisco “Toco” Albuquerque
Rank	5th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu^[1]
Medal record Representing  United States Submission Wrestling ADCC World Championship 2013 Beijing, China Absolute 2013 Beijing, China +99kg 2011 Nottingham, UK +99kg 2009 Barcelona, Spain +99kg Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2013 California, US +100.5 kg 2011 California, US +100.5 kg 2010 California, US +100.5 kg 2008 California, US -100.5 kg 2006 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Absolute World No-Gi Championship 2021 California, US +100.5 kg 2021 California, US Absolute 2019 California, US +100.5 kg 2019 California, US Absolute 2017 California, US +100.5 kg 2012 California, US +100.5 kg 2011 California, US +100.5 kg 2010 California, US +100.5 kg 2010 California, US Absolute 2008 California, US -100.5 kg 2008 California, US Absolute 2007 California, US -100.5 kg Pan American Championship 2022 Florida, US +100.5 kg 2008 Florida, US -100.5 kg European Open Championship 2005 Lisbon, Portugal -100.5 kg

Grappling career

Roberto de Abreu Filho grew up in rural Brazil and was affiliated with Nova Geracao.^[3] In 2000 Abreu was in a car accident and was left with 300 stitches on his left arm. He was told that he wouldn’t be able to move his arm again but four months later he won silver at the Brazilian Nationals. His coach told him that only a cyborg could make a come back this fast. The name Cyborg then stuck with him.^[4]

Abreu is a very active BJJ competitor and coach, with multiple titles including gold medals at the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2019, and 2021 IBJJF No-Gi World Championships. He also won the ADCC Absolute title in 2013.^[5]

2023-2024

On March 8, 2023, Cyborg was handed a three-year ban by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after failing a December 20, 2022, drug test for using performance enhancing drugs at the 2022 IBJJF No-Gi World Championships. Abreu left the competition early and was tested off site. He tested positive for exogenous testosterone and metabolites (steroids). His suspension began retroactively on January 25, 2023.^[6][7]

Abreu was invited to compete in the BJJ Stars 10 Absolute Grand prix on April 22, 2023.^[8] He lost to Mauricio Oliveira on points in the opening round.^[9] Abreu was scheduled to compete against Nicholas Meregali at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 4 on June 29, 2023.^[10] He lost the match by armbar in EBI overtime.^[11]

Abreu competed against Anton Minenko in the co-main event of ADXC 1 on October 20, 2023.^[12] He won the match by unanimous decision.^[13]

Abreu faced Henrique Cardoso in the co-main event of ADXC 3 on March 2, 2024.^[14] He lost the match by decision.^[15]

Abreu was then invited to compete in the under 99kg division of the 2024 ADCC World Championship on August 17 to 18, 2024.^[16]

Fight Sports

Abreu currently living in Miami, United States where he runs his academy Fight Sports coaching multiple high level BJJ athletes.^[17]

In 2020, a BJJ black belt under Abreu and instructor at Fight Sports Naples, Marcel Goncalves, was accused of sexual assault by a student of his who was 16 years old at the time of the incident.^[18] Initially, Abreu drew heavy criticism for his handling of the claims and how he chose to comment on them before he eventually put out a further statement that denounced Goncalves' actions.^[19] Since then, Abreu has also been named in a civil suit on the same matter, where he and Fight Sports LLC were accused of "failure to properly oversee its trainers and instructors and its failures to properly care for vulnerable minors training at Fight Sports’ gyms."^[20][21] On June 17, 2023, a summary judgement was issued in the case that ruled in favor of Abreu and Fight Sports.^[22]

In 2023, a second sexual assault lawsuit named both Abreu and Fight Sports LLC, stemming from an incident concerning another affiliated gym.^[23] Mandy Schneider was allegedly sexually assaulted by Rodrigo da Costa Oliveira, the coach of Rockstar Martial Arts Gym in Frisco, Texas, in a hotel room. The lawsuit stated that Schneider told the managers of the gym, but they did not inform her parents or the authorities and instead ordered her to stay quiet.^[24] The lawsuit claimed that "The repeated failures of Roberto Abreu and Fight Sports to ensure the safety of underage athletes have fostered an environment ripe for such abuse."

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu achievements

Main Achievements (Black Belt):^[25]

• ADCC World Champion (2013^[a])^[26]
• IBJJF No-Gi World Champion (2021 / 2019 / 2017 / 2012 / 2011 / 2010^[b])
• IBJJF Pan Championship (2008 / 2022)
• IBJJF European Open (2005)
• IBJJF Grand Prix (2019)
• IBJJF Masters World Championship (2018)
• Kasai Pro 264 lbs Grand Prix winner (2020)
• Grappling Pro Champion (2016)
• 2nd Place ADCC World Championship (2009)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2010)
• 2nd Place No-Gi World Champion (2021^[a] / 2019^[a] / 2008)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2009)
• 2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2007)
• 2nd Place AJP King of Mats (2018)
• 3rd Place ADCC World Championship (2017^[27]/2013/2011)
• Brazilian Wrestling National Champion (Brazilian National team member).^[28]
• No Gi Grappler of the Year at the JitsMagazine BJJ Awards 2020^[29]
• 2020 FloGrappling No-Gi Grappler of the Year^[30]

Main Achievements (Colored Belt):

• IBJJF Pan American Champion (2001 blue)
• 2nd place World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (2004 brown)
• 3rd place World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (2002 / 2003 purple)
• 2nd place Pan American Championship (2002^[b] purple)

Notes

1. Absolute
2. Weight and absolute

See also

• List of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners

References

1. Rogers, Kian. "Roberto 'Cyborg' Abreu Promoted To 5th Degree BJJ Black Belt". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
2. "Roberto Cyborg Abreu - Using the Tornado Sweep". BjjTribes. 2020-09-05. Retrieved 2020-09-08.
3. . Thejiujitsulab.wordpress.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
4. "Interview with Jiu-Jitsu and Grappling Legend: Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu – BJJ Legends Magazine". BJJ Legends Magazine – Training Tomorrows Legends Today. 2010-11-16.
5. "ADCC 2013: Cyborg champion of absolute, Gabi wins again and more | Graciemag". 20 October 2013.
6. "5 Athletes Receive 3-Year USADA Suspensions After No-Gi Worlds". Flo Grappling. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
7. Rogers, Kian (9 March 2023). "5 Competitors Receive 3-Year USADA Suspensions After IBJJF No Gi World Championship 2022". JitsMagazine. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
8. de Souza, Diogo (23 March 2023). "BJJ Stars 10 Absolute Tournament Lineup Announced". JitsMagazine. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
9. "BJJ Stars 10: Battlefield Full Results And Review". JitsMagazine. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
10. Lindsey, Alex (4 June 2023). "Nicholas Meregali And Roberto 'Cyborg' Abreu Meet At UFC Fight Pass Invitational 4". JitsMagazine. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
11. "UFC Fight Pass Invitational 4 Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
12. "Gracie, Cyborg, And More: Check Out The Full Roster Of Athletes For ADXC 1". Jitsmagazine. October 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
13. "ADXC 1 Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
14. "ADXC 3: Roberto 'Cyborg' Abreu Faces Henrique 'Ceconi' Cardoso In The Co-Main Event Grappling Bout". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
15. "ADXC 3 Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
16. Blackett, Todd. "ADCC 2024 Divisions Start To Fill Up With Four More Invites". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
17. "Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu « ADCC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BARCELONA 2009". Adccbarcelona.com. 2009-08-06. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
18. "Naples martial arts coach accused of sexually assaulting minor". Wink News. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
19. Burne, Kathrine (13 August 2021). "Roberto 'Cyborg' Abreu And Vagner Rocha Respond To Fight Sports Sexual Assault Allegations". JitsMagazine. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
20. Jones, Phil (10 December 2021). "Roberto 'Cyborg' Abreu Sued For Mishandling Sexual Assault Claims At Fight Sports". JitsMagazine. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
21. Majchrowicz, Michael. "Miami Jiujitsu Legend, Fight Sports Gyms Implicated in Child Sex Abuse Lawsuit". Miami New Times. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
22. Rogers, Kian (24 June 2023). "Roberto 'Cyborg' Abreu And Fight Sports Win Summary Judgement In Sexual Assault Lawsuit". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
23. Phillips, Sabrina (27 June 2023). "Fight Sports And Roberto 'Cyborg' Abreu Named In Second Sexual Assault Lawsuit". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
24. "Texas jiu-jitsu fighter raped as minor by instructor, world champion named in lawsuit". FOX 26 Houston. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
25. "Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu". BJJ Heroes. 2010-02-21.
26. "ADCC 2013 Final Round". ADCombat. 2013-10-20. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
27. "ADCC Worlds 2017 Complete Results and Brackets • ADCC NEWS".
28. "Roberto Cyborg Abreu". BJJ Heroes. 2010-08-22. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
29. "The Jitsmagazine 2020 BJJ Awards". 2 January 2021.
30. "Roberto Cyborg is the 2020 FloGrappling Male Grappler of the Year".

External links

• Interview with Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu
• Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu on BJJ Heroes
• Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu on FloGrappling
• A Martial Arts Star Is Criticized for His Handling of Abuse Cases (New York Times)