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Pablo Popovitch Mixed Martial Arts Academy Staff

Pablo Popovitch
Head Instructor Ft. Lauderdale

Confidence comes from the power, skill and discipline to control one’s own space in the universe.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor, 3rd Degree black belt Pablo Popovitch, exudes confidence as easily as most people exhale their breath. Popovitch has mastered the most exciting, most superior Martial Art known to man. He is confident that anyone who comes in contact with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will take it to heart and soul the same as he. So confident, in fact, is Popovitch that he offers a private lesson and a free month at no charge to all who find their way to his Fort Lauderdale and Pembroke Pines Mixed Martial Arts Academy's.

Popovitch became involved in BJJ as a precocious 5-year-old. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Popovitch began instruction at Barra Gracie School, where his teachers were the Machado brothers, Rigan, Carlos and Jean Jaques.

“I knew early on that I wanted to be the best,” Popovitch said. “I had my first tournament when I was 8. I defeated Carlinhos Gracie in the finals. He and I were really good friends, but we were very competitive on the mats.”

“I was always very close to the Gracie family because my father (Jorge Popovitch, 7th-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and Master instructor at Fort Lauderdale’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Center) had a great friendship with them. My aunt was married to Crolin Gracie. ”

The Popovitche's moved to Florida in 1995 when Pablo was 15. He continued to study BJJ under Carlson Gracie. His training partners were members of the legendary Carlson Gracie Team and members of the current Brazilian top team. While attending high school in Florida, Popovitch was introduced to collegiate-style wrestling. His already accomplished skills at grappling lead to success and several offers from colleges to continue at the highest level of that sport. Popovitch opted instead to continue his devotion to his first love, BJJ.

“I went to FAU to pursue a degree in international business,” Popovitch said. “Where I attended, there was no wrestling program. I still wrestled with college-level guys and competed in open collegiate tournaments, winning a title at the Florida open collegiate state championship.”

That title goes along with many other championships and victories. Of all the titles that I hold my proudest moment came when I competed in the 2009 World Submission Wrestling Championship(ADCC).

The ADCC Championship is the most prestigious sport grappling tournament in the world.

The tournament consists of 5 weight classes with the best grappler's in the world per weight class. Popovitch proved again to be one of the best grappler's in the world by winning the Championship and defeating ADCC North American Qualifier Don Ortega, Olympian Ben Askren, legendary Gracie family member Gregor Gracie and 3 times ADCC World Champion Marcelo Garcia in the finals.

That was the highlight of a career spanning 20 years and more than 250 victories at grappling submission events.

He is also World Jiu-Jitsu Champion, Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Champion, Grapplers Quest Absolute Champion, 10-time North American Grappling Association Superfight champion and a seven time Grapplers Quest  champion. He is the current reigning North American champion in the ADCC world submission competition, current reigning champion of the Grapplers Quest Las Vegas, Music City Pro, Casca Grossa Open and III Northeast Pro tournaments. He is also a two-time World Submission Wrestling(ADCC) finalist.

2009 World Submission Wrestling ADCC 76KG- Champion

“I’ve been competing since I was 10 years old,” Popovitch said. “I’ve won more than 250 matches at grappling submission events.

It is these accomplishments and the pursuit of many more that Popovitch brings to his students at the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Center. His dedication to the discipline transfers to his students and returns to BJJ through those students’ successes, whether the successes be in competition or personal development.

Training BJ Penn for his fight against Sean Sherk

Recent Titles:

2009

•  World Submission Wrestling ADCC 76KG- Champion
• Grapplers Quest Absolute- Champion
•  Grapplers Quest  Advanced- Champion
•  Grapplers Quest Pro Allstar- Champion
•  The Dog Pro Fight Jiujitsu Championship- Champion

2008

• 2008 Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Champion

2007

•  World Jiu-Jitsu Champion
•  World Submission Wrestling ADCC 76KG - Finalist
•  Grapplers Quest USA Team Trials- Champion
•  Atlantic Cup Superfight- Champion
•  North American Grappling Association N.A.G.A Advanced- Champion

2006

• 2006 North American Grappling Association -N.A.G.A Instructor of The Year

2005

• 2005 World Submission Wrestling ADCC 76KG - Finalist
• 2005 North American Grappling Association N.A.G.A Superfight- Champion
• 2005 North American Grappling Association N.A.G.A Superfight- Champion

2004

• 2004 North American Grappling Association N.A.G.A Superfight- Champion
• 2004 5th Grapplers Quest West Championship- Champion
  
• 2004 Grapplers Quest Superfight-Champion
• 2004 Texas Submission Championship Pro division-Champion
• 2004 North American Grappling Association N.A.G.A Superfight- Champion

2003

• 2003 North American Grappling Association N.A.G.A Superfight- Champion
• 2003  North American World Submission Wrestling ADCC- Champion
• 2003 Grapplers Quest USA Team Trials Champion
• 2003 Casca Grossa Pro division Champion
• 2003 Music City Grappling Championship Pro Division-Champion

2001

• 2001 North American Grappling Association N.A.G.A Superfight- Champion
• 2001 III Northeast Grappling Tournament Pro division-Champion
• 2001 FFC Grappling Open Pro Division Champion
• 2001 World Extreme Shoot Challenge XI Champion
  
• 2001 North American Grappling Association N.A.G.A Advanced- Champion

2000

• 2000 World Extreme Shoot Challenge X Champion
• Florida State Judo Champion
• 10X North American Grappling Association N.A.G.A- Champion
• 7X Grapplers Quest Champion

Certifications:

• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt 3rd Degree
• DEA Seminar Instructor
• 26 Years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Experience
• 15Years of Freestyle Wrestling
• 5 Years of Boxing
• Self-Defense Expert
• Trained under Grand Master Carlson Gracie

Career Highlights:

• Defeated Marcelo Garcia
  
• Defeated Renzo Gracie
  
• Defeated Saulo Ribeiro
  
• Defeated Andre Galvao
  
• Defeated Gregor Gracie
  
• Defeated Lucas Lepri
  
• Defeated Jorge "Macaco"Patino
  
• Defeated Daniel Moraes
  
• Defeated Tarsis Humphries
  
• Defeated Marcio Feitosa
• Defeated Lucas Leite
  
• Defeated Diego Sanchez
  
• Defeated Jake Shields
  
• Defeated Kenny Florian
  
• Defeated Hermez Franca
  
• Defeated Juan Carnero
  
• Defeated Marcus Avellan
  
• Defeated Rob Kahn
  
• Defeated Daisuke Sugie
  
• Defeated Eric Dahberg
• Defeated Gary Grate
• Defeated Tyrone Glover
  
• Defeated Francisco Neto
  
• Defeated Shawn Willians
  
• Defeated Sean Sprangler
  
• Defeated Antonio McKee's
  
• Defeated Derek Leyrer
  
• Defeated Efrain Ruiz
  
• Defeated Anthony Tolone
  
• Defeated Ben Askren
  
• Defeated Don Ortega
  

Highlights Video

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