The light featherweight final at the IBJJF No-Gi Worlds carried special meaning by illustrating the transformative power of Jiu-Jitsu in so many lives. Face to face were Marcos Gomes and Kleber Barbosa, two athletes who came from the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro and who had even shared the same mat, respectfully competing for the first black belt world title of their careers, at the sport’s highest level. It was Marcos who took the coveted gold medal, and the champion’s gesture, raising Kleber’s arm in front of the crowd, showed that Jiu-Jitsu had made him an evolved human being, one who honors his own roots and recognizes his opponent’s struggle, the same as his own.
Living off Jiu-Jitsu full time in the United States, Marcos is an athlete and instructor at AOJ, and the world title he won in Las Vegas this December was the key he needed to unlock even more doors of opportunity. In an interview with The Mat Nation, which closely followed the athlete’s glory at the No-Gi Worlds, Marcos Gomes talked about his current routine, his dedication over the years, the right choices in life and a change of mindset.
Joining the Mendes brothers’ Jiu-Jitsu school was, for Marcos, the turning point that made him see his career from a new perspective. Positively influenced by the environment, and by Guilherme Mendes’ clear guidance, the athlete understood that a path to success is not paved with medals alone. He became a student of the game, analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of Marcos the athlete and the person, and finally made it to the top of the podium, after reaching a No-Gi Worlds final in 2024, when he took silver.
READ THE FULL EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MARCOS GOMES, THE REIGNING NO-GI LIGHT FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION, BELOW:
THE MAT NATION – You just won your first black belt world title at the IBJJF No-Gi Worlds. What goes through your mind when you look back and remember the journey, the hardships in Brazil, up to this moment at the top of the sport?
MARCOS GOMES: When I look back I feel proud of myself for not giving up despite the difficulties I had. I’m a kid who came from a small community in Rio de Janeiro, with few opportunities and plenty of chances to go down the wrong path. I’m happy I chose Jiu-Jitsu at 14. At 15 I moved to São Paulo on my own, I lived at the gym. I knew this moment would come. This world title isn’t just a reflection of what I’ve been training now, at black belt, it’s everything I’ve done over the long run.
THE MAT NATION – Your move to the United States marked an important turning point in your career. How was that adaptation process, on and off the mat, and how decisive were AOJ and the Mendes brothers in your development as an athlete and instructor?
MARCOS GOMES: Moving to the United States changed my life and my family’s life a lot. I arrived at AOJ with a different mindset, only about competing and winning titles. There we expand our minds, Professor Guilherme (Mendes) talked to me a lot as soon as I arrived. That made all the difference, it made me decide to start making the move to California happen. I’ve been improving in several areas, not only as an athlete on the mat, but as an instructor, as a person.
THE MAT NATION – Today, besides competing at a high level, you also teach at one of the most renowned academies in the world. How does the role of instructor influence your own game and the way you see Jiu-Jitsu?
MARCOS GOMES: Today I have a kids class and a no-gi class. As soon as I started preparing to teach, I pushed myself to study more. Study more English, more Jiu-Jitsu, to communicate and explain things better. Obviously, inside AOJ I have many role models, great instructors and training partners. The environment also pushes me to keep getting better. Being there day to day, watching Tainan (Dalpra) and Guilherme teach, being able to exchange ideas in training with Cole (Abate), Diego ‘Pato’, Guilherme Fernandes, these are people who help me a lot every day.
THE MAT NATION – In the final, you faced Kleber Barbosa, a former teammate, and made a point of praising him after the match, highlighting that you both came from Brazil’s outskirts. What does that final represent to you, not only in sporting terms, but as a symbol of overcoming and belonging?
MARCOS GOMES: Kleber and I trained together for a few years. He’s a guy I respect a lot as an athlete and as a person. He and I have similar backgrounds, we came from the favela, we could have gone down the wrong path, but we managed to chase our dream. Reaching a Worlds final with him was a great honor, regardless of the result. He had an incredible run at the tournament even in his first year at black belt. Seeing this new generation coming up, showing that we’re doing well, that we can put on a show in a Worlds final, is very rewarding.
THE MAT NATION – After this black belt world title, what are Marcos Gomes’ next goals? What do you feel you can still improve in your game, and what message would you leave for those living a reality similar to the one you lived at the start of your career?
MARCOS GOMES: I just won my first black belt world title. It’s very hard to move up from the colored belts and win right away at black belt, the level changes a lot. I’m still young, but the goals I have today go beyond just being a good athlete. Of course I always try to fix the mistakes from past competitions, I’m always asking the people close to me, rewatching my matches. But I also have to improve as a person, as an instructor, I hold myself to that. Last year I finished second and kept that same mindset, of continuing to work to improve and grow in those areas. I think that’s what made me come back a year later much stronger. Now I want to be more active in no-gi and have the opportunity to do superfights.
Choose your friends wisely and listen to the people who truly want the best for you. Don’t listen to negative opinions, sometimes they’ll come from your own family, but that doesn’t matter, just keep working hard and surrounding yourself with the right people. That makes all the difference, the people around you can lift you up or bring you down. I’m living proof of that.
This article was originally published in Portuguese: read the original version.
