Waldemar Santana

Waldemar Santana carved his name into history by defeating his former teacher, Helio Gracie, in one of the most legendary vale tudo matches of all time. A bold fighter and trailblazer, he blurred the lines between loyalty, rivalry, and raw combat — and proved that anyone could rise, even against legends.

Santana believed that fighting was about heart, durability, and unpredictability. He valued toughness over tradition, and instilled in his students the importance of forging their own path — even if it meant going against the grain or facing giants.

• Dirty Boxing in the Clinch
• Ground-and-Pound from Guard
• Vale Tudo Guard Passes
• Counter-Offensive Submissions