Lucas Valente Makes History: GB Texas Professor Wins the UFC BJJ Belt
At Gracie Barra Texas, we are proud to say our students train with the best in the world. And last Thursday, April 2, 2026, at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, this statement was proven in spectacular fashion. Our professor and black belt, Lucas Valente, shocked the grappling world by submitting the then-champion Carlos Henrique to capture the Lightweight belt at UFC BJJ 7.
This victory is not just an incredible milestone in Lucas’s career, but a moment of immense pride for our entire family in Webster and League City.
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The Stage: What is UFC BJJ?
UFC BJJ (broadcast globally on UFC Fight Pass) is the professional grappling and No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu league of the world’s largest martial arts organization. The event gathers the absolute elite of the sport for superfights and title bouts, featuring a dynamic format that encourages submissions at all times.
Reaching this stage is a testament to global excellence. Making your debut directly in a title fight against an established champion and leaving with the belt is something reserved only for the true legends of the “gentle art.”
The Fight: Technique, Resilience, and the Perfect Submission
Lucas Valente entered the UFC BJJ 7 octagon as the challenger. Carlos Henrique was coming off great performances and held the belt, making the challenge even greater.
The fight was a true technical spectacle of modern Jiu-Jitsu. The first two rounds were marked by balance, with intense hand fighting and strategy. However, it was in the third and decisive round that our professor’s genius truly shone.
In a moment of pure resilience and tactical reading, Carlos Henrique attempted a triangle choke. Lucas maintained the impeccable composure he displays daily at GB Texas, defended the attack, and, in a lightning-fast counter, locked in a tight footlock. The adjustment was so perfect that the stoppage was inevitable, crowning Lucas as the new UFC BJJ Lightweight Champion.
The Preparation at Gracie Barra Texas Headquarters
A victory of this magnitude does not happen by chance. Lucas Valente’s preparation was entirely forged on our mats, under the daily leadership and guidance of our Master Vinicius “Draculino” Magalhães (7th Degree Coral Belt).
As Lucas himself mentioned after raising the belt, the strategy was to trust the hard work: “Draco ran all my training camps… he said ‘let’s go, fighting wherever it goes is good for us, let’s fight without a strategy, just fight,'” Lucas revealed. This confidence in the fundamentals is exactly what we teach in all our classes.
The Legacy of a True Champion
At 30 years old, Lucas Valente continues to expand an already impressive resume:
2x IBJJF No-Gi World Champion (2023 and 2024)
Undefeated in Professional MMA (4 wins, 0 losses)
Current UFC BJJ Lightweight Champion
Despite all the medals and belts he has won, anyone who trains with Professor Lucas at Gracie Barra Texas knows his humility, his unrestricted dedication to his students, and his passion for developing new practitioners.
Train with the World Champion in Houston
Having access to the highest level of world Jiu-Jitsu is a reality here in the Houston area. The holder of the UFC BJJ belt is on the mats every day, teaching, rolling, and sharing his knowledge directly at the Gracie Barra Texas HQ.
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Want to learn the techniques that submit champions in the UFC? Come be part of our team. Visit Gracie Barra Texas to schedule your free introductory class. Learn Jiu-Jitsu straight from the source!
