# Antonio Carlos Junior

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## Overview

**Name:** Antonio Carlos Junior


## Bio

Antonio Carlos Junior was born on the 16th of March, 1990 in João Pessoa, state of Paraíba – Brazil. He lived in Salvador da Bahia for a while, and it was there that he began his jiu-jitsu training in 2005 with Renato Velame as an instructor. It was Renato Velame who graduated Antonio Carlos with the blue belt, Antonio then moved back to his hometown of Joao Pessoa, picking up where he had left off, training with the acclaimed instructor and competitor, Helder Medeiros – nicknamed “Bob Esponja” (Sponge Bob Square Pants) – it was training under Medeiros that Antonio Carlos blossomed to BJJ with several significant victories in many important state, national and international level competitions.

Cara de Sapato was pointed out by Gracie Mag as the number 1 fighter to watch in 2011 ( see article here ) after his victory at the Mundial earlier in 2010 where he won both his weight and the open weight division, closing both finals with his teammate  Marcos Buchecha . “Cara de Sapato” would receive his black belt while still on the podium of the World Pro Cup Trials, after he submitted several high caliber competitors in the mixed brown and black belt division.

In 2013 Antonio Carlos Junior decided to put a hold on his competitive Jiu-Jitsu career to try his shot at an MMA (mixed martial arts) career. “Cara de Sapato” had a rampant start with 3 straight submission wins in the professional circuit in Brazil, which earned him a spot at The Ultimate Fighter House in the TUF Brazil heavyweights season (Wanderlei Silva x Chael Sonnen), reaching the final of the event.

Antonio Carlos Jr vs Leandro Lo (Mundial 2012)

Antonio Carlos Jr vs Bernardo Faria (World Pro Cup 2011)

Antonio Carlos vs Antonio Peinado (Brasileiro 2012)

Antonio Carlos Jr vs Romulo Barral (Brasileiro 2012)

Antonio Carlos vs unknown (Brasileiro 2011)
## Specialties

- Taking the back from De La Riva Guard
## Achievements

- 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2012*)
- 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2012*)
- 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2012)
- 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2010** brown)
- 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2011 / 2010** brown, 2009 /purple, 2008** blue)
- 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals Juvenile (2007**)
- 1st Place IBJJF South American Championship (2008** purple, 2007 blue junior)
- 1st Place IBJJF South American Championship Juvenile (2007)
- 1st Place CBJJBrazilian Team Nationals (2008 / 2007)

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**Last Updated:** March 20, 2026

**Data Source:** BJJ.Space (https://bjj.space/people/antonio-carlos-junior)