# Fabio Clemente

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## Overview

**Name:** Fabio Clemente


## Bio

One of the earliest BJJ academies in New York City belongs to Fabio Clemente, a Rio de Janeiro native who started under Rigan Machado at the Gracie Academy and later moved with the team to Barra da Tijuca during the birth of Gracie Barra. After years in Paris with no jiu-jitsu available, he returned to grappling in California under the Machado brothers before settling in NYC in 1995, opening his gym the same week as Renzo Gracie’s. He earned his black belt after consecutive Pan American wins at brown belt, then joined Alliance Jiu-Jitsu in 1998 under Fabio Gurgel, making his academy the original Alliance headquarters in New York. Clemente is also known for sponsoring Marcelo Garcia’s visa in 2006, a partnership that ended amid forum-reported tension with a business partner.
## Specialties

- N/A
## Achievements

- 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2007, 2006** Master 3)
- 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship NoGi Champion (2010 Master 3)
- 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2004 Master 2)
- 3rd Place IBJJF International Masters & Seniors Championship (2005 / 2003)

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**Last Updated:** June 05, 2026

**Data Source:** bjj.space (https://bjj.space/people/fabio-clemente)