# Rafael Barbosa ("Formiga")

> Black Belt

## Overview

**Name:** Rafael Barbosa

**Nickname:** Formiga

**Belt Rank:** Black Belt

**Date of Birth:** January 08, 1983 (age 43)


## Bio

Rafael Barbosa, better known as "Formiga," built his reputation as a foundational figure of the Soul Fighters team, which he co-founded in 2008 with Augusto Mendes "Tanquinho" and other former school colleagues to foster a collaborative training environment outside traditional team lines. A black belt under André "Dedeco" Almeida since 2002, Barbosa began training at age 11 after watching Royce Gracie at the first UFC, learning under Alexey Cruz and Dedeco at a nearby academy. In 2019, after years representing Soul Fighters in the United States, he left the team to co-found Double Five (D5) with João Gabriel Rocha.
## Lineage

- Carlson Gracie (Red Belt)
- Ricardo Libório (Black Belt)
- André Almeida (Black Belt)

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**Last Updated:** September 24, 2026

**Data Source:** bjj.space (https://bjj.space/people/rafael-barbosa)