# Wallid Ismail ("Paraíba")

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## Overview

**Name:** Wallid Ismail

**Nickname:** Paraíba

**Date of Birth:** February 23, 1968 (age 58)


## Bio

A brash Amazonian who embodied Carlson Gracie’s fighting spirit, Wallid Ismail moved from Manaus to Rio in 1984 and famously took a beating from a small assistant coach—Ricardo de la Riva—before realizing who he was. As a brown belt, he begged Carlson for a spot in the Jiu-Jitsu versus Luta Livre challenge and won by TKO, then hyperextended his own arm against “Jucão” in a tournament but escaped and won on points. He defeated Ralph and later Renzo Gracie at black belt, and in 1998 beat Royce Gracie by clock choke in a no-time-limit, no-points charity match, coining his “bad weather” line. He later founded the Jungle Fight MMA promotion and managed fighters like Paulo Thiago.

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**Last Updated:** September 24, 2026

**Data Source:** bjj.space (https://bjj.space/people/wallid-ismail)