There are few competitors as universally liked, respected and feared as Mahamed Aly. 

The Rio de Janeiro-born black belt had his best career year to date, claiming his first IBJJF World Championship gold medal in June of 2018. A dream of all black belts, Aly conquered the super-heavyweight division by beating stars Nicholas Meregali and Leandro Lo, both past World champs in their own right. 

And while his awards and title were factors in being named the FloGrappling 2018 Male Black Belt of the Year, fans didn’t vote for him just because of his medal haul. 

Mahamed Aly’s position as a jiu-jitsu celebrity grew, as did his role as an influencer and contributor. His weekly Portuguese-language vlogs and video podcast “Soltinho”– where he interviews figures from the world of jiu-jitsu– gets thousands of views, and his YouTube channel is closing in on 100,000 followers. 

It is as much Aly’s openness and connection to the community as his prowess on the mat that has endeared his to fans and followers. It doesn’t hurt that Aly competes with a “kill or be killed” style that means his matches are often violent displays of the dynamic side of jiu-jitsu. 

Testament to Aly’s popularity is the fact that he received the most votes for any nominee in the history of the FloGrappling Awards. The support of fans from around the world solidifies his merit in being named the FloGrappling 2018 Male Black Belt of the Year. 

Mahamed Aly highlights