A black belt under the legendary Sergio Penha, Ricardo Pires was one of the first Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructors for the man who holds the record for the most submission victories in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight division: Frank Mir.
The Brazilian-born Pires has lived in the United States for decades and recently opened a new academy in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where he will teach alongside his son, Victor. Pires first met Mir when the future UFC champion was just a teenager. He was a blue belt then, and Pires watched him develop into one of MMA’s most successful heavyweights despite an admitted disdain for training early in his career.