In 2023, the featherweight division saw a rising star claim his first major black belt World title. Sam Nagai, known for his aggressive and submission-focused style, secured his gold medal at the highest level of the sport. In this exclusive interview, we dive into Sam's journey, his recent triumph, and his aspirations for the future.

For Sam Nagai, winning the IBJJF black belt World title was a dream realized after years of hard work and determination. Having previously earned bronze medals at the 2020 Pans and 2022 Worlds, the path to the top was not without its challenges. Sam even faced adversity earlier this year, losing his first IBJJF match in 2023 via submission to Israel Sousa at the Pans. He persevered, however, and embarked on a trajectory that would prove to be the best of his career. Reflecting on his victory, Sam remarked, "Winning Worlds was one of my goals since I was a kid, but I have many more goals to conquer."

Sam's victory did not mark the end of his competition journey but rather the beginning of a new chapter. Following his World title win, he's remained active on the competition circuit, participating in open events in Phoenix and Dallas. “I’m feeling pretty good competing after Worlds. And now I feel confident to try different things when I compete. Phoenix was really good and I got to fight against tough guys! The fight with Danilo Moreira was really intense but at the end of the fight I was be able to submit him with an armbar from 50/50. Dallas Open was great too. I fought in my division and the open weight. In the open weight I had a great match against Ricardo Evangelista and it was really hard to fight against that giant but I was able to sweep him and take his back at the end of the fight! So my performance was really good in these tournaments, gi and no-gi.”

Relocating to Texas in 2019 proved to be a pivotal decision for Sam's growth, both as an athlete and as an individual. Living with his coach Keiser Girao and training alongside World Champion Matheus Gabriel, Sam found an environment conducive to his development. He shared, "I’ve learned a lot of things living with my coach Keiser Girao. Now I’m living with the World Champ Matheus Gabriel so we can push each other and get better at the competitions! I’m grateful to have them in my life. I always try to be around great people."

Sam's aspirations for the remainder of 2023 are clear: he plans to compete in the Worlds No-Gi and aims for an invitation to The Crown, the IBJJF’s biggest professional event yet. For aspiring black belt World Champions, Sam offered sage advice: "If you have something that you want, go ahead and try to do everything that you can to conquer it because nobody will do it for you." His journey serves as a testament to the power of self-belief, determination, and never giving up on your dreams.