Marco Mendes, a rising black belt star on the competition scene, is gearing up for the biggest challenge of his career to date, The Crown. On November 17th, Marco will step onto the mats at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California, to compete alongside some of the sport’s top athletes, including black belt World Champions Diego Pato and Shane Jamil Hill-Taylor.

Marco began his jiu-jitsu journey at the age of 11 in Teresina-PI, Brazil, training in a social project. “I started because of my brother’s influence,” he explains. “He wanted to practice some kind of combat sport and wanted me to go with him. Since then, I have never stopped.” This early introduction sparked a lifelong passion for the martial art, and Marco quickly found himself drawn to the competitive side of the sport.

From a young age, Marco felt compelled to compete. “Seeing my training partners and friends ‘giving their lives’ to compete and be better every day motivated me to follow the same goals and dreams,” he shares. This drive helped him achieve success early in his career, winning prestigious titles at the Worlds, Pans, and American Nationals during his time as a colored belt.

He attributes his success to the support he received from those around him. “I had many people in my life who helped me achieve each goal,” he says, noting the importance of both his Brazilian and American families in his journey. Key figures such as Queixinho, Javier Gomez, and Isaque Baheinse played instrumental roles in his development.

Marco's most notable conquest as a colored belt came at the 2023 World Championships, where he captured the brown belt featherweight title. “The World Championship is a competition in which everyone is well prepared, and whoever wants it the most will take the title,” Marco explains. “I wanted that title more than anyone else, and along with the title came the long-awaited black belt. It was my 11-year-old dream coming true.”

Following the gold medal, Marco was awarded his black belt, making the moment and the victory even more meaningful. After receiving his black belt, Marco wasted no time jumping into competition. He quickly discovered that competing at black belt is a different challenge than the colored belts. “I had the opportunity to fight with more experienced people and World Champions in just a few months,” he says. “This made me understand that I am also one of the best in my category, and I need to improve more and more to reach the top.”

Despite the elevated level of competition, Marco has found success, winning the American Nationals and several open tournaments. “My goal is to stay active and win the Grand Slam titles and The Crown,” he declares. With The Crown looming, Marco is preparing for what he knows will be a significant challenge. “The Crown is going to be a show, with a lot of high-level athletes with all different styles,” he says. “It will be one of the biggest challenges for me at black belt.”

When asked about specific matchups, he mentions several athletes he would love to face, including his former coach, Queixinho, and World Champion Diego Pato. “A fight against Pato would be a great fight,” he says, adding that a rematch against Kennedy Maciel is also on his radar. “Without a doubt, Kennedy or Pato would be one of the fights I would like to do in the first round.”

Marco’s preparation for The Crown is intense. He'll be taking advantage of a new opportunity for this event as he heads out to the east coast. “My training is going well. I’m focused on studying my opponents and adapting my game to each one. My preparation started at Dream Art Houston and I’m going to continue my preparation with the Miyão Brothers at Studio 1908 in New Jersey. I’m very excited and without a doubt in the hunt for The Crown..”

With November 17th approaching, Marco is grateful for the opportunity. “I want to thank IBJJF for the opportunity, thank my sponsor Gameness for the support, and on November 17th, we will be making history.” As Marco steps onto the mat at The Crown, jiu-jitsu fans will be watching closely to see if this talented athlete can rise to the occasion and claim his place among the sport’s elite.