Victor Hugo has remained a dominant force in the black belt division since his debut in 2019. The former World Champion is set to make his highly-anticipated return to IBJJF competition at the prestigious Absolute Grand Prix on February 26th. His inclusion among seven fellow world-class competitors generates tremendous excitement for this special event. As the jiu-jitsu world focuses its attention on this illustrious tournament, Victor remains steadfast in his pursuit of securing Absolute Grand Prix glory.

Victor Hugo ranks amongst the top pound-for-pound athletes in the sport. He first announced his formidable presence by conquering the World No-Gi podium with absolute gold in 2019. Since then, Victor has amassed extensive experience through challenging matches against elite rivals. His impressive resume boasts victories over esteemed opponents such as Nicholas Meregali, Roberto Abreu, Fellipe Andrew, and Roosevelt Sousa. His last IBJJF campaign was in 2023, where he masterfully captured both Brasileiro and World Championship double-gold accolades. Victor now returns to IBJJF competition, driven by his ambition to secure the Absolute Grand Prix title against a new field of phenom contenders.

Regarding his emotions upon receiving the invitation to the renowned event, Hugo shared, “I am uniquely excited because I have been wanting to return to the blue and yellow mats of IBJJF for quite some time but the opportunity never matched the right time so I was super happy to know that this time it would be possible!”

Victor represents the only competitor in the field with previous IBJJF Grand Prix experience. After joining the 2019 event in his rookie season and absorbing crucial lessons, he went on to capture the Grand Prix title in his 2021 conquest. He returned to the event in 2023, where he earned a silver medal among world-class opposition. Now the experienced professional aims to reclaim his Grand Prix Champion status through three bouts against premier adversaries.

Marking his 2026 season debut, Victor shares in the jiu-jitsu community's excitement as he prepares for this distinct opportunity. Detailing his training, he stated, “Preparing for this event has been fun and nostalgic, I haven’t competed under the IBJJF ruleset for a few years now, so bringing that back to my training has been a very cool feeling. It brings back memories of brackets I have done before and the work that I put in to perform at my best!”

A first-round match-up with rising star Marlon Tajik is drawing considerable attention ahead of the special event. Marlon represents the new wave of young black belt talent poised to make their impact at the highest level. Victor, however, is no stranger to this pressure, recalling, “Around six years ago that was me making my debut at a IBJJF GP with only a few months as a black belt so I know the younger competitors are hungry for this chance of facing the most experienced black belts.” Sharing his perspective on the bracket, Victor vocalized, “I believe the mix of recently promoted black belts and seasoned black belts brings an interesting scenario” as well as an opportunity for Victor to solidify his position atop the world’s no-gi rankings amidst a new batch of skilled black belts.

In contrast to his previous Grand Prix appearances, Victor enters this competition assuming the role of the seasoned veteran. Analyzing his position among his competitors, Victor noted, “More experience at these moments and tournaments could be a double edged sword, a lot of the recently promoted black belts in this bracket have the momentum on their side. The way I see it is that everyone is dangerous and I can’t take any opponent lightly.”

Nevertheless, Victor is projected to be a favorite to clinch the Grand Prix title. His style is defined by dynamic finishing capabilities and superior technical skill across all facets of the game. Whether he employs intricate guard work to disrupt and attack, or elects to apply suffocating pressure from standing and top positions, Victor presents significant obstacles for any contender. Discussing his approach ahead of the competition, Victor stated that “Being well rounded is something that allows me to surprise my opponents from various scenarios. What I am working on and hoping to showcase is my versatility and precision!”

Ahead of his IBJJF comeback, Victor referenced the experiences gathered through years of intense competition, explaining, “I believe I have faced my toughest competition in the IBJJF events. To this day I use the tough matches I had, even the losses as material to work on improving certain areas of my game. The part I believe I have evolved the most is my ability to control my opponents before getting to a submission.”

Fans can anticipate masterful technique from the Six Blades athlete as he strives to secure the Grand Prix title in thrilling fashion. One of the sport's premier competitors appears uniquely positioned to garner global recognition under the bright lights of this celebrated event.

“I always try to hold my training to the highest standard regardless of the event so I can always be ready to put up a performance that the public will enjoy watching!”

The IBJJF Absolute Grand Prix, presented by Kingz, Fuji, and Wilner & O’Reily, will commence on February 26th. Secure your tickets to witness one of the year’s premier jiu-jitsu events live at The Hangar in Costa Mesa, CA, or tune in to the exclusive live stream on FloGrappling.