2022 featherweight World Champion Isaac Doederlein will make his return to competition at the upcoming Brasileiros in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Alliance athlete has been competing at the highest level in the sport since his first black belt tournament in 2016. But it wasn’t until years later that Isaac started having the success he had envisioned for his career. After winning Worlds featherweight gold back in June 2022, Isaac took a break from competition, a decision that helped him improve his jiu-jitsu.

“Words can’t describe how excited I am! For the last nine months, I’ve been hyper focused on improving my jiu-jitsu. I haven’t stopped studying and improving the technical aspect of my game. One of my favorite things about jiu-jitsu is the problem solving, and constant leveling up.

Isaac’s first taste of major championship gold came at the 2019 Brasileiros, where he defeated six tough opponents to reach the top of the podium. His semifinal match was a pivotal moment in his career as Isaac defeated Paulo Miyao after having lost to him several times leading up to the event.

“The Brasileiros has a special place in my heart! This will be my third time competing at the event, as I fought my first time as a brown belt and second as a black. It’s always an honor to go and display my jiu-jitsu in Brazil. Competing in an atmosphere where there’s so much excitement and passion just energizes me. I also really like fighting on the puzzle mats because they’re not so slippery.”

When Isaac's not competing, he can be found training at Undefeated Athletic Club in downtown Los Angeles honing his skills for his next competitions. He’s assembled a solid team with both veteran and new black belts, all of whom are intent on improvement.

“I spend 6-7 hours a day on the mat, and most of that time is problem solving and drilling. I’ve improved a lot of my game, top and bottom, but have probably spent more time on my guard.”

With nearly seven years at the top of the game, Isaac has experienced wins, losses, and countless setbacks to get to where he is today. Though the path has not been an easy one, it’s been one from which Isaac has gained invaluable life experience.

“Everything about this lifestyle has given me so much experience. Whether it be the organization and time management you learn from preparing for a competition, or the resilience of being able to overcome past losses in order to succeed. I think what’s most valuable is what I can use as a father, to teach my children in order to help them make good decisions and succeed as well.”

Don’t miss Isaac’s return to competition at the 2023 Brasileiros. The full event can be streamed on FloGrappling.