Roberto Traven

Roberto "Spider" Traven (born September 16, 1968) is a retired Brazilian mixed martial artist whose fighting style is based in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission wrestling. He was a sporty person growing up, it took him 16 years to find Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, but straight away he picked up tuition with one of the most highly decorated coaches of all time, Romero Cavalcanti AKA “Jacaré”. His natural ability for BJJ was clear from the get-go and the fact that he was obstinate made a recipe for a good fighter. Training 3 times per day alongside other historical figures such as Fabio Gurgel, Leo Vieira, Jamelão and many others, Traven managed to reach the grade of black belt within 4 years, an almost record breaking time frame in BJJ.^[1]

Roberto Traven
Born	Roberto Traven (1968-09-16) September 16, 1968 (age 56) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Other names	Spider
Residence	Atlanta, Georgia
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st)
Division	Heavyweight
Style	Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Team	Roberto Traven BJJ
Rank	7th deg. BJJ coral belt
Mixed martial arts record
Total	11
Wins	6
By knockout	2
By submission	2
By decision	2
Losses	4
By knockout	2
By submission	1
By decision	1
Draws	1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record Representing  Brazil Grappling ADCC 1999 Absolute Brazilian jiu-jitsu World Championship 1998 +100 kg 1999 +100 kg Brazilian National Championship 1995 +100 kg World Master Championship 2014 Heavy (Master 4) 2014 Open Class (Master 4) 2015 Heavy (Master 4) 2015 Open Class (Master 4) 2016 Heavy (Master 4)

Traven started coaching at the “Academia Strike”, and soon pulled out one of his students, Muzio de Angelis, to help him with the classes. The team grew strong, but the venue ended closing in 1997. Roberto Traven did not give up and he re-opened his academy, this time making his former student, Muzio, his associate naming the team “Academia Muzio & Traven”.^[1]

Having started his MMA career in the United States in 1996 UFC 11 vs. Dave Berry and in UFC 34 vs. Frank Mir, Roberto Traven started seeing more and more of US territory as the years went by. Understanding that America had a great potential for jiu-jitsu, Roberto decided to leave the “Muzio & Traven” partnership a few years after he began it, and moved for long term to the US.^[1] Traven won the Russian Absolute Championship in 1997.

Though his once promising MMA career died down after the turn of the millennium, due to a series of losses, Traven’s career as a BJJ instructor blossomed with several students, having also graduated some of the American students with the grade of black belt.^[1]

Traven is currently sponsored by UK Jiu Jitsu apparel company, AESTHETIC.^[2]

Roberto Traven BJJ are multiple time IBJFF Atlanta International Open Champions & 2016 Atlanta BJJ Pro Champions.^{[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]}

As of 2024, Roberto Traven serves as the head instructor at Team Octopus in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia.^[10] Team Octopus is a renowned martial arts and fitness facility offering a variety of classes, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), Muay Thai, kickboxing, and fitness boxing.^[11] Traven, a highly respected figure in the BJJ community, brings his extensive experience and expertise to the role, providing top-tier instruction and mentorship to students of all ages and skill levels.^[12]

Titles

• First Place - Brazilian National Championship - 1995
• First Place - Brazilian Team Championship - 1995
• First Place - Brazilian Team Championship – 1996
• First Place - AFC Russia Ultimate Fighting – 1997
• First Place - World Jiu-Jitsu Championship – 1998
• First Place - open class in the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship (grappling) – 1999
• First Place - Brazilian Team Championship – 1999
• First Place - World Jiu-Jitsu Championship – 1999
• First Place - Rings Japan – 2000
• Second Place - Super fight in the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship (grappling) – 2000
• Second Place - Masters World Championship– 2002
• First Place - Master's World Cup super heavy-weight – 2002
• First Place - Master's World Cup open class – 2002
• First Place - Master's World Cup heavy weight – 2003
• First Place - Pan Ams open and super heavy weight division (class Senior I) - 2006
• First Place - Pan American Senior II Heavy Weight division - 2010
• Third Place - ADCC Trials New Jersey Adult division - 2011
• First Place - World Master Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship Heavy Weight Division (class Master IV) - 2014
• First Place - Pan Ams open and super heavy weight division (class Master IV) - 2015
• First Place - World Master Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship Heavy Weight Division (class Master IV) - 2016

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown

11 matches	6 wins	4 losses
By knockout	2	2
By submission	2	1
By decision	2	1
Draws	1

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Loss	6–4–1	John Salter	KO (punches)	Adrenaline MMA 3	June 13, 2009	1	2:15	Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Draw	6–3–1	Yukiya Naito	Draw	Warriors Realm 3	March 15, 2005	3	5:00	Brisbane, Australia
Loss	6–3	Elvis Sinosic	KO (punch)	Warriors Realm 1	September 3, 2004	2	0:35	Queensland, Australia
Loss	6–2	Frank Mir	Submission (armbar)	UFC 34	November 2, 2001	1	1:05	Las Vegas, Nevada
Loss	6–1	Dave Menne	Decision (unanimous)	Rings: King of Kings 2000 Block A	October 9, 2000	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Win	6–0	Mikhail Borissov	Decision (unanimous)	Rings: King of Kings 2000 Block A	October 9, 2000	2	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Win	5–0	Gueorguiev Tzvetkov	Decision (majority)	Rings: Millennium Combine 2	June 15, 2000	2	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Win	4–0	Maxim Tarasov	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Absolute Fighting Championship 2	April 30, 1997	1	2:47	Moscow, Russia	Won IAFC 2 Day 1 Tournament
Win	3–0	Leonid Efremov	TKO (submission to punches)	Absolute Fighting Championship 2	April 30, 1997	1	2:54	Moscow, Russia
Win	2–0	Artyom Vilgulevsky	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Absolute Fighting Championship 2	April 30, 1997	1	2:28	Moscow, Russia
Win	1–0	Dave Berry	TKO (submission to strikes)	UFC 11	September 20, 1996	1	1:23	Augusta, Georgia, United States

Grappling record

Result	Opponent	Method	Event	Gi/No-Gi	Date	Notes
Loss	Jefferson Moura	Submission (Triangle)	World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - -94 kg Division semi finals	Gi	2003	[13]
Win	Charles Faria	Points	World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - -94 kg Division first round	Gi	2003	[13]
Loss	Tom Erickson	N/A	ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - +99 kg first round	No-Gi	2001	[14]
Loss	Mario Cruz	Points	ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - Absolute Division first round	No-Gi	2001	[14]
Loss	Mario Sperry	Points	ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - Super Fight	No-Gi	2000	Silver in ADCC Super Fight[15]
Win	Hayato Sakurai	Points (2x0)	ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - Absolute Division finals	No-Gi	1999	Wins Gold in Absolute[16]
Win	Garth Taylor	Points (5x0)	ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - Absolute Division semi finals	No-Gi	1999	[16]
Win	Luis Roberto	Points (6x0)	ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - Absolute Division quarter finals	No-Gi	1999	[16]
Win	Fabiano Capoane	Points (2x0)	ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - Absolute Division first round	No-Gi	1999	[16]
Loss	Jeff Monson	Points (0x3)	ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - +99 kg Division semi finals	No-Gi	1999	[16]
Win	Jurie Rachel	Submission	ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - +99 kg Division first round	No-Gi	1999	[16]
Win	Andre Marques	N/A	World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - +100 kg Division semi finals/ finals	Gi	1999	Wins Second Gold[13]
Win	Minotauro Nogueira	Points	World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - +100 kg Division quarter finals	Gi	1999	[13]
Win	John Machado	Points (10x0)	World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - +100 kg Division finals	Gi	1998	Wins First Gold[13]
Win	Otavio Duarte	Penalty	World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - +100 kg Division semi finals	Gi	1998	[13]
Win	Roberto Godoi	N/A	World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - +100 kg Division quarter finals	Gi	1998	[13]

References

1. "BJJ Heroes". 11 May 2011.
2. "Team AESTHETIC USA".
3. "Atlanta International Open 2013 Final Results" (PDF).
4. "Atlanta International Open 2014 Final Results" (PDF).
5. "Atlanta Summer International Open 2015 Final Results" (PDF).
6. "Atlanta Summer International Open No-Gi 2015 Final Results" (PDF).
7. "Atlanta Winter International Open IBJJF Championship 2015" (PDF).
8. "Atlanta Winter IO Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2016" (PDF). static.ibjjfdb.com.
9. "Atlanta BJJ Pro IBJJF Championship 2016. Final Results" (PDF). www.static.ibjjfdb.com. 30 April 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
10. "Team Octopus Midtown | Atlanta GA". bjjweb.com. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
11. "Team Octopus | Fitness for All Ages & Levels". mmaatl.com. 2024-02-04. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
12. "About Us | Fitness for All Ages & Levels | Team Octopus". mmaatl.com. 2024-02-04. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
13. BJJ Heroes (11 May 2011). "Roberto Traven". BJJ Heroes.
14. "ADCC 2001 – Results". ADCC NEWS.
15. "ADCC 2000 – Results". ADCC NEWS.
16. "ADCC 1999 – Results". ADCC NEWS.

1. International Federation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. World Championship, Results. ibjjf.com. URL last accessed April 21, 2007.
2. Ultimate Fighting Championship. UFC Home Page, Past UFC Events. URL last accessed April 21, 2007.

External links

• Professional MMA record for Roberto Traven from Sherdog
• Roberto Traven at UFC
• BJJ Heroes: Roberto Traven
• Official Website
• Website of Traven's training facility, "Unit 2 Fitness"
• French academy Roberto Traven / Muzio de Angelis