Rogerio Bontorin

Rogério Bontorin is a Brazilian flyweight and submission specialist who has spent his career making opponents tap. A BJJ black belt and former Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu state champion, Bontorin turned professional in 2013 and spent years building a record in Brazil and Japan before earning a UFC contract through Dana White's Contender Series in August 2018. He arrived in the octagon in February 2019 and spent three years in the promotion competing in the flyweight and catchweight classes, amassing a 6-4-1 record with 11 submission wins, including nine rear naked chokes, and nine first-round finishes overall. His UFC tenure was marked by moments of dominance on the ground punctuated by striking vulnerabilities: he was knocked out by Kai Kara-France in the first round of UFC 259, submitted Raulian Paiva via cuts in his second fight, and defeated Matt Schnell via unanimous decision in May 2021, only to have that win overturned to a no contest after testing positive for a banned diuretic shortly after. The positive test resulted in a three-month suspension and raised questions about weight-cutting practices. Bontorin's time with the UFC also saw repeated issues making weight, including significant misses against Matt Schnell and at his promotional debut. Released from the UFC in June 2022, Bontorin moved to Rizin Fighting Federation in Japan, competing in their flyweight division and participating in submission grappling events. He suffered a knockout loss to Yuki Motoya in his Rizin debut but has since earned a decision win over Yutaro Muramoto. Bontorin remains active as a pure grappling fighter whose submission arsenal and BJJ credentials appeal to technical fans, though his weight-management issues and the doping violation continue to shape his public profile.