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{{Short description|BJJ and MMA academy and competition team}}
{{MMA Training Associations|teamname=Brazilian Top Team
|image=Brazilian Top Team (logo).jpg
|imagesize = 250px
|founder={{Plainlist}}
* [[Murilo Bustamante]]
* [[Ricardo Liborio|Ricardo Libório]]
* [[Mario Sperry|Mário Sperry]]
* Luis Roberto Duarte
{{Endplainlist}}
|owners=
|trainers=
|dateestablished=2000
|titleholders=
|fmrtitleholders={{Plainlist}}
* [[Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira]] Heavyweight Champion (Pride 2001–2002) {{convert|240|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}
* [[Murilo Bustamante]] Middleweight Champion (UFC 2002) {{convert|185|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}
* [[Vitor Belfort]] Light Heavyweight Champion (UFC 2004) {{convert|205|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}
{{Endplainlist}}
|schoollocations={{Plainlist}}
* [[Rio de Janeiro]] City
* [[Rio de Janeiro (state)|Rio de Janeiro]] {{small|(headquarters)}}
* [[Juiz de Fora]], [[Minas Gerais]]
* [[Tustin, California]]
* [[Long Beach, California]]
* [[Austin, Texas]]
* [[Dallas, Texas]]
* [[San Antonio, Texas]]
* [[Humble, Texas]]
* [[Norwalk, California]]
* [[Fullerton, California]]
* [[Happy Valley, Oregon]]
* Everett, Massachusetts
{{Endplainlist}}
|website=[https://www.braziliantopteam.net/ braziliantopteam.net]
}}

'''Brazilian Top Team''' ('''BTT''') is an academy and team specialized in [[Brazilian Jiu Jitsu|Brazilian jiu jitsu]] and [[mixed martial arts]]. It was established in April 2000 by [[Murilo Bustamante]], [[Ricardo Liborio|Ricardo Libório]], [[Mario Sperry|Mário Sperry]] and Luis Roberto Duarte, former members of the [[Carlson Gracie]] Academy, to develop and create new training techniques for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, [[submission grappling]] and mixed martial arts.<ref name='btt'>http://www.braziliantopteam.com  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050829050501/http://www.braziliantopteam.com/ |date=August 29, 2005  }}</ref>

== History ==
Brazilian Top Team has its origins with [[Carlson Gracie]] and his academy. Gracie was an innovator in [[Brazilian jiu-jitsu]], he and his students had invented and refined many techniques and strategies in BJJ and fought in a very aggressive and physical style, achieving a lot of success in tournaments.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Carlson Gracie {{!}} BJJ Heroes|date=17 January 2010 |url=https://www.bjjheroes.com/bjj-fighters/carlson-gracie-profile|access-date=2022-02-12}}</ref> His academy was also a [[mixed martial arts]] pioneer, one of the first academies to create a specialized MMA program and many of his students went to represent BJJ in many MMA events around the world.<ref>{{Cite web|last=says|first=Juan|title=The Fall of Jiu Jitsu's Kodokan {{!}} BJJ Heroes|date=6 August 2015 |url=https://www.bjjheroes.com/editorial/the-fall-of-jiu-jitsus-kodokan|access-date=2022-02-12}}</ref> However, there were disputes between Gracie and his students led to many branching off from his tutelage and founding their own academies. [[Murilo Bustamante]], [[Ricardo Liborio|Ricardo Libório]], [[Mario Sperry|Mário Sperry]] and Luis Roberto Duarte went to found in 2000 Brazilian Top Team, with the objective of creating a world-class [[Brazilian jiu-jitsu]] gym and to train in the nascent sport of [[Mixed martial arts]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brazilian Top Team|url=https://www.braziliantopteam.net/site/index.php?lang=pt_BR&section=about|access-date=2022-02-12|website=www.braziliantopteam.net}}</ref>

Around that era, BTT have produced some of the best Brazilian MMA fighters of all time. The team was compared to the [[Real Madrid]] soccer team around 2003 because of the number of good fighters the team had.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=CNN|last2=Sports|first2=Yahoo!|last3=Sports|first3=F. O. X.|last4=StarSports|first4=ESPN|last5=Times|first5=Tokyo|last6=Authorities|first6=Many Other Leading|last7=planet|first7=Evolve MMA aims to deliver the best martial arts instruction available anywhere on the|date=2016-05-29|title=Gyms Around The World: Brazilian Top Team|url=https://evolve-mma.com/blog/gyms-around-the-world-brazilian-top-team/|access-date=2022-02-12|website=Evolve Daily|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2007 the Nogueira Brothers ([[Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira]] and [[Antônio Rogério Nogueira]]) founded their own team taking some BTT fighters with them. It split the power of the team at this time but BTT kept building young fighters. [[Ricardo Arona]] and [[Paulo Filho]] followed their own way but returned often to visit and train with the team at the BTT headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.

Ricardo Liborio left the team in 2002, moving to the US to found [[American Top Team]] (ATT) with American entrepreneur Dan Lambert and his fellow BTT and Carlson Gracie black belts Marcus "Conan" Silveira and Marcelo Silveira. While they share similar names and founders, ATT was not created as an American branch of BTT but as its own independent camp. ATT went to become one of the most successful MMA camps in the world.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2015-04-09|title=The History of American Top Team Part 1: Roots of Fight|language=en-US|work=FOX Sports|url=https://www.foxsports.com/watch/the-ultimate-fighter/story/ultimate-fighter-the-history-of-american-top-team-part-1-roots-of-fight-040915|access-date=2018-01-10}}</ref> In any case, Bustamante and Liborio kept their friendship since the beginning of the times in Carlson Gracie school until now.

The team is growing with affiliates in Brazil, [[Canada]], [[United States]], [[Austria]], [[Estonia]], [[Malta]], [[Australia]] and [[Thailand]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brazilian Top Team|url=https://www.braziliantopteam.net/site/index.php?lang=pt_BR&section=address|access-date=2022-02-12|website=www.braziliantopteam.net}}</ref>

== Rivalry with Chute Boxe ==
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2010}}
BTT maintains an intense rivalry with Brazilian mixed martial arts stable [[Chute Boxe]], which is descended from a [[Muay Thai]] lineage. BTT traces its lineage to the [[Brazilian Jiu Jitsu|Brazilian jiu jitsu]] of [[Carlson Gracie]]. The most storied chapter of this rivalry was reached at the apex of each team's success in [[PRIDE FC]]. [[Chute Boxe]] was comprised, at the time, of such fighters as [[Wanderlei Silva]] and [[Mauricio Rua|Shogun Rua]], and former UFC Middleweight Champion [[Anderson Silva]].

BTT consisted of top fighters such as [[Ricardo Arona]], former [[UFC Middleweight Championship|UFC Middleweight Champion]] [[Murilo Bustamante]], the Nogueira Brothers, [[Vitor Belfort]], [[Allan Goes]], [[Mario Sperry]], and former [[World Extreme Cagefighting|WEC]] Middleweight Champion [[Paulo Filho]]. Competition between the two teams was not limited to Pride FC matches. Bouts between fighters of the two camps took place in Brazil, Portugal, the U.S., and other parts of the world on a regular basis.

== Locations ==
In April 2000 BTT inaugurated a new center in [[Brazil]]<!--WHERE exactly?--> for training professional fighters in mixed martial arts. It provides teachers of [[Muay Thai]], [[boxing]], [[wrestling]] mixed martial arts and [[Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu]].

Other locations are:
* [[Montreal, Quebec]], Canada – Fábio Holanda opened Brazilian Top Team Canada and has trained prominent [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]] Fighters [[Patrick Côté (fighter)|Patrick Côté]], [[Charles Jourdain]] and UFC Welterweight Champion [[Georges St-Pierre]].
* [[Long Beach, California]] – Marcelo Perdomo (BJJ Black Belt under BTT co-founder [[Murilo Bustamante]]) opened Brazilian Top Team Long Beach in mid-2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bttlongbeach.com/ |title=Brazilian Top Team, Long Beach |publisher=Bttlongbeach.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-06}}</ref>
* [[Tustin, California]] – Total MMA Studios, Juliano Prado and Adriano Nasal.
* [[Boston, Massachusetts]] – In 2003 João C. Amaral and Daniel Gazoni opened Brazilian Top Team Boston, the first recognized BTT dojo in the United States. In 2021, Daniel Gazoni and Levi Moura opened a second location in Back Bay called Brazilian Top Team Back Bay<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.bttboston.com |title=Welcome to Brazilian Top Team Boston |publisher=Bttboston.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-06}}</ref>
* [[Boca Raton, Florida]] – João C. Amaral<ref>{{cite web |author= |url=http://bocaraton.braziliantopteamflorida.com |title=Brazilian Top Team – Karate in Boca Raton |location=Boca Raton, Florida, United States |publisher=Bocaraton.braziliantopteamflorida.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908181805/http://bocaraton.braziliantopteamflorida.com/ |archivedate=2013-09-08 }}</ref>
* [[West Palm Beach, Florida]] – João C. Amaral<ref>{{cite web |author= |url=http://westpalmbeach.braziliantopteamflorida.com |title=Welcome to Brazilian Top Team Florida |location=Florida, United States |publisher=Westpalmbeach.braziliantopteamflorida.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203064010/http://westpalmbeach.braziliantopteamflorida.com/ |archivedate=2013-12-03 }}</ref>
* [[Melbourne, Florida]] – Edgard Dutra (BJJ black belt), BTT Florida<ref>{{cite web |author= |url=http://melbourne.braziliantopteamflorida.com |title=Brazilian Top Team Melbourne |location=Melbourne, Florida, United States |publisher=Melbourne.braziliantopteamflorida.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908194043/http://melbourne.braziliantopteamflorida.com/ |archivedate=2013-09-08 }}</ref>
** [[Cocoa Beach, Florida]] – satellite school in cooperation with Force Fitness Gym<ref>{{cite web |author= |url=http://cocoabeach.braziliantopteamflorida.com |title=Brazilian Top Team Cocoa Beach |location=Cocoa Beach, Florida, United States |publisher=Cocoabeach.braziliantopteamflorida.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908195429/http://cocoabeach.braziliantopteamflorida.com/ |archivedate=2013-09-08 }}</ref>
* [[San Antonio, Texas]] – [[Diego Gamonal Nogueira]] (BJJ black belt), BTT Texas<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bttsa.com/|title=Brazilian Top Team San Antonio, with world class black belt instructors. We offer Gi and no Gi jiu-jitsu classes as well as kickboxing, judo takedowns and wrestling|website=Brazilian Top Team San Antonio, with world class black belt instructors. We offer Gi and no Gi jiu-jitsu classes as well as kickboxing, judo takedowns and wrestling}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alivemma.com/html/sa_home |title=alivemma_new |publisher=Alivemma.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-06 }}{{dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* [[Happy Valley, Oregon]] – Gustavo Bessa (BJJ black belt and Professional MMA Fighter),BTT Happy Valley<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://btthappyvalley.com/|title=Brazilian Top Team – Happy Valley}}</ref>
* [[Phuket, Thailand]] – Tiger Muay Thai, Fernando Maccachero (BJJ black belt)
* [[Austin, Texas]] – BTT Austin<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bttaustin.com |title=Brazilian Top Team Austin |publisher=bttaustin.com |date= |accessdate=2014-07-15}}</ref>
* Charlotte, North Carolina-BTT Charlotte
* [[Richardson, Texas]] – BTT North Dallas, Leonardo Machado<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bttnorthdallas.com/ |title=Brazilian Top Team North Dallas|work=bttnorthdallas.com |date= |accessdate=2017-05-27}}</ref>
* [[Malta]] - BTT Malta, Head Coach Sergio De Andrade Cabral<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bttmalta.com/ |title=Brazilian Top Team Malta|work=bttmalta.com|date= |accessdate=2023-10-11}}</ref>
* [[Tallinn, Estonia]] – BTT Estonia, Sergio De Andrade Cabral<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bttestonia.ee/ |title=Brazilian Top Team Estonia|work=bttestonia.ee |date= |accessdate=2020-11-11}}</ref>
* [[Jacksonville, Florida]] – [[Marcello Salazar]]
* [[Humble, Texas]]- [[Darren McCall]], 3rd Degree Black Belt
* [[Hamilton, Bermuda]]- [[Marcos Tulio]], 3rd Degree Black Belt
* Lake Jackson, Texas – Fernando Halfeld
* [[Cambridge, UK]] – Leonardo Gamarra, 5th Degree Black Belt
* [[Evergreen, CO]] – David Roberts, 1st Degree Black Belt
* [[Fullerton, CA]] – Jaysen Jose Baxter, 3rd Degree Black Belt
* [[Vienna, Austria]] – Fernando Paulon, 5th Degree Black Belt

== Notable MMA fighters ==
* [[Vitor Belfort]] – former [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]] Light-Heavyweight Champion; former competitor for UFC; former competitor for [[PRIDE FC]]; former competitor for [[Affliction Entertainment|Affliction]]
* [[David Bielkheden]] – former competitor for UFC
* [[Murilo Bustamante]] – former UFC middleweight champion, and PRIDE FC Welterweight Grand Prix finalist; former competitor for UFC and PRIDE FC
* [[Patrick Côté (fighter)|Patrick Côté]] – competitor for UFC
* [[Paulo Filho]] – former competitor for PRIDE FC; former [[World Extreme Cagefighting|WEC]] Middleweight Champion; current competitor for [[Dream (mixed martial arts)|DREAM]]
* [[Allan Goes]] – former competitor for PRIDE FC; former competitor for UFC; former competitor for [[International Fight League|IFL]]
* [[Ikuhisa Minowa]] – former competitor for PRIDE FC; DREAM Super Hulk (Open-Weight) Grand Prix champion
* [[Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira]] – former PRIDE FC Heavyweight Champion; former Interim Heavyweight Champion for UFC
* [[Antônio Rogério Nogueira]] – former competitor for PRIDE FC; former competitor for [[Affliction Entertainment|Affliction]]
* [[Rousimar Palhares]] – former [[World Series of Fighting|WSOF]] Welterweight Champion
* [https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Fernando-Paulon-17123 Fernando Paulon] – former competitor Cage Fight Live
* [[Marcello Salazar]] – former competitor for [[International Fight League|IFL]]
* [[Antônio Silva (fighter)|Antônio Silva]] – former Heavyweight Champion for [[Elite XC]]; competitor for UFC; former competitor for Strikeforce
* [[Mario Sperry]] – former competitor for PRIDE FC
* [[Milton Vieira]] – competitor for UFC
* [[Ricardo Arona]] – competitor for Pride

== See also ==
* [[List of professional MMA training camps]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.espn.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=2979369 Bustamante speaks about BTT's new horizons]
* [http://brazilian-top-team-hq.gymdb.com/ BTT on the GymDB]

{{MMA Team List}}

[[Category:2006 establishments in Brazil]]
[[Category:Mixed martial arts training facilities]]
[[Category:Brazilian jiu-jitsu training facilities]]