Nicholas Meregali

Nicholas Meregali (born 27 May 1994) is a Brazilian submission grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt competitor. A multiple time world, Pan, European and Brazilian champion at colored belts, Meregali is a 3x IBJJF black belt World Champion and a 2 x ADCC World medallist.

Nicholas Meregali
Born (1994-05-27) 27 May 1994[1]
Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Nickname(s)Alemão
ResidencePorto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil
Height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)[2]
DivisionSuper-heavyweight
-100.5 kilograms (222 lb)
TeamNew Wave Jiu Jitsu
Dream Art
Alliance Jiu Jitsu
Rank  black belt in BJJ
Medal record
Representing  Brazil
Submission Grappling
ADCC World Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Nevada, USA -99kg
Silver medal – second place 2022 Nevada, USA Absolute
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[3]
World Championship
Silver medal – second place2022 California, USA-100kg
Gold medal – first place2022 California, USAAbsolute
Gold medal – first place2019 California, USA-100kg
Bronze medal – third place2018 California, USA-100kg
Bronze medal – third place2018 California, USAAbsolute
Gold medal – first place2017 California, USA-94kg[4]
Brazilian National Championship[3]
Gold medal – first place2022 Sao Paulo, Brazil-100kg
Gold medal – first place2019 Sao Paulo, Brazil-100kg[5]
Gold medal – first place2019 Sao Paulo, BrazilAbsolute[6]
Gold medal – first place2018 Sao Paulo, Brazil-100kg[7]

Early career

Nicholas de Barcellos Meregali was born on 27 May 1994, in Santo Antônio in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Meregali began training when he was 16 years old at the ACJJ academy in Santo Antônio.[1] At 17 he won the CBJJ Brazilian National Championship then joined Alliance Jiu Jitsu under Mario Reis in Porto Alegre.[8] Considered one of the best coloured belts in the world, Meregali won every IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship at purple belt; he then won at brown belt two double gold world titles making him a five-time world champion. Reis promoted Meregali to black belt after his 2016 world title.[8]

Black belt career

During his first year as black belt Meregali won the 2017 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship by beating division favourite Leandro Lo, one of the greatest BJJ competitors of all time, 2–0 in the final.[9] The next year, Meregali won gold medal in the Super Heavyweight division of the Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship, submitting his opponent from the back in the final. In 2019, Meregali won the Brazilian national title again and added the open weight class title to earn "double gold." In 2019 he became world champion again in the Super Heavyweight division.

2021

Before the 2021 World Championship, Meregali left Alliance to join the Dream Art Project. After showing his middle finger to a spectator who was heckling him, Meregali was disqualified from the 2021 World Championship halfway through the ultra-heavyweight semi-final match,[10] before the disqualification, he was considered to be on track to win both gold at his weight division and in Absolute.[11]

2022

At the 2022 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship Meregali won the title for the third time in Absolute and Silver in his division.[12]

In interviews he has described himself as a perfectionist.[13] Meregali has been described as having a "complete game," and he is known for his outstanding guard, especially his innovative use of the De La Riva position, and chokes from the back.[14][1]

Meregali transitioned to no gi competition in 2022, making his debut against Arnaldo Maidana at Who's Number One and winning by armbar.[15] In preparation for his first attempt at the ADCC world championships,[16] Meregali started training No-Gi at the New Wave Jiu Jitsu academy in Austin, Texas under head coach John Danaher. Meregali won a bronze medal in the under 99kg division of the 2022 ADCC World Championship, losing only to Craig Jones in the semifinal,[17] and won silver in the openweight division, defeating Tye Ruotolo in the semi-final before losing to Yuri Simões in the final.[18]

2023

A rematch between Meregali and Jones was scheduled for February 2023 at Who's Number One but was postponed indefinitely when Jones was unable to compete due to other commitments.[19] Meregali then returned to gi competition at the IBJJF Pan Championship 2023.[20] He won a gold medal in both the ultra-heavyweight division, and in the absolute division.[21]

Meregali was booked to compete in the main event of Who's Number One 18 on May 18, 2023 against Pedro Marinho in the promotion's first ever gi match.[22] During the build-up to the match, Meregali announced his decision to no longer compete in IBJJF events.[23]

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitive summary

Main Achievements (Black Belt):[1]

  • IBJJF World Champion (2017 / 2019 / 2022[lower-alpha 1])
  • CBJJ Brazilian Nationals Champion (2018 / 2019[lower-alpha 2] / 2022[24])
  • BJJ Stars Grand Prix winner (2019)
  • Best throw at ADCC World Championship (2022)[25]
  • 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2022)
  • 2nd Place ADCC World Championship Absolute (2022)[26]
  • 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2018[lower-alpha 2])
  • 3rd Place IBJJF Pan American Championship (2017[lower-alpha 1])
  • 3rd Place ADCC World Championship -99KG (2022)[27]

Main Achievements (Coloured Belts):[1]

Notes
  1. Absolute
  2. Weight and absolute

References
  1. "Nicholas Meregali". BJJ Heroes. 2016-12-20.
  2. "Nicholas Meregali His Record, Net Worth, Weight, Age & More!". BJJ Fanatics. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  3. "IBJJF Results". Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  4. "International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation -". www.ibjjfdb.com.
  5. "International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation -". www.ibjjfdb.com.
  6. 2019 Absolute results
  7. 2018 under 100 kg results IBJJFDB
  8. "Nicholas Meregali". Grapplezilla. 2021-04-05.
  9. "Flograppling 2017 World Championship Results". Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  10. "2021 IBJJF Worlds: Nicholas Meregali Gets DQ'd for Showing Middle Finger". Bjj Eastern Europe. 2021-12-13.
  11. "Nicholas Meregali gets DISQUALIFIED from IBJJF Worlds due to flipping off crowd". BjjTribes. 2021-12-13.
  12. "Worlds Results, Mica Beats Ruotolo, Ffion Crowned First Brit Champ, And Doederlein Wins For USA". BJJ Heroes. 2022-06-06.
  13. "Nicholas Meregali on debuting at black belt with a world title". Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  14. "Nicholas Meregali Jiu Jitsu Study / Breakdown". Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  15. "Who's Number One: Gordon Ryan v Jacob Couch Full Results and Review". 26 March 2022.
  16. "Nicholas Meregali Given Surprise Invite to ADCC 2022". 4 February 2022.
  17. "ADCC 2022 Live Results, Play-by-play, Analysis, Highlights, More". 18 September 2022.
  18. "ADCC 2022 Results, Gordon Ryan And Ruotolo Make History in Vegas". BJJ Heroes - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. 2022-10-08.
  19. "Nicholas Meregali v Craig Jones Rematch Postponed". 24 December 2022.
  20. Rogers, Kian (14 March 2023). "Nicholas Meregali Returns To Gi Competition At IBJJF Pan Championship". JitsMagazine. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  21. "IBJJF Pan Championship 2023 Full Results And Review". JitsMagazine. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  22. Lindsey, Alex (27 April 2023). "Who's Number One 18: Nicholas Meregali v Pedro Marinho Full Card Confirmed". JitsMagazine. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  23. Jones, Phil. "Nicholas Meregali Decides To Stop Competing In IBJJF Tournaments". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  24. "Brasileiro 2022". International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
  25. "ADCC 2022 Awards Announced". 26 October 2022.
  26. "ADCC 2022 Absolute Division Live Results, Play-by-play, Analysis, Highlights, More". 18 September 2022.
  27. "ADCC 2022 Live Results, Play-by-play, Analysis, Highlights, More". 18 September 2022.
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