ADCC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BARCELONA 2009

Born in 1979
Home: Ft. Lauderdale-Florida
Style: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Submission Fighting
Team: Team Popovitch
Division: under 76.9 Kg

BJJ/submission Fighting record:

2009 Grapplers Quest Pro Allstar Champion

2009 The Dog Fight Pro Jiu-Jitsu Champion

2008 Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Champion

2007 World Jiu-Jitsu Champion

2007 World Submission Fighting ADCC – Finalist

2007 USA Team Trials Champion

2007 Atlantic Cup Superfight Champion

2005 World Submission Fighting ADCC – Finalist

National Champion USA- 10 times

Grapplers Quest Champion- 7 times

2003 North American World Submission Champion

2003 USA Team Trial Champion

Casca Grossa Pro division Champion

Music City Pro Division Champion

III Northeast Grappling Tournament Pro division Champion

Texas Submission Pro Division Champion

World Extreme Shoot Challenge XI Champion

World Extreme Shoot Challenge XII Champion

ICG Grappling Pro Champion

Popovitch became involved in BJJ as a precocious 5-year-old. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Popovitch began instruction at Barra Gracie School, where his teachers were the Machado brothers, Rigan, Carlos and Jean Jaques. “I knew early on that I wanted to be the best” Popovitch said. “I had my first tournament when I was eight. I defeated Carlinhos Gracie in the finals. He and I were really good friends, but we were very competitive on the mats.”
“I was always very close to the Gracie family because my father (Jorge Popovitch, 7th-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and Master instructor at Fort Lauderdale’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Center) had a great friendship with them. My aunt was married to Crolin Gracie. My cousins are Lyra, Kivia and Rullivan Gracie.”
The Popovitch’s moved to Florida in 1995 when Pablo was 15. He continued to study BJJ under Carlson Gracie. His training partners were members of the legendary Carlson Gracie Team and members of the current Brazilian top team. While attending high school in Florida, Popovitch was introduced to collegiate-style wrestling. His already accomplished skills at grappling lead to success and several offers from colleges to continue at the highest level of that sport. Popovitch opted instead to continue his devotion to his first love, BJJ.