Antonio Braga Neto is a world class jiu jitsu practitioner and a promising young mixed martial artist, currently competing in the light heavyweight division. A former BJJ World Champion (and multiple time medalist), Braga Neto is part of the Gracie Fusion fight team where he trains alongside the likes of UFC veterans Marcio Cruz and Rafael dos Anjos. Through his first six fights he's compiled a 5-1 professional record with four of his victories coming by way of submission, and not one of his wins has made it to a judge's decision.

A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Roberto Correa de Lima, there's no mistaking where Neto is most effective. Braga Neto was a Gold Medal winner at the 2008 World Jiu Jitsu Championships (Super Heavyweight division), and is also a three time winner at the World No-Gi BJJ Championships and definitely enters the sport with excellent credentials. Neto's pure jiu jitsu skills are obviously of world class caliber and he is a legitimate threat against almost anyone who's willing to go to the ground with him. He possesses beautiful transitions, an extremely fluent and efficient grappling game and an excellent understanding of submissions. Neto took down Fabiano Astorino and effortlessly transitioned between mount, back and guard before finishing with a very nice armbar (see below). He was also running a ground clinic on Ryo Kawamura the times he was able to get him down, and his overall ground skills are unquestionably solid. Neto's technical ground skills are extremely polished and recognizing this he makes a very concerted effort to try and take the fight to the ground any chance he gets. Neto goes right at his opponents' and works hard in trying to secure the takedown, but will need to continue working on those takedowns and his wrestling abilities. At time he had quite a bit of trouble getting Kawamura to the ground and consistently keeping him there, and Kawamura is a natural middleweight whom Neto enjoyed a significant size advantage over. Furthermore, there have been times Neto has had difficulties finishing on the ground and he will need to continue working on putting together his MMA ground game, as well as getting acclimated to having to deal with strikes when working off his back. Unlike many top level BJJ practitioners, Braga Neto is trying his hand at MMA at a very early age and should have considerable time in trying to develop his skills as they relate to the sport going forward.

Neto is definitely most comfortable on the ground and has displayed a very strong preference towards taking the fight to the mat in his early career (see bout with Ryo Kawamura below). On his feet he's looked slow and stiff and his overall striking game could best be summed up as being very green at this point in his career. Neto doesn't like to trade punches (which is actually quite intelligent on his part) and did get tagged often and hurt in his bout with Kawamura. Going forward Neto will need to continue working on all aspects of his striking game as it remains an area of his game that requires significant improvement.