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Megaton Dias

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and instructor

Summary

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and instructor

Field	Value
image	Megaton Dias Seminar 01 (crop).jpg
name	Megaton Dias
birth_name	Wellington Leal Dias Santos
image_size	230px
caption	Megaton Dias teaching a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu seminar in November 2011
birth_date
birth_place	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
martial_art	Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo
teacher	Royler Gracie, Rickson Gracie, Helio Gracie
rank	7th Degree Coral Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
3rd Degree Black Belt in Judo
students	Kyle Watson, Mackenzie Dern, Evan Dunham
website	http://www.teammegaton.net/

3rd Degree Black Belt in Judo

Wellington Leal Dias Santos (born October 2, 1967), widely known as Megaton Dias, is a prominent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) practitioner and instructor. He holds a 7th-degree coral belt under the Gracie Humaitá lineage, led by Royler Gracie, and is recognized as one of the most enduring competitors in the sport's history. Dias began his training in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, initially under Rogerio Camoes before joining the renowned Gracie Humaitá school, where he studied under Royler Gracie, Rickson Gracie, and Helio Gracie. He earned his BJJ black belt at the remarkably young age of 18 and later achieved the prestigious coral belt rank, a testament to his decades of dedication. In addition to his BJJ accomplishments, Dias is a 3rd-degree black belt in judo, a skill that has significantly influenced his grappling style.

Dias earned his nickname "Megaton" due to his explosive judo-inspired techniques, particularly his ability to throw opponents high into the air, reminiscent of a nuclear explosion's force. This moniker gained further recognition when SubFighter named it the top-ranked nickname in mixed martial arts (MMA) in 2007.

Early life and training

Dias began training in martial arts at a young age, initially focusing on judo before transitioning to Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He was influenced by the growing Gracie Jiu-Jitsu movement in Rio de Janeiro and trained under several renowned instructors, including Rogerio Camoes, before joining Gracie Humaitá under Royler Gracie.

Competitive longevity and legacy

Dias is notable for his remarkable longevity in competitive Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He has consistently competed at the highest levels across multiple generations, facing elite athletes spanning several decades. He has participated in every IBJJF Championship since 1996.

Dias has also competed in various international tournaments, including the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship.

Influence and teaching career

In addition to his competitive achievements, Dias has had a significant impact as an instructor. His Megaton Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Phoenix, Arizona, has produced high-level black belts, including his daughter, Mackenzie Dern, who has become a top competitor in both BJJ and MMA.

Dias is widely respected for his aggressive and dynamic style, which has influenced many practitioners. He continues to conduct seminars worldwide, sharing his extensive knowledge and experience with students of all levels.

Recent achievements

Despite being in his fifties, Dias continues to compete at the highest levels. In 2024, he won double gold at the IBJJF Master World Championship, securing victories in both his weight division and the absolute category.

Dias remains an active competitor and coach, continuing to inspire both new and experienced Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners worldwide.

Grappling career

Dias has established himself as a decorated competitor across multiple prestigious BJJ tournaments. His accolades include medals at the Pan-American Championship, European Championship, World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, U.S. National Championship, Rickson Gracie International Championship, and Rio de Janeiro State Championship. He is also a veteran of the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, showcasing his versatility in submission grappling.

A standout achievement in Dias's career is his participation in every World Jiu-Jitsu Championship since its inception in 1996, making him the only competitor to achieve this feat. His longevity is further highlighted by his continued success in adult black belt divisions well into his 50s, including gold-medal victories against younger competitors as recently as 2023. In 2023, Dias made history at the IBJJF World Championship by becoming the first coral belt to compete in the lightweight division, further cementing his legacy.

Master career

As a master-level competitor, Dias has continued to dominate. On May 31, 2023, he competed at the IBJJF Master International - North America Championship, securing gold medals in both the Master 6 lightweight and absolute divisions. Later that year, on September 2, 2023, he won the Master 6 lightweight division at the IBJJF Master World Championship, reinforcing his status as a BJJ legend.

Personal life

Dias resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with his family. His wife, Luciana, and daughter, Mackenzie Dern, are both accomplished BJJ black belts trained under his guidance. His lifelong dedication to martial arts, spanning over five decades since 1976, reflects his deep passion for both judo and BJJ.

Instructor lineage

Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda → Carlos Gracie, Sr. → Helio Gracie → Royler Gracie → Wellington "Megaton" Dias

References

(November 11, 2019). "IBJJF List of Black Belts". IBJJF.
(2014-11-02). "World Master IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2014". ibjjfdb.com.
Caulfield, Kevin. (March 14, 2022). "Wellington ‘Megaton’ Dias Promoted To Coral Belt". Jiu-Jitsu Times.
(November 11, 2019). "IBJJF List of Black Belts". IBJJF.
(July 3, 2023). "The 20 Best BJJ Nicknames".
subfighter.com. "Best/Worst Nickname Awards".
"Wellington "Megaton" Dias (Gracie Humaitá)". BJJ Heroes.
(June 1, 2023). "Megaton Dias: The Living Legend Who Has Competed at Every IBJJF Worlds". FloGrappling.
"ADCC Fighter Profile: Wellington "Megaton" Dias". ADCombat.
"Mackenzie Dern UFC Profile". UFC.
(May 15, 2023). "Megaton Dias Seminar Tour Continues in Europe". Graciemag.
(September 5, 2024). "Megaton Dias Wins Double Gold at IBJJF Master Worlds 2024". JitsMagazine.
(September 5, 2010). "Wellington "Megaton" Dias (Gracie Humaitá)". BJJ Heroes.
(January 18, 2014). "Megaton main BJJ (GI) achievements since 2004". Maranking.com.
(March 6, 2023). "Diego 'Pato' Oliveira Shines Among Top Competitors At IBJJF Dallas International Open 2023".
(June 7, 2023). "Wellington 'Megaton' Dias Becomes First Coral Belt To Compete At IBJJF World Championship".
(June 2023). "Several Top Competitors Win At IBJJF International Master – North America Championship 2023".
(September 3, 2023). "BJJ Legends Star In IBJJF Master World Championship 2023".
"Megaton Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Belt List".
Megaton Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. "teammegaton.net".

Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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