Multiple-time IBJJF champion Renato Canuto is headed to the cage.
After nearly three-and-a-half years of training, Canuto feels ready to make the jump, though he knows he still has a long way to go.
“I really can’t wait to see what happens,” Canuto recently told MMA Junkie. “I’m just taking my time, taking it one fight at a time and making sure I respect the game, get there for my first fight, and then see how it feels.
A lifelong martial artist, Canuto has combat sports in his DNA with his father Valdir “Tio Chico” Canuto a decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu black-belt, as well.
Despite his father’s grappling notoriety, Canuto began in kickboxing and karate before jiu-jitsu, so his striking foundations are already there.
The details are still being hashed out, but Canuto will make his long-awaited MMA debut after three years of discipline-specific training – and a life of UFC aspirations.
“MMA was always in the back of my head – that I wanted to do that,” Canuto said. “It just took a lot longer than I thought to make my way here. But that was always a goal of mine, growing up, to eventually fight MMA. … I won world titles both in the gi and no-gi. I just felt like I was ready to try something different. I ended up in an MMA gym again by accident, trying to do some wrestling. I jumped into some shark tanks to help at first. Then, I started jumping into more and more practices. I just felt like that was way more enjoyable for me at that point. I started to get the idea and that’s what brought me to MMA. I felt like I can definitely do a lot more and dominated the world and be able to test myself to the maximum of the my abilities in MMA.”
Canuto’s trophy case displays championships of all sorts. From IBJJF to KASAI to UAEJJF to Marianas Open, Canuto has won tournaments all over the world. Given his continued success in grappling and upcoming commitments with UFC Fight Pass grappling, Canuto doesn’t expect a hard pivot away from grappling. It’ll be more of a gradual process, but Canuto wants three or four MMA fights in 2025.
“I do respect the game of MMA a lot,” Canuto said. “I know it’s a whole different sport and I have to go and test the waters first before I think too big about my dreams. As far as my goals go, I’m really hoping that I get to do at least four, five fights before I start talking about Contender (Series) or something like that. I want to take my time. I’m not too eager to get to the UFC if that means I’m going to go there and underperform. I need to be ready when the opportunity does come because I know sometimes you get the opportunity to go and you get excited.
“I see guys not prepared when they get their first contract. So I’m taking my time, getting some fights, seeing I feel, seeing how I do. … So far, I really like it. I really like the training and adapting to the striking. I feel like my jiu-jitsu moves me forward. I always push the pace. It’s not too hard of a transition for me, as far as figuring out the fighting part of it.”
Initially training under Dewey Cooper at Xtreme Couture, Canuto now works with Top King Boxing USA’s Matheus Naccache at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas. His wife, Raquel Canuto, has 13 fights of pro experience, including an Invicta FC title challenge. The MMA-centric support system is there.
“My striking is not too bad. Not great, yet. You can definitely punch me in the face,” Canuto laughed. “But I’m getting more and more comfortable. I’m training my eyes and my footwork and being able to see things and understand things better. It’s been fun.”
Canuto said discussions are underway with a few promotions for when and where his debut will be – but there’s nothing to announce quite yet. While he Canuto has grappled mostly at 170 pounds, he plans to drop to 155 pounds for his debut.
Regardless of the specifics, Canuto hopes to do jiu-jitsu proud in MMA.
“I feel like we are seeing more jiu-jitsu guys get out there and be able to transition to MMA, do a good job, and show how dominant jiu-jitsu can be,” Canuto said. “That’s definitely a big goal of mine. If everything works out to how I want, we’ll be able to show that.”
