Sergiio 'Babu' Gasparelli

The Coach Behind Three MMA Legends

When Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira submitted some of the best heavyweights in PRIDE and UFC history, Babu Gasparelli was the man who built his ground game. When Lyoto Machida needed submissions to complement his karate-based striking, Babu was there. When Vitor Belfort wanted sharper BJJ to match his devastating hands, Babu was there too.

Sergiio “Babu” Gasparelli is one of the most significant BJJ coaches in MMA history. His students have held world titles in both PRIDE and the UFC. Nogueira alone holds two PRIDE Heavyweight Grand Prix titles and a UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship — and his ground game was Babu’s system. Machida and Belfort each held UFC gold. Three champions, one BJJ coach.

That track record doesn’t happen by accident. Babu teaches a complete grappling system. Not isolated techniques. A system where every position connects to the next, every sweep creates a submission opportunity, and every pass opens a finishing sequence.

The Joker Position

Every great fighter has a fallback. The thing they go to when the game plan falls apart and instinct takes over. For Babu, it’s what he calls the Joker position.

“Guys, this position, I like to call like, this is my joker position, you know, like, this is the, when I, everything go wrong, I will try this position. So I try pass the guard, doesn’t work…”

That’s Babu in a nutshell. He teaches with personality, humor, and honesty. He doesn’t pretend every technique works every time. He shows you what to do when they don’t. The Joker is his ace — the position he trusts when everything else breaks down. That kind of real-world problem-solving is what separates coaches who’ve worked corners at the highest level from coaches who only teach seminars.

Three Systems, One Mastermind

Babu’s BJJ Mastermind program on FightScience is built around three sub-systems that cover the critical phases of top-game and guard-game BJJ:

Side Control Submission System — What to do once you’ve achieved side control. Most grapplers stall here. Babu turns it into a finishing position with leg lock entries, arm attacks, and chokes that capitalize on common defensive reactions.

Top Guard Domination (Pass and Submit) — Passing the guard is only half the job. Babu’s system links guard passes directly into submission attempts. His North South choke, the Joker position, and his tricep slice attacks all live here. The concept is simple: don’t pass and then look for a submission. Pass into the submission.

Closed Guard Sweeps and Submissions — Playing bottom doesn’t mean playing defense. Babu’s closed guard system is built on sweeps that create scrambles and submissions that catch opponents mid-transition. His leg lock from guard is a perfect example — why wait to mount when you can finish on the way there?

“Now I will show you that you can even do the leg lock before you get on the mount, in the middle of the way. This is how you do it…”

That’s the philosophy running through all three programs. Attack in transition. Don’t wait for perfect position. Create opportunities between positions.

What You Get

The full Babu’s BJJ Mastermind program contains approximately 150 technique videos totaling over 12 hours of instruction. Every video focuses on a specific technique or concept — no filler, no motivational speeches. Babu demonstrates, explains the why, shows common mistakes, and moves on.

The instruction is detailed but never dry. Babu’s Brazilian energy and sense of humor keep the videos engaging. He names positions, creates mental frameworks (like the Joker), and teaches concepts rather than just moves. You’ll understand why a technique works, not just how to mimic it.

This is the same BJJ system that helped three MMA champions win world titles. Now it’s available in one program.

Available in Babu’s BJJ Mastermind for $299.