Ulpiano Malachias Neto

Ulpiano Malachias Neto passed away on May 10th. He is survived by his beloved wife, Sophia, his cherished daughter, Lydia, his sister, Michelle, his brother, Jean Jacques, his in-laws, Giovanni and Adair Gaudioso, and his sister-in-law, Monica Gaudioso. He is predeceased by his parents, Marlene and Jean Jacques. Ulpiano was born on the 28th of July in 1979 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil and began training jiu jitsu at the age of seventeen. As he rose in the ranks of the sport, he had many opportunities to travel around the world as he achieved a long list of titles earned during his competition days. When he finally settled in the United States, he was presented with the opportunity to open his own school in Santa Ana, California, which he ran until 2010 when he moved his family (Sophia and newborn Lydia) to Houston, Texas and opened Gracie Barra Westchase. In 2023 he and Sophia opened a second school, Gracie Barra River Oaks, partnering with long time friend and student Peter Wheatley to bring another state-of-the-art facility to Houston. In addition to teaching, he has been a valuable coach to several competitors in international competitions and the UFC. In April 2026 he was awarded a 5th degree black belt, marking twenty years as a black belt, in a ceremony in Brazil. Capping off a long list of successes, his greatest joy was bringing the discipline of jiu jitsu to his many students (men, women, and children as young as three) and introducing them to a dynamic environment and lifestyle of camaraderie and competition. His dedication was always on display as he instilled a strong sense of self-confidence in his students, to whom he will always represent the highest ideals embodied in the sport. He was a hard worker and loved his trade which was also his hobby, but always found time to travel the world with his family, enjoyed drinking a few mimosas and champagne and taking pristine care of his home and family, whom he would go to the ends of the earth for. He was one hundred men in one with many talents, a jack of all trades. He lived his life to the fullest and took everyone he loved along for the ride. God only knows how he found the strength and energy for it all. He never missed a workout, and enjoyed living a healthy lifestyle. He always made time to lend a helping hand and words of advise or encouragement. Our hearts are heavy with his passing. He loved hard and was well loved by his many friends and family around the world, but especially his wife and daughter, who will miss his pure love, generosity and to be made to feel like princesses for the rest of their days. May he rest peacefully. Keep him in your hearts and live in his example to remember him always. To honor Ulpiano’s memory, we ask that donations be made to the Movember Foundation (us.movember.com) in lieu of flowers and other gestures.

Ulpiano Malachias Neto

July 28, 1979 - May 10, 2026