Oliveira started training Brazilian jiu-jitsu when he was 12 years old and become a black belt at 18. He finished third at the 2001 IBJJF world championships and second at the 2002 IBJJF world championships. In 2010 Oliveira was invited to compete in the Abu Dhabi Fighting Championship Open Weight Grand Prix. He defeated Johan Romming in the first round, and then defeated Neil Wain in the second round to reach the "one million dirhams " final. Oliveira went to Thailand to improve his striking before the final fight. However, he lost to Shamil Abdurahimov in round three. Oliveira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, with a background in judo, jiu-jitsu, capoeira and wrestling. He has competed in all disciplines at various stages of his career and holds black belts in both judo and jiu-jitsu. He has competed and won at National and International championships and competed as part of Brazil's junior national teams. Marcos is currently a professional mixed martial arts fighter and fights in the heavyweight division. He was formerly fighting out of the American Top Team camp in the US and more recently fighting out of the Abu Dhabi Combat Club. Multiple time world champion Marcos “Santa Cruz” Oliveira and Pakistan Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation co-founder Fazal Khan in conjunction with head coaches from the main MMA gyms in Pakistan, also announced the creation of Pakistan Top Team. Top MMA athletes across all weight classes will be selected to be a part of PTT. Pakistan Top Team will be associated with the legendary American Top Team and Abu Dhabi Top Team which will open up further opportunities for the best MMA fighters in Pakistan. PTT will be a team under which all associated academies and clubs can represent Pakistan at the highest levels, whilst providing access to international athletes, training regimes and syllabus. Inaugural training seminars will be held in two of some of the premiere martial arts clubs at two ends of Pakistan; Fight Fortress in Islamabad and K7 Academy in Karachi. Team Fight Fortress head coaches Ehtisham Kareem and Ali Sultan will welcome Professor Marcos Oliveira and Fazal Khan in Islamabad on December 7, 2016 for a seminar. K7 Academy head coach and owner Jamil Chandio will welcome Professor Marcos Oliveira and Fazal Khan in Karachi on the December 12th 2016. This will be the third blackbelt brought in to Pakistan by the PBJJF team, alongside Professor Carlos Almeida, Ramzan Ali who held seminars in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. Marcos Santa Cruz Oliveira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, with a background in judo, jiu-jitsu and wrestling. He has competed in all disciplines at various stages of his career and holds black belts in both Judo and Jiu-Jitsu. He has competed and won at national and international championships and competed as part of Brazil's Olympic teams. Marcos is formerly a professional mixed martial arts fighter in the heavyweight division. He was formerly fighting out of the American Top Team in the USA recently representing and developed the Abu Dhabi Top Team in Abu Dhabi UAE. He has spent three years working in the Abu Dhabi government school system teaching jiu-jitsu, competing as a professional fighter at the same time. Santa Cruz is a world championship grappler with notable titles including World Champion USA, Pan American champion, European champion, Arnold World Classic champion, and Brazilian Champion in judo, jiu jitsu and wrestling. Pakistan is a growing force in the mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu jitsu world, and there are hopes that it brings together many coaches and students to represent their country with help from Marcos Oliveira. Marcos also enjoys playing with children, coaching and teaching his students the values and essential skills to help them through puberty. He has spent the last three years working in the Abu Dhabi government school system teaching children Jiu-Jitsu, whilst still competing as a professional fighter. He is currently working on establishing programs in his native town of Santa Cruz, Brazil. His vision is to educate and empower children using traditional Olympic sports, such as, Wrestling, Judo and Boxing.
