Gabriel Gonzaga is a Brazilian former mixed martial artist and professional boxer who competed in the heavyweight division.
He is best known for his time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he fought for the heavyweight title in 2007. Gonzaga transitioned to professional boxing in 2017 after a successful career in mixed martial arts.
You can follow Gabriel Gonzaga’s biography, personal details, career overview, net worth, fight purses, earnings, endorsements, fight records, achievements, and more here.
Gabriel Gonzaga’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Gabriel Gonzaga Santos Nogueira |
| Nickname | Napão (meaning “big nose” in Portuguese) |
| Date of Birth | May 18, 1979 |
| Place of Birth | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Height | 6′ 1½” (1.87 m) |
| Weight Class | Heavyweight (265 lbs / 120 kg) |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Martial Arts Background | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, Boxing |
| BJJ Rank | 5th degree black belt |
| BJJ Lineage | Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rickson Gracie > Jorge Pereira > Wander Braga > Gabriel Gonzaga |
| MMA Record | 17 wins, 12 losses |
| Teams | Squared BJJ (current), formerly Macaco Gold Team |
| Professional Debut | MMA: 2003, Boxing: 2017 |
| Last UFC Fight | UFC Fight Night 86 (April 10, 2016) |
| Current Occupation | BJJ instructor, former professional fighter |
| Social Media | Instagram: @napao |
Gabriel Gonzaga Santos Nogueira was born on May 18, 1979, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He grew up in a working-class family in Rio de Janeiro. Gonzaga began training in judo at the age of 14 before transitioning to Brazilian jiu-jitsu at 15.
Wife
Gonzaga is married. His wife’s name is Cau Janoni, according to one of the sources. They have 2 children together – one daughter and one son.
Early Career
Gonzaga began his martial arts journey with judo at age 14 and transitioned to Brazilian jiu-jitsu at 15. He quickly excelled in jiu-jitsu, earning his black belt from Wander Braga in 1999.
Gonzaga competed successfully in various grappling tournaments, including winning the IBJJF World Championship in the ultra-heavyweight division in 2006.
Professional Career
Gabriel Gonzaga began his MMA journey in 2003, quickly making a name for himself in the Brazilian circuit before joining the UFC in 2005.
Throughout his career, Gonzaga maintained his roots in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, winning the IBJJF World Championship in the ultra-heavyweight division in 2006 and continuing to teach and compete in grappling tournaments.
Gonzaga’s career reached its pinnacle in 2007 when he delivered a stunning head-kick knockout to Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 70, earning him a shot at the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
Although he lost the title fight against Randy Couture, this victory catapulted him into the upper echelons of the heavyweight division.
Throughout his UFC tenure, Gonzaga faced a who’s who of heavyweight contenders, including Junior dos Santos, Shane Carwin, and Fabricio Werdum.
After a brief hiatus from the UFC in 2010, Gonzaga returned in 2012 and continued to compete at a high level. He retired from MMA in 2016 with a professional record of 17 wins and 12 losses.
Following his MMA career, Gonzaga transitioned to professional boxing in 2017, winning his debut match. He also ventured into bare-knuckle boxing, winning a high-profile bout against Antonio Silva in 2019.
Gabriel Gonzaga’s Net Worth Details
Gabriel Gonzaga’s net worth is estimated to be $1 million as of 2025. This figure is based on his earnings from his MMA career, boxing ventures, and potential endorsements.
Fight Purses
| Event | Opponent | Purse |
| UFC 70 | Mirko Cro Cop | $46,000 |
| UFC 74 | Randy Couture | $80,000 |
| UFC 121 | Brendan Schaub | $67,000 |
| UFC Fight Night 86 | Derrick Lewis | $20,000* |
Career Earnings
Throughout his MMA career, Gonzaga earned significant purses for his fights in the UFC. His highest reported purse was $80,000 for his title fight against Randy Couture at UFC 74.
While complete data for all his fights is not available, it’s estimated that Gonzaga earned over $1 million in fight purses during his UFC career.
Endorsements
As a prominent UFC fighter during his active career, Gonzaga likely had some sponsorship agreements, especially before the UFC’s uniform deal with Reebok in 2015.
Fight Records
| Statistic | MMA | Boxing |
| Total Fights | 29 | 1 |
| Wins | 17 | 1 |
| Losses | 12 | 0 |
| Draws | 0 | 0 |
| Knockouts | 9 | 0 |
| Submissions | 7 | – |
| Decision Wins | 1 | 1 |
Achievements
- UFC Heavyweight Title Contender (2007)
- Knockout of the Year (2007) for his head kick KO of Mirko Cro Cop
- IBJJF World Championship Gold Medalist (2006)
- ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship Silver Medalist (2005)
- Reality Fighting Heavyweight Champion
FAQs
1. Who is Gabriel Gonzaga?
Gabriel Gonzaga Santos Nogueira is a Brazilian former professional mixed martial artist, submission grappler, and 5th-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt. He is best known for competing in the UFC and achieving a legendary head-kick knockout against Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 70.
2. What are Gabriel Gonzaga’s major accomplishments in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Gonzaga is a world-class BJJ practitioner, winning the 2006 IBJJF World Championship, the 2019 IBJJF Masters World Championship, and earning a silver medal at the 2005 ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship.
3. How did Gabriel Gonzaga perform in his MMA career?
Gonzaga had a professional MMA record of 17 wins and 12 losses. He competed in the UFC’s heavyweight division, earning notable victories but falling short in his title fight against Randy Couture at UFC 74.
4. What is Gabriel Gonzaga’s most famous fight?
His most iconic fight was against Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 70, where he delivered a shocking head-kick knockout using Cro Cop’s signature move, earning him Knockout of the Year in 2007.
5. Did Gabriel Gonzaga compete in other combat sports?
Yes, after retiring from MMA, Gonzaga transitioned to professional boxing and bare-knuckle boxing. He won his boxing debut in 2017 and secured a second-round knockout victory in his bare-knuckle debut in 2019.
