1. Overview
Allan Alex Góes (born April 20, 1971) is a highly accomplished Brazilian mixed martial artist and an 8-time Brazilian National Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champion. A distinguished protégé of Carlson Gracie, Góes built a formidable record in Jiu-Jitsu before transitioning to professional mixed martial arts. Throughout his career, he competed in prominent organizations such as Pancrase, the UFC, and PRIDE Fighting Championships, where he faced numerous notable opponents. After retiring from active competition, Góes established his own martial arts school, contributes to the martial arts community as a commentator, and conducts seminars worldwide, continuing to share his expertise in the "Gentle Art." He holds a 6th dan in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
2. Early Life and Martial Arts Training
Allan Góes's journey into martial arts began at a young age in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, laying the foundation for his decorated career in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts.
2.1. Childhood and Initial Training
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Allan Góes commenced his martial arts training early, starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu between the ages of five and seven. His initial foray into martial arts was guided by his grandfather, Alcides Goes, who was a respected judo master. At the age of twelve, Góes was introduced to the esteemed Carlson Gracie Team, an experience that deeply resonated with him. He developed a profound passion for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, dedicating himself fully to the sport and embracing it as his professional path. In addition to Jiu-Jitsu, Góes also pursued training in kickboxing and earned a black belt in judo, broadening his martial arts repertoire.
2.2. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Achievements
Allan Góes achieved significant milestones in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, earning his black belt from Carlson Gracie himself at the age of eighteen. By the time he was nineteen, he had amassed an impressive competitive record in Jiu-Jitsu, participating in over 200 fights with only one recorded loss. His dominance in the sport is further highlighted by his achievement of becoming an 8-time Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Champion and winning over 30 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, showcasing his exceptional skill and dedication to the "Gentle Art" (Arte SuavePortuguese). After establishing a remarkable Jiu-Jitsu career, Góes transitioned to the United States to pursue professional mixed martial arts.
3. Mixed Martial Arts Career
Allan Góes embarked on a professional mixed martial arts career that saw him compete across various major promotions, establishing himself as a formidable grappling specialist in the sport.
3.1. Debut and Early Career
Góes made his professional mixed martial arts debut in 1995 for the Japanese promotion Pancrase, where he faced Frank Shamrock on May 13. The bout proved to be a highly controversial draw. Góes initiated the grappling exchanges with a takedown, which Shamrock quickly countered. From the bottom, Góes twice attempted a Kimura lock and, after securing top position, delivered ground and pound. Shamrock responded with a sweep and applied an ankle lock, but Góes reversed, attempting a rear naked choke. During this sequence, a controversial moment occurred when Góes allegedly refused to release the choke even after Shamrock utilized a rope escape, as per Pancrase rules, leading to Góes receiving a yellow card from the referee. Shamrock later claimed that Góes also used an eye-gouge during the choke attempt, unnoticed by the referee. As the match continued, Shamrock repeatedly attacked Góes's legs with ankle locks and heel hooks, severely dislocating Góes's ankle and forcing him to use his own rope escape. Góes finished the bout attempting another rear naked choke from Shamrock's back, but the fight was ultimately ruled a draw on points.
Following his debut, Allan Góes participated in several MMA events across the United States between 1995 and 1997. During this period, he secured a TKO victory over Anthony Macias and submitted Todd Bjornethun and Matt Andersen via triangle choke. In 2000, Góes played a pivotal role in establishing the Brazilian Top Team, a new martial arts team founded with his former training partners.
3.2. Major Promotions
Allan Góes's career included significant engagements with major mixed martial arts organizations, where he faced some of the sport's most prominent figures.
His tenure in the UFC began at UFC 17 on May 15, 1998, where he entered a tournament with the intention of challenging for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. His first opponent was Dan Henderson. Góes started the match by dropping Henderson with a punch, but Henderson quickly countered with a heel hook attempt. Henderson then began to land effective ground and pound from inside Góes's guard, causing a bloody nose. The fight concluded with Henderson delivering several punches in overtime, earning him a unanimous decision victory over Góes. The match was not without controversy, as referee John McCarthy stopped Góes from locking in a rear naked choke after an illegal kick to a downed Henderson occurred. Góes later claimed in an interview that Henderson was losing consciousness in his hold when the referee intervened, and he protested the application of the rules at that moment.
After his run in the UFC, Góes returned to Japan to compete in PRIDE Fighting Championships. His debut in PRIDE was against the legendary Kazushi Sakuraba at PRIDE 4 on October 11, 1998. For much of the fight, Góes utilized a defensive guard from his back, effectively throwing upkicks and threatening with various submission attempts. He successfully fended off Sakuraba's aggression and repeatedly took his back, seeking rear naked chokes, though he was unable to secure a finish. In the second round, he narrowly avoided an armbar attempt from Sakuraba. The final round saw Góes attain a dominant position and come close to securing another choke, while also exchanging kicks with Sakuraba from the ground. As the rules of the bout did not include judge decisions, the match was declared a draw.
Another high-profile contest for Góes in PRIDE was against Hammer House founder Mark Coleman at PRIDE 13 on March 25, 2001. Outweighed by approximately 30 lb (13.6 kg), Góes attempted a capoeira spinning kick before shooting for a takedown. Coleman defended the takedown and landed two knee strikes, the second of which knocked Góes unconscious, followed by three more knees that prompted the referee to stop the fight. Moments after the stoppage, while still under the effects of the KO, Góes, believing the match was ongoing, attacked Coleman, leading to a brief brawl. However, the situation was quickly defused, and both fighters left on friendly terms.
Góes also competed in other PRIDE events. At PRIDE 8 on November 21, 1999, he defeated Carl Malenko via arm-triangle choke. On June 4, 2000, at PRIDE 9, he secured a unanimous decision victory over Vernon White. His final appearance in PRIDE was at PRIDE 18 on December 23, 2001, where he suffered a TKO loss to Alex Stiebling due to knees and punches in the third round.
3.3. Later Career and IFL
The latter part of Allan Góes's fighting career included engagements in various promotions, notably with the IFL. On May 16, 2003, he defeated Carlos Lima via armbar at Meca World Vale Tudo 8 in Curitiba, Brazil. However, on December 18, 2003, he suffered a TKO loss due to retirement against Gustavo Machado at Heat FC 2: Evolution in Natal, Brazil.
On May 7, 2005, Góes competed at Rumble on the Rock 7 in Honolulu, Hawaii, defeating Chris West via kneebar. He then joined the IFL as a member of the Seattle Tiger Sharks. During his time in the IFL, he notably submitted Devin Cole with a guillotine choke on September 9, 2006, at IFL: Portland in Portland, Oregon. He secured a TKO victory over Daniel Gracie on November 2, 2006, at the IFL World Championship Semifinals, also in Portland. His winning streak continued with a TKO victory over Homer Moore on April 7, 2007, at IFL: Moline in Moline, Illinois. His final professional mixed martial arts bout was on June 1, 2007, at IFL: Everett in Everett, Washington, where he lost to Alex Schoenauer via KO from a punch.
4. Post-Retirement Activities
Since retiring from professional fighting, Allan Góes has remained deeply involved in the martial arts community, contributing through various roles and ventures. He owns and operates Carlson Gracie Legacy - Jiu Jitsu & MMA by Allan Goes, a martial arts school located in Laguna Niguel, California. He is also recognized as one of the founders of TUVA International, an organization also known as TUVA Gear. Furthermore, Góes works as a Color Commentator for LFA Brasil, providing expert analysis for mixed martial arts events. He actively shares his extensive knowledge and experience by conducting martial arts seminars across the globe.
5. Personal Life
Allan Góes is currently in a relationship and is a father to four children. Beyond his public career in martial arts, he maintains a private family life.
6. Mixed Martial Arts Record
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 10-5-2 | Alex Schoenauer | KO (punch) | IFL: Everett | June 1, 2007 | 1 | 3:00 | Everett, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 10-4-2 | Homer Moore | TKO (punches) | IFL: Moline | April 7, 2007 | 2 | 2:56 | Moline, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 9-4-2 | Daniel Gracie | TKO (punches) | IFL: World Championship Semifinals | November 2, 2006 | 2 | 1:03 | Portland, Oregon, United States | |
| Win | 8-4-2 | Devin Cole | Submission (guillotine choke) | IFL: Portland | September 9, 2006 | 1 | 2:05 | Portland, Oregon, United States | |
| Win | 7-4-2 | Chris West | Submission (kneebar) | Rumble on the Rock 7 | May 7, 2005 | 1 | 0:41 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| Loss | 6-4-2 | Gustavo Machado | TKO (retirement) | Heat FC 2: Evolution | December 18, 2003 | 1 | N/A | Natal, Brazil | |
| Win | 6-3-2 | Carlos Lima | Submission (armbar) | Meca 8: Meca World Vale Tudo 8 | May 16, 2003 | 1 | 7:50 | Curitiba, Brazil | |
| Loss | 5-3-2 | Alex Stiebling | TKO (knees and punches) | PRIDE 18 | December 23, 2001 | 3 | 0:47 | Fukuoka, Japan | |
| Loss | 5-2-2 | Mark Coleman | KO (knees) | PRIDE 13 | March 25, 2001 | 1 | 1:19 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 5-1-2 | Vernon White | Decision (unanimous) | PRIDE 9 | June 4, 2000 | 2 | 10:00 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| Win | 4-1-2 | Carl Malenko | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | PRIDE 8 | November 21, 1999 | 1 | 9:16 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 3-1-2 | Kazushi Sakuraba | Draw | PRIDE 4 | October 11, 1998 | 3 | 10:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 3-1-1 | Dan Henderson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 17 | May 15, 1998 | 1 | 15:00 | Mobile, Alabama, United States | |
| Win | 3-0-1 | Todd Bjornethun | Submission (triangle choke) | EF 4: Extreme Fighting 4 | March 28, 1997 | 1 | 0:30 | Des Moines, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 2-0-1 | Matt Andersen | Submission (triangle choke) | EC 3: Extreme Challenge 3 | February 15, 1997 | 1 | 5:59 | Davenport, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 1-0-1 | Anthony Macias | TKO (submission to punches) | EF 3: Extreme Fighting 3 | October 18, 1996 | 1 | 3:52 | Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Draw | 0-0-1 | Frank Shamrock | Draw | Pancrase: Eyes Of Beast 4 | May 13, 1995 | 1 | 10:00 | Urayasu, Japan |