Daniel Manasoiu
PurpleBiography
Daniel Manasoiu is an American submission grappler known for his imposing size, exceptional athleticism, and a surprisingly technical, guard-oriented style. Despite competing in the heavyweight division, he is well known for favoring advanced guard play, intricate leg entanglements, and modern lower-body submission systems, making him one of the most unique and dynamic big men in the sport.
Manasoiu rose to prominence under coach John Danaher, training alongside Gordon Ryan as part of the Danaher Death Squad before continuing with the group following its rebrand into Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu. He gained rapid recognition on the professional circuit through dominant performances at events such as UFC FPI and WNO. He also won the ADCC Trials and went on to secure a bronze medal in the +99kg division at the 2024 ADCC World Championships.
Known for combining heavyweight pressure with a highly developed guard game, Manasoiu routinely attacks from guard using inside position to enter irimi ashi garami or cross ashi garami, transitioning directly into his breaking mechanics. His size, technical depth, and rapidly improving competitive success have established him as one of the most dangerous rising heavyweights in modern no-gi grappling.
Personal
* Legend status is reserved for retired athletes with outstanding achievements and a lasting impact on the sport.
Rankings
Submissions Breakdown
| Submission | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| Inside heel hook | 6 | 0 |
| Straight ankle lock | 4 | 0 |
| Kata gatame | 4 | 1 |
| Outside heel hook | 3 | 0 |
| Smother | 3 | 0 |
| Rear naked | 2 | 2 |
| Rear triangle | 1 | 0 |
| Dogbar | 1 | 0 |
| Inside Heel Hook | 1 | 0 |
| Heel hook | 1 | 0 |
| EBI Overitme | 0 | 1 |
| Americana | 0 | 1 |
| Opponent | Result | Date | Event | Method | Weight | Round | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haisam Rida | Win | 2025 | ADCC | Kata gatame | +99KG | Quarter-Finals | 375 |
| Kaynan Duarte | Loss | 2025 | AIGA Champions League Final | Decision | Quintet | Finals | — |
| Josh Saunders | Win | 2024 | ADCC | Straight ankle lock | +99KG | — | 356 |
| Luke Griffith | Loss | 8/17/2024 | ADCC | Kata gatame | +99KG | Semi-Finals | — |
| Haisam Rida | Win | 8/17/2024 | ADCC | Kata gatame | +99KG | Quarter-Finals | 356 |
| Mark Macqueen | Win | 8/17/2024 | ADCC | Points: 6-0 | +99KG | 16 | 309 |
| Ryan Aitken | Loss | 6/2/2024 | EBI 21 | EBI Overtime | Absolute | Finals | — |
| Ryan Aitken | Loss | 6/2/2024 | EBI 21 | Rear naked | Absolute | Finals | — |
| Giancarlo Bodoni | Win | 6/2/2024 | EBI 21 | Heel hook | Absolute | Semi-Finals | 190 |
| Ramiro Leon | Win | 6/2/2024 | EBI 21 | Straight ankle lock | Absolute | Quarter-Finals | 76 |
| Jesseray Childrey | Win | 6/2/2024 | EBI 21 | Inside heel hook | Absolute | 16 | 57 |
| Pedro Alex | Loss | 3/2/2024 | ADXC 3 | Decision | Unknown | — | — |
| Max Gimenis | Loss | 1/26/2024 | Karate Combat | Points | Absolute | — | — |
| Abraham La Montagne | Win | 2024 | ADCC Open Long Beach | Unknown | Absolute | Finals | 30 |
| Victor Hugo | Loss | 12/10/2023 | UFC FPI 5 | Americana | Absolute | — | — |
| Antonio Asseff | Win | 10/20/2023 | ADXC 1 | Inside Heel Hook | Unknown | — | 30 |
| Damon Ramos | Win | 10/15/2023 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Smother | +99KG | Finals | 298 |
| Amir Allam | Win | 10/15/2023 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Kata gatame | +99KG | Semi-Finals | 170 |
| Cody Gamble | Win | 10/15/2023 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Outside heel hook | +99KG | Quarter-Finals | 30 |
| Bradley Burkett | Win | 10/15/2023 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Smother | +99KG | 16 | 21 |
| Matthew Kramer | Win | 10/15/2023 | ADCC Trials - East Coast North America | Smother | +99KG | 32 | 17 |
| Nick Rodriguez | Loss | 6/29/2023 | UFC FPI 4 | EBI Overitme | Absolute | Finals | — |
| Fedor Nikolov | Win | 6/29/2023 | UFC FPI 4 | Dogbar | Absolute | Semi-Finals | 170 |
| Gabriel Arges | Win | 6/29/2023 | UFC FPI 4 | Outside heel hook | Absolute | Quarter-Finals | 68 |
| David Garmo | Loss | 2023 | ADCC Open Canada | Points: 8-0 | Absolute | Semi-Finals | — |
| Austin Baker | Win | 11/5/2022 | Emerald City 5 | Inside heel hook | Absolute | — | 1 |
| Maxime Cote | Win | 11/5/2022 | Emerald City 5 | Rear naked | Absolute | — | 1 |
| Kyle Myers | Win | 11/5/2022 | Emerald City 5 | Decision | Absolute | — | 1 |
| Victor Hugo | Loss | 9/17/2022 | ADCC | Points: 3-0 | +99KG | 16 | — |
| Tristan Overvig | Win | 7/14/2022 | WNO | Inside heel hook | Absolute | — | 319 |
| Enrico Cocco | Draw | 7/3/2022 | UFC FPI 2 | N/A | Absolute | — | 17 |
| Andy Varela | Draw | 7/3/2022 | UFC FPI 2 | N/A | Absolute | — | 17 |
| James Krause | Win | 7/3/2022 | UFC FPI 2 | Rear naked | Absolute | — | 68 |
| Joe Solecki | Win | 7/3/2022 | UFC FPI 2 | Straight ankle lock | Absolute | — | 68 |
| Andrew Tackett | Loss | 2022 | WNX | Rear naked | Absolute | Quarter-Finals | — |
| Breylor Grout | Win | 5/18/2022 | WNX | Outside heel hook | Absolute | 16 | 21 |
| Muslim Patsarigov | Win | 5/7/2022 | ADCC Trials - Europe | Kata gatame | +99KG | Finals | 298 |
| Francis Pana | Win | 5/7/2022 | ADCC Trials - Europe | Points: 3-0 | +99KG | Semi-Finals | 170 |
| Aidan Woodley | Win | 5/7/2022 | ADCC Trials - Europe | Straight ankle lock | +99KG | Quarter-Finals | 30 |
| Adam Mazur | Win | 5/7/2022 | ADCC Trials - Europe | Inside heel hook | +99KG | 16 | 21 |
| Kyle Boehm | Loss | 4/3/2022 | ADCC Trials - West Coast North America | Penalty | +99KG | Finals | — |
| Damon Ramos | Win | 4/3/2022 | ADCC Trials - West Coast North America | Inside heel hook | +99KG | Semi-Finals | 170 |
| Michael Pezzuto | Win | 4/3/2022 | ADCC Trials - West Coast North America | Inside heel hook | +99KG | Quarter-Finals | 30 |
| Jesseray Childrey | Win | 4/3/2022 | ADCC Trials - West Coast North America | Points: 6-0 | +99KG | 16 | 21 |
| Chris Warren | Win | 4/3/2022 | ADCC Trials - West Coast North America | Rear triangle | +99KG | 32 | 17 |
| Kaynan Duarte | Loss | 2022 | Subversiv 7 | Decision | Absolute | Semi-Finals | — |
| Elder Cruz | Loss | 2021 | Subversiv 5 | Decision | Absolute | Quarter-Finals | — |