Today we’d like to introduce you to Hemerson Souza.
Hi Hemerson , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Hemerson “Toco” Souza, founder of Black Lion MMA in Texas and a professional MMA athlete.
My martial arts journey began in childhood through Capoeira, training with my father, who was an instructor in Brazil. At the age of 12, I transitioned to Muay Thai and quickly fell in love with the sport. Over the years, I competed in numerous Muay Thai and Kickboxing matches before making my MMA debut at the age of 20.
Since then, I have built a career not only as a professional fighter but also as a coach. I have had the opportunity to work in the corner and help prepare athletes who compete in major organizations such as the UFC, PFL, Dirty Boxing, and various regional promotions.
A life-changing moment came during the 2020 pandemic. While the world was at a standstill, I accompanied Francisco Trinaldo to the historic UFC Fight Island event in Abu Dhabi. That experience inspired me to pursue new challenges and ultimately led me to the decision to build my future in the United States.
I arrived in this country with a dream: to finish my fighting career competing at a high level while building a lasting legacy through martial arts. I worked hard for more than two years before I was able to bring my family from Brazil and establish Black Lion MMA, a gym that now helps children, teenagers, and adults transform their lives through sports and martial arts.
After spending five years away from MMA competition, I returned to the cage. I earned the National Kickboxing Runner-Up title and, in 2026, made my return to professional MMA with a first-round knockout victory.
Today, my focus is to continue growing as an athlete while helping develop the next generation of fighters. Through Black Lion MMA, I have the opportunity to share everything I have learned during more than two decades dedicated to martial arts, helping new talent pursue and achieve their own dreams.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Throughout my journey, I have faced many challenges that helped shape the person I am today.
Starting over from scratch in another country was one of the biggest. When I arrived in the United States, I left behind everything I had built in Brazil. I had no gym, no students, and had to rebuild my life from the ground up, creating every opportunity through hard work, persistence, and determination.
The language barrier was another major challenge. When I first arrived in the United States, I did not speak English. Unlike many people, I did not have the opportunity to attend school to learn the language. Instead, I learned through daily life—by talking with students, friends, and people who believed in me. I am extremely grateful to everyone who took the time to correct me, teach me, and support me throughout that process. Today, I am able to teach classes, run my business, and communicate confidently in English because of their support and my commitment to learning.
Being separated from my family was another difficult chapter. For more than two years, I worked in the United States while my wife and son remained in Brazil. There were moments of loneliness, uncertainty, and sacrifice, but I knew I was working toward a better future for all of us.
Balancing my career as both an athlete and a business owner has also required tremendous effort. While working to grow Black Lion MMA, I continued training, coaching, and pursuing my own goals inside the sport.
Finally, returning to MMA competition after five years away from the cage was an important personal challenge. After such a long break, I had to regain my rhythm, confidence, and prove to myself that I could still compete at a high level. My return ended with a first-round knockout victory, which made the experience even more meaningful.
Looking back, I believe every challenge served a purpose. They taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of never giving up on my goals, even when the path ahead seems impossible.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a professional MMA athlete, coach, and the founder of Black Lion MMA in Texas.
My career has always been centered around martial arts. For more than two decades, I have dedicated my life to training, competing, and helping others grow through combat sports. I specialize in MMA, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and athlete development, working with everyone from beginners taking their first class to competitors pursuing professional careers.
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to coach and corner athletes competing in major organizations such as the UFC, PFL, Dirty Boxing, and numerous regional promotions. While I am proud of my accomplishments as a fighter, including my return to professional MMA in 2026 with a first-round knockout victory, I take just as much pride in helping other athletes achieve their goals.
Today, my primary focus is Black Lion MMA. What started as a dream after moving to the United States has grown into a community where children, teenagers, and adults can build confidence, discipline, and resilience through martial arts. Watching students develop both on and off the mats is one of the most rewarding parts of my career.
What sets me apart is that I have experienced every side of this journey. I have been a student, a competitor, a coach, an immigrant starting over from scratch, and now a business owner. Because of those experiences, I understand the challenges that athletes and students face, and I am able to connect with them on a deeper level.
The achievement I am most proud of is not a title or a victory in competition. It is building a life and a business that positively impacts others. Through Black Lion MMA, I have the opportunity to share the lessons martial arts taught me—discipline, perseverance, respect, and hard work—and help people become stronger both inside and outside the gym.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was always very active and energetic. Sports quickly became a major part of my life, and martial arts gave me a positive direction from a young age. Through Capoeira, training alongside my father, I learned important values such as discipline, respect, and perseverance.
As a child and teenager, I was naturally competitive and determined. Once I set a goal for myself, I worked hard to achieve it. When I discovered Muay Thai at the age of 12, I became completely dedicated to training and improving. Martial arts soon became more than a hobby—it became a passion and eventually my life’s work.
I was never someone who was afraid of hard work. Whether it was training, competing, or overcoming challenges, I always believed that consistent effort could overcome obstacles. Those lessons became even more important as I grew older and faced the challenges of building a career in combat sports.
At the same time, I have always valued loyalty, family, and community. Many of the relationships I built through martial arts became lifelong friendships and mentors who helped shape my character. Those experiences taught me that success is not achieved alone and that surrounding yourself with the right people makes a huge difference.
Looking back, I believe the qualities that defined me growing up—determination, resilience, discipline, and a strong work ethic—are the same qualities that continue to guide me today as an athlete, coach, husband, father, and business owner.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blacklionmma.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacklionmma23?igsh=NzdyeW1lMGFvdndo&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1KsCFNMYiw/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@blacklionmma23?si=wcJD-tLJak6Px9zd
