Vinny was promoted to Black Belt by his Instructors Vinicius Aieta and Royler Gracie, on the Podium after winning thirteen matches (Ten by Submissions), and take home two Gold Medals in the 2005 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship as a Brown Belt.

In 2007, Vinny would become the first Jiu-Jitsu No Gi World Champion in the Super Heavy Weight Division as a Black Belt.

In 2009, Vinny had an impressive performance in the most prestigious Grappling Tournament in the World, the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, winning 2 Bronze Medals (Under 99 kg Division and Absolute Division).

In 2011, Vinny showed the world that he is the best submission grappler in the world earning a Gold Medal performance against Fabricio Werdum in the final match in the most prestigious Grappling Tournament in the World, the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, (Over 99 kg Division).

On his way to win the Bronze Medal in his weight Division, Vinny beat BJJ World Champion Rodrigo Cavaca (1st Round, Inverted Heel Hook),the 2003 ADCC World Champion and 2x BJJ Absolute World Champion Marcio Cruz(Quarter-Finals, Flying Armbar), ADCC Brazil Trial Winner and MMA Fighter Glover Teixeira (3rd Place Match, Armbar) and Losing by point to the eventual Champion Xande Ribeiro (Semi-Final, Points).

On his run for his second Bronze Medal, Vinny beat the 2005 ADCC Absolute World Champion Dean Lister by Judges Decision, moving on to the Quarter-Finals against the 2X NCAA Wrestler and MMA Prospect Chris Weidman, who he beat by Flying Armbar (His second in the Competition), which put him in the Semi-Final against Braulio Estima, who beat Vinny by points, and became the eventual Absolute Champion

In the 3rd Place match, Vinny used his experience against Gunnar Nelson to score a Takedown in the last few seconds of the over time to guarantee his second Bronze Medal in his first ADCC.