Meet Our Instructors

Born in Brazil, Professor Carlos Diego Ferreira has dedicated his life to martial arts. His journey began with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where years of disciplined training developed the foundation that would eventually take him from the mats to the highest level of professional mixed martial arts.

Diego made his UFC debut in 2014 and has spent more than a decade competing in the UFC Lightweight Division. Throughout his career, he has earned victories over respected fighters including Anthony Pettis, Michael Johnson, Mateusz Rębecki, and most recently Billy Quarantillo. In August 2026, Diego defeated Quarantillo by unanimous decision in the UFC co-main event in Las Vegas, earning Fight of the Night honors after landing a career-high 144 significant strikes.

Today, Diego brings that same experience, discipline, and passion to Team Ferreira. As the founder, owner, and Head Professor, his goal is to create an environment where students of every level can learn, grow, challenge themselves, and become stronger both on and off the mats. For Diego, martial arts is about more than competition, it is about family, discipline, respect, and building a community that grows together.

Coach Ricardo "Ric" Avendano brings more than 20 years of training and coaching experience to Team Ferreira. With a background in boxing and striking, Coach Ric has spent years developing athletes at both the amateur and professional levels, including approximately eight years in the amateur ranks followed by more than a decade of professional experience.

Coach Ric has been part of Diego Ferreira's journey since 2011, before Diego captured the Legacy Fighting Championship Lightweight Title and long before Team Ferreira became what it is today. Through the years, he has remained a trusted coach, mentor, and important part of the Team Ferreira family.

At Team Ferreira, Coach Ric teaches boxing to both kids and adults, focusing on strong fundamentals, offensive and defensive striking, movement, awareness, and well-rounded technique. What he enjoys most is watching his students improve, gain confidence, and genuinely enjoy the process of learning. His goal is not only to teach students how to strike, but to help them become smarter, more confident, and more capable every time they step into the gym.

Jerry Cavazos is the Head Coach at Team Ferreira's McAllen location and an active MMA fighter. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Diego Ferreira, Jerry brings over a decade of experience in BJJ, competition, and coaching.

His focus is on developing disciplined, confident athletes while building a strong, competitive, and welcoming team culture.

Sue Cavazos is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt, active competitor, and ambassador for Girls in Gis. With nearly a decade of experience in BJJ, she is passionate about coaching, competition, and helping others grow both on and off the mats.

She especially loves building up the women's BJJ community and creating a supportive, empowering environment where women can challenge themselves, build confidence, and grow stronger together.

Coach Carlos Garza is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt with four years of training experience and two years of coaching at Team Ferreira. An avid competitor throughout every belt rank, Carlos brings both technical knowledge and firsthand competition experience to the students he works with.

At Team Ferreira, Carlos assists with the Little Champs and Kids BJJ classes. Teaching has always been something he enjoys, from working at summer camps to leading teams and clubs during college. That experience has shaped the way he connects with young students and helps them learn in a positive, encouraging environment.

For Carlos, coaching is about much more than learning Jiu-Jitsu. His goal is to help students develop discipline, confidence, respect, and other important lessons they can carry with them into school and everyday life. He believes the mats are a place where kids can grow not only as athletes, but also as individuals.

Outside of the gym, Carlos enjoys building and launching model rockets and is working toward certification flights.

Coach Issac Vasquez is a seasoned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt with over seven years of dedicated training and four years of specialized youth coaching experience. Known for his tactical approach and calm demeanor, Issac excels at breaking down complex grappling mechanics into easily digestible lessons for his students.

At Team Ferreira, Issac leads advanced youth classes and teen grappling modules. He places a heavy emphasis on positional awareness, technical chaining, and building solid defensive mindsets on the mat.

Coaching is about cultivating mental fortitude and leadership qualities. His goal is to help students develop unstoppable resilience, sharp problem-solving skills, and a lifelong passion for martial arts.

Outside of the gym, Issac enjoys studying historical combat strategies, cycling, and volunteering as a youth mentor in community athletic programs.