UFC Black Belts

[OmaPlata]

Judo holds their own also and so did the wrestlers.

Karo just got worked by a BJJ black belt, his throws looked good but were ineffective against the brilliant ground game of a BJJ black belt. Though Karo against regular MMA guys, like wrestlers, he tosses them around like kindergarden children

[Hardball]

Dan "The Beast" Severn ate up BJJ Black belts in Fact, If Kimo ( BB TKD) had not worn a pony tail--he would have beat Royce in the Early days of UFC. Try to stay on topic and discuss UFC Black Belts of any system.

[7r14ngL3Ch0k3]

Karo just got worked by a BJJ black belt, his throws looked good but were ineffective against the brilliant ground game of a BJJ black belt. Though Karo against regular MMA guys, like wrestlers, he tosses them around like kindergarden children

Its very funny you mention that because..........Diego Sanchez is not a BJJ Blackbelt. In fact, he has only been training in BJJ for about 4 years. But he had wrestled since middle school and he became the best wrestler at his weight in New Mexico at the end of his HS career.

[Hardball]

Some one said above that Diego is a Black Belt in Gaido Jutsu

[OmaPlata]

]Dan "The Beast" Severn ate up BJJ Black belts[/B] in Fact, If Kimo ( BB TKD) had not worn a pony tail--he would have beat Royce in the Early days of UFC. Try to stay on topic and discuss UFC Black Belts of any system.

LOL, yeah, he really ate up that 178lb guy named Royce gracie, Royce OWNED Severn and was outweighted by over 100lbs. Kimo is a BJJ black belt

[Hardball]

LOL, yeah, he really ate up that 178lb guy named Royce gracie, Royce OWNED Severn and was outweighted by over 100lbs. Kimo is a BJJ black belt

At the time Kimo fought Royce he was not a BJJ black belt. Back then he was only a TKD Black belt. That was incredible how Royce beat the Beast, I will always be a Royce fan.

[OmaPlata]

Its very funny you mention that because..........Diego Sanchez is not a BJJ Blackbelt. In fact, he has only been training in BJJ for about 4 years. But he had wrestled since middle school and he became the best wrestler at his weight in New Mexico at the end of his HS career.

I thought he had a BJJ blackbelt?? eitherway, he is the equivolent, he competes in the ADCC with BJJ blackbelts and competes in the black belt division at those grappling competetions similar to grapplers quest. On the Spike tv show they said he was a BJJ black belt, and that was last year or 2 years ago (so it must be more than 4 years of BJJ), and he owned Florian who was a BJJ black belt. After watching his fight with Diaz and his ADCC fights, the guy is awesome on the ground

[Hardball]

I thought he had a BJJ blackbelt?? eitherway, he is the equivolent, he competes in the ADCC with BJJ blackbelts and competes in the black belt division at those grappling competetions similar to grapplers quest. On the Spike tv show they said he was a BJJ black belt, and that was last year or 2 years ago (so it must be more than 4 years of BJJ), and he owned Florian who was a BJJ black belt. After watching his fight with Diaz and his ADCC fights, the guy is awesome on the ground

I think Kimo is now but back around UFC 1 or 3 he was TKD BB. But you gotta remember that was the early 90's, he's had plenty of years to acquire the BJJ Black Belt.

[WildWest.]

Its disputed Kimo was ever actually a TKD BB. Also Gary Goodridge was billed as a Kuk Sool Won BB in UFC 9 (I think) yet he was not. This type of false BB billing happened a few times in the early UFC's in order to "spice" up the hype for the competition. As we all know holding a BB rank does NOT mean you are a good fighter.
You will need to do some more in depth research regarding the fighters BB rankings.

[Hardball]

Its disputed Kimo was ever actually a TKD BB. Also Gary Goodridge was billed as a Kuk Sool Won BB in UFC 9 (I think) yet he was not. This type of false BB billing happened a few times in the early UFC's in order to "spice" up the hype for the competition. As we all know holding a BB rank does NOT mean you are a good fighter.
You will need to do some more in depth research regarding the fighters BB rankings.

Goes to show that if you are confident, then a Black Belt is not necessary to compete--even if you are competing against Black Belts. In the early days of UFC many Black Belts wore their ghi's and belts into the ring. It was kind of embarassing to be laying on the floor asleep (from being Ko'd) with a Black Belt around your waist. In my system and lineage--Black Belt just means you are ready to teach others, It has very little to do with your fighting ability. Of course, there are a few exceptions. IE. The Badasses

[WildWest.]

Goes to show that if you are confident, then a Black Belt is not necessary to compete--even if you are competing against Black Belts. In the early days of UFC many Black Belts wore their ghi's and belts into the ring. It was kind of embarassing to be laying on the floor asleep (from being Ko's) with a Black Belt around your waste. In my system and lineage--Black Belt just means you are ready to each others, It has very little to do with your fighting ability. Of course, there are a few exceptions. IE. The Badasses

Very true. Confidence, aggression, will to win, determination etc are probably the most important "skills" you can take into a fight or street brawl. There will always be exceptions though. Somebody with superior skill and a mixture of the aforementioned will do very well in conflict, all things being equal.
I think the early UFC's had so many people advertised as BB's because the general public has always assumed a BB means you are a good fighter rather than it being a grade attained by regularly training and learning techniques. Like I said in an earlier post, it was promoted to spice up the competition. As we know people who have trained in MT, wrestling, boxing etc were there are no grades are still very good fighters and don't need the title Black Belt to show it or prove it.

[Hardball]

Very true. Confidence, aggression, will to win, determination etc are probably the most important "skills" you can take into a fight or street brawl. There will always be exceptions though. Somebody with superior skill and a mixture of the aforementioned will do very well in conflict, all things being equal.
I think the early UFC's had so many people advertised as BB's because the general public has always assumed a BB means you are a good fighter rather than it being a grade attained by regularly training and learning techniques. Like I said in an earlier post, it was promoted to spice up the competition. As we know people who have trained in MT, wrestling, boxing etc were there are no grades are still very good fighters and don't need the title Black Belt to show it or prove it.

I guess the strategy worked because the UFC is a Hot Commodity!!! It was interesting to see all those different systems going at it with no weight classes. Somebody mentioned Tank Abbott above. He didn't care what your credentials were, he came to brawl. LOL I remember this little 135lbs japanese fighter submitting a giant even after both of his eyes were closed in previous bouts.

[JkD187]

I guess the strategy worked because the UFC is a Hot Commodity!!! It was interesting to see all those different systems going at it with no weight classes. Somebody mentioned Tank Abbott above. He didn't care what your credentials were, he came to brawl. LOL I remember this little 135lbs japanese fighter submitting a giant even after both of his eyes were closed in previous bouts.

Im glad you mentioned this Harball you really know your stuff.His name is Yuki Nakai and he is a Shooto living legend....he was 5'6 135lbs and has to fight in the Japan open weight Vale Tudo Tournament 95 against A 6'3 230lb Savate fighter in Gerard Gordeau(made it the finals in UFC 1)and in the match Nakai was badly eye gouged and permenetly lost sight in that eye but still managed to Heel Hook him for the win.Then he faced 6'5 320lb Wrestler Craig Pittman and was getting grounded and pounded to the point where BOLTH of his eyes were closed completely shut and he had bruises and was bleeding and still managed to win via armbar from the guard.He then had to face Rickson Gracie in the finals of the tornament....he put up a good fight but was submitted by a rear naked choke.A few years later he was interviewed and revealed he was blind in one eye due to his first fight and he kept it a secret so people wouldnt think MMA was a savage sport.A bad ass dude indeed....Yuki retired from MMA shortly after and was dubbed a Shooto legend...he now regulary competes in black belt bjj tourneys and actually won the world championships and the muindials multi times even beating Ricardo De La Hiva...he now owns 26 of his own schools all over Japan named Paraestra and he is the mentor and instructor of current Shooto Middleweight Champion(170lbs)Shinya Aoki who is a fantasic fighter and just fought in Pride Bushido 12 winning by Triangle choke in 1:58 of the first round against Jason Black(20-2 record now from Miletich's team)

[Hardball]

Im glad you mentioned this Harball you really know your stuff.His name is Yuki Nakai and he is a Shooto living legend....he was 5'6 135lbs and has to fight in the Japan open weight Vale Tudo Tournament 95 against A 6'3 230lb Savate fighter in Gerard Gordeau(made it the finals in UFC 1)and in the match Nakai was badly eye gouged and permenetly lost sight in that eye but still managed to Heel Hook him for the win.Then he faced 6'5 320lb Wrestler Craig Pittman and was getting grounded and pounded to the point where BOLTH of his eyes were closed completely shut and he had bruises and was bleeding and still managed to win via armbar from the guard.He then had to face Rickson Gracie in the finals of the tornament....he put up a good fight but was submitted by a rear naked choke.A few years later he was interviewed and revealed he was blind in one eye due to his first fight and he kept it a secret so people wouldnt think MMA was a savage sport.A bad ass dude indeed....Yuki retired from MMA shortly after and was dubbed a Shooto legend...he now regulary competes in black belt bjj tourneys and actually won the world championships and the muindials multi times even beating Ricardo De La Hiva...he now owns 26 of his own schools all over Japan named Paraestra and he is the mentor and instructor of current Shooto Middleweight Champion(170lbs)Shinya Aoki who is a fantasic fighter and just fought in Pride Bushido 12 winning by Triangle choke in 1:58 of the first round against Jason Black(20-2 record now from Miletich's team)

Thanks, you bring fond memories of that brave little guy. Sorry to hear he was blinded in that fight, I had no idea---although I'm not suprised because he was beat to a pulp. I remember that arm bar, though, I thought it was from upside down verticle position. Glad to hear he has his own school. That guy was guts in UFC 1. Do you know what his belt rank was at UFC 1?

[grappler-jordan]

Im glad you mentioned this Harball you really know your stuff.His name is Yuki Nakai and he is a Shooto living legend....he was 5'6 135lbs and has to fight in the Japan open weight Vale Tudo Tournament 95 against A 6'3 230lb Savate fighter in Gerard Gordeau(made it the finals in UFC 1)and in the match Nakai was badly eye gouged and permenetly lost sight in that eye but still managed to Heel Hook him for the win.Then he faced 6'5 320lb Wrestler Craig Pittman and was getting grounded and pounded to the point where BOLTH of his eyes were closed completely shut and he had bruises and was bleeding and still managed to win via armbar from the guard.He then had to face Rickson Gracie in the finals of the tornament....he put up a good fight but was submitted by a rear naked choke.A few years later he was interviewed and revealed he was blind in one eye due to his first fight and he kept it a secret so people wouldnt think MMA was a savage sport.A bad ass dude indeed....Yuki retired from MMA shortly after and was dubbed a Shooto legend...he now regulary competes in black belt bjj tourneys and actually won the world championships and the muindials multi times even beating Ricardo De La Hiva...he now owns 26 of his own schools all over Japan named Paraestra and he is the mentor and instructor of current Shooto Middleweight Champion(170lbs)Shinya Aoki who is a fantasic fighter and just fought in Pride Bushido 12 winning by Triangle choke in 1:58 of the first round against Jason Black(20-2 record now from Miletich's team)

For those who would actually like to see those fights, if you buy Rickson Gracies' "Choke" DVD. The tournament on that DVD is the one Yuki Nakai competes in, he is truly inspiring... The fight against Gordeau was just brutal but he never gave in. Same thing with Pittman, I will never forget the shot of him walking through the halls after the Pittman match, both eyes completely shut, they had to lead him to his locker room and he looks at the camera and says "I'm coming for you Rickson...", thats balls. I never knew he lost his sight from that eye gouge though, thanks for the continued info Jkd. I did read that his protege (Aoki) beat Jason Black though, I would like to see that fight...