Ricco Rodriguez

Ricco Rodriguez (born August 19, 1977) is an American semi-retired mixed martial artist currently competing in the heavyweight division.

In 1997, Ricco Rodriguez became one of the small group of Americans to win a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, taking the Blue Belt Absolute title.

He took gold in +99 kg in the first ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship in 1998, bronze in the Absolute (open weight) division in 1999 and Silver in the +99 kg category in 2000.

That same year Rodriguez began his MMA career with a win against Rocky Batastini.

He won several of his first matches before losing to Bobby Hoffman at the Superbrawl 13 event in Hawaii.

He later fought in the PRIDE Fighting Championship before moving on to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Rodriguez's first UFC match was at UFC 32 against future UFC Heavyweight Champion and #1 ranked pound for pound fighter in the world Andrei Arlovski which he won by TKO.

He was scheduled to fight Lion’s Den fighter and owner of one of the most vicious knockouts of the time Pete Williams at UFC 33, but the fight was postponed until UFC 34 due to an injury suffered by Williams during training.

Rodriguez went on to beat Williams, Jeff Monson (UFC 35) and Tsuyoshi Kohsaka (UFC 37) to earn a shot for the vacant heavyweight championship against future UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture at UFC 39 becoming the first person of Puerto Rican descent to win the UFC Heavyweight Championship.

Rodriguez was losing on the scorecard in the initial rounds.

In the fifth round Rodriguez was able to achieve a ground-and-pound victory with a stoppage by verbal tapout.

In his first title defense, he was knocked out by 6'8 up and coming striker Tim Sylvia in the first round, thus losing the belt.

Following the end of his UFC contract, Rodriguez fought for a number of regional and national promotions.

A professional competitor since 1999, he has competed for the UFC, PRIDE Fighting Championships, EliteXC, International Fight League, BAMMA, World Extreme Cagefighting, and Bellator.

Ricco is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Mundials World Champion and also an ADCC World Champion.

He is also the former King of the Cage World Heavyweight Champion.

Rodriguez was born in San Jose, CA and grew up in the projects in Paterson, New Jersey.

Rodriguez wrestled at Tottenville High School while living in Staten Island, New York.

He later moved to California and began training in the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with Rigan and Jean Jacques Machado.

He competed and won many Jiu-Jitsu tournaments before moving on to mixed martial arts.

He also gained a significant amount of weight, at one point weighing 350 lb. On July 22, 2006, in a rematch of their August 2005 bout in the WEC, he avenged a loss to Ron Waterman at WFA: King of the Streets.

He fought as a superheavyweight, weighing in at 300 lb, and was quoted as saying "I'm fat but I still got skills."

Following his win against Imani Lee on November 17, 2006, Rodriguez was put under indefinite suspension by the California State Athletic Commission.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that Rodriguez had tested positive for both marijuana and cocaine and was subsequently given a six-month suspension for the failed drug test.

On July 27, 2007, Ricco Rodriguez, in his first fight after his suspension, defeated Lloyd Marshbanks by first-round TKO at MMA Xtreme 13, which was held in Puebla, Mexico.

At the IFL championship finals, he lost to "Big" Ben Rothwell by unanimous decision.

Rodriguez fought in the YAMMA Pit Fighting one-night heavyweight tournament as a late replacement.

He defeated George Bush III in the first round by unanimous decision, but was beaten by eventual champion Travis Wiuff in the semi-finals by unanimous decision.

Ricco Rodriguez was scheduled to replace an injured Kevin Randleman in a rematch of their UFC 35 bout against Jeff Monson at the inaugural Godz of War show.

That event was canceled, however, and the fight was rescheduled for the inaugural Mixed Fighting Alliance (MFA) event, which Rodriguez lost by unanimous decision.

At the 2009 ADCC qualifiers Rodriguez weighed in at a svelte 218 lb, down well over 100 lb from his peak in the mid-2000s.

Rodriguez attributed his weight loss to a renewed focus and partnership with a new nutritional coach and long-time friend, Richard Sicola-Stone.

Rodriguez missed weight for his first attempt at fighting at 205 pounds at the inaugural Israel Fighting Championship event on Nov. 9. He still fought and won his fight over Daniel Tabera, however, and then promptly challenged his friend, Jeff Monson for a rubber match, to a fight at 205 pounds.

Ricco Rodriguez made his BAMMA debut facing The Ultimate Fighter 10 alumni and UFC veteran James McSweeney who was also making his debut for the promotion.

Dana White has claimed if Rodriguez wins this bout he will consider resigning him to the UFC.

Rodriguez missed weight for the fight, weighing in a full 2 pounds over the contracted 215-pound catchweight.

Ricco made his Bellator debut against the man who first defeated the internet superstar Kimbo Slice, Seth Petruzelli at Bellator 48.

He lost the fight via KO (punches) in the first round after getting caught with an overhand right, and ending his 12-fight winning streak.

On April 15, 2013, it was announced that Ricco signed a 3-fight contract for Final Fight Championship.

His first fight for the promotion was at FFC05: Rodriguez vs. Simonič event on May 24.