Carlos Eduardo Rocha

Last updated
Carlos Eduardo Rocha
BornCarlos Eduardo Kuhrau
(1984-07-12) July 12, 1984 (age 40)
Cabedelo, Paraíba, Brazil
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)
Division Welterweight
Reach73 in (190 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Hamburg, Germany
TeamDarcio Lira Jiu-Jitsu
Rank3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active1997-present
Mixed martial arts record
Total13
Wins9
By knockout1
By submission8
Losses4
By knockout2
By decision2
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Last updated on: January 18, 2019

Carlos Eduardo Rocha (born July 12, 1984), also known as Carlos Eduardo Rocha, is a Brazilian mixed martial artist.

Contents

Early life

Born an orphan in Cabedelo, Brazil he worked as a dish washer, often sleeping outside, on the street, and on beaches. [1] He started training in martial arts at the age of six and eventually he saved enough money to move to Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.

In Fortaleza, he was taken in by Dárcio Lira, from whom he learned Brazilian jiu-jitsu and earned his black belt. He claims to have won around 50 regional tournaments in Brazil and Germany between 1996 and 2008 before turning to professional mixed martial arts. Before turning pro, he worked as a Jiu-Jitsu instructor and bouncer. [2]

He got his nickname "Tá Danado" (or "The Spaz") because of the herky-jerky way he moved around on the mat when working his jiu-jitsu. His coach would tell him 'Hey kid, stop being so agitated (danado), stay calm.' when he grappled. The term is meant to liken him to the cartoon character Taz. [1]

Mixed martial arts career

In 2008 he traveled to Dresden as a cornerman of German MMA pioneer Andre Balschmieter for an 8-man tournament. When Balschmieter had to pull out due to injury Rocha elected to take his place. Because of numerous injuries, the tournament was dropped to four fighters, and after a quick submission victory over Johannes Kunz, Rocha found himself competing for the Free Fight Alliance (FFA) middleweight title in only his second professional fight. Rocha won the fight by submission, over the far more experienced Steve Mensing, to become FFA Middleweight Champion and was quickly pegged as a rising star in the German MMA circuit. [1] He went on to gain La Onda's Manto Cup in an 8-man, one-night tournament in 2009 and was signed by the UFC soon afterward. [2]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Rocha made his official UFC debut November 13, 2010, at UFC 122: Marquardt vs. Okami. To motivate him, Rocha's manager told him he only had a one-fight contract, and he would need to win to stay in the UFC. [1] He fought TUF 11 runner-up Kris McCray defeating him by kneebar at 2:21 of round 1.

Rocha's next fight came only two months later, on February 5, 2011, at UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort against Jake Ellenberger. [3] Rocha was a replacement for Jon Fitch after Fitch was moved to the UFC 127 main event to fight B.J. Penn. [4] Rocha lost the fight via controversial split decision. The dissenting judge scoring the bout for Rocha drew the ire of commentator Joe Rogan and other members of the press, who cited the 30-27 scoring as "questionable".

After his fight with Ellenberger, Rocha hoped to compete at UFC 134 in Rio pending the results of shoulder [5] and elbow surgery. [6] However, further X-rays showed severe damage in both his right and left elbows, leaving him unable to compete for the rest of 2011. [7] He had hoped to return some time in early 2012, but was unable to schedule a fight. After recovering from surgery he moved to the US and started training with team Black House in Los Angeles, California. [8]

Rocha next faced Mike Pierce on June 8, 2012, at UFC on FX 3. As well as moving to Black House to train for the fight, Rocha claimed that this was the first time in his career that he had a full training camp leading up to a fight. [5] Originally 2 judges scored the fight 30-27 for Pierce, while the 3rd judge inexplicably scored it 30-27 for Rocha. However, it was later announced that the judge, Ric Bays, had scored the fight for the wrong corner and that Pierce had actually won unanimously. [9]

Rocha was released from his UFC contract following his loss to Pierce. [10] After his release Rocha was publicly critical of Pierce for his lack of aggression in the fight, and perceived unwillingness to engage with Rocha. He was also critical of the UFC for releasing him, saying "I had good performances and even so I was cut off. I didn’t expect this.” [11]

Championships and achievements

Grappling

Mixed Martial Arts

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
13 matches9 wins4 losses
By knockout12
By submission80
By decision02
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss9–4 James Terry TKO (punches) Bellator 142: Dynamite 1 September 19, 201514:00 San Jose, California United States
Loss9–3Florent BetorangalTKO (punches)GMC 4: Next LevelJuly 6, 201331:28Gysenberghalle, Herne, Germany
Loss9–2 Mike Pierce Decision (unanimous) UFC on FX: Johnson vs. McCall June 8, 201235:00 Sunrise, Florida, United States
Loss9–1 Jake Ellenberger Decision (split) UFC 126 February 5, 201135:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win9–0 Kris McCray Submission (kneebar) UFC 122 November 13, 201012:21 Oberhausen, Germany
Win8–0Fatih BalciSubmission (arm-triangle choke)GMC 1: The BeginningMay 29, 201013:58 Herne, Germany
Win7–0Artur KadlubekTKO (corner stoppage)La Onda: Manto CupNovember 1, 200915:00 Magdeburg, Germany Won Manto Cup
Win6–0Mihajlo MihnjakSubmission (arm-triangle choke)La Onda: Manto CupNovember 1, 200911:04Magdeburg, Germany
Win5–0David GoldbergSubmission (armbar)La Onda: Manto CupNovember 1, 200911:57Magdeburg, Germany
Win4–0Yasin MengulluogluSubmission (heel hook)8ME: Night of Bang 5December 6, 200822:35 Halle, Germany
Win3–0Jimmy SidoniSubmission (armbar)La Onda: It's ShowtimeOctober 19, 200811:40Magdeburg, Germany
Win2–0Steve MensingSubmission (leglock)FFA: East German Championships 2008July 12, 200811:20 Erfurt, Germany Won FFA European middleweight title
Win1–0Johannes KunzeSubmission (rear-naked choke)FFA: European ChampionshipsMay 17, 200812:18 Dresden, Germany

Submission grappling record

0 Wins (0 Submissions), 1 Losses (1 Submissions), 0 Draws
ResultRec.OpponentMethodEventDivisionDateLocation
Loss0–1 Flag of the United States.svg Benji SilvaSubmission (kneebar)Fight 2 Win 98SuperfightJanuary 19, 2019 Flag of the United States.svg San Jose, California

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renzo Gracie</span> Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and mixed martial artist

Renzo Gracie is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and 7th degree coral belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and coach. A third generation member of the Gracie family, he is the grandson of Gracie jiu-jitsu co-founder Carlos Gracie, grandnephew of Helio Gracie, nephew of Carlos Gracie Jr. and the son of Robson Gracie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johny Hendricks</span> American sport wrestler and mixed martial artist (born 1983)

Johny Hendricks is an American former mixed martial artist and collegiate wrestler. He competed in the welterweight and middleweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and is a former UFC Welterweight Champion.

Murilo Bustamante is a retired Brazilian mixed martial artist and former UFC Middleweight Champion. He is one of the founders of the Brazilian Top Team and is the current leader. In addition to competing for the UFC, he has also fought in PRIDE, making it to the Pride Shockwave 2005 Final, and also fought in Yarennoka!

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lyoto Machida</span> Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter and karateka (born 1978)

Lyoto Carvalho Machida is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and karateka. He formerly competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, as well as a UFC Middleweight Championship title challenger. He most recently competed in Bellator MMA in the Light Heavyweight and Middleweight divisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Gracie</span> Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and mixed martial artist

Roger Gracie is a Brazilian former professional mixed martial artist (MMA) and 5th degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) practitioner and coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Shields</span> American mixed martial artist (born 1979)

Jake Shields is an American mixed martial artist. He was the last Rumble on the Rock Welterweight Champion, the only Elite XC Welterweight Champion, a former Shooto Welterweight Champion and former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion. He also fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) challenging Georges St. Pierre for the UFC Welterweight Championship.

Ricardo Alves Almeida is a Brazilian-American former mixed martial artist and current Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grappler residing in Bordentown, New Jersey. Almeida is a veteran of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, PRIDE Fighting Championships, Grapplers Quest, and a former Middleweight King of Pancrase. In Pancrase he had notable wins over Nate Marquardt and Kazuo Misaki. Almeida trains with and teaches former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar at his longtime Gracie system gym in Robbinsville, NJ. He also trains former UFC Lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and The Ultimate Fighter 19 winner Corey Anderson

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black House (MMA)</span> MMA training facility in Brazil

Black House is a mixed martial arts fighting team and gym based out of Brazil. Opened on November 27, 2006, Black House was started by former Brazilian Top Team member and black belt Carlos Barreto, Jorge Guimarães and Rogério Camões. Guimarães acted as the team's manager and Camões was in charge of the team's training.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demian Maia</span> Brazilian mixed martial artist (born 1977)

Demian Augusto Maia Baptista is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist, submission grappler and 5th degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Drysdale</span> Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter

Robert Lewis Drysdale is a Brazilian-American Brazilian jiu-jitsu 4th degree black belt under Léo Vieira, a retired undefeated mixed martial artist and an instructor at his own BJJ academy. Having won multiple World Championships, he was referred to by Vice magazine as "America's jiu-jitsu superhero", regarded by BJJ Heroes as "the most accomplished American grappler of his generation" and as the best Submission Wrestler in the World by Gracie Magazine.

Braulio de Oliveira Estima is a 4th degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He received his black belt from Carlos Gracie Jr. on January 4, 2004. Throughout his grappling career, he has won in many Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments across the world, such as the Mundials, ADCC, Pan American Championship, and European Championship. His long list of accomplishments has made him well respected among other Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, such that some consider him one of the top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners in the world and one of the head coaches for Gracie Barra U.K.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rousimar Palhares</span> Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter

Rousimar Palhares is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. A professional competitor since 2006, he has competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), World Series of Fighting (WSOF), Fight Nights Global (FNG), and Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW). His nickname Toquinho, Portuguese for "little tree stump", comes from his short, stocky, heavily muscled build and the low success rate his opponents have had in grappling him down to the canvas. Palhares is primarily known for his powerful ground game. Of his 16 submission victories 12 have come from leg locks. He is also known for his refusal to release submission holds when either the opposing fighter has signaled submission or the referee has called a stop to the bout, causing him to be fired by the UFC and WSOF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Ellenberger</span> American mixed martial arts fighter

JakeEllenberger is an American retired mixed martial artist and former United States Marine who was known for competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor from 2005–2018, Ellenberger has also formerly competed for the Quad Cities Silverbacks of the IFL, Bodog Fight, and King of the Cage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bibiano Fernandes</span> Brazilian mixed martial artist

Bibiano Fernandes da Silva Neto is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and black belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) practitioner. He fought in ONE Championship, where he is a former two-time ONE Bantamweight Champion and holds the record for most title fight wins (11) and is tied for most consecutive title defenses (7).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nova União (mixed martial arts)</span> Mixed martial arts training organization in Brazil

Nova União is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) academy and mixed martial arts team located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is one of the top professional MMA training camps. Their BJJ black belts have participated in BJJ, submission grappling and MMA competitions all over the world.

Kron Gracie is a Brazilian and American mixed martial artist, submission grappler, and instructor. He currently competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu</span> Mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym based in Pleasant Hill, California

Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym based in Pleasant Hill, California. The gym features professional fighters who have competed in many major promotions, such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), PRIDE Fighting Championships, DREAM, and Strikeforce.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vagner Rocha</span> Brazilian mixed martial artist

Vagner Rocha is a Brazilian-American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and former professional mixed martial artist, who competed in the lightweight division.

Tom DeBlass is an American Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, submission grappler and mixed martial artist currently signed to ONE Championship. He has competed in the middleweight division for Bellator and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 1 Monkey. "The Budo of Carlos Eduardo Rocha". Two Talking Monkeys. Archived from the original on 2011-03-24. Retrieved April 8, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. 1 2 "Carlos Eduardo Rocha". 14 September 2018.
  3. Tom Ngo (December 1, 2010). "Jake Ellenberger to Face Carlos Eduardo Rocha at "UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort"". 5thround.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. Mike Whitman (November 30, 2010). "Rocha Replaces Fitch Against Ellenberger at UFC 126". Sherdog.com.
  5. 1 2 StudioMMA (April 2, 2012). "Interview with UFC's Carlos Eduardo Rocha". MMANYTT.se.
  6. GnP-TV Staff (April 20, 2011). "Carlos Eduardo Rocha about his injury and his next fight in the UFC (english subs)". GroundAndPoundTV.de.
  7. Marcelo Barone (September 13, 2011). "Carlos Eduardo Rocha fought Ellenberger with "broken elbows"; feels ready to be back to the UFC "like Jon Jones"". Tatame.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012.
  8. Scott Haber (November 29, 2011). "German-based BJJ black belt, Carlos Eduardo Rocha, hasn't fought in". bloodyelbow.com.
  9. "Mike Pierce's split decision win at UFC on FX 3 actually a unanimous nod". mmajunkie.com. June 13, 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-06-15.
  10. Scott Haber (June 28, 2012). "Carlos Eduardo Rocha Released By The UFC". bloodyelbow.com.
  11. Nick Caron (June 30, 2012). "Carlos Eduardo Rocha on UFC Release: "This Is Bullsh--"". BleacherReport.com.