Roberto Traven | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Born | Roberto Traven September 16, 1968 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other names | Spider | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residence | Atlanta, Georgia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Division | Heavyweight | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Style | Brazilian jiu-jitsu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | Roberto Traven BJJ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank | 7th deg. BJJ coral belt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mixed martial arts record | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wins | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By knockout | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By submission | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By decision | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Losses | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By knockout | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By submission | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By decision | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Draws | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Roberto "Spider" Traven (born September 16, 1968) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) Coral Belt [1] practitioner. He is a former ADCC Absolute Champion, IBJJF World Champion, and UFC veteran. Traven is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the global BJJ community, known for both his competitive achievements and his coaching legacy. [2]
Traven was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 16 under Romero "Jacaré" Cavalcanti, [3] founder of Alliance Jiu-Jitsu. He earned his black belt in just four years, training alongside future legends such as Fábio Gurgel, [4] Léo Vieira, [5] and Eduardo "Jamelão" da Conceição. [6] His natural talent and dedication led him to train three times a day, enabling him to quickly rise through the ranks. He was promoted to Corel Belt (7th degree black) [1] on July 10, 2021. There are only approximately 50 to 60 living BJJ coral belts worldwide. [2]
Traven made his MMA debut at UFC 11 in 1996, defeating Dave Berry by TKO. He later faced Frank Mir at UFC 34, [14] losing via armbar in the first round. His professional MMA record stands at 6 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw, with victories in promotions such as UFC, Rings, and IAFC. [7]
11 matches | 6 wins | 4 losses |
By knockout | 2 | 2 |
By submission | 2 | 1 |
By decision | 2 | 1 |
Draws | 1 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
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Loss | 6–4–1 | John Salter | KO (punches) | Adrenaline MMA 3 | June 13, 2009 | 1 | 2:15 | Birmingham, Alabama, United States | |
Draw | 6–3–1 | Yukiya Naito | Draw | Warriors Realm 3 | March 15, 2005 | 3 | 5:00 | Brisbane, Australia | |
Loss | 6–3 | Elvis Sinosic | KO (punch) | Warriors Realm 1 | September 3, 2004 | 2 | 0:35 | Queensland, Australia | |
Loss | 6–2 | Frank Mir | Submission (armbar) | UFC 34 | November 2, 2001 | 1 | 1:05 | Las Vegas, Nevada | |
Loss | 6–1 | Dave Menne | Decision (unanimous) | Rings: King of Kings 2000 Block A | October 9, 2000 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
Win | 6–0 | Mikhail Borissov | Decision (unanimous) | Rings: King of Kings 2000 Block A | October 9, 2000 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
Win | 5–0 | Gueorguiev Tzvetkov | Decision (majority) | Rings: Millennium Combine 2 | June 15, 2000 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
Win | 4–0 | Maxim Tarasov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Absolute Fighting Championship 2 | April 30, 1997 | 1 | 2:47 | Moscow, Russia | Won IAFC 2 Day 1 Tournament |
Win | 3–0 | Leonid Efremov | TKO (submission to punches) | Absolute Fighting Championship 2 | April 30, 1997 | 1 | 2:54 | Moscow, Russia | |
Win | 2–0 | Artyom Vilgulevsky | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Absolute Fighting Championship 2 | April 30, 1997 | 1 | 2:28 | Moscow, Russia | |
Win | 1–0 | Dave Berry | TKO (submission to strikes) | UFC 11 | September 20, 1996 | 1 | 1:23 | Augusta, Georgia, United States |
Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Gi/No-Gi | Date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | Jefferson Moura | Submission (Triangle) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - -94 kg Division semi finals | Gi | 2003 | [15] |
Win | Charles Faria | Points | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - -94 kg Division first round | Gi | 2003 | [15] |
Loss | Tom Erickson | N/A | ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - +99 kg first round | No-Gi | 2001 | [16] |
Loss | Mario Cruz | Points | ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - Absolute Division first round | No-Gi | 2001 | [16] |
Loss | Mario Sperry | Points | ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - Super Fight | No-Gi | 2000 | Silver in ADCC Super Fight [17] |
Win | Hayato Sakurai | Points (2x0) | ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - Absolute Division finals | No-Gi | 1999 | Wins Gold in Absolute [18] |
Win | Garth Taylor | Points (5x0) | ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - Absolute Division semi finals | No-Gi | 1999 | [18] |
Win | Luis Roberto | Points (6x0) | ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - Absolute Division quarter finals | No-Gi | 1999 | [18] |
Win | Fabiano Capoane | Points (2x0) | ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - Absolute Division first round | No-Gi | 1999 | [18] |
Loss | Jeff Monson | Points (0x3) | ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - +99 kg Division semi finals | No-Gi | 1999 | [18] |
Win | Jurie Rachel | Submission | ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship - +99 kg Division first round | No-Gi | 1999 | [18] |
Win | Andre Marques | N/A | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - +100 kg Division semi finals/ finals | Gi | 1999 | Wins Second Gold [15] |
Win | Minotauro Nogueira | Points | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - +100 kg Division quarter finals | Gi | 1999 | [15] |
Win | John Machado | Points (10x0) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - +100 kg Division finals | Gi | 1998 | Wins First Gold [15] |
Win | Otavio Duarte | Penalty | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - +100 kg Division semi finals | Gi | 1998 | [15] |
Win | Roberto Godoi | N/A | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) - +100 kg Division quarter finals | Gi | 1998 | [15] |
Notable Black Belts Associated with Roberto Traven
Many of Traven’s black belts are instructors at Team Octopus locations or affiliated academies across the U.S., especially in the Southeast. [23]