Vagner Rocha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | June 6, 1982|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other names | Ceará | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residence | Pembroke Pines, Florida | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Division | Featherweight (2012-present) Lightweight (2011) Welterweight (2009-2011) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reach | 73 in (185 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stance | Orthodox | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fighting out of | Pembroke Pines, Florida, United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | Vagner Rocha Martial Arts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank | 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years active | 2009–2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mixed martial arts record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wins | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By knockout | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By submission | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By decision | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Losses | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By knockout | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By submission | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By decision | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last updated on: May 18, 2010 |
Vagner Rocha (born June 6, 1982, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is a Brazilian-American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and former professional mixed martial artist, who competed in the lightweight division.
He is the current Combat Jiu-Jitsu Worlds lightweight champion. [1]
Primarily known for his expertise in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, [2] Rocha began his MMA career in 2009. In addition to regional promotions in his adopted state of Florida, Rocha has competed for Bellator and Strikeforce.
Vagner made his UFC debut on June 11, 2011, against Donald Cerrone at UFC 131, replacing an injured Mac Danzig. [3] Cerrone dominated Rocha by utilizing leg kicks, Rocha lost via unanimous decision.
In his second UFC bout, Rocha defeated Cody McKenzie on September 17, 2011 at UFC Fight Night 25. Rocha submitted McKenzie via rear naked choke in the second round. [4]
Rocha was expected to make his featherweight debut against Mike Brown on January 15, 2012, at UFC on FX 1. [5] However, Brown was forced from the bout with an injury. Rocha instead made his featherweight debut against Jonathan Brookins on February 15, 2012, at UFC on Fuel TV 1. [6] He lost the fight via KO in the first round. After the loss to Brookins, Rocha was subsequently released from the promotion. [7]
Rocha faced Mike Bruno on November 2, 2012, at Fight Time 12. Rocha won the fight by submission due to a triangle choke in the second round.
Rocha faced Kamrin Naville on February 15, 2013, at Fight Time 13. Rocha won the fight by unanimous decision.
Rocha faced J. P. Reese on April 26, 2013, at Fight Time 14. Rocha won the fight by submission in the fifth round.
Rocha faced journeyman Randy Barroso on August 23, 2013, at Fight Time 16. Rocha won the fight by submission in the first round.
On April 20, 2014, it was announced that Rocha would return at UFC 172 to replace Yancy Medeiros, who shifted in the card to face Jim Miller, against Joe Ellenberger. [8] However, Rocha suffered a last-minute training injury and the bout was removed from the card. [9]
Rocha faced Jake Matthews on November 8, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 55. [10] He lost the fight due to technical submission in the second round.
Rocha was expected to face promotional newcomer Joseph Duffy on March 14, 2015, at UFC 185. [11] However, Rocha pulled out of the bout in early February citing injury and was replaced by Jake Lindsey. [12] Rocha was subsequently released from the promotion. [13]
Rocha competed against Xande Ribeiro in a superfight at BJJ Bet on September 6, 2020, and the pair fought to a draw. [14] He then fought Gabriel Almeida in the co-main event of Fight 2 Win 157 on November 14, 2020, submitting him with an inside heelhook and earning 'Submission of the Night'. [15] For his final match of the year, he was booked against Jon 'Thor' Blank at Who's Number One on December 11, 2020. [16] In the end, Rocha won by split decision. [17]
On January 16, 2021, Rocha was scheduled to face William Tackett in the main event of Fight 2 Win 160, [18] but had to withdraw due to undisclosed reasons. He returned to competition on February 19, 2021, in the main event of Fight 2 Win 164 against Yuri Simões and defeated him by decision. [19] He was then scheduled to compete against Gordon Ryan in the main event of Who's Number One on March 26, 2021. [20] Rocha lost the match by submission, tapping to a triangle choke. [21] He returned to Who's Number One on May 28, 2021, to face Josh Hinger and won a decision against him. [22]
Rocha received an invite to compete at the 2022 ADCC World Championship as a result of his silver medal in 2019. [23] Rocha went 3–1 at the event and won a bronze medal in the 88 kg division. [24] On December 4, 2022, Rocha fought in a Combat Jiu-Jitsu superfight against Ty Freeman at Subversiv 8, submitting him with a rear-naked choke. [25]
Rocha was handed a three-year suspension from IBJJF competition by USADA as a result of refusing to submit a sample for testing on December 23, 2022. [26]
Rocha was then invited to compete in an openweight tournament at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 4 on June 29, 2023. [27] Rocha defeated Fellipe Andrew in the opening round but lost to the eventual winner, Nick Rodriguez, in the semi-final. [28]
Rocha competed at the Tough Roll Winter Grand Prix on June 29, 2023, winning a decision against Uros Silic. [29]
Rocha was booked to compete against Victor Silveiro at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 5 on December 10, 2023. [30] He won the match by submission with a rear-naked choke. [31]
Rocha competed against Luke Griffith in the first Pit Submission Series event on January 26, 2024. [32] He beat Griffith by decision. [33] He then competed at the ADCC Atlantic City Open on February 10, 2024 and won gold in the under 91kg division. [34]
Rocha faced Nicholas Meregali in the main event of Who's Number One 23 on May 10, 2024. [35] He lost the match by submission. [36]
Rocha was invited to compete in the under 88kg division of the 2024 ADCC World Championship. [37] He beat Jeremy Skinner, Jonnatas Gracie, and Elijah Dorsey by decision before being submitted by Micael Galvão in the final and winning a silver medal. [38] He also entered the men's absolute division, where he beat Fabricio Andrey in the opening round and was submitted by Giancarlo Bodoni in the quarter-final. [39]
He is married, has 2 children, and currently resides in Pembroke Pines, Florida where he teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Vagner Rocha Martial Arts. [42]
Both Rocha's son Achilles and his daughter Jasmine train under him and both are frequent competitors in primarily no-gi grappling. Jasmine is a black belt in BJJ & his son Achilles is a purple belt.
18 matches | 14 wins | 4 losses |
By knockout | 3 | 1 |
By submission | 8 | 1 |
By decision | 3 | 2 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 14–4 | Yoislandy Izquierdo | Decision (unanimous) | Fight Time 35: A New Era | February 17, 2017 | 5 | 5:00 | Miami, Florida, United States | Defended the Fight Time Lightweight Championship. |
Win | 13–4 | Rafael Alves | TKO (leg kicks) | Fight Time 32 | August 12, 2016 | 3 | 2:36 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Defended the Fight Time Lightweight Championship. |
Win | 12–4 | Gabriel Miranda | TKO (punches) | Fight Time 30 | April 22, 2016 | 1 | 4:35 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Won the Fight Time Lightweight Championship. |
Loss | 11–4 | Jake Matthews | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Bisping | November 8, 2014 | 2 | 1:52 | Sydney, Australia | |
Win | 11–3 | Randy Barroso | Submission (triangle choke) | Fight Time 16: Rocha vs. Barroso | August 23, 2013 | 1 | 3:09 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Defended the Fight Time Lightweight Championship. |
Win | 10–3 | J. P. Reese | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Fight Time 14: This Means War! | April 26, 2013 | 5 | 2:18 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Defended the Fight Time Lightweight Championship. |
Win | 9–3 | Kamrin Naville | Decision (unanimous) | Fight Time 13: MMA Kings | February 15, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Non-title bout. |
Win | 8–3 | Mike Bruno | Submission (triangle choke) | Fight Time 12: Warriors Collide | November 2, 2012 | 2 | 0:53 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Won the Fight Time Promotions and ISKA Lightweight Championship. |
Loss | 7–3 | Jonathan Brookins | KO (punches) | UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger | February 15, 2012 | 1 | 1:32 | Omaha, Nebraska, United States | Featherweight debut. |
Win | 7–2 | Cody McKenzie | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger | September 17, 2011 | 2 | 3:49 | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | |
Loss | 6–2 | Donald Cerrone | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 131 | June 11, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | |
Win | 6–1 | Jacob Clark | Submission (armbar) | MFA: New Generation 5 | May 7, 2011 | 1 | 2:32 | Miami, Florida, United States | Lightweight debut. |
Loss | 5–1 | Bret Bergmark | Decision (unanimous) | Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum | June 26, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | San Jose, California, United States | |
Win | 5–0 | Francisco Soares | TKO (punches) | Bellator 13 | April 8, 2010 | 2 | 2:07 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | |
Win | 4–0 | Patrick Mikesz | Submission (armbar) | Action Fight League: Rock-N-Rumble 2 | March 5, 2010 | 1 | 2:10 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | |
Win | 3–0 | Renato Puente | Submission (armbar) | NDC 1: Peru vs. American Top Team | October 17, 2009 | 1 | 1:06 | Lima, Peru | |
Win | 2–0 | Igor Gracie | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 11 | June 12, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
Win | 1–0 | Alan Arzeno | Submission (rear-naked choke) | XCF: Rumble in Racetown 1 | February 14, 2009 | 1 | 0:42 | Daytona Beach, Florida, United States |
Demian Augusto Maia Baptista is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist, submission grappler and 5th degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt.
Kron Gracie is a Brazilian and American mixed martial artist, submission grappler, and instructor.
Roberto de Abreu Filho is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) competitor, academy owner and instructor. A 7-time World No-Gi Champion, Abreu is known for his trademark Tornado Guard position which involves inverting underneath the opponent and elevating them into a sweep.
Rafael Lovato Jr. is an American retired mixed martial artist and former Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor. At the time of his original retirement, he was the Bellator MMA Middleweight World Champion and was ranked the no. 4 middleweight fighter in the world.
Gordon Ryan is an American submission grappler and first-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, considered by many to be the greatest no–gi grappler of all time due to his many accomplishments. Ryan is a 7-time ADCC Submission wrestling world champion, two-time IBJJF No-Gi World champion and a four-time Eddie Bravo Invitational champion.
Felipe Carsalade Araujo Pena is a Brazilian Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and two-time ADCC world champion.
Davi Ramos is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioner who competes in the Lightweight division of Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA). He is ranked #9 in the ACA Lightweight rankings. A professional since 2010, he most notably competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Nicholas Meregali is a Brazilian submission grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt competitor. A multiple time world, Pan, European and Brazilian champion at colored belts, Meregali is a 3x IBJJF black belt World Champion and a 2x ADCC World medallist.
Michael Musumeci Jr. is an American submission grappler and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt competitor.
Nicholas Pete Rodriguez commonly known as Nicky Rod, is an American professional submission grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) athlete.
Craig Benjamin Jones is an Australian grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt competitor and coach. An IBJJF World No-Gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion as a white belt, Jones is a two-time ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship silver medalist and a three-time Polaris Pro Grappling champion. Jones trains out of Austin, Texas, and is the head of B Team Jiu-Jitsu.
Kade Ruotolo is an American submission grappler and black belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete. A competitor with his twin brother Tye since the age of 3, Ruotolo is a IBJJF World champion, Pan Am and European Open champion at every coloured belt level. Promoted to black belt in December 2021, Ruotolo won the 2022 ADCC World Championship in the 77 kg division, becoming at age 19 the youngest-ever ADCC Submission Fighting World champion. Ruotolo is signed to ONE Championship where he is the current lightweight submission grappling champion.
Diogo Reis is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt athlete. A competitor since childhood, Reis is a European Open, Brazilian Nationals, Pan and World Champion in the juvenile and lower belt divisions, completing an IBJJF Grand Slam in 2019. Reiss is a 2022 ADCC World Submission Fighting Champion and a black belt 2022 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship medallist.
Giancarlo Bodoni is an American submission grappler and Brazilian jiujitsu black belt competitor from Miami, Florida. A multiple time World, Pan and European championships medallist in colored belts, Bodoni is the 2021 Pan No-Gi heavyweight champion and the 2022 ADCC Submission Fighting World Champion in the 88 kg division.
Haisam Rida is a Ghanaian submission grappler and black belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor. A two-time Asian Open Champion and three-time JBJJF All Japan Champion in lower belt divisions, Rida is an ADCC 2022 Veteran and a black belt Pan-American No-GI silver medallist.
Kaynan Casemiro Duarte is a Brazilian submission grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt competitor. Duarte is a four-time champion at the ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship and two-time champion at the World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship in the Heavyweight division.
Josh Hinger is an American submission grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt competitor as well as former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. Hinger is three-time champion at the World No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship and a Bronze Medalist at the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship.
Lucas Daniel Silva Barbosa, commonly known as Lucas 'Hulk' Barbosa, is a Brazilian mixed martial artist (MMA), submission grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt competitor.
Tye Ruotolo is an American submission grappler and black belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete. A competitor with his twin brother Kade since the age of 3, Ruotolo is currently the youngest IBJJF World champion at black belt level in the history of the sport. At the 2019 ADCC World Championship, Ruotolo as a 16-year-old was the youngest competitor to participate in the competition and also to reach the semi-finals where he eventually came fourth place. Following promotion to black belt in December 2021, Ruotolo became a two division Who's Number One (WNO) champion, world champion at the 2022 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship and a bronze medalist at the 2022 ADCC World Championship.
Matheus Oliveira Diniz is a Brazilian submission wrestler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt competitor. His most notable achievement is winning the 2019 ADCC World Championship in the Middleweight division as well as being a medalist at the IBJJF World Championships in both Gi and No-Gi formats.