Gregory Rodrigues

Last updated
Gregory Rodrigues
BornGregory Felipe Santos Rodrigues [1]
(1992-02-17) February 17, 1992 (age 32)
Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
Other namesRobocop
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Division Middleweight
Reach75 in (191 cm) [2]
Fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Florida, U.S.
TeamX-Gym (formerly) [3]
Usina de Campeões (formerly) [3]
Black House (2018–2020) [3] [4]
Kings MMA (2020–2021) [4]
Kill Cliff FC (2021–present) [5]
RankBlack belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu [6] under Henrique Machado [3]
Years active2014–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total20
Wins15
By knockout10
By submission3
By decision2
Losses5
By knockout3
By decision2
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Gregory Felipe Santos Rodrigues (born February 17, 1992) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is an eight-time National BJJ Champion. He was the Smash Global MMA Middleweight Champion and former Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) Middleweight Champion.

Contents

Background

Born in Porto Velho, Gregory came to Manaus when he was still four months old. He was introduced to martial arts since he was five years old, starting out with capoeira, before migrating to jiu-jitsu at 8 years old and eventually becoming a black belt under Senseí Henrique Machado, who was also Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza’s jiu-jitsu coach. He became an eight-time national jiu-jitsu champion, jiu-jitsu world champion, and professional world champion in Abu Dhabi. He also trained in Olympic wrestling with professor Waldeci, joining the Brazilian wrestling cadet team and becoming the runner-up at Pan American wrestling championships in Nicaragua. In 2014, he moved to Rio de Janeiro to start his professional MMA career. [6] [7] [8]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Starting his professional career in 2014, Rodrigues went 7–2 fighting mostly on the Brazilian regional scene, picking up wins in promotions such as ACB, where he picked up a first-round TKO victory at ACB 73 and winning the Smash Global Middleweight title also picking up a unanimous decision win at LFA 71. [9]

He was invited to compete against Jordan Williams at Dana White's Contender Series 33 on September 15, 2020. He lost the fight via first-round knockout. [10]

He would make his return to LFA, entering the four-man tournament for the LFA Middleweight Championship. In the first round, Rodrigues faced Al Matavao at LFA 102, where he knocked Matavao out in the second round. [11] In the finals at LFA 108, Rodrigues stopped Josh Fremd within a round to claim the vacant LFA Middleweight Championship. Within days off the victory, Rodrigues was asked to compete in the UFC on short notice. [12] [13]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Rodrigues, as a replacement for Maki Pitolo, faced Duško Todorović on June 5, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai. [14] He won the bout via unanimous decision. [15]

Rodrigues faced Jun Yong Park on October 23, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori. [16] He won the fight via knockout in round two. [17] This fight earned him Fight of the Night award. [18]

Rodrigues faced Armen Petrosyan on February 26, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs. Green. [19] He lost the fight via controversial split decision. [20] 10 out of 14 media outlets scored the fight for Rodrigues. [21]

Rodrigues faced Julian Marquez, replacing Wellington Turman, on June 18, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 37. [22] He won the bout in the first round via knockout. [23] This win earned him his first Performance of the Night award. [24]

Rodrigues faced Chidi Njokuani on September 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 210. [25] He won the fight via technical knockout in round two. [26] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award. [27]

Rodrigues was scheduled to face Brad Tavares on January 21, 2023, at UFC 283. [28] However, Tavares withdrawn from the bout due to an injury, [29] and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Brunno Ferreira. [30] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round. [31]

Rodrigues faced Denis Tiuliulin on August 19, 2023, at UFC 292. The bout was originally set for June 24, 2023, at UFC on ABC 5, but was postponed after Tiuliulin withdrew due to undisclosed reasons. [32] [33] He won the bout via knockout in round one. [34]

Rodrigues faced Brad Tavares on February 10, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 236. [35] He won the bout by technical knockout in the third round. [36]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
20 matches15 wins5 losses
By knockout103
By submission30
By decision22
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win15–5 Brad Tavares TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer February 10, 202430:55 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win14–5Denis TiuliulinKO (elbows) UFC 292 August 19, 202311:43 Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Loss13–5Brunno FerreiraKO (punch) UFC 283 January 21, 202314:13 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win13–4 Chidi Njokuani TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Song September 17, 202221:27 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesFight of the Night.
Win12–4 Julian Marquez KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Emmett June 18, 202213:18 Austin, Texas, United StatesPerformance of the Night.
Loss11–4 Armen Petrosyan Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs. Green February 26, 202235:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win11–3 Park Jun-yong KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori October 23, 202123:13 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesFight of the Night.
Win10–3 Duško Todorović Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai June 5, 202135:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win9–3Josh FremdKO (punches) LFA 108 May 21, 202112:20 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United StatesWon the vacant LFA Middleweight Championship.
Win8–3Al MatavaoKO (punch) LFA 102 March 19, 202121:02 Shawnee, Oklahoma, United StatesCatchweight (187.4 lb) bout; Rodrigues missed weight.
Loss7–3 Jordan Williams KO (punches) Dana White's Contender Series 33 September 15, 202012:19 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win7–2Brandon HesterKO (body kick)SMASH Global 9December 19, 201913:03 Hollywood, California, United StatesWon the SG Middleweight Championship.
Win6–2Tanner SaracenoDecision (unanimous) LFA 71 July 12, 201935:00 Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Win5–2Edilberto de OliveiraSubmission (armbar)Jaguar Combat 1March 16, 201814:59 Manaus, Brazil
Win4–2Umar GaisumovTKO (punches) ACB 73 October 21, 201712:43 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win3–2Robert ReedTKO (submission to punches)Island Fights 39November 18, 201621:12 Pensacola, Florida, United States
Win2–2Marco AurélioSubmission (heel hook)Face to Face 13March 12, 201620:54 São Gonçalo, Brazil
Loss1–2Renato RangelDecision (split)Face to Face 11April 24, 201535:00 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win1–1Douglas CarvalhoSubmission (armbar)Face to Face 9December 19, 201412:09 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Loss0–1Bruno LopesTKO (punches)Jungle Fight 73September 6, 201411:05 São Paulo, Brazil

[38]

See also

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References

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