Ricardo Arona

Ricardo Arona
Born (1978-07-17) July 17, 1978
Niteroi, Brazil
Other names The Brazilian Tiger
Nationality Brazilian
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Division Light Heavyweight (205 lb)
Fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Team Brazilian Top Team[1]
Rank Black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Years active 2000–2009 (MMA)
Mixed martial arts record
Total 19
Wins 14
By knockout 2
By submission 3
By decision 9
Losses 5
By knockout 3
By decision 2
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Competitor for  Brazil
Grappling
ADCC
2000 Abu Dhabi -99 kg
2001 Abu Dhabi -99 kg
2001 Abu Dhabi Absolute

Ricardo Arona (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁiˈkaʁdu aˈʁõnɐ]; born July 17, 1978) is a retired Brazilian mixed martial artist. He has competed in PRIDE Fighting Championships and RINGS in his mixed martial arts career, and was a member of Brazilian Top Team. He is the former RINGS Middleweight Championship, as well as the 2001 RINGS Middleweight Championship Tournament Winner, and 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix Runner-Up. In submission wrestling, he holds an undefeated record of 13-0, never losing a single point in a match, and is a three-time ADCC Champion.[2] He has notable wins on some of the greatest Mixed Martial Artist of all time, Kazushi Sakuraba, Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson.

Background

Arona was born in Niteroi, Brazil and trained in Judo and Karate before transitioning into Brazilian jiu-jitsu after seeing a Vale Tudo fight at the age of 13. Arona came to Carlson Gracie at the age of 18 when he was a purple belt and would go on to win numerous titles in submission wrestling.[2]

Mixed martial arts career

Abu Dhabi and RINGS

Ricardo Arona's popularity came from competing in the Olimpo's Combat Club submission wrestling competitions, where he won an open weight tournament as well as the 92 kg (202 pound) tournament. Arona is the only competitor in Abu Dhabi to have won a championship and to be undefeated so far plus also not losing a single point in any match. ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship.

Soon after Abu Dhabi Combat Club, Arona joined RINGS, a Japanese mixed martial arts promotion. Arona's only loss in RINGS came at the hands of Fedor Emelianenko. Fedor later went on to become Pride Fighting Championships' Heavyweight Champion. After losing to Fedor, Arona won his last three fights in RINGS.

PRIDE Fighting Championships

After being noticed in RINGS, Arona was offered a contract to join PRIDE Fighting Championships. Arona started his career in PRIDE strong winning his first three fights against Guy Mezger, Dan Henderson and Murilo Rua. He then lost his fourth fight to Quinton Jackson in a spectacular knockout from a slam. Arona claimed that an illegal headbutt he received by Jackson at the end of the slam was what knocked him out. Four months later, Arona returned to PRIDE and won his next 3 fights. On April 23, 2005, Arona entered PRIDE's Middleweight (205 lbs) Grand Prix. Arona won his first fight in the tournament against Dean Lister by unanimous decision.

In the 2nd round of the Grand Prix, he won, in controversial fashion, his fight against the Japanese fighter Kazushi Sakuraba via TKO (Doctor Stoppage). During the second round, Arona kicked Sakuraba on the face after an attempted double-leg takedown. When Sakuraba turned away, Arona again kicked him in the face, the Brazilian’s toenail slashing open the skin above his left eye. Sakuraba eventually pulled guard, but Arona took his right hand, squeezed Sakuraba’s cut and dug his finger into it.[3]

His semifinal match, against rival Wanderlei Silva, was held on August 28, 2005. Arona surprised everyone when he defeated Silva, who was the PRIDE Middleweight Champion at the time, by decision handing Silva his first middle weight defeat in PRIDE. After defeating Silva, Arona advanced to finals where he faced rising MMA fighter Maurício "Shogun" Rua. In a dominant performance, Rua defeated Arona by knockout by hammerfists to the face in the first round.

On December 31, 2005 Ricardo Arona fought Wanderlei Silva for a second time, this time for the Middleweight Championship. Ricardo Arona lost the match in a split decision.

On September 10, 2006 Arona faced Alistair Overeem. After withstanding the initial attack from Overeem, Arona landed an inside leg kick, injuring his opponent's leg and making him drop to the ground. Arona quickly overwhelmed Overeem on the ground by blanketing him and showed complete domination throughout the bout. He continued his assault until Overeem tapped out from a barrage of strikes.

Arona claims he suffered from a dengue hemorrhagic fever,[4] going into his fight against Sokoudjou on April 8, 2007 at PRIDE 34 and because of it, he was knocked out by Sokoudjou in just under 2 minutes.

Post-PRIDE

After his loss to Sokoudjou, Arona's comeback fight against UFC veteran Marvin Eastman was canceled due to an injury that Eastman suffered during training. The fight with Eastman was rescheduled and took place at Bitetti Combat MMA 4 on September 12, 2009. Arona won the fight via unanimous decision.

In June 2014, Arona was offered a contract by Bellator MMA. However, he refused it and cited wanting to be one hundred percent physically healthy before recommitting to MMA as his reason.[5]

Personal life

During his free time Arona skates, rock climbs and surfs to keep himself in shape.

Championships and Accomplishments

Grappling credentials

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 14–5 Marvin Eastman Decision (unanimous) Bitetti Combat MMA 4 September 12, 2009 3 5:00 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Loss 13–5 Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou KO (punch) PRIDE 34 April 8, 2007 1 1:59 Saitama, Japan
Win 13–4 Alistair Overeem Submission (punches) Pride FC - Final Conflict Absolute September 10, 2006 1 4:28 Saitama, Japan
Loss 12–4 Wanderlei Silva Decision (split) PRIDE Shockwave 2005 December 31, 2005 3 5:00 Saitama, Japan For the Pride Middleweight Championship.
Loss 12–3 Maurício Rua KO (punches) PRIDE Final Conflict 2005 August 28, 2005 1 2:54 Saitama, Japan 2005 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix Final.
Win 12–2 Wanderlei Silva Decision (unanimous) PRIDE Final Conflict 2005 August 28, 2005 2 5:00 Saitama, Japan 2005 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix Semifinal.
Win 11–2 Kazushi Sakuraba TKO (corner stoppage) PRIDE Critical Countdown 2005 June 26, 2005 2 5:00 Saitama, Japan 2005 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal.
Win 10–2 Dean Lister Decision (unanimous) PRIDE Total Elimination 2005 April 23, 2005 3 5:00 Osaka, Japan 2005 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix Opening Round.
Win 9–2 Sergey Ignatov Submission (rear-naked choke) PRIDE 28 October 31, 2004 1 9:05 Saitama, Japan
Loss 8–2 Quinton Jackson KO (slam and punches) PRIDE Critical Countdown 2004 June 20, 2004 1 7:32 Saitama, Japan
Win 8–1 Murilo Rua Decision (unanimous) PRIDE 23 November 24, 2002 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 7–1 Dan Henderson Decision (split) PRIDE 20 April 28, 2002 3 5:00 Yokohama, Japan
Win 6–1 Guy Mezger Decision (split) PRIDE 16 September 24, 2001 3 5:00 Osaka, Japan
Win 5–1 Gustavo Machado TKO (leg kick and punches) RINGS: 10th Anniversary August 11, 2001 1 1:29 Tokyo, Japan Wins 2001 RINGS Middleweight Championship Tournament. Became inaugural RINGS Middleweight Champion.
Win 4–1 Jeremy Horn Decision (majority) RINGS: 10th Anniversary August 11, 2001 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan RINGS Middleweight Championship Tournament Semifinals.
Win 3–1 Hiromitsu Kanehara Submission (kneebar) RINGS: World Title Series 2 June 15, 2001 2 0:53 Yokohama, Japan
Loss 2–1 Fedor Emelianenko Decision (unanimous) RINGS: King of Kings 2000 Block B December 22, 2000 3 5:00 Osaka, Japan
Win 2–0 Jeremy Horn Decision (split) RINGS: Millennium Combine 3 August 23, 2000 2 5:00 Osaka, Japan
Win 1–0 Andrei Kopylov Decision (unanimous) RINGS: Millennium Combine 1 April 20, 2000 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan

Submission grappling record

KO PUNCHES
Result Opponent Method Event Date Record Notes
WinUnited States Mark Kerr Points ADCC 2003 Superfight 2003 13-0
WinBrazil Jean Jacques Machado Points ADCC 2001 Absolute Division 2001 12-0 Final; Wins ADCC Absolute Championship
WinBrazil Vitor Belfort Points ADCC 2001 Absolute Division 2001 11-0 Semi-Finals
WinBrazil Saulo Ribeiro Points ADCC 2001 Absolute Division 2001 10-0 Quarter-Finals
WinUnited States Roger Neff Submission ADCC 2001 Absolute Division 2001 9-0 Opening Round
WinBrazil Ricardo Almeida Points ADCC 2001 Under 99KG 2001 8-0 Final; Wins ADCC Under 99KG Championship
WinNorway Jon Olav Einemo Points ADCC 2001 Under 99KG 2001 7-0 Semi-Finals
WinBrazil Renato Sobral Points ADCC 2001 Under 99KG 2001 6-0 Quarter-Finals
WinUkraine Ruslan Mashurenko Points ADCC 2001 Under 99KG 2001 5-0 Opening Round
WinUnited States Jeff Monson Points ADCC 2000 Under 99KG 2000 4-0 Final; Wins ADCC Under 99KG Championship
WinUnited States Tito Ortiz Points ADCC 2000 Under 99KG 2000 3-0 Semi-Finals
WinRussia Kareem Barkalev Points ADCC 2000 Under 99KG 2000 2-0 Quarter-Finals
WinJapan Hiromitsu Kanehara Submission ADCC 2000 Under 99KG 2000 1-0 Opening Round

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Fight Finder: Ricardo Arona". Sherdog. 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-15.
  2. 1 2 http://www.bjjheroes.com/bjj-fighters/ricardo-aronas-fighter-profile
  3. ↑ http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/6/Sherdogs-Top-10-Dirtiest-Deeds-90817
  4. ↑ Arona talks about defeat to fans
  5. ↑ Fernando Arbex (2014-06-11). "Ricardo Arona refused Bellator's offer, needs to be physically fit to fight again". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
  6. ↑ http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Sherdogcom-Names-147Shogun148-Gomi-2005-Fighters-of-the-Year-3783

External links

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