Robert Drysdale
Encyclopedia
Robert Drysdale (born in Provo
, Utah
) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
black belt and professional mixed martial artist
. Born in the United States
to a Brazilian mother and American father, he moved to Brazil
with his family in 1987 at the age of six. Several years later, as a young man he returned to Las Vegas, Nevada
to begin college. While in the United States, following his growing interest in martial arts, he began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
with Lewis-Perderneiras in 1998. Drysdale made a successful MMA
debut defeating Bastien Huveneers via arm triangle choke.
, Brazil.
While training and competing for Brasa Club he received his Black Belt in 2004 from the famed Leo Vieira. He has competed and taught in various countries around the world, including Germany
, United Kingdom
, Denmark
, Estonia
, Poland
, France
, Sweden
, Finland
, Hungary
, Mexico
, Australia
and New Zealand
; while teaching and hosting seminars in cities across the United States.
Most recently he became the 2007 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship
ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship – Open Division ADCC, submitting Marcelo Garcia.
In early 2008, he returned to the USA where he is currently training with former UFC Champion, Randy Couture
and former Pride Champion Wanderlei Silva
.
Robert Drysdale made his amateur MMA debut with Tuff-N-Uff, winning his fight. Robert Drysdale was introduced on Countdown to UFC 101 as the BJJ coach of former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin
. He was also selected as a coach on TUF season 8 for team Mir.
debut defeating Bastien Huveneers via arm triangle choke. In his next fight, Drysdale faced Clay Davidson, a King of the Cage
veteran who entered the contest riding a six-fight win streak. Drysdale won via armbar in the first round.
|Win
|3–0
|
Mike Nickels
|Submission (Guillotine choke)
|AFC 6
|6/18/2011
|1
|1:04
|Victoria, British Columbia
, Canada
|
|-
|Win
|2–0
|
Clay Davidson
|Submission (Armbar)
|AFC 4 – Revelation
|11/6/2010
|1
|2:54
|Victoria, British Columbia
, Canada
|
|-
|Win
|1–0
|
Bastien Huveneers
|Submission (Arm Triangle Choke)
|AFC 3 – Evolution
|7/17/2010
|1
|1:12
|Victoria, British Columbia
, Canada
|
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
black belt and professional mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
. Born in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to a Brazilian mother and American father, he moved to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
with his family in 1987 at the age of six. Several years later, as a young man he returned to Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
to begin college. While in the United States, following his growing interest in martial arts, he began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
with Lewis-Perderneiras in 1998. Drysdale made a successful MMA
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
debut defeating Bastien Huveneers via arm triangle choke.
Biography
Beginning in the early 1990s, jiu-jitsu began receiving notoriety worldwide and Brazil was quickly becoming the Mecca of jiu-jitsu. Robert returned to Brazil in 2000 to dedicate himself entirely to training, and competing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Over the years he has trained continually, initially with Maromba Club and eventually team Brasa Jiu-Jitsu Club in São PauloSão Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil.
While training and competing for Brasa Club he received his Black Belt in 2004 from the famed Leo Vieira. He has competed and taught in various countries around the world, including Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
; while teaching and hosting seminars in cities across the United States.
Most recently he became the 2007 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship
ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship
The ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship is a competition involving professional athletes who have been successful at the highest levels of jiu-jitsu, wrestling, judo, sambo, shooto and mixed martial arts...
ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship – Open Division ADCC, submitting Marcelo Garcia.
In early 2008, he returned to the USA where he is currently training with former UFC Champion, Randy Couture
Randy Couture
Randy Duane Couture is a retired American mixed martial artist, Greco-Roman wrestler, actor, a three-time former heavyweight champion, two-time former light-heavyweight champion, former interim light heavyweight champion and UFC 13 tournament winner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
and former Pride Champion Wanderlei Silva
Wanderlei Silva
Wanderlei César da Silva , nicknamed "The Axe Murderer", is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, who has competed in Japan's Pride Fighting Championships and the American based Ultimate Fighting Championship . Silva is known for his aggressive fighting style with the majority of his fights ending in...
.
Robert Drysdale made his amateur MMA debut with Tuff-N-Uff, winning his fight. Robert Drysdale was introduced on Countdown to UFC 101 as the BJJ coach of former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin
Forrest Griffin
Forrest Griffin is an American mixed martial artist. He is currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC light heavyweight champion....
. He was also selected as a coach on TUF season 8 for team Mir.
Mixed martial arts
Drysdale made a successful MMAMixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
debut defeating Bastien Huveneers via arm triangle choke. In his next fight, Drysdale faced Clay Davidson, a King of the Cage
King of the Cage
King of the Cage, also known as KOTC, is a mixed martial arts promotion based in Southern California, USA.-History:KOTC was founded in 1998 by Terry Trebilcock. KOTC features up and coming MMA stars as well as experienced combat fighters....
veteran who entered the contest riding a six-fight win streak. Drysdale won via armbar in the first round.
2007 (Black Belt)
- 1st place in the Abu-Dhabi Submission Wrestling World Championships – Open Division (ADCC)
- 3rd place in the Abu-Dhabi Submission Wrestling World Championships – -99 kg Division (ADCC)
- 2nd place in the BJJ World Championships (IBJJF/CBJJ)
- 3rd place in the BJJ World Championships – Open Division (IBJJF/CBJJ)
2005 (Black Belt)
- 3x times BJJ World Champion (IBJJF/CBJJ)
- 1st place Black Belt World Championships (CBJJO)
- 1st place in local Toughman Contest
2004 (Brown/Black Belt)
- 2x National Brazilian National Champion (IBJJF/CBJJ)
- 1st place in the Brazilian National Championship open division (IBJJF/CBJJ)
- 3rd place World Championship (IBJJf/CBJJ)
- 1st place in the Scandinavian open
- 1st place in the Scandinavian open absolute division
2003 (Brown Belt)
- 1st place in the BandSports Challenge
- 2x times Brazilian National equips Champion (IBJJF/CBJJ)
- 2x times World Champion (IBJJF/CBJJ)
- World Cup Champion (CBJJO)
- National Brazilian Champion (IBJJF/CBJJ)
- Brazilian Cup Champion (CBJJO)
2002 (Purple Belt)
- 2x Summer Festival Champion (FESPBJJ)
- 2x Submission Fighter Champion (1st place) (FESPBJJ)
- 2x Maromba Cup Champion
- 2x Maromba Cup Absolute Champion
- 2x Submission Fighter Champion (2nd phase) (FESPBJJ)
- 2x State Trials Champion
- 2x State Trials Absolute Champion
- 1st Lerjj 1st phase
- 1st place in the Lerjj 1st phase open division
- 1st place in the Submission Fighter Championship (3rd phase) (FESPBJJ)
- 2x Overall Submission Wrestling Champion (FESP-BJJ)
- 3rd place Professional division Submission Fighter (FESPBJJ)
- 1st Lerjj 2nd phase
- 1st Lerjj 2nd phase 2nd place in the Absolute division
- 2x 1st place State Championship (FESP-BJJ)
- 3rd place State Championship Absolute
- 1st place in the Brazilian Equips Championship
- 1st place in the Rio de Janeiro State Championship
- 1st place in the Rio de Janeiro State Championship open division
- 1st place in the São Paulo Open
- 1st place in the São Paulo Open absolute division
- 1st “Jogos Regionais” Champion
- 1st “Jogos Regionais” Equips Champion
- World Champion (IBJJF/CBJJ)
2001 (Purple Belt)
- 1st place Summer Festival
- 1st place in the Summer Festival open division
- 1st place in the Submission Fighter (1st place) (FESP-BJJ)
- 1st place Maromba Cup
- 2nd place in the Maromba Cup open division
- 1st place in the Submission Fighter (2nd phase) (FESP-BJJ)
- 3rd place in the Pan-American Championships (IBJJF/CBJJ)
- 1st place in the State Trials Championship
- 1st place in the State Trials open division
- 1st place in the Lerjj 2nd phase
- 2nd place in the Submission Fighter (3rd phase) (FESP-BJJ)
- Overall Submission Fighter champion (FESP-BJJ)
- 1st place in the State Championship
- 1st place in the State Championship open division
- 1st place in the Sport JJ Cup
- 1st place in the Sport JJ Cup open division
- 1st in the “Jogos Regionais”
- 1st place in the “Jogos Regionais” Equips
- 2nd place Brazilian Championship (LBJJ)
- 1st Place in the Pessoa Cup
- 1st Place in the Pessoa Cup Open division
- 1st place in the Fesp-BJJ circuit (1st place)
- 3rd place in the Fesp-BJJ circuit open division (1 phase)
- 3rd place in the Nucleo cup open division
- 1st place in the (2nd phase) Fesp-BJJ circuit
- 1st place in the Itatiba Cup
- 1st place (3rd phase) Orlando Saraiva Circuit
- 1st place (3rd phase) Orlando Saraiva Circuit open division
- 2nd place in the Brazilian National Championship (IBJJF/CBJJ)
- Overall Submission Wrestling Champion (Fesp-BJJ)
2000 (Blue Belt)
- 2x California State Champion
- 2nd place Silver State Judo Championship
- 2x Las Vegas Judo Championship
- 3rd place in the Copa Pacifica
- 3rd place in the Copa Pacifica open division
- 3rd place in the São Carlos JJ Cup
- 1st place in the Grapplers Quest Las Vegas
- 1st place in the 2nd American BJJ Championship
- 3rd place in the 2nd American BJJ Championship open division)
1999 (Blue Belt)
- 1st place in the California State Championship
- 1st place in the California State Championship (absolute)
- 2nd place in the Silver State Judo Championship
- 1st place in the 2nd Las Vegas invitational Judo Championship
- 1st place in the Submission Wrestling open
- 1st place in the 7th International Jiu-Jitsu Championship
- 2nd place in the 7th International Jiu-Jitsu Championship (absolute)
- 3rd place in the Copa Pacifica Jiu-Jitsu
- 3rd place in the Copa Pacifica de Jiu-Jitsu open division
1998 (White Belt)
- 2nd place in the State Championship
- 1st place in the 3rd phase of the State circuit
- 2nd place in the overall State circuit
Tournament results
All results are from International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu FederationInternational Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation
The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation is the major and most prestigious governing body for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that hosts several of the biggest tournaments in the world, including the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship and European Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship...
- http://www.ibjjf.org/results/2007mundial.htm
- http://www.ibjjf.org/results/2007mundial.htm
- http://www.ibjjf.org/results/2006equipes.htm
- http://www.ibjjf.org/results/2005mundial.htm
- http://www.ibjjf.org/results/2004mundial.htm
- http://www.ibjjf.org/results/2003mundial.htm
- http://www.ibjjf.org/results/2002mundial.htm
Mixed martial arts record
|-|Win
|3–0
|
Mike NickelsMike Nickels
Michael John Nickels is an American Mixed Martial Arts fighter and a Black belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. Along with many other victories in Brazilain Jiu-Jitsu and MMA, Nickels is a 3X Pan American Gold medalist, and a UFC vet...
|Submission (Guillotine choke)
|AFC 6
|6/18/2011
|1
|1:04
|Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
|
|-
|Win
|2–0
|
Clay Davidson|Submission (Armbar)
|AFC 4 – Revelation
|11/6/2010
|1
|2:54
|Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
|
|-
|Win
|1–0
|
Bastien Huveneers|Submission (Arm Triangle Choke)
|AFC 3 – Evolution
|7/17/2010
|1
|1:12
|Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
|
See also
- World Jiu-Jitsu ChampionshipWorld Jiu-Jitsu ChampionshipThe World Jiu-Jitsu Championship is the most prestigious Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament in the world. They are hosted annually by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. The first Mundial tournament to be held outside of Brazil was in 2007 at the California State University in Long...
- Brazilian Jiu-JitsuBrazilian Jiu-JitsuBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
- ADCC Submission Wrestling World ChampionshipADCC Submission Wrestling World ChampionshipThe ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship is a competition involving professional athletes who have been successful at the highest levels of jiu-jitsu, wrestling, judo, sambo, shooto and mixed martial arts...
- Confederação Brasileira de Jiu Jitsu OlímpicoConfederação Brasileira de Jiu Jitsu OlímpicoConfederação Brasileira de Jiu Jitsu Olímpico is the past governing body for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil that hosted several popular international competitions...
- Submission wrestlingSubmission wrestlingSubmission wrestling or Combat wrestling in Japan, is a formula of competition and a general term describing the aspect of martial arts and combat sports that focus on clinch and ground fighting with the aim of obtaining a submission using submission holds...
External links
- Robert Drysdale interview (audio, text transcription): The FightWorks Podcast