5 UFC fighters with a couple of black belt in conventional martial arts

The UFC, and certainly MMA as a complete, was constructed across the seek for the world’s finest combating model. That widespread objective is what introduced collectively so many various martial artists from numerous backgrounds for the first-ever UFC event. It was throughout that occasion that Royce Gracie launched the world to Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
After the diminutive grappler emerged victorious, the martial arts neighborhood as a complete realized that it had way more to study. Because the years got here and went and the game of MMA progressed, the conclusion that there was no such factor as one superior martial artwork turned widespread data.
This led to the event of a system that lined each section of fight, from placing and wrestling to grappling and ground-fighting. Thus, quite a few UFC fighters are specialists in a number of martial arts. Some, nonetheless, are ranked as black belts in a couple of combating model, and this checklist compiles 5 such fighters.
#5. Lyoto Machida: Two black belts
Throughout his prime, Lyoto Machida was the promotion’s poster little one for conventional martial arts. The previous 205 lbs champion is the son of Shotokan karate grasp Yoshizo Machida, and ‘The Dragon’ eagerly adopted in his father’s footsteps. Underneath his father’s steerage, he turned a third-degree Shotokan black belt.
However it’s not simply karate that ‘The Dragon’ achieved a black belt rank in. Walter Brocas helped Machida seize a first-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, granting him grappling experience to go with his placing pedigree as a karateka. His skills as a former titleholder enabled him to seize UFC gold.
#4. Sage Northcutt: Three black belts
Earlier than he turned an MMA fighter, Sage Northcutt was an undefeated kickboxer with a 15-0 report and 77 world youth karate championships to his title. He’s a extremely credentialed martial artist whose background earned him a chance to signal with the UFC, which ‘Tremendous Sage’ did after embarking on an unbeaten run.
Sadly, after succeeding in his debut and sophomore struggle underneath Dana White’s banner, his profession underwent a downswing. Regardless, he stays an skilled martial artist with a fourth-degree black belt in Kajukenbo, a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo, and a first-degree black belt in Shuri-ryū Karate.
His talent set rendered him a dynamic striker whose pure athleticism nonetheless makes him an attention-grabbing prospect as his future as a fight sports activities athlete progresses.
#3. Robert Whittaker, UFC middleweight: Three black belts
Robert Whittaker is likely one of the most expert fighters within the UFC middleweight division. The previous 185 lbs champion is a speedy striker who skips into mid-range with blitzing boxing mixtures. He makes use of a large however not fairly bladed stance that makes it potential for him to dart out and in with alarming quickness.
The foundations of ‘The Reaper’s talent set are his three black belts in Hapkido, Gōjū-ryū karate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. All three are ranked as first-degree black belts, however his BJJ experience is maybe probably the most shocking contemplating that Whittaker primarily operates as a striker.
His grappling is generally utilized in a defensive capability. All 5 of his submission wins got here within the first seven bouts of his profession on the regional scene.
#2. Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, UFC welterweight: Three black belts
Stephen Thompson is arguably the very best striker in MMA. As a UFC fighter, he’s a two-time welterweight title challenger. However previous to embarking on a profession as knowledgeable combined martial artist, ‘Wonderboy’ was an undefeated kickboxer with 58 wins and one no-contest in 59 bouts.
As a fighter, Thompson fights utilizing a large, bladed stance that makes it straightforward for him to bounce out and in of vary to attract his foes into counterpunches. The second his opponents lunge ahead after turning into pissed off by his motion, ‘Wonderboy’ lunges ahead on the identical time to intercept them with a straight left.
So far as his martial arts credentials are involved, Thompson is a fifth-degree black belt in Tetsushin-ryū Kempo, a first-degree black belt in Japanese jiu-jitsu and a first-degree black belt in American kickboxing.
#1. Georges St-Pierre, former UFC welterweight/middleweight: 4 black belts
One of many largest stars in MMA historical past can also be arguably the game’s best fighter. Georges St-Pierre is a former champion of the welterweight and middleweight divisions. The Canadian legend is liable for beating a number of generations of the world’s finest fighters en path to breaking quite a few data.
Regardless of his wrestling-heavy strategy later in his profession, ‘GSP’ was as soon as an explosive striker with a karate base. He owns a third-degree black belt in Kyokushin Karate, a first-degree black belt in Gaidojutsu, a first-degree black belt in Shidōkan Karate, and a first-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
His mixture of abilities allowed him to carve one of many best legacies in fight sports activities historical past. Only a few have come near the Canadian’s greatness, and arguably nobody has surpassed him.