Roger and Werdum are two weight-carrying black belts in the promotion. Photo: Ray Santana
Strikeforce has carved out a place for itself as one of the biggest MMA promotions in the world, with events broadcast live on leading American television network CBS and a roster of big-name stars. However, the event is a show apart for fans of good Jiu-Jitsu. These days, Strikeforce gathers a number of the gentle art’s biggest champion, as well as other talented fighters, black belts who use the style well in the cage.
Roger submits Randleman. Photo: Esther Lin
If the Gracie family pays an important role in the consolidation of Jiu-Jitsu and MMA, its biggest champion at the moment fights in the Strikeforce cage. The first three-time absolute champion and all-time biggest winner of gentle art championships, Roger Gracie, with three submission wins in MMA, made his promotional debut against Kevin Randleman, who he caught in a rear-naked choke.
Werdum uses a triangle on Fedor:PhFoto: Mike Colón
Two-time absolute world champion Ronaldo Jacaré is the promotion’s current middleweight champion. Other world champion black belts fighting in the event are Fabrício Werdum, who used his Jiu-Jitsu to stop none other than Fedor Emelianenko; Vítor “Shaolin” Ribeiro, who will fight November 19; and André Galvão, who has already notched two wins in the organization. Lastly, there’s light heavyweight champion Rafael Feijão and former champion Renato Babalu, both black belts in the style.
Jacaré in photo by Ray Santana
Brazilians aside, Shinya Aoki is yet another black belt who uses his Jiu-Jitsu well in MMA fights and has appeared at Strikeforce, as well as Cesar Gracie’s student Nick Diaz, who faces KJ Noons on the coming 8th.
Nick Diaz will see action again soon. Photo: Esther Lin
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