Rafael Cordeiro (born June 1, 1973) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts (MMA) coach and founder of MMA Gym, Kings MMA. He is best known for training multiple MMA world champions.
History
Cordeiro was a fighter affiliated with the Chute Boxe Academy where he participated in mixed martial arts and Muay Thai. He was three-time Brazilian Muay Thai champion and lightweight champion at the International Vale Tudo Championship (IVC).[1][2]
In 1999, Cordeiro stopped competing professionally and started his career as a full-time coach at Chute Boxe where would remain until 2009.[3] In 2008 he moved to the United States and in 2010 opened his own gym, Kings MMA in Huntington Beach, California.[4]
Cordeiro has won the 2012 and 2016 coach of the year awards for MMA.[5][6]
In 2019, during the weigh-ins for UFC 244, the NYSAC "determined that Kelvin Gastelum made contact with another person while on the scale, a violation of the weigh in policy". This was because he was in contact with Cordeiro, who was his coach for the bout. As a result, Gastelum and Rafael Cordeiro were fined $1,000 and $200 respectively by New York State Athletic Commission.[7]
In 2020, Cordeiro was trainer and cornerman to the former boxing world heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson for his exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr.[8][9]
Notable students
Mixed martial arts
- Anderson Silva - Former UFC Middleweight Champion[1][10]
- Maurício Rua - Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix Champion[1]
- Wanderlei Silva - Former PRIDE Middleweight Champion and the 2003 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix Tournament Champion[1]
- Fabrício Werdum - Former UFC Heavyweight Champion[1]
- Rafael dos Anjos - Former UFC Lightweight Champion[1]
- Cris Cyborg - Former UFC Women's Featherweight Champion[3]
- Lyoto Machida - Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion[11]
- Murilo Rua[1] - Former EliteXC Middleweight Champion
- Beneil Dariush[1] - Former RITC Lightweight Champion
- Marvin Vettori[12] - Former VFC Welterweight Champion
- Kelvin Gastelum[10]
- Giga Chikadze
Boxing
- Mike Tyson - Undisputed world heavyweight champion from 1987 to 1990[8][9]
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts record
| 6 matches | 4 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| By submission | 2 | 1 |
| By decision | 1 | 0 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 4–2 | Rumina Sato | Submission (kneebar) | VTJ 1999 - Vale Tudo Japan 1999 | December 11, 1999 | 1 | 0:58 | Japan | |
| Win | 4–1 | Henry Matamoros | Decision (unanimous) | IVC 9 - The Revenge | January 20, 1999 | 1 | 30:00 | Brazil | Won IVC Lightweight Championship |
| Loss | 3–1 | Sergio Melo | DQ (rope grabbing) | IVC 7 - The New Champions | August 23, 1998 | 1 | 11:32 | Brazil | |
| Win | 3–0 | Altair de Oliveira | Submission (rear-naked choke) | BVF 4 - Circuito de Lutas 7 | August 1, 1996 | 1 | 2:24 | Brazil | |
| Win | 2–0 | Cosminho da Silva | Submission (rear-naked choke) | BVF 4 - Circuito de Lutas 7 | August 1, 1996 | 1 | 3:38 | Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | Daniel Daniel | TKO (cut) | CP X CB - Capoeira vs. Chute Boxe | August 29, 1993 | 1 | 0:42 | Brazil |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "One-on-One with Rafael Cordeiro". Sherdog.
- ^ "IVC 9 - The Revenge". Sherdog.
- ^ a b "– 20 YEARS IN, RAFAEL CORDEIRO EXITS CHUTE BOXE | MMAWeekly.com". April 19, 2009.
- ^ "Rafael Cordeiro (@kingsmma_hb) posted on Instagram • May 5, 2020 at 4:30pm UTC". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021.
- ^ a b Tucker, Bryan (January 11, 2013). "World MMA Awards 2012 Results". MMA Fighting.
- ^ a b Tucker, Bryan (February 5, 2016). "World MMA Awards 2016 Results". MMA Fighting.
- ^ Marrocco, Steven (November 8, 2019). "NYSAC fines Kelvin Gastelum, Rafael Cordeiro and Corey Anderson for UFC 244 actions". MMA Fighting. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
- ^ a b "Who is Mike Tyson's trainer Rafael Cordeiro?". Sporting Excitement. November 25, 2020.
- ^ a b Cruz, Guilherme (November 25, 2020). "Coach says Mike Tyson aiming to knock out Roy Jones Jr. despite rules: 'No one spars a full month for an exhibition'". MMA Fighting.
- ^ a b Rezende, Lucas (March 16, 2017). "Anderson Silva's former coach will train Kelvin Gastelum for UFC 212". Bloody Elbow.
- ^ Cruz, Guilherme (July 3, 2014). "Lyoto Machida's coach: Chris Weidman is going to get knocked out". MMA Fighting.
- ^ Richardson, Andrew (December 3, 2020). "Fighter on Fighter: Breaking down UFC Vegas 16's Marvin Vettori". MMA Mania.
You must be logged in to post a comment.