Martial Artists In Movies: The Real Deal - Volume 16 (All MMA Edition 2)
This is a list of legitimate martial artists appearing in movies, accompanied by the styles they practice(d), the recognition they've received for them, and individual trivia.
This particular list EXCLUSIVELY includes individuals whose primary activities in the realm of martial arts include MMA competition. Individuals who have competed in MMA but are more authoritative in other sectors can be found in other lists.
Qualifications:
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I credit stunt performers for doubling others in fight scenes. I justify doing this for cases wherein the stunt performer is performing significant parts of the action themselves and is displayed on the screen as prominently or more than the actor or actress.
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NOTE: a lot of the trivia listed here did originally come from IMDb pages, but I've only included information I was able to verify from other sources as well.
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**Though I have done my utmost to ensure that all information below is factual and up-to-date, I may have made mistakes and therefore make no claims about this list's infallibility**
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Many thanks to ANIMELOVERS for recommending entries 35-40.
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This particular list EXCLUSIVELY includes individuals whose primary activities in the realm of martial arts include MMA competition. Individuals who have competed in MMA but are more authoritative in other sectors can be found in other lists.
Qualifications:
- the performer must be an actual practitioner of a martial art; simply portraying martial artists in film, no matter how well or how often, is not enough
- the martial art(s) in question must be able to be identified and verified by a source other than hearsay
- individual accomplishments (e.g. tournaments won, belts held) must likewise be verifiable
- Mixed Martial Arts, Tai Chi, and weapons-based styles can only be credited if the person in question practices another style as well (I reserve the right to make exceptions)
- Kickboxing is considered a martial art
- Tae Bo, boxing, wrestling, and gymnastics are not considered martial arts
- styles incorporating firearms usage (e.g. Systema) are not considered
--------------------------------------------------
I credit stunt performers for doubling others in fight scenes. I justify doing this for cases wherein the stunt performer is performing significant parts of the action themselves and is displayed on the screen as prominently or more than the actor or actress.
--------------------------------------------------
NOTE: a lot of the trivia listed here did originally come from IMDb pages, but I've only included information I was able to verify from other sources as well.
--------------------------------------------------
**Though I have done my utmost to ensure that all information below is factual and up-to-date, I may have made mistakes and therefore make no claims about this list's infallibility**
--------------------------------------------------
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Many thanks to ANIMELOVERS for recommending entries 35-40.
--------------------------------------------------
Next list here
Previous list here
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- Born October 17, 1981 in Albuquerque, New Mexico to parents Roger Holm and Tammy Bredy, Holly Holm is considered to be one of the greatest female boxers of all time. Holm attended Manzano High School where she wanted to take up wrestling, but her parent's wouldn't allow it since there were no girl's teams. She took up kickboxing as an alternative. At the age of 17 she began sparring, and had her first fight when she turned 18.
Mike Winkeljohn, Holm's trainer, saw immediate potential, and in 2001 Holm won the national title in the international rules adult women's division in Ringside's amateur kickboxing tournament. Her amateur kickboxing record stands at 6-0-2. Her boxing debut was in January of 2002 and her professional debut as a kickboxer was five months later on June 1.
Holm's boxing record is an astounding 33 wins - 2 losses - 3 draws, winning both the WBF Female World Light Welterweight and World Welterweight titles. In 2012 she was named Female Fighter of the Year and also received an award for Female Fight of the Year. She is an 18-time world champion across three weight classes.
Holm retired from boxing in 2013 to pursue a career in MMA, and on July 10, 2014 she signed a mulit-fight contract with the UFC. She appears in the film Fight Valley (2016) along with sister UFC fighter Miesha Tate.Kickboxing (IKF Champion), Mixed Martial Arts (UFC & Legacy FC Champion; record: 10-3)
Trivia: is also a professional boxer (record: 33-2-3), having won the WBF, WBAN, WBC, NABF, IFBA, WBA, and IBA championships
Best seen in FIGHT VALLEY - Miesha Tate was born on 18 August 1986 in Tacoma, Washington, USA. She is an actress, known for Here Without You, Pursued and Fight Valley (2016).Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (purple belt; FILA Silver medalist; World Team Trials National Champion & Silver medalist), Mixed Martial Arts (2-time FCF Champion; UFC & Strikeforce Champion; World MMA Hall of Fame entry; record: 18-7)
Trivia: is the first fighter to have defeated Marloes Coenen in an MMA match
Best seen in FIGHT VALLEY - Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Ronda Rousey burst onto the women's MMA scene in August of 2010. Born in Riverside County, California on February 1, 1987 to parents Ron Rousey and AnnMaria DeMars, little Ronda was born with an umbilical cord wrapped around her neck that damaged her vocal cords. She didn't speak coherently until the age of six. Ronda was a self-professed tomboy and swam from the ages of 6 to 10. She competed on the Jr. Olympic swim team where she placed in the state level.
Because of her mother, a 7th degree black belt and 1984 World Judo Champion, Ronda took up the sport. She had a hard time socializing with other kids and found that Judo gave her confidence. She holds a 4th degree black belt in the martial art.
Ronda's Judo career is a storied one. At 17 she became the youngest judoka in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. That same year she won a gold medal at the World Junior Judo Championships in Budapest, and in 2006 she became the first U.S. female in almost 10 years to win an A-Level tournament going 5-0 to clench the gold at the World Cup in Great Britain. At 19 she won the bronze medal at the Junior World Championships. She is the first U.S. athlete to win two Junior World Medals. In 2007 she added a silver at the World Judo Championships and a gold at the Pan American Games. The pinnacle of her Judo career was a bronze at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Rousey became the first American to win an Olympic medal in women's Judo since it became an Olympic sport in 1992.
After medaling in the Olympics, Ronda's career hit a dead end. She did some bartending to make ends meet and tried to find a better paying job, but it was tough finding anyone that needed her particular skill set. Throwing people down and putting them in armbars aren't really something you can put on a resume. By chance Ronda caught the Gina Carano vs. Julie Kedzie fight on television and things changed.
She made her mixed martial arts debut as an amateur in 2010. Since then she has never lost a fight, winning the majority in the first round by armbar submission. Ronda took it upon herself to chase after and demand attention so that the UFC could no longer ignore women fighters. UFC President Dana White had publicly stated that women would never be allowed to fight in the UFC, but on February 23, 2013, Ronda did just that. She won the fight against Liz Carmouche in the first round with her signature armbar and became the first UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion.
In 2014, Ronda appeared in her first motion picture - The Expendables 3 (2014). Other projects are Furious 7 (2015) and The Athena Project as well as Entourage (2015).Judo (4th Dan; Olympic Bronze medalist; 5-time US National Gold medalist; Pan-American Gold [3x], Silver & Bronze medalist; World Championships Silver medalist; Junior World Championships Gold medalist), Mixed Martial Arts (UFC & Strikeforce Champion; record: 12-2)
Trivia: is the first US woman to win an Olympic medal in Judo
Best seen in THE EXPENDABLES 3- Actor
- Additional Crew
Rickson Gracie is considered one of the greatest Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighters in history. A native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he comes from the legendary fighting Gracie family. Along with brothers Royce, Royler, and Rorion Gracie, and his father Hélio, Rickson Gracie has won countless tournaments and championships. A master at submissions, Rickson has defeated such fighters as Japanese jiu-jitsu champion Yoshinori Nishi, kick boxing champion Bud Smith, Pankration champion Masakatsu Funaki, and Japanese wrestling champion Nobuhiko Takada. In 1980, Rickson became a legend by defeating famed vale tudo fighter Rei Zulu, who had an alleged record of 140-0. Rickson is said to have a record of 410 wins and no defeats. However, this record is not without controversy. Gracie is reported to have been defeated in the early 1990s in Oklahoma City losing to Dr. Ron Tripp in a Sambo tournament. In addition, critics often cite the fact he has failed to face any recent champions or truly credible opponents. Regardless, Rickson Gracie will always be ranked among the great jiu-jitsu practitioners. He just may be the greatest jiu-jitsu fighter in history, only time will tell.Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (8th degree red & white belt), Sambo (2-time Pan-American Champion), Judo, Vale Tudo, Mixed Martial Arts (record: 11-0)
Trivia: claims to be undefeated in 400 fights
Best seen in THE INCREDIBLE HULK- Wanderlei Silva was born on 3 July 1976 in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. He is an actor, known for Here Comes the Boom (2012), Abestalhados 2 (2022) and Detetive Madeinusa (2021).Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (black belt), Muay Thai, Vale Tudo, Mixed Martial Arts (PRIDE & IVC Champion record: 35-12-1)
Trivia: among others, he holds the record for most wins in PRIDE FC history (22)
Best seen in NAGURIMONO - Born in Hounslow, England, Alistair Cees Overeem spent most of his life in Holland. Along with his older brother, Valentijn Overeem, Alistair was brought by his mother to Holland at age 6 after she and their father divorced. Alistair's interest in combat sports began at 15, when Valentijn took him to a gym to learn self-defense.
Overeem's first time in combat sports competition happened in a 1997 kick-boxing bout, under K-1 rules. His first professional kick-boxing bout was in March 1999 with a decision win over Paul Hordijk. Another first happened that year: he fought in a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) bout that October against Ricardo Fyeet, winning by a first round submission. His second MMA fight happened with Japan's Rings organization. Although he lost the decision to Yuriy Kochkine, he was offered a Rings contract.
In his second Rings fight, he defeated Chris Watts by TKO. Overeem had several fights in the Dutch promotion 2 Hot 2 Handle. Later in his first fight with Pride Fighting Championships (2006), he defeated Yusuke Imamura by TKO within a minute. Overeem would experience two more victories in Pride, before a knock loss to Chuck Liddell in 2003. Overeem recovered from the defeat with victories in 2 Hot 2 Handle and Pride, but would get submitted by Maurício Rua in his third bout during the 2005 Pride light-heavyweight Grand Prix.
Overeem's first fight for Strikeforce (2006) happened at the 2006 event named "Revenge," where he won a unanimous decision over Vitor Belfort, an opponent whom he had previously defeated in Pride. It was his last win before Overeem would endure a career setback--later attributed to "private circumstance"--by decisively losing to three successive opponents in Pride: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Ricardo Arona, and Maurício Rua. Although he had intended to start his career at light-heavyweight then become a heavyweight, it was these losses that Overeem permanently moved to heavyweight. He said it was due to difficulties in cutting and maintaining weight as a light heavyweight fighter. However, his massive weight and muscle gain lead to speculation among some fans that it was the results of using banned substances. Furthermore, the speculation was compounded by his lengthy absence from the American-based Strikeforce (2006),with allegations by that he was avoiding American athletic commissions which conducts stringent testing of fighters not present in Japan and Europe.
In 2007, Overeem returned to competition as a heavyweight in two mixed martial arts bouts held by K-1 with a win then a loss--submitting Michael Knapp then getting knocked out by Sergei Kharitonov. Despite the loss, Overeem was invited for a second Strikeforce (2006) fight, putting him against Paul Buentello at the 2007 event "Four Men Enter, One Man Survives" to crown its first heavyweight champion. Overeem won the Strikeforce heavyweight championship after submitting Buentello by knee strikes in the second round. Due to the non-exclusivity of Strikeforce's contracts--and the dearth of opponents in its heavyweight division--Overeem fought in the Japanese organization Dream, which has a business relationship with Strikeforce (2006).
In Dream fights held in 2008, Overeem defeated Tae-Hyun Lee, Mark Hunt and fought Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic to a "No Contest" as a result of illegal groin strikes by Overeem. The winner may have faced Fedor Emelianenko however the fight's outcome removed it from consideration. That year Overeem fought in Ultimate Glory with a submission victory against Gary Goodridge. A month later in December 2008, Overeem fought Badr Hari in a K-1 kick-boxing fight.
A rivalry had developed between Hari and Overeem after Overeem's Dream 6 fight with Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic. Hari, who was in the audience, entered the ring thereafter and challenged Overeem to a kick-boxing fight, which Overeem refused. Instead, Overeem wanted to fight Hari under MMA rules, which Hari declined. That December at the 2008 K-1 World Grand Prix Final, Hari was disqualified for illegally attacking Remy Bonjasky on the ground in a kick-boxing fight, making Bonjasky the tournament champion. It was Overeem who then challenged Hari to a mixed martial arts fight, however, Hari wanted a kick-boxing bout. Overeem decided he would face Hari first in kick-boxing, if Hari would agree to a later MMA fight, which Hari accepted. They fought later that month at Dynamite 2008!! in Saitama, Japan, where Overeem earned his biggest K-1 kick-boxing victory at the time by knocking out Hari in first round. In March 2009, Overeem lost a K-1 decision to Remy Bonjasky.
After losing to Bonjasky, Overeem withdrew from a scheduled MMA title fight against Fabricio Werdum at the 2009 event Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg (2009), due to a hand injury sustained in an altercation at a club. This furthered his absence from Strikeforce and invited further criticisms--with suggestions that company founder and CEO Scott Coker should crown a new Strikeforce (2006) heavyweight champion.
Overeem returned to competition in September 2009 as a kick-boxer in the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 tournament. Despite his decision loss to Remy Bonjasky earlier in the year, he was selected in a fan vote to compete in the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 Final 16 in South Korea. He won the decision over the legendary Peter Aerts, also of Holland. The following month he had a second MMA appearance in Ultimate Glory where he submitted Tony Sylvester. A few days later at Dream 12, he submitted James Thompson. In December he resumed the K-1 competition and knocked out Ewerton Teixeira to meet Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic again in the semifinals. Hari won the rematch by a first round TKO, ending Overeem's prospects of winning that year's K-1 World Grand Prix Final.
A few weeks later, Overeem returned to MMA, and fought at "K-1/Dynamite!! Power of Courage 2009" against Kazuyuki Fujita. He won by knock out in the first round. After Fedor Emelianenko signed with Strikeforce and defeated Brett Rogers at CBS Strikeforce M-1 Global Saturday Night Fights (2009) in November 2009, he was expected to be Overeem's first title challenger. However a renegotiation of Emelianenko's contract by his M-1 Global management company put a stop to speculations of a title fight with Overeem.
In the ensuing months, Strikeforce (2006) made a controversial decision and declared Brett Rogers-- after losing his last fight to Emelianenko--the contender for the title held by Overeem. A month before fighting Rogers, Overeem competed at the the K-1 World Grand Prix event in Yokohama, knocking out Dzevad Poturak in round one. At Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery (2010),Overeem dominated Rogers to win by technical knockout in the first round. Soon after, Overeem was in attendance at Strikeforce M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Werdum (2010), where the bout between Fedor Emelianenko and Fabricio Werdum would determine Overeem's next title challenger. Overeem looked forward to a victory by Emelianenko, whom he had publicly challenged several times. After what was considered a significant submission upset of Emelianenko by Werdum, uncertainty loomed after Werdum's elbow surgery removed him from competition for the remainder of 2010.
Further complicating matters were Werdum's suggestion he was more interested in a rematch with Emelianenko than a title fight with Overeem, whom he defeated by submission in a 2006 Pride fight. Meanwhile, Emelianenko--who had one fight left with Strikeforce--entered into further contract negotiations, leaving his return date uncertain. After nothing became of a proposed Dream bout between Overeem and Ricco Rodriguez, Overeem committed himself to compete in the K-1 World Grand Prix kick-boxing tournament.
In October, he defeated Ben Edwards at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final 16 in South Korea to advance to the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix tournament at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan. In a competitive first fight, Overeem won a decision over Tyrone Spong. Overeem then got by Gökhan Saki in the first round due to injury. Within 67 seconds of the final bout, Overeem hurt legendary K-1 fighter Peter Aerts leading to a fight stoppage and being declared the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix Champion. Overeem made combat sports history by holding major championships in kick-boxing and mixed martial arts. Overeem successes would continue as he remained in Japan for his second MMA fight that year. At "K-1 Dynamite!! Power of Courage 2010," Overeem won Dream's interim heavyweight championship by knocking out Todd Duffee in 19 seconds.
In June 2011, Alistair Overeem returned to Strikeforce as a competitor in its Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament. In a quarter-final bout, Overeem fought Fabricio Werdum at Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum (2011). Overeem won by unanimous decision, advanced, and was scheduled for a later meeting against Antonio Silva in a semi-final bout. Overeem was replaced by Daniel Cormier after being released from his contract by Zuffa. Zuffa, the parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), had purchased Strikeforce in March 2011. Zuffa took the action due to a dispute with Overeem's management team, Golden Glory. After separating from Golden Glory, Overeem signed a contract with UFC that same year. In his UFC debut, Overeem fought Brock Lesnar at UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem (2011). Overeem defeated Lesnar in the first round as a result of a kick followed up by punches.Kickboxing (K-1 World GP Champion; record: 10-4), Judo, Mixed Martial Arts (Strikeforce, 2H2H & DREAM Champion; record: 43-16 [1])
Trivia: is the only professional fighter to simultaneously hold championships in the Strikeforce, K-1, and DREAM organizations
Best seen in AMSTERDAM HEAVY - Actor
- Sound Department
- Additional Crew
Pat Miletich was born on 9 March 1968 in Bettendorf, Iowa, USA. He is an actor, known for Bobby Z (2007), Combat Fighting Championships (2007) and Strikeforce Challengers (2009).Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Mixed Martial Arts (UFC Champion; record: 29-7-2)
Trivia: is an MMA proponent, having debated politicians over the sport's legality
Best seen in THE DEATH AND LIFE OF BOBBY Z- Stunts
- Actor
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Kickboxing, Mixed Martial Arts (record: 3-0)
Trivia: is a former SWAT member
Best seen in CINEMA SERIES- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Daniel Cormier, a relatively short Heavyweight, has met success against bigger opponents in freestyle wrestling and later in Mixed Martial Arts. Cormier was raised in Lafayette, Louisiana where he was raised by his mother and stepfather. Cormier became a pro wrestling fan by age 10, which he watched on TV often. When he was 11, a coach introduced him to wrestling after breaking up a parking lot fight with him and a friend. He attended Louisiana High School where he won his first medals, thrice winning a Division I All-American and State championships. Cormier also played the linebacker position in football, and was offered a scholarship to play at Louisiana State University. He chose wrestling instead, and in 1997 he went to Colby Junior College in Kansas where he attended for two years, then transferred to Oklahoma State University (OSU). It was at OSU that he became a roommate and friend of King Mo. In 2001 he was a runner-up in the NCAA Division I Collegiate Championship and NCAA Big 12 Conference. Cormier won a gold medal at the 2002 at the Pan American Games, and another in 2003 during the Pan American Games. In 2007, he won bronze medals at the FILA Wrestling World Championships, and the FILA Wrestling World Championships.
While preparing to audition for the Olympics team, Cormier's 3 1/2 month daughter,Kaedyn Imri Cormier , died in a car accident on June 14, 2003 in Austin, Texas. The car she was in was hit by a 18 wheeler truck. Severely afflicted by the loss, Cormier stopped wrestling. After some time off, he made the 2004 US Olympics team in Athens, where he finished 4th. Cormier declined an offer from World Wrestling Entertaiment, and to try for the Olympics again. Due to a kidney failure he sustained from cutting weight to 211.5 pounds, Cormier withdrew from the US Olympic wrestling team in 2008, a day before he was to compete in the Beijing Olympics. Cormier could not train for a year, which ended his wrestling career.
In 2009, Cormier started to train in Mixed Martial Arts out of San Jose's American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) , training with King Mo, Cain Velasquez, and Luke Rockhold. Injuring his ribs a week before, Cormier fought fellow OSU alumni, Gary Frazier, in his first bout at Strikeforce Challengers 3 (2009). Cormier kept the fight standing by defending a takedown, landing a knee and taking control of Frazier's back and dominating him on the ground for a portion of the round. After exchanging punches in the second round, Cormier failed to get the takedown after numerous attempts when Frazier held the fence. Cormier gets the better of the stand-up by landing right punches and uppercuts. Frazier missed a knee strike and slipped, which Cormier took advantage of and gets top to land multiple punches to the head and won by TKO. Cormier got his first knockout at Strikeforce Challengers 7 (2010), defeating John Devine in the first round.
Cormier remained active outside of Strikeforce (2006) in July 2010, initiating the busiest weeks of his MMA career by taking a fight against Lucas Browne in the Australian promotion Xtreme MMA, replacing injuring teammate Mike Kyle with two days notice. In a bout for the XMMA Heavyweight Championship, Cormier took Brown e to the ground early, and won with devastating striking in four and a half minutes, resulting in Browne receiving up to one hundred stitches. Cormier returned to the United States two weeks later to challenge Tony Johnson Jr. for the King of the Cage Heavyweight Championship, instead of competing at Strikeforce Challengers 10 (2010) as planned. Johnson attacked with punches which put Cormier on the defensive. To stop Johnson's offense, Cormier clinches with him and held him against the cage. Johnson gets a double-leg takedown and is reversed with Cormier on top. Cormier controls Johnson on the ground, controlling his back and going for his neck. Johnson struggled to get Cormier off his back until the rear-naked choke is completely secured for the submission win. It was Cormier's second championship win in two weeks. Eight days after winning the King of the Cage title, Cormier fought Jason Riley at Strikeforce: Houston (2010). Riley defended a single-leg take-down by Cormier then clinched with him against the fence. Cormier went for another take-down which Riley evaded. A right hand from Cormier stuns Riley and he was easily taken to the ground via double-leg. Further strikes forced Riley to submit by tapping the mat with his right hand. Cormier won the bout in just over a minute, making it his quickest fight.
Cormier returned to Sydney, Australia to defend the Xtremme MMA Heavyweight Championship against Soa Palelei at XMMA 3 in November 2010. It was a successful title defense for Cormier, who submitted Palelei by way of punches. Cormier took on Devin Cole at Strikeforce Challengers 13 (2011). He tossed Cole to the ground in round one, and landed an assortment of kicks, including a powerful overhand right, more kicks and a take-down trip to the ground. Cormier hit Cole with a leg kick in the second round, then a hip toss which Cole quickly stood up from. Cormier quickly defended against his grounded opponent and got full mount. Cole briefly stood up before he was taken down by Cormier again, who attempted a rear-naked choke. Cole attacked from his back with an attempted kimura on Cormier's left arm until the round ended. Cormier landed a leg kick, then battled for position against the cage while on the feet. The fighters were separated and Cormier defended a takedown try by Cole. Cormier controlled his grounded opponent who stood up at they fought against the fence again. Cormier took Cole to the ground with a body lock and landed punches until the round expired, and won by unanimous decision.
Cormier was to have fought Shane Del Rosario in an alternate bout for the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament, but injuries from a car accident took Del Rosario from the fight. Jeff Monson replaced him at Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum (2011). Cormier and Monson engaged with punches in round one, and Cormier connected with kicks and more punches. Cormier landed more kicks in round two, and did not follow Monson--known for his submission abilities--to the ground. Cormier reversed against the cage, landed more strikes and tossed his opponent to the ground and backed away. In the final round, a determined Monson tried taking down Cormier, whom instead struck with punches, knees, and a leg trip. Cormier won by unanimous decision. In August 2011, with his recent win over Monson, Cormier was promoted from alternate to compete in Strikeforce's Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament by replacing Alistair Overeem. Cormier proceeded to Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov (2011) where he met Antonio Silva in a semi-final Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix fight.
Silva hit his body with a right kick and Cormier reacted with a right leg kick. Silva threw a barrage of punches, some of which connected on Cormier. Cormier hit Silva with a overhand right, allowed him to stand and defended against a takedown attempt which lead to Silva on his back again. The fight was stood up and Cormier connected with a left jab and "Bigfoot" Silva hit him with punches. Silva is put down for a second time when Cormier caught a right leg kick from him, then kicks away his left leg. Cormier backs away for the second time to allow Silva up, hit him with left jabs and a right uppercut which stunned him. Cormier finishes with a right hammer-fist then a left hammer-fist to win by knockout in the first round. Cormier advanced to the tournament finals with Josh Barnett, who submitted Sergei Kharitonov in the main event of the same card. Cormier re-injured his right hand fighting Silva in September 2011--then hurt it again in December 2012--postponing the final Grand Prix from March to May 2012.
Cormier fought Barnett for the Strikeforce World Grand Prix Championship at Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final (2012). He evaded Barnett's jabs and countered with kicks. Barnett struck him with a knee. Cormier him with a barrage of punches. Barnett lands left knee to side of Cormier's face to end the round. In round two Barnett hit Cormier with a left low kick, Cormier punches him in the face. Barnett pushes forward and Cormier hits him with a right uppercut. He gets a single-leg takedown on Barnett who tries a triangle choke and Cormier easily avoids it then an arm-bar. Cormier walks out of a leg-lock submission then landed more punches and elbows from the top. Barnett pushes Cormier against the fence after round three started. Cormier defends the takedown attempts, then grabs Barnett's left leg and picks him up and slams him to the ground on his back. Cormier gets side control but Barnett manages to get up. Cormier lands more punches, then later hit Barnett with a right head kick after a failed takedown. He hit Barnett with knees to end the round. Barnett started of championship round four by hitting Cormier with a left knee, who retaliates with a left hook. Cormier connects with left and right head kicks then get a takedown by holding a leg and tripping Barnett's other one. Barnett attempts submissions on Cormier's right leg/foot. Cormier escapes and control the action from top. In the fifth and final round, an aggressive Barnett hits a right body kick and continued with knees and punches on Cormier against the fence. Barnett lands another knee and a punch when the fight is resumed off the fence. Barnett lands a left hook, body kick and more punches. Cormier connects with two punches and Barnett misses a spinning back fist. Cormier takes him to the ground, and Barnett fought his way to the feet and prevented being slammed by Cormier. Cormier won unanimously on all the judge's score cards to be crowned the Strikeforce World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament Champion.
As the tournament champion, Cormier was obligated by Strikeforce (2006) 's TV partner, Showtime Networks, to have one more bout in the promotion. UFC fighter Frank Mir agreed to fight Cormier until a knee injury a month before forced him out of the scheduled November 2012 card. The entire card was cancelled after an injury prevented Strikeforce Middleweight World Champion Luke Rockhold from defending the title against Lorenz Larkin. Cormier was later matched against Dutch fighter Dion Staring at the promotion's final event, Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine (2013). Cormier controlled Staring for much of the first round after tripping him twice and landing strikes from the full mounted position to end the round. Staring went after Cormier with punches in the second round and both fought for control against the fence. Cormier resumed his dominance when he tripped Staring with his left leg and controlled him on the ground and attacked from various angles with punches until a technical knockout stoppage with under a minute left in the round. Cormier remained undefeated in all 11 of his MMA fights, with 8 of those wins happening in Strikeforce (2006).Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (brown belt), Mixed Martial Arts (UFC Champion; record: 17-1)
Trivia: is also an amateur wrestler, having been captain of the US Olympic Team
Best seen in MANTERVENTION- Ian Freeman was born on 10 November 1966 in Sunderland, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Sucker Punch (2008), Hell to Pay (2005) and Celebrity Wrestling (2005).Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Vale Tudo, Mixed Martial Arts (Cage Rage Champion; record: 20-7-1)
Trivia: began studying Jiu-Jitsu after a 20-minute street fight made him seek a more efficient fighting style
Best seen in SUCKER PUNCH - Rafael Cordeiro is known for Here Comes the Boom (2012), Fontanarrosa, a Real Idol (2017) and UFC 289: Nunes vs. Peña 3 (2023).Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (black belt), Muay Thai, Mixed Martial Arts (record: 4-2)
Trivia: is the owner of the Kings Muay Thai MMA facility of California
Best seen in HERE COMES THE BOOM - Ed Herman was born on 2 October 1980 in Vancouver, Washington, USA. He is an actor, known for UFC on Fox (2011), The Ultimate Fighter (2005) and UFC on ESPN (2019).Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (black belt), Mixed Martial Arts (SportFight, Desert Brawl & Ring Wars Champion; record: 23-11)
Trivia: is a 2-time UFC Fight of the Night winner
Best seen in LEVERAGE - Actor
- Talent Agent
Satoshi Ishii was born on 19 December 1986 in Kyoto City, Japan. He is an actor and talent agent, known for Here Comes the Boom (2012), The Smashing Machine (2025) and Tokyo Vice (2022).Judo (Olympic Gold medalist; 2-time All Japan Champion; JWC Gold medalist; Japanese National Team member), Mixed Martial Arts (IGF Champion; record: 14-5-1)
Trivia: began training in Judo as a 5th grader
Best seen in HERE COMES THE BOOM- K.J. Noons is married to Melany.Kenpo, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Sanshou (ISKA Champion; US Open International & Art of War Champion; record: 13-1), Mixed Martial Arts (EliteXC Champion; record: 13-9)
Trivia: began competing in Kickboxing after repeatedly being disqualified from Karate competition
Best seen in MANTERVENTION - Actor
- Stunts
- Producer
Donald Cerrone was born on 29 March 1983 in Broomfield, Colorado, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for News of the World (2020), Copshop (2021) and Spenser Confidential (2020).Kickboxing (record: 13-0), Muay Thai (S-1 Champion; record: 28-0), Mixed Martial Arts (record: 29-7)
Trivia: is a 3-time UFC Knockout of the Night winner
Best seen in JUSTIFIED- Actor
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Wing Chun, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Escrima, Mixed Martial Arts (record: 2-1)
Trivia: is a former US Marine
Best seen in THE WHITE STORM- Stunts
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Matt Lindland was born on 17 May 1970 in Milwaukie, Oregon, USA. He is an actor, known for Happy Death Day 2U (2019), 21 & Over (2013) and New York Minute (2004).Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (purple belt), Mixed Martial Arts (record: 22-9)
Trivia: is also an Olympian, having won a Silver medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2000 Olympics
Best seen in LEVERAGE- Actor
- Producer
MARK MUÑOZ is best known as a former professional mixed martial artist in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and World Extreme Fighting (WEC), guest sports commentator on UFC Tonight. Known for being the nicest guy in the UFC, Mark was a middleweight contender who went by the moniker "The Filipino Wrecking Machine." Mark was also an MMA consultant on the set of Here Comes the Boom (2012) starring Kevin James. He's the founder of REIGN wrestling and West Coast Wrestling Camps. He directs both technique and intensive camps each summer and promotes the sport of wrestling through the USA Wrestling organization.
Mark will be making his action lead role debut in LUMPIA WITH A VENGEANCE as the silent avenger Kuya.Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (purple belt), Mixed Martial Arts (record: 14-6)
Trivia: is also an amateur wrestler and former FILA and NCAA Champion
Best seen in HERE COMES THE BOOM- Actor
- Producer
Egan Inoue is known for Blood of the Samurai 2 (2007), Hawaii Five-0 (2010) and Blood of the Samurai: The Series (2004).Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (black belt), Mixed Martial Arts (record: 13-8)
Trivia: is also a professional racquetball player and 2-time RWC Champion
Best seen in BLOOD OF THE SAMURAI 2- HONORARY ENTRY
Kickboxing, Mixed Martial Arts (record: 0-5-1)
Trivia: fought Rickson Gracie after unsuccessfully challenging him to a pro wrestling match - Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada and attended Cimarron-Memorial High School, where he competed in wrestling, football, and baseball. Nelson began training in Ark Wong's Ng Ga Kuen Shaolin Kung Fu when he was around 16 years old. Nelson worked briefly as a warehouse worker in 1999. Nelson originally began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under UFC veteran John Lewis in 2000. In 2002 and 2003 he had a short career in rugby, but in 2004 Nelson began his own career in mixed martial arts. Nelson has been a long time student of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Master Renzo Gracie, who granted him a black belt on August 26, 2009 and has competed at the Abu Dhabi Grappling Championships. From 2010 till 2017 he fought professionally in MMA under the UFC, after which his contract ended and he began fighting under Bellator.Karate, Shaolin Kung Fu, Roi Kan Do, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (black belt), Mixed Martial Arts (IFL Champion; record: 21-12)
Trivia: was motivated to study the martial arts by watching THE KARATE KID and AMERICAN NINJA
Best seen in THE SCORPION KING 4 - James Thompson is known for Outpost: Rise of the Spetsnaz (2013), The War That Made America (2006) and EliteXC Saturday Night Fights (2008).Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts (record: 20-16)
Trivia: is a professional bodybuilder
Best seen in OUTPOST: RISE OF THE SPETSNAZ - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts (record: 2-2)
Trivia: is also an amateur wrestler and 4-time NCAA Puerto Rico National Champion
Best seen in FIGHT VALLEY - 1993 NCAA Division I National Champion at Heavyweight for North Carolina State. Sylvester took 2nd at the NCAA championship in 1992 to future Olympic Champion and WWE superstar Kurt Angle (Angle Weight 210 lbs. and Terkey was 285 lbs. and their picture was featured in SI) He was a 3x All-American at North Carolina State.Kickboxing (record: 0-2), Mixed Martial Arts (record: 3-1)
Trivia: is also a former NCAA wrestling champion
Best seen in MUAY THAI GIANT - HONORARY ENTRY
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (black belt; Brazilian National Gold [3x] & Bronze medalist; WJJC Gold, Silver [4x] & Bronze medalist; Pan-American Silver medalist), Mixed Martial Arts (record: 5-4-1)
Trivia: is also a professional wrestler