Vagner Rocha
Encyclopedia
Vagner Rocha is a Brazil
ian-American
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
practitioner and professional mixed-martial artist, currently competing as a lightweight
in the Ultimate Fighting Championship
.
, Rocha began his MMA
career in 2009. In addition to regional promotions in his adopted state of Florida
, Rocha has competed for Bellator
and Strikeforce
.
at UFC 131
, replacing an injured Mac Danzig
He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
In his second UFC bout Rocha defeated Ultimate Fighter alumni Cody McKenzie
on September 17, 2011 at UFC Fight Night 25
by submission due to a rear naked choke in the second round.
Rocha is expected to face Mike Brown
on January 20, 2012 at UFC Fight Night 26.
where he teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the Pablo Popovitch BJJ Training Center
.
| Win
|align=center| 7–2
| Cody McKenzie
| Submission (rear naked choke)
| UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 3:49
|New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 6–2
| Donald Cerrone
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 131
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 6–1
| Jacob Clark
| Submission (armbar)
| MFA: New Generation 5
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:32
|Miami, Florida
, United States
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 5–1
| Bret Bergmark
| Decision (unanimous)
| Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|San Jose, California
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 5–0
| Francisco Soares
| TKO (punches)
| Bellator 13
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 2:07
|Hollywood, Florida
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 4–0
| Patrick Mikesz
| Submission (armbar)
| Action Fight League: Rock-N-Rumble 2
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:10
|Hollywood, Florida
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 3–0
| Renato Puente
| Submission (armbar)
| NDC 1: Peru vs. American Top Team
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:06
|Lima
, Peru
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 2–0
| Igor Gracie
| Decision (unanimous)
| Bellator 11
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Uncasville, Connecticut
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 1–0
| Alan Arzeno
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| XCF: Rumble in Racetown 1
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 0:42
|Daytona Beach, Florida
, United States
|
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...
ian-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
practitioner and professional mixed-martial artist, currently competing as a lightweight
Lightweight (MMA)
The lightweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:* The UFC & Strikeforce lightweight division with upper limit at 155 lb...
in the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
.
Mixed martial arts career
Primarily known for his expertise in Brazilian jiu-jitsuBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
, Rocha began his 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...
career in 2009. In addition to regional promotions in his adopted state of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Rocha has competed for Bellator
Bellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Fighting Championships is a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. "Bellator", which is Latin for "Warrior", is organized into seasons with each event hosting the rounds of championship knockout tournaments for three-five weight divisions.-History:In its first season,...
and Strikeforce
Strikeforce
Strikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...
.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Vagner made his UFC debut on June 11, 2011 against top contender Donald CerroneDonald Cerrone
Donald Anthony Cerrone is an American mixed martial artist and Muay Thai kickboxer who fights out of Albuquerque, New Mexico and currently competes as a lightweight in the UFC...
at UFC 131
UFC 131
UFC 131: Dos Santos vs. Carwin was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on June 11, 2011 at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia.-Background:...
, replacing an injured Mac Danzig
Mac Danzig
Mac Danzig is an American mixed martial artist, who competes as a lightweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Background:...
He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
In his second UFC bout Rocha defeated Ultimate Fighter alumni Cody McKenzie
Cody McKenzie
Cody McKenzie is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, McKenzie mostly competed in his regional circuit, before signing with the Ultimate Fighting Championship to appear on The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs...
on September 17, 2011 at UFC Fight Night 25
UFC Fight Night 25
UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 17, 2011 at the Ernest N...
by submission due to a rear naked choke in the second round.
Rocha is expected to face Mike Brown
Mike Brown (fighter)
Mike Thomas Brown is an American mixed martial artist. He currently fights as a featherweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization and is a former WEC Featherweight Champion...
on January 20, 2012 at UFC Fight Night 26.
Personal life
He currently resides in Pembroke Pines, FloridaPembroke Pines, Florida
Pembroke Pines is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. The city had a population of 154,750 at the 2010 census, making it the second most populous city in Broward County, the tenth most populous in Florida, and the 150th most populous in the United States...
where he teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the Pablo Popovitch BJJ Training Center
Pablo Popovitch
Pablo Popovitch born September 9, 1979 is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, mixed martial artist and a 3rd degree black belt under Jorge Popovitch. Pablo Popovitch is the founder and head instructor at The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Center located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.-Biography:Pablo Popovitch...
.
Mixed martial arts record
|-| Win
|align=center| 7–2
| Cody McKenzie
Cody McKenzie
Cody McKenzie is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, McKenzie mostly competed in his regional circuit, before signing with the Ultimate Fighting Championship to appear on The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs...
| Submission (rear naked choke)
| UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 3:49
|New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 6–2
| Donald Cerrone
Donald Cerrone
Donald Anthony Cerrone is an American mixed martial artist and Muay Thai kickboxer who fights out of Albuquerque, New Mexico and currently competes as a lightweight in the UFC...
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 131
UFC 131
UFC 131: Dos Santos vs. Carwin was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on June 11, 2011 at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia.-Background:...
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 6–1
| Jacob Clark
| Submission (armbar)
| MFA: New Generation 5
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:32
|Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, United States
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 5–1
| Bret Bergmark
Bret Bergmark
Bret Bergmark is an American professional mixed martial artist. He is a Cesar Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt and an amateur Sanshou and Muay Thai kickboxer. He has competed in many MMA promotions, including Strikeforce, World Extreme Cagefighting , Pancrase, Ultimate Athlete, Warriors Quest...
| Decision (unanimous)
| Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum
Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum
Strikeforce / M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Werdum was a mixed martial arts event held by Strikeforce on June 26, 2010 at HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.-Background:...
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 5–0
| Francisco Soares
| TKO (punches)
| Bellator 13
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 2:07
|Hollywood, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 4–0
| Patrick Mikesz
| Submission (armbar)
| Action Fight League: Rock-N-Rumble 2
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:10
|Hollywood, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 3–0
| Renato Puente
| Submission (armbar)
| NDC 1: Peru vs. American Top Team
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:06
|Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, Peru
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 2–0
| Igor Gracie
Igor Gracie
Igor Gracie is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and professional mixed martial artist.-Fighting career:...
| Decision (unanimous)
| Bellator 11
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut. The area traditionally known as Uncasville is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 1–0
| Alan Arzeno
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| XCF: Rumble in Racetown 1
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 0:42
|Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
, United States
|