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Ricardo Arona Bio
Ricardo Arona (Portuguese pronunciation:[ʁiˈkaʁdu aˈʁõnɐ]; born July 17, 1978 in Niterói) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and PRIDE FC Middleweight Grand Prix finalist. He has competed in PRIDE Fighting Championships and RINGS in his mixed martial arts career, and is a member of Brazilian Top Team.
Mixed martial arts career
Abu Dhabi and RINGS
Ricardo Arona's popularity came from competing in the Olimpo's Combat Club submission wrestling competitions, where he won an open weight tournament as well as the 92kg (202 pound) tournament. Arona is the only competitor in Abu Dhabi to have won a championship and to be undefeated so far. ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship.
Soon after Abu Dhabi Combat Club, Arona joined RINGS, a Japanese mixed martial arts promotion. Arona's only loss in RINGS came at the hands of Fedor Emelianenko, in a controversial decision. Some thought that Arona won the fight. However, as RINGS scoring was not based on positional control but rather on damage dealt and attempts to finish the fight, categories in which many thought Fedor surpassed Arona in, the decision was given to Emelianenko. Fedor later went on to become Pride Fighting Championships' Heavyweight Champion. After losing to Fedor, Arona won his last three fights in RINGS.
PRIDE Fighting Championships
After being noticed in RINGS, Arona was offered a contract to join PRIDE Fighting Championships. Arona started his career in PRIDE strong winning his first three fights against Guy Mezger, Dan Henderson and Murilo Rua. He then lost his fourth fight to Quinton Jackson in a spectacular knockout from a slam. Arona claimed that an illegal headbutt he received by Jackson at the end of the slam was what knocked him out. Four months later, Arona returned to PRIDE and won his next 3 fights. On April 23, 2005, Arona entered PRIDE's Middleweight (205lbs) Grand Prix. Arona won his first fight in the tournament against Dean Lister by unanimous decision. In the 2nd round of the Grand Prix, he won his fight against the Japanese fighter Kazushi Sakuraba via TKO (Doctor Stoppage).
His semifinal match, against rival Wanderlei Silva, was held on August 28, 2005. Arona surprised everyone when he defeated Silva, who was the PRIDE Middleweight Champion at the time, by decision handing Silva his first middle weight defeat in Pride. After defeating Silva, Arona advanced to finals where he faced rising MMA fighter Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. In a dominant performance, Rua defeated Arona by knockout by hammerfists to the face in the first round.
On December 31, 2005 Ricardo Arona fought Wanderlei Silva for a second time, this time for the Middleweight Championship. Ricardo Arona lost the match in a split decision.
On September 10, 2006 Arona faced Alistair Overeem. After withstanding the initial attack from Overeem, Arona landed an inside leg kick, injuring his opponent's leg and making him drop to the ground. Arona quickly overwhelmed Overeem on the ground by blanketing him and showed complete domination throughout the bout. He continued his assault until Overeem tapped out from a barrage of strikes.
Arona claims he suffered from a dengue hemorrhagic fever, before a KO loss to Sokoudjou at PRIDE 34 on April 8, 2007. Arona's Comeback fight against UFC veteran Marvin Eastman was canceled due to an injury that Eastman suffered during training. The fight with Eastman was rescheduled and took place at Bitetti Combat MMA 4 on September 12, 2009. Arona won the fight via unanimous decision.
Personal life
During his free time Arona skates, rock climbs and surfs to keep himself in shape.
Championships and Accomplishments
- Fighting Network RINGS
- RINGS Middleweight Championship (1 Time, First, Last)
- 2001 RINGS Middleweight Championship Tournament Winner
- PRIDE Fighting Championships
- 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix Runner Up
Grappling credentials
- ADCC World Submission Wrestling Championships
- 2003: Superfight championship: Defeated Mark Kerr
- 2001: 88 – 98kg: 1st Place, Openweight: 1st Place
- 2000: 88 – 98kg: 1st Place
- CBJJ World Championships
- 2000: Black Belt Pesado: 2nd Place
- 1999: Brown Belt Pesado: 1st Place, Brown Belt Open Weight: 2nd Place
- 1998: Purple Belt Pesado: 1st Place
- CBJJ Brazilian Championships
- 1999: Brown Belt Pesado: 1st Place
Mixed martial arts record
Submission grappling record
See also
- List of male mixed martial artists
- Brazilian Top Team
External links
- Professional MMA record for Ricardo Arona from Sherdog
- PRIDE FC Profile
MMA Shirts
