Robert Drysdale is a Utah Native and considered one of the best American Brazilian Jiu Jitsu grapplers to every hit the mat. At six years old Drysdale began Martial arts in 1998 and in 2000 was in Brazil mastering the art of Jiu Jitsu and training full time. Robert achieved his black belt in 2004 under the hands of Leo Vieira. In 2007 Drysdale won the ADCC and submitted Marcelo Garcia who is a 3 time ADCC champion that has submitted people like Jake Shields, Renzo Gracie, and Shinya Aoki.
Drysdale was scheduled to fight on a season of The Ultimate Fighter but was halted by the athletic commission during the medical credentials prior to his first fight. This is what he had to say about it:
“I was trying to enter the reality show, but I found out I’m with a brain Aneurysm. It could have happened now or when I was born, I don’t know. It’s small, but the (Athletic) Commission won’t let me fight.”
“I’m going to Brazil to do some exams and I don’t know what I’ll do, maybe I’ll have to go on surgery. I can’t fight.. I’ll have to do it in Brazil, because this exam costs $6,000 here in the US.. My mother is trying to set this exam up, as soon as she does, I’ll go to Brazil.”
The problem was sorted out in Brazil most likely because of expensive cost of health care here in the USA, and Robert has inked a four fight deal with a Canadian based fight organization called Armageddon Fighting Championship. Look to see him making his Professional fighting Debut on July 17th in the light heavyweight division. I look forward to seeing him make the same transition as his ex training partner Damien Maia, and I’m glad he’s taking the right steps to success and not jumping in with the top UFC fighters right away.
Drysdale is such a great guy. I’ve met him many times and he’s really easy going. I was there when he made his MMA debut as an amateur too and it was really cool.
Catch Robert Drysdale in his first professional MMA event ever, this July 17th. It’s in BC, Canada but apparently the live PPV webcast is available at http://WWSN.TV. I’m looking forward to seeing what this guy can do in the octagon, hope he doesn’t disappoint and kicks some butt!