Rodrigo Damm (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁoˈdɾiɡu ˈdɐ̃]; born 3 February 1980) is a Brazilian retired professional mixed martial artist who last competed in the Lightweight division of the UFC. A professional since 2004, he also competed for World Victory Road, Strikeforce, Jungle Fight, Shooto, and was a competitor on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.

Rodrigo Damm
Born (1980-02-03) 3 February 1980 (age 44)
Afonso Cláudio, Brazil
ResidenceVila Velha, Brazil
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[1]
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)[1]
DivisionWelterweight
Lightweight
Featherweight
Reach71.0 in (180 cm)[1]
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofSão Paulo, Brazil
TeamX-Gym
Team Damm
Alliance Jiu-Jitsu
Rank3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[2]
WrestlingFormer member of the Brazilian National Wrestling team[2]
Years active2004–2015 (MMA)
Mixed martial arts record
Total21
Wins12
By knockout2
By submission6
By decision4
Losses9
By knockout4
By submission1
By decision4
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

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Damm began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu when he was 16 years old, and also competed in wrestling. He is a seven-time national champion in both sports as well as a world champion in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.[2]

Mixed martial arts career

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Early career

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Damm made his professional mixed martial arts debut in October 2004, losing via split decision to Luciano Azevedo. In the years following that loss, he went on an 8 fight win streak while fighting all over the world including Japan, Russia and South Korea.

Strikeforce

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Damm made his United States MMA debut at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz against Gilbert Melendez for the Strikeforce Interim Lightweight Championship.[3]

Damm returned to the promotion in 2011, where he faced Justin Wilcox in the main event at Strikeforce Challengers: Wilcox vs. Damm. He lost the fight via doctor stoppage between the first and second round due to a cut.

The Ultimate Fighter

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In March 2012, Damm appeared as a fighter on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.[4] In the opening elimination fight, he defeated Fabrício Guerreiro by submission (rear naked choke) in round 2 to get into the TUF house.

Damm was selected fourth (eighth overall) by Vitor Belfort to be a part of Team Vitor. During the show, Damm often came to blows with Anistavio "Gasparzinho" Medeiros, as Gasparzinho's prankster attitude constantly annoyed the more serious Damm. In the quarterfinals, Damm was matched up against undefeated John Teixeira. After three closely contested rounds, Damm won via split decision.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

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Damm made his UFC debut at UFC 147 on 23 June 2012 where he faced his rival from the TUF, Gasparzinho. He won the fight via submission in the first round, earning a Submission of the Night bonus in the process.[5]

Damm fought Antonio Carvalho on 17 November 2012 at UFC 154.[6] Damm lost a back and forth fight via split decision.

Damm next fought Mizuto Hirota at UFC on Fuel TV 10 on 8 June 2013. He won the back-and-forth fight via split decision.

Damm was expected to face Hacran Dias at UFC Fight Night 29.[7] However, the bout was scrapped just days prior to the event after Damm was sidelined due to a kidney stone attack.[8]

Damm moved back to Lightweight and faced Ivan Jorge on 15 February 2014 at UFC Fight Night 36.[9] He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Damm faced Rashid Magomedov on 31 May 2014 at The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 Finale[10] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Damm faced Al Iaquinta at UFC Fight Night 50 on 5 September 2014.[11] Iaquinta defeated Damm via third-round TKO.[12][13]

Damm faced Evan Dunham on 3 January 2015 at UFC 182.[14] He lost the fight by unanimous decision and was subsequently released from the promotion.

Following his release, Damm posted this statement to social media.

"I stopped, retired from MMA. I'm not training hard enough for quite some time. I go to my BJJ gym two or three times a week, when I can. I keep training but for my own pleasure. I'm enjoying my family. I spent a lot of time away from home and traveling, now I can watch my kids grow up. I think I'm gonna start doing business with my dad at his woodshop. This should be my future"

Personal life

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Rodrigo's sister Carina Damm is also a mixed martial artist.[15]

Championships and accomplishments

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Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
21 matches 12 wins 9 losses
By knockout 2 4
By submission 6 1
By decision 4 4
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 12–9 Evan Dunham Decision (unanimous) UFC 182 3 January 2015 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 12–8 Al Iaquinta TKO (punches and elbows) UFC Fight Night: Jacare vs. Mousasi 5 September 2014 3 2:26 Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States
Loss 12–7 Rashid Magomedov Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 Finale: Miocic vs. Maldonado 31 May 2014 3 5:00 São Paulo, Brazil
Win 12–6 Ivan Jorge Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Mousasi 15 February 2014 3 5:00 Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil Return to Lightweight.
Win 11–6 Mizuto Hirota Decision (split) UFC on Fuel TV: Nogueira vs. Werdum 8 June 2013 3 5:00 Fortaleza, Brazil
Loss 10–6 Antonio Carvalho Decision (split) UFC 154 17 November 2012 3 5:00 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Win 10–5 Anistavio Medeiros Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 147 23 June 2012 1 2:12 Belo Horizonte, Brazil Featherweight debut. Submission of the Night.
Loss 9–5 Justin Wilcox TKO (doctor stoppage) Strikeforce Challengers: Wilcox vs. Damm 1 April 2011 1 5:00 Stockton, California, United States
Loss 9–4 Maximo Blanco TKO (punches) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku Raiden Championships 13 20 June 2010 2 0:45 Tokyo, Japan
Win 9–3 Ivan Iberico Decision (unanimous) Jungle Fight 17: Vila Velha 27 February 2010 3 5:00 Vila Velha, Brazil
Loss 8–3 Gilbert Melendez KO (punches) Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz 11 April 2009 2 2:02 San Jose, California, United States For Strikeforce Interim Lightweight Championship.
Loss 8–2 Eiji Mitsuoka Submission (rear-naked choke) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 4 24 August 2008 1 3:13 Saitama, Japan
Win 8–1 Jorge Masvidal TKO (punch) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 3 8 June 2008 2 4:38 Saitama, Japan
Win 7–1 Johil de Oliveira Decision Universidade Fight Show 1 7 October 2007 3 5:00 Espírito Santo, Brazil
Win 6–1 Ryan Bow KO (punches) BodogFIGHT: Vancouver 24 August 2007 2 1:03 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Win 5–1 Santino DeFranco Submission (rear-naked choke) BodogFIGHT Series II: Clash of the Nations 14 April 2007 2 1:58 Saint Petersburg, Russia
Win 4–1 Kultar Gill Submission (rear-naked choke) BodogFIGHT: Clash of the Nations I 16 December 2006 2 2:11 Saint Petersburg, Russia
Win 3–1 Naoki Seki Submission (armbar) MARS 4: New Deal 26 August 2006 1 1:48 Tokyo, Japan
Win 2–1 Jyu Do Fan Submission (rear-naked choke) MARS Attack 1 21 July 2006 1 3:56 Seoul, South Korea
Win 1–1 Luciano Silva Submission (rear-naked choke) Night of Fight 1 23 July 2005 1 1:26 Vila Velha, Brazil
Loss 0–1 Luciano Azevedo Decision (split) Shooto Brazil: Never Shake 23 October 2004 2 5:00 São Paulo, Brazil

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

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Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 2–0 John Macapá Decision (split) The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 5:00 Brazil TUF Brazil Quarter-finals bout.
Win 1–0 Fabrício Guerreiro Submission (rear-naked choke) The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2 N/A Brazil TUF Brazil elimination bout.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Fight Card - UFC 182 Jones vs. Cormier". UFC.com. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "Rodrigo Damm - Official UFC Fighter Profile". UFC.com. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  3. ^ Stupp, Dann (9 April 2009). "Melendez vs. Damm official; Winner gets Strikeforce champ Thomson". MMAJunkie.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  4. ^ "'The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil' cast unveiled with 32 featherweights and middleweights". MMAJunkie.com. 12 March 2012. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  5. ^ "UFC 147 bonuses: Franklin, Silva, Damm, Vinicius pocket $65,000 in Brazil". MMAJunkie.com. 23 June 2012. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  6. ^ "Rodrigo Damm vs. Antonio Carvalho set for UFC 154 in Montreal". mmajunkie.com. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  7. ^ Guilherme Cruz (14 August 2013). "UFC Fight Night 29 gets Hacran Dias vs. Rodrigo Damm". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  8. ^ Staff (5 October 2013). "Rodrigo Damm-Hacran Dias fight removed from UFC Fight Night 29". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  9. ^ Matt Erickson (9 December 2013). "Rodrigo Damm vs. Ivan Jorge added to UFC Fight Night 36 in Brazil". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  10. ^ "Rodrigo Damm vs. Rashid Magomedov targeted for UFC Fight Night 42 in Brazil". mmajunkie.com. 2 April 2014.
  11. ^ "Al Iaquinta vs. Rodrigo Damm in the works for UFC Fight Night 50 on Sept. 5 in Connecticut". mmamania.com. 12 July 2014.
  12. ^ John Morgan (5 September 2014). "UFC Fight Night 50 results: Al Iaquinta batters, finishes Rodrigo Damm". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  13. ^ Matt Erickson (15 September 2014). "Commission adjusts Al Iaquinta finish time of Rodrigo Damm at UFC Fight Night 50". MMAjunkie.com.
  14. ^ Tristen Critchfield (11 October 2014). "Lightweights Evan Dunham, Rodrigo Damm booked for UFC 182 in Las Vegas". sherdog.com. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  15. ^ Venga, Gleidson (29 November 2006). "Carina Damm: Mixed Martial Arts' "Barbie Girl"". Sherdog.com.
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