Rafael Cordeiro Explained

Rafael Cordeiro (born June 1, 1973) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts (MMA) coach and founder of MMA Gym, Kings MMA. He is best known for training multiple MMA world champions.

History

Cordeiro was a fighter affiliated with the Chute Boxe Academy where he participated in mixed martial arts and Muay Thai. He was three-time Brazilian Muay Thai champion and lightweight champion at the International Vale Tudo Championship (IVC).^{[1] [2]}

In 1999, Cordeiro stopped competing professionally and started his career as a full-time coach at Chute Boxe where would remain until 2009.^[3] In 2008 he moved to the United States and in 2010 opened his own gym, Kings MMA in Huntington Beach, California.^[4]

Cordeiro has won the 2012 and 2016 coach of the year awards for MMA.^{[5] [6]}

In 2019, during the weigh-ins for UFC 244, the NYSAC "determined that Kelvin Gastelum made contact with another person while on the scale, a violation of the weigh in policy". This was because he was in contact with Cordeiro, who was his coach for the bout. As a result, Gastelum and Rafael Cordeiro were fined $1,000 and $200 respectively by New York State Athletic Commission.^[7]

In 2020, Cordeiro was trainer and cornerman to the former boxing world heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson for his exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr.^{[8] [9]}

Notable students

Mixed martial arts

• Anderson Silva - Former UFC Middleweight Champion^[10]
• Maurício Rua - Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix Champion
• Wanderlei Silva - Former PRIDE Middleweight Champion and the 2003 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix Tournament Champion
• Fabrício Werdum - Former UFC Heavyweight Champion
• Rafael dos Anjos - Former UFC Lightweight Champion
• Cris Cyborg - Former UFC Women's Featherweight Champion
• Lyoto Machida - Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion^[11]
• Murilo Rua - Former EliteXC Middleweight Champion
• Beneil Dariush - Former RITC Lightweight Champion
• Marvin Vettori^[12] - Former VFC Welterweight Champion
• Kelvin Gastelum
• Giga Chikadze

Boxing

• Mike Tyson - Undisputed world heavyweight champion from 1987 to 1990

Championships and accomplishments

• International Vale Tudo Championship
  • IVC Lightweight Championship (One time)
• World MMA Awards
  • 2012 The Shawn Tompkins Coach of the Year^[5]
  • 2015 The Shawn Tompkins Coach of the Year^[6]

Mixed martial arts record

|-| Loss| align=center| 4–2| Rumina Sato| Submission (kneebar)| VTJ 1999 - Vale Tudo Japan 1999| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:58| Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 4–1| Henry Matamoros| Decision (unanimous)| IVC 9 - The Revenge| | align=center| 1| align=center| 30:00| Brazil| |-| Loss| align=center| 3–1| Sergio Melo| DQ (rope grabbing)| IVC 7 - The New Champions| | align=center| 1| align=center| 11:32| Brazil| |-| Win| align=center| 3–0| Altair de Oliveira| Submission (rear-naked choke)| BVF 4 - Circuito de Lutas 7| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:24| Brazil| |-| Win| align=center| 2–0| Cosminho da Silva| Submission (rear-naked choke)| BVF 4 - Circuito de Lutas 7| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:38| Brazil| |-| Win| align=center| 1–0| Daniel Daniel| TKO (cut)| CP X CB - Capoeira vs. Chute Boxe| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:42| Brazil|

Notes and References

1. Web site: One-on-One with Rafael Cordeiro. Sherdog.
2. Web site: IVC 9 - The Revenge. Sherdog.
3. Web site: – 20 YEARS IN, RAFAEL CORDEIRO EXITS CHUTE BOXE | MMAWeekly.com. April 19, 2009.
4. Web site: Rafael Cordeiro (@kingsmma_hb) posted on Instagram • May 5, 2020 at 4:30pm UTC. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/kingsmma_hb/2302473228635198408 . December 25, 2021 . registration. Instagram.
5. Web site: World MMA Awards 2012 Results. Bryan. Tucker. January 11, 2013. MMA Fighting.
6. Web site: World MMA Awards 2016 Results. Bryan. Tucker. February 5, 2016. MMA Fighting.
7. Web site: NYSAC fines Kelvin Gastelum, Rafael Cordeiro and Corey Anderson for UFC 244 actions. Marrocco. Steven. November 8, 2019. MMA Fighting. en. November 9, 2019.
8. Web site: Who is Mike Tyson's trainer Rafael Cordeiro?. Sporting Excitement. November 25, 2020.
9. Web site: Coach says Mike Tyson aiming to knock out Roy Jones Jr. despite rules: 'No one spars a full month for an exhibition'. Guilherme. Cruz. November 25, 2020. MMA Fighting.
10. Web site: Anderson Silva's former coach will train Kelvin Gastelum for UFC 212. Lucas. Rezende. March 16, 2017. Bloody Elbow.
11. Web site: Lyoto Machida's coach: Chris Weidman is going to get knocked out. Guilherme. Cruz. July 3, 2014. MMA Fighting.
12. Web site: Fighter on Fighter: Breaking down UFC Vegas 16's Marvin Vettori. Andrew. Richardson. December 3, 2020. MMA Mania.