Ricardo Arona is turning 35 years old this Thursday, July 17.
The Brazilian grappler is one of the most highly regarded competitors in history.
Three-time ADCC champion (-99kg – 2000, 2001; absolute – 2001), Arona was a dominat force in the event in the early 2000’s.
Here is his final match in the -99kg division against Ricardo Almeida, in 2001.
In MMA, he was one of the protagonists of one of the most exciting nights of fights in history, the 2005 Pride Middleweight GP.
On August 28, 2005, Arona defeated Wanderlei Silva in the semifinal, but lost in the final to Mauricio Shogun.
Here is the video of the semifinal against Wand.
Arona’s last appearance in MMA took place in 2009, when he defeated Marvin Eastman by unanimous decision at Bitteti Combat 4.
He has never competed in the UFC.
