Rafael Cordeiro

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).

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

Cordeiro has won the 2012 and 2016 coach of the year awards for MMA.

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.

In 2020, Cordeiro was trainer and cornerman to the former boxing world heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson for his exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr.

Notable students

Mixed martial arts

• Anderson Silva - Former UFC Middleweight Champion
• Maurício Rua - Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix Champion
• Wanderlei Silva - Former PRIDE Middleweight Champion and the
• 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
• Murilo Rua - Former EliteXC Middleweight Champion
• Beneil Dariush - Former RITC Lightweight Champion
• Marvin Vettori - 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
• 2015 The Shawn Tompkins Coach of the Year

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 |

References