The former no-gi world champion grappler dove into the world of mixed martial arts last weekend on the undercard of Bellator 214: Fedor vs. Bader. Unfortunately for him, things didn’t go quite as planned.
Any time a decorated athlete makes the jump to MMA the question is always one of how their skills will translate. Will the former boxer be able to stay upright, will the former wrestler be able to strike, will the former grappler be able to get the fight down? For every fighter that makes their transition to mixed martial arts look effortless, there are many many more who struggle early on to find their footing.
Lately, Bellator has made a habit of finding those potential crossover stars. Athletes who want to try MMA after great success elsewhere, and want a fasttrack to success. It’s a trial by fire that’s led to some great successes – like Darrion Caldwell – and some otherwise mixed results. Aaron Pico just lost is second bout in six fights, this time by KO. But, he wasn’t the only hot prospect to have a rough night on January 26th.
Former IBJJF world no-gi champion (and ADCC runner up) AJ Agazarm made his debut at Bellator 214: Fedor vs. Bader at the Forum in Los Angeles, CA. There he faced MMA neophyte Jesse Roberts in a bout at 160 lbs, taking a split decision loss in the process. After the fight, Agazarm made it clear that he wasn’t all that pleased with his performance.
“Unlike most fighters who save their embarrassing, clumsy, disasters for the END of their careers,” Agazarm joked on Instagram, “I figured I’d just get mine out of the way at the beginning of mine.”
AJ AGAZARM
“Always Innovating”
Clearly 0-1 isn’t the start that Agazarm was hoping for, but hey, Jacare Souza lost his debut too, and things turned out alright for him.