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Rudy “Bad News” Bears (born November 12, 1978) is a Kansas City-area former professional mixed martial artist and the owner and head instructor of Rudy Bears Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & MMA in Westport.12 A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Bears competed professionally from 2007 to 2016 in the welterweight and middleweight divisions, fighting for major promotions including Bellator, Strikeforce, Titan Fighting Championships, and M-1 Global, and held the Shamrock FC welterweight championship.1 He finished his career with a professional record of 16 wins and 15 losses.13

Biography

MMA career

Rudy Bears began his professional mixed martial arts career in 2007 and competed through 2016, fighting in the welterweight and middleweight divisions.1 Over a 31-fight professional career he compiled a record of 16 wins and 15 losses.13

Bears made his Strikeforce debut as the headliner of Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Bears on November 20, 2009, facing future UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley; he lost by arm-triangle choke submission.1 The card was held in the Kansas City metropolitan area.1

He fought multiple times for Bellator, debuting at Bellator 16 against Brent Weedman.1 On July 17, 2015, Bears faced English striker Michael “Venom” Page at Bellator 140, losing by first-round knockout.1 Bears also competed for Titan Fighting Championships, M-1 Global, and Shamrock Fighting Championships (Shamrock FC), winning the SFC welterweight championship in 2015.1

Rudy Bears BJJ & MMA (the gym)

Bears is the founder, owner, and head instructor of Rudy Bears Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & MMA, a martial arts academy located at 4030 Broadway Blvd in the Westport neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri (64111).24 A Westport business directory lists the academy’s address as 4030 Pennsylvania Avenue, the cross street at the same corner.4 The gym describes itself as offering an “all-encompassing” approach to martial arts instruction.24 Its founding year is not documented in available public sources.2

Fighting style and team

Bears is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and his published athlete biography also credits him with black belts in American Jiu-Jitsu and Kenpo Karate and a rank in Judo.1 During his fighting career he was associated with a team identified in public records as the “Caveman Crew.”1 Public sources do not document the relationship, if any, between the “Caveman Crew” team and the present-day Rudy Bears Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & MMA academy, nor confirm a formal rebrand from one to the other.

Sources

See also

Footnotes

  1. Rudy Bears — Wikipedia. Asserts: DOB November 12, 1978; nickname “Bad News”; pro record 16–15; career 2007–2016; welterweight/middleweight; competed in Bellator, Strikeforce, Titan FC, M-1 Global, Shamrock FC; Strikeforce loss to Tyron Woodley (Nov 20, 2009, arm-triangle); Bellator 140 loss to Michael Page (July 17, 2015, KO); SFC welterweight champion (2015); team “Caveman Crew”; BJJ black belt plus additional martial-arts ranks. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12

  2. About — Rudy Bears Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & MMA (rbjjmma.com). Asserts: gym name “Rudy Bears Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & MMA”; address 4030 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64111; Rudy Bears is founder and head instructor; “all-encompassing” martial-arts approach. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  3. Rudy Bears (“Bad News”) — Tapology and Rudy Bears MMA Fight History — ESPN. Asserts: professional record 16 wins, 15 losses; fight-by-fight history. ↩ ↩2

  4. Rudy Bears Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & MMA — Westport KCMO business directory. Asserts: Westport gym listing; address given as 4030 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64111; Rudy Bears as former professional mixed martial artist and operator. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

See also

  • westport
  • Owner-And-History-Research-Toolchain
Categories
  • Concept
  • Person
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