AJ Agazarm

AJ Agazarm (born July 26, 1990) is an American submission grappler, mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt practitioner.[lower-alpha 1]

AJ Agazarm
Born (1990-07-26) July 26, 1990
Florida, United States
Other namesLeão
ResidenceHollywood, California
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb)
DivisionLightweight , featherweight
StyleBrazilian jiu-jitsu , wrestling , submission wrestling , grappling
Fighting out ofStockton, California
TeamOhio State University
Nick Diaz Academy
Gracie Barra
RankBJJ black belt[lower-alpha 1]
Mixed martial arts record
Total5
Wins3
By submission2
By decision1
Losses2
By decision2
Amateur record
Total8
Wins8
By knockout2
By submission6
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Representing  United States
Submission Wrestling
ADCC World Championship
Silver medal – second place 2017 Espoo, Finland -66 kg
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
World No-Gi Championship
Silver medal – second place 2017 California, USA -76 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2016 California, USA -76 kg
Gold medal – first place 2014 California, USA -76 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2013 California, USA -76 kg
World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2007 California, USA -76 kg (blue)
Bronze medal – third place 2008 California, USA -76 kg (purple)
Bronze medal – third place 2012 California, USA -76 kg (brown)
European No-Gi Championship
Gold medal – first place 2017 Rome, Italy -76 kg
Silver medal – second place 2017 Rome, Italy absolute
Gold medal – first place 2014 Rome, Italy -76 kg
Gold medal – first place 2014 Rome, Italy absolute
Gold medal – first place 2013 Rome, Italy -76 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Rome, Italy absolute
European Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Lisbon, Portugal -76 kg
Brazilian National No-Gi Championship
Gold medal – first place 2013 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -76 kg
Silver medal – second place 2013 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil absolute
Brazilian National Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Sao Paulo, Brazil -76 kg
Silver medal – second place 2013 Sao Paulo, Brazil absolute
Pan American No-Gi Championship
Silver medal – second place 2018 New York, USA -76 kg
Silver medal – second place 2014 New York, USA -76 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2014 New York, USA absolute
Gold medal – first place 2013 New York, USA -76 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2013 New York, USA absolute
Pan American Championship
Gold medal – first place 2007 California, USA -76 kg (blue)
Bronze medal – third place 2008 California, USA -76 kg (purple)
Gold medal – first place 2012 California, USA -76 kg (brown)
Bronze medal – third place 2013 California, USA -76 kg (brown)
Silver medal – second place 2015 California, USA -76 kg

A multiple-time champion in coloured belts, Agazarm is a black belt World No-Gi Champion, Pan American No-Gi Champion, Brazilian National No-Gi Champion, European No-Gi Open Champion as well as a ADCC Submission Fighting World medallist. In 2019 Agazarm started a professional MMA career after signing with Bellator.

Early life and education

Agazarm was born in Florida and is of Armenian descent.[1] He began wrestling as a sophomore in high school.[2] He performed well enough in high school to win a wrestling scholarship to University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky from 2005-2007.[3] Agazarm then transferred to Ohio State, a highly ranked NCAA Division I wrestling program.[4]

Grappling career

Agazarm was awarded his black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu in 2013 by Eduardo de Lima and Carlos Gracie Jr.[5] That same year Agazarm got third place at the Pan Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship in the black belt open-weight division and first in the lightweight division.[6] Later in 2013 at the World Nogi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship Agazarm placed third in the under 73.5 kg black belt division.[7] In 2017, Agazarm won a silver medal at the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship in the under 66 kg weight class[8] and another silver at the World Nogi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship in the lightweight division.[9] From 2015-2018 Agazarm participated in six Polaris Pro Grappling events.

On November 6, 2021, Agazarm competed against Celsinho Vinicius at BJJ Stars 7, losing the match on points.[10]

Agazarm then faced English grappler Jed Hue at Polaris 18 on November 27, 2021. He lost the match by decision.[11]

In 2022, Agazarm received an invite to compete in the 66kg division of the 2022 ADCC World Championship.[12] Agazarm lost to Jeremy Skinner on points in the opening round and was eliminated from the tournament.[13]

Agazarm competed in the IBJJF Nashville Spring Open on April 22, 2023 and took silver in the middleweight division.[14]

Jiu-Jitsu accomplishments

2018
2017
2016
2015
  • 2nd place, silver medalist(s) IBJJF Pan American (Black Belt 76 kg)
2014
2013
  • 1st place, gold medalist(s) IBJJF Pan Nogi (Black Belt 73.5 kg)
  • 1st place, gold medalist(s) CBJJ Brazilian Nogi Championship (Black Belt 73.5 kg)
  • 1st place, gold medalist(s) IBJJF European No-Gi (Black Belt 73.5 kg)
  • 2nd place, silver medalist(s) CBJJ Brazilian Nogi Championship (Black Belt Absolute)
  • 2nd place, silver medalist(s) IBJJF American National Championship (76 kg)
  • 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) IBJJF Pan Nogi (Black Belt Absolute)
  • 2nd place, silver medalist(s) IBJJF European No-Gi (Black Belt Absolute)
  • 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) IBJJF Nogi World Championships (Black Belt 73.5 kg)
  • 2nd place, silver medalist(s) CBJJ Brazilian Championship (Brown Belt Absolute)
  • 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) IBJJF European Open (Brown Belt 76 kg)
  • 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) CBJJ Brazilian Championship (Brown Belt 76 kg)

Mixed martial arts career

Prior to turning professional Agazarm compiled an 8–0 amateur mma record.[15] Agazarm made his professional MMA debut in Bellator MMA at Bellator 214 on January 26, 2019 at The Forum in Inglewood, California.[16] He lost to Jesse Roberts by split decision fighting at a catchweight of 160 lbs.[17] After this, he went on to win his next three fights for Bellator against Jacob Landin at Bellator 224, Johnathan Quiroz at Bellator 228 and Adel Altamimi at Bellator 238.

He then lost his fifth professional fight against Cris Lencioni by unanimous decision at Bellator 243.[18] Agazarm suffered a severe injury to his knee in the first round.[19]

Bellator MMA announced on October 27, 2020, that Agazarm had been released from the promotion due to injury, but will revisit in future.[20]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
5 matches 3 wins 2 losses
By submission 2 0
By decision 1 2
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 3–2 Cris Lencioni Decision (unanimous) Bellator 243 August 7, 2020 3 5:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win 3–1 Adel Altamimi Submission (triangle choke) Bellator 238 January 25, 2020 3 1:22 Inglewood, California, United States
Win 2–1 Jonathan Quiroz Decision (unanimous) Bellator 228 September 28, 2019 3 5:00 Inglewood, California, United States
Win 1–1 Jacob Landin Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 224 July 12, 2019 1 4:21 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Loss 0–1 Jesse Roberts Decision (split) Bellator 214 January 30, 2019 3 5:00 Inglewood, California, United States

Instructor lineage

Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie Sr. > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Jr. (> Eduardo de Lima) > AJ Agazarm

Personal life

Agazarm also teaches Brazilian jiu-jitsu and promoted his younger brother Anthony, who is also a competitor, to purple belt in March 2023.[21]

See also

Notes

References

  1. "Edwin Najmi & AJ Agazarm Visit Armenia, Country Of Their Ancestors". bjjee.com. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  2. "AJ Agazarm". bjjheroes.com. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  3. "Ohio State Athletics". nmnathletics.com. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  4. "Watch AJ Agazarm Train Takedowns at Ohio State Wrestling". bjjee.com. 10 December 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  5. "AJ Agazarm Jiu Jitsu". BJJ.Heroes.com. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  6. "Pan Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2013: Partial Results" (PDF). ibjjf.com. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  7. "World Jiu-Jitsu No Gi Championship 2013: Partial Results" (PDF). ibjjf.com. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  8. "2017 Results". adcombat.com. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  9. "World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF No-Gi Championship 2017". International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  10. "BJJ Stars 7 Full Results and Review". 9 November 2021.
  11. "Polaris 18 Full Results and Review". 28 November 2021.
  12. "AJ Agazarm and Josh Cisneros Announced for ADCC 2022". 9 June 2022.
  13. "ADCC 2022 Live Results, Play-by-play, Analysis, Highlights, More". 18 September 2022.
  14. "Tons Of Action In IBJJF Nashville Spring Open 2023 Results". JitsMagazine. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  15. Bohn, Mike (27 January 2019). "A.J. Agazarm's pro debut at Bellator 214 did not go as planned". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  16. "Bellator heavyweight grand prix will conclude at the Forum". LA Times. 2018-10-02. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
  17. "Bellator 214". Bellator.com. Bellator. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  18. "AJ Agazarm is Back to Being Himself at Bellator 243". 9 August 2020.
  19. "AJ Agazarm Out with Devastating Knee Injury". 13 August 2020.
  20. Damon Martin, Mike Heck (October 27, 2020). "Former two-division champion Joe Warren, Ricky Bandejas, Roy Nelson among slew of Bellator fighters no longer under contract". MMAFighting.com. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  21. de Souza, Diogo. "AJ Agazarm Promotes Younger Brother Anthony To BJJ Purple Belt". JitsMagazine. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
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