Brett Rogers

Brett Rogers
Born (1981-02-17) February 17, 1981 (age 43)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Other namesDa Grim
Height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight262 lb (119 kg; 18 st 10 lb)
DivisionHeavyweight
Reach79 in (201 cm)
Fighting out ofSt. Paul, Minnesota, United States
TeamAmerican Top Team
Years active2005–2015 (MMA)
Mixed martial arts record
Total28
Wins17
By knockout15
By decision2
Losses10
By knockout3
By submission2
By decision5
No contests1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Brett Charles Rogers (born February 17, 1981) is an American former mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2005, Rogers has fought in EliteXC, Strikeforce, and Bellator.

Background

Rogers was born in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in the south and west sides of the city, also living in the Cabrini Green housing project, a notoriously dangerous and gang-infested neighborhood. Rogers also grew up in this area during the crack cocaine epidemic, which made the neighborhood especially dangerous. He would often come to the aid of one of his younger brothers during street fights and, because of his imposing size, Rogers was often recruited to be in gangs, but turned down the offers. When he was twelve years old, Rogers moved to Minnesota with his grandmother.[1]

Rogers attended Harding High School in Saint Paul, Minnesota where he played football and basketball. Rogers then went on to attend a junior college and began practicing Tae Kwon Do during this time. Before becoming a professional fighter, he had a job changing tires in a garage. Rogers had fifteen "Tough Man" bouts before going into professional mixed martial arts.[1]

Rogers began his MMA training with Team Bison in Bloomington, MN, in the garage of head trainer Mike Reilly. Currently, Rogers trains with "Ambition MMA" in a state-of-the-art training facility formed by Reilly and his partners in 2008. Rogers continues to train on a daily basis with Reilly.

Rogers was charged in early 2011 with third degree assault on his wife [2] and was immediately released from his Strikeforce contract.[3]

Mixed martial arts career

Elite XC

In the EliteXC: Primetime post-fight press conference, Rogers called out internet sensation Kimbo Slice, stating that Kimbo's match with James Thompson was "garbage" and that Rogers believed Kimbo tapped to a guillotine choke in the first round. Kimbo Slice then stood up, telling Rogers, "That sounds like a challenge, big dog." Rogers then barked back, "It is. In the cage."[4] EliteXC folded later that year, and a match between the two was never consummated.

Strikeforce

In February 2009, Rogers signed with Strikeforce.[5] On June 6, 2009, at Strikeforce: Lawler vs Shields, he defeated former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski by TKO after 22 seconds of the opening round.[6] This victory launched Rogers to the top of the list of heavyweights in Strikeforce and he agreed to fight MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko on CBS in Fedor vs Rogers on November 7. In the second round Fedor hit Rogers with a hard overhand right that dropped Rogers to the ground and John McCarthy quickly stopped the bout, breaking Brett's undefeated record with a KO loss.

Rogers was scheduled to face Alistair Overeem on May 15, 2010, at Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery.[7] After a great deal of discussions on whether or not the bout would be for Overeem's Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship,[8] it was confirmed on March 29 that the title would indeed be on the line.[9] On May 15, 2010, Rogers lost to Overeem via TKO (strikes) at 3:40 of round one, landing only one punch in the entire fight according to CompuStrike. Rogers picked up a win against Ruben Villareal by decision in the W-1 promotion. Brett Rogers was defeated via a one arm triangle choke submission by Josh Barnett on June 18, 2011, at Strikeforce: Dallas as part of an eight-man heavyweight tournament.[10]

Independent promotions

Rogers made his return to MMA at Titan Fighting Championships 20 against UFC veteran Eddie Sanchez.[11] He lost the fight via split decision.

Rogers was expected to fight Dave Keeley at M-1 Global - Korea on August 17, 2013. The fight didn't happen because the event was cancelled for unknown reasons.

Bellator Fighting Championships

On June 5, 2012, it was announced that Rogers had signed a deal with Bellator Fighting Championships. He made his debut on June 22, 2012, at Bellator 71 against Kevin Asplund and won the bout by TKO after Asplund's eye closed up between rounds, prompting the referee to stop the fight.[12]

Rogers competed in the Bellator season seven heavyweight tournament and faced Alexander Volkov in the quarter finals at Bellator 75.[13] Volkov dominated the fight by making the most of his reach advantage. Rogers lost via unanimous decision.[14] It was later revealed that Rogers had broken his arm during the fight, leading to his poor performance.[15]

Rogers was scheduled to face Eric Prindle at Bellator 93 on March 21 but the fight was cancelled when Prindle pulled out.

Independent promotions

After leaving Bellator, Rogers next fought at FEFoMP: Mayor Cup 2013 against Evgeny Erokhin on October 5. He won the fight by split decision.

His next fight was at Super Fighting Enterprise where he faced Edson Ramos on November 30. He won by knockout to become the SFE Heavyweight Champion, the first championship of his career.

One month later, he fought at Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2013 where he faced Phil De Fries. He lost the fight by submission.[16]

In his next bout, Rogers faced up-and-coming Russian prospect Konstantin Erokhin at Fight Nights - Battle of Moscow 15 on March 28, 2014. Rogers lost via unanimous decision.

Rogers' next appearance was at Inoki Genome Fight 1 on April 4, 2014, against Yusuke Kawaguchi. Rogers won the bout via knockout in just 28 seconds.[17]

On May 17, 2014, Rogers faced Evgeny Erokhin in a rematch at FEFoMP- Mayor Cup 2014. Rogers was knocked out with a right hook to the chin in the later stages of round two.

The following July, Rogers faced Magomed Malikov at Fight Nights: Battle of Moscow 16. Rogers won via TKO when Malikov broke his leg while attempting a right low kick in the second round.[18]

Rogers faced Denis Goltsov on September 19, 2014, at Tech-Krep FC: PRIME 3. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[19]

Rogers faced Aslambek Musaev on October 4, 2014, at ACB 10: Coliseum Time.[20] He won via TKO in the first round.

Personal life

In September 2011, Rogers pleaded guilty to domestic abuse for choking his wife and repeatedly punching her to unconsciousness in June 2011. Rogers's children could not stop him and his oldest daughter told the police that Rogers would not only beat his wife, but also beat his children. Rogers received 60 days and nights in jail, three years' probation and a $500 fine.[21]

Rogers was arrested for sexual misconduct after allegedly groping two men in Saint Paul, Minnesota according to criminal complaints obtained from Minnesota Second Judicial District Court. On November 15, 2016, at the George Latimer Central Library, Rogers grabbed the crotch area of a library employee's pants and penis while riding the elevator. The man reportedly slapped Rogers's hand away and asked what he was doing. Rogers said nothing to the man and left the elevator as soon as the door opened.[22] In another incident on November 22, 2016, Rogers grabbed a man's hand and pulled it toward his groin after asking the man if he wanted to go hang out or go to an apartment Rogers lived in.

On January 4, 2017, Rogers asked a man next to his urinal stall to go into another stall for a sex act to be performed on him from Rogers. After the man declined, Rogers grabbed the man's buttocks as he was still using the urinal. The man made a quick exit and later called the police and had a written statement filed.[23]

While at the Ramsey County Jail, a former cellmate also accused Rogers of sexual assault. Rogers allegedly groped his cellmate's penis through the prison uniform pants twice while the cellmate slept. The cellmate did not call for the guards, because he feared Rogers would hurt him, describing Rogers as "the biggest and strongest dude in the jail". Rogers told jail officers that he tapped the cellmate's leg, but he did not fondle him. Rogers said that when he talks to people, he touches or taps them, referring to it as "a black thing."[23]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
28 matches 17 wins 10 losses
By knockout 15 3
By submission 0 2
By decision 2 5
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 17–10 (1) Derrick Mehmen Decision (unanimous) Abu Dhabi Warriors 2 March 26, 2015 3 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 17–9 (1) Aslambek Musaev TKO (punches) ACB 10: Coliseum Time October 4, 2014 1 3:25 Grozny, Russia
Loss 16–9 (1) Denis Goltsov Decision (unanimous) Tech-Krep FC: PRIME 3 September 19, 2014 3 5:00 Krasnodar, Russia
Win 16–8 (1) Magomed Malikov TKO (leg injury) Fight Nights: Battle of Moscow 16 July 11, 2014 2 1:42 Moscow, Russia
Loss 15–8 (1) Evgeny Erokhin KO (punch) FEFoMP: Mayor Cup 2014 May 17, 2014 2 3:27 Moscow, Russia
Win 15–7 (1) Yusuke Kawaguchi KO (punches) Inoki Genome Fight 1 April 4, 2014 1 0:28 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 14–7 (1) Konstantin Erokhin Decision (unanimous) Fight Nights: Battle of Moscow 15 March 28, 2014 3 5:00 Moscow, Russia
Loss 14–6 (1) Phil De Fries Submission (rear-naked choke) Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2013 December 31, 2013 1 3:45 Tokyo, Japan
Win 14–5 (1) Edson Ramos KO (punches) SFE II November 30, 2013 1 0:20 Quito, Ecuador Won SFE Heavyweight Championship.
Win 13–5 (1) Evgeny Erokhin Decision (split) FEFoMP: Mayor cup 2013 October 5, 2013 3 5:00 Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia
Loss 12–5 (1) Alexander Volkov Decision (unanimous) Bellator 75 October 5, 2012 3 5:00 Hammond, Indiana, United States Bellator Season Seven Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Win 12–4 (1) Kevin Asplund TKO (doctor stoppage) Bellator 71 June 22, 2012 2 5:00 Chester, West Virginia, United States
NC 11–4 (1) Todd Allee NC (illegal blow to back of head) IFL 45: My Bloody Valentine February 18, 2012 1 1:18 Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States
Loss 11–4 Eddie Sanchez Decision (split) Titan Fighting Championships 20 September 23, 2011 3 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Loss 11–3 Josh Barnett Submission (arm-triangle choke) Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum June 18, 2011 2 1:17 Dallas, Texas, United States Strikeforce 2011 Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Win 11–2 Ruben Villareal Decision (unanimous) W-1 MMA 6: New Ground October 23, 2010 3 5:00 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Loss 10–2 Alistair Overeem TKO (punches) Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery May 15, 2010 1 3:40 St. Louis, Missouri, United States For Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship.
Loss 10–1 Fedor Emelianenko KO (punches) Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers November 7, 2009 2 1:48 Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States
Win 10–0 Andrei Arlovski TKO (punches) Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields June 6, 2009 1 0:22 St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Win 9–0 Abongo Humphrey TKO (knees) Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz April 11, 2009 1 1:38 San Jose, California, United States
Win 8–0 Jon Murphy KO (punch) EliteXC: Primetime May 31, 2008 1 1:01 Newark, New Jersey, United States
Win 7–0 James Thompson KO (punches) EliteXC: Street Certified February 16, 2008 1 2:24 Sunrise, Florida, United States
Win 6–0 Ralph Kelly TKO (submission to punches) EliteXC: Renegade November 10, 2007 1 1:43 Corpus Christi, Texas, United States
Win 5–0 Josh Melichar KO (punches) EFX: Fury February 1, 2007 1 0:12 Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Win 4–0 Mark Racine TKO (punches) EFX: Fury December 17, 2006 1 2:35 Minnesota, United States
Win 3–0 Brian Heden KO (punches) EFX: Fury November 1, 2006 1 1:20 Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Win 2–0 Chris Clark TKO (punches) EFX: Fury May 3, 2006 1 0:37 Minnesota, United States
Win 1–0 Stan Strong KO (punches) UCS: Throwdown at the T-Bar July 30, 2005 1 0:13 Ellsworth, Minnesota, United States

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Brett Rogers: Four Blocks Turned Into Ten". FIGHT! Magazine News. Archived from the original on 2015-07-16. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  2. ^ [1][dead link]
  3. ^ Luke Thomas (30 June 2011). "Dana White: Brett Rogers Is Fired 'Immediately'". SBNation.com. Vox Media.
  4. ^ Chiappetta, Mike (2008-06-01). "Kimbo passes Primetime pressure test". nbcsports.com. Archived from the original on 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
  5. ^ Savage, Greg (June 7, 2009). "Shields Submits Lawler; Rogers Stuns Arlovski". Sherdog. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
  6. ^ Fowlkes, Ben (February 13, 2009). "Unlike EliteXC, Strikeforce has a business model for success". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
  7. ^ "Overeem-Rogers "will be title fight"". fightersonlymagazine.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2010-03-06. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  8. ^ "Overeem vs. Rogers, Arlovski vs. "Bigfoot" official for May 15 Strikeforce event in St. Louis". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
  9. ^ "Alistair Overeem's Strikeforce title on the line May 15 against Brett Rogers". Archived from the original on 2010-03-31. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  10. ^ "Overeem vs. Werdum Among Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament Pairings". mmafighting.com. January 4, 2011.
  11. ^ "Former Strikeforce heavyweight Brett Rogers makes MMA comeback at Titan Fighting Championships 20". MMAmania.com. September 3, 2011.
  12. ^ [2] Archived June 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ [3] Archived August 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "Bizarre groin foul finish puts Thiago Santos past Eric Prindle at Bellator 75". sherdog.com. October 5, 2012.
  15. ^ Jesse Holland (10 October 2012). "Pic: Brett Rogers broken arm following Bellator loss to Alexander Volkov". MMAmania.com.
  16. ^ "Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2013: Highlights, gifs, and results". bloodyelbow.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  17. ^ "SATOSHI ISHII OUTPOINTS PHIL DE FRIES, EXTENDS WINNING STREAK AT INOKI GENOME FIGHT 1". sherdog.com. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  18. ^ "Magomed Malikov breaks leg throwing low kick vs. Brett Rogers in Moscow". bloodyelbow.com. 11 July 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  19. ^ "Denis Goltsov vs. Brett Rogers". tapology.com.
  20. ^ "ACB 10 - Coliseum Time". sherdog.com.
  21. ^ "'Homeless' Brett Rogers Charged with Sexual Misconduct for Three Incidents". 19 January 2017.
  22. ^ "Ex-MMA fighter charged in sex misconduct in St. Paul skyway bathroom, library, jail". 18 January 2017.
  23. ^ a b Raimondi, Marc (2017-01-19). "Ex-Strikeforce heavyweight Brett Rogers charged with three counts of sexual misconduct". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2017-01-20.