Mark Robinson (martial artist) explained

Mark Robinson
Birth Date:18 March 1963[1]
Nickname:White Rhino
Nationality:South African
Residence:Johannesburg
Weight Lb:300
Weight Class:Super heavyweight
Style:Wrestling
Team:Mark Robinson MMA
Mma Subwin:1
Mma Nc:1
Sherdog:280
Relatives:Norman Robinson (father)
Medaltemplates:[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Mark Robinson (born 18 March 1963) is a South African martial artist and powerlifter. He is considered to be one of South Africa's most accomplished athletes due to his accomplishments in several wrestling styles (freestyle, Greco-Roman, sumo) and powerlifting.

Background

Robinson was born to a family of martial artists.[7] His father, Norman Robinson, was one of the first practitioners of Shotokan Karate in South Africa and helped instigate the establishment of the South African branch of the Japan Karate Association.[8] His grandfather, Jack Robinson, was a pioneer of judo in South Africa and set up an establishment that would later become Judo South Africa.

Grappling career

Robinson's earliest sporting achievement was in 1982, when he became the South African judo champion in the heavyweight division.

Robinson later started pursuing various forms of amateur wrestling including both Greco-Roman and freestyle. From 1994 to 1996, he won multiple medals in wrestling at the African Wrestling Championship and African Games. His strong performance at the 1996 Acropolis Wrestling Grand Prix qualified him for a spot at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling. However, he was unable to compete due to budget restrictions.

Robinson competed in the 1996 Sumo World Championship with only a few months of training. In the finals, he defeated Emmanuel Yarbrough to become champion of the openweight class.[9]

Robinson competed at the 2001 ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship in the +99 kg category against several strong candidates.[10] He defeated Valeriy Yureskul, Vitor Belfort and Ricco Rodriguez to reach the final, where he defeated Jeff Monson to become champion.

Powerlifting career

Around the same time he started his grappling career, Robinson also participated in powerlifting.

He is a multiple time medalist at WPC World Championships including winner of the 1990 World Championship at the +140 kg category.

Personal Bests

Mixed martial arts career

Robinson had a brief career in mixed martial arts.[11]

On 26 August 2000, he fought for the promotion, World Extreme Fighting at the event WEF – New Blood Conflict. He faced Joe Leyva and won by submission in less than 30 seconds.[11]

On 23 February 2001, he fought for the promotion, Ultimate Fighting Championship at the event UFC 30.[11] He faced Bobby Hoffman and was knocked out in the first round by a standing elbow strike.[11] [12] However Hoffman failed a drug test afterwards and the decision was changed to a no-contest.[11]

Personal life

Robinson lives in Johannesburg with his wife Deirdre and daughter.

Robinson set up a martial arts academy in 2001 in South Africa.

Mixed martial arts record

|-| NC| align=center| 1–0 (1)| Bobby Hoffman| NC (overturned)| UFC 30| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:27| Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 1–0| Joe Leyva| Submission (neck crank)| WEF: New Blood Conflict| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:22| N/A| [11]

Submission wrestling record

-- width:150%; -->
10 Matches, 7 Wins, 3 Losses
ResultRec.OpponentMethodtext-centerEventDivisionDateLocation
Lose7–3 Reese AndyADCC 2003 Absolute2003 São Paulo
Lose7–2 Mike van ArsdaleADCC 2003 +99 kg2003 São Paulo
Win7–1 Jeff MonsonPoints ADCC 2001 +99 kg2001 Abu Dhabi
Win6–1Penalty
Win5–1 Vitor BelfortPenalty
Win4–1 Valeriy YureskulSubmission
Lose3–1 Ricardo MoraisADCC 2000 +99 kg2000 Abu Dhabi
Win3–0
Win2–0 Luis Roberto DuarteADCC 1999 +99 kg1999 Abu Dhabi
Win1–0 Yasuaki Hiramatsu

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Robinson Mark – results in powerlifting and benchpress, records, personal data, photos and video . en.allpowerlifting.com . 18 February 2023 . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217143745/https://en.allpowerlifting.com/lifters/ZAF/robinson-mark-6465/ . live .
  2. Web site: All About the ADCC: +99Kg Division BJJ Heroes . 6 July 2015 . 18 February 2023 . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217135807/https://www.bjjheroes.com/bjj-news/the-adcc-over-99kg-division . live .
  3. Web site: Calitz . Wilna . South African Sports stars – the guys and gals in green and gold . FinGlobal . 28 December 2015 . 18 February 2023 . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217135822/https://www.finglobal.com/2015/12/28/south-african-sports-stars-the-guys-and-gals-in-green-and-gold/ . live .
  4. Web site: international sumo federation . www.ifs-sumo.org . 18 February 2023 . 18 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230218010120/http://www.ifs-sumo.org/19-result-men-i1.html . live .
  5. Web site: International Wrestling Database . www.iat.uni-leipzig.de . 18 February 2023 . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217143407/https://www.iat.uni-leipzig.de/datenbanken/dbwrestling/daten.php?spid=C82C177225AF4C08BC46D1547A640C55 . live .
  6. Web site: International Wrestling Database . www.iat.uni-leipzig.de . 18 February 2023 . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217143408/https://www.iat.uni-leipzig.de/datenbanken/dbwrestling/daten.php?spid=F931FBC49F774C86B3967210741C180C . live .
  7. Web site: 15 November 2018 . Mark Robinson Mixed Martial Arts . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181115205956/http://www.markrobinson.co.za/ . 15 November 2018 .
  8. Web site: 50 years of martial arts – Steve Bazzea . 17 February 2023 . en-US . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217151426/https://stevebazzea.org/50-years-of-martial-arts/ . live .
  9. Web site: 24 August 2016 . Results of the Fifth Sumo World Championships . https://web.archive.org/web/20160824153059/http://www.ifs-sumo.org/pdf/World_Men_5.pdf . 24 August 2016 . 18 February 2023.
  10. Web site: ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship 2001 • ADCC NEWS . 18 February 2023 . adcombat.com . 18 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230218011113/https://adcombat.com/adcc-events/adcc-2001-results/ . live .
  11. Web site: Mark Robinson. Sherdog. en. 20 February 2023. 20 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230220100956/https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Mark-Robinson-280. live.
  12. Web site: Winston . Dallas . Future Evolutions In MMA: Muay Thai Standing Elbows (Part One) . Bloody Elbow . en . 2 September 2012 . 20 February 2023 . 20 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230220100955/https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/9/2/2804921/future-evolutions-muay-thai-standing-elbows . live .