Black belt. The aforementioned term is one that is widely used, often disregarded, and widely misunderstood. Unfortunately, Americans (primarily) have bastardized the true meaning of this term as well as what it means to obtain such a rank through the practice of awarding gimmie belts, i.e. belts awarded primarily based on attendance records and the practitioners monthly check clearing rather than actual skill level, and the watered down criteria of martial arts instructors looking to satisfy students and their parents.
The rank of black belt indicates a dedication to the craft unparalleled to anything else in the practitioners life and a level of not only skill and ability that is unmatched by the majority of practitioners but also a moral and ethical standard by which the belt holder lives their life on a daily basis. To achieve a true black belt is generally described as one of the greatest accomplishments of that person’s life and more importantly, helped shape who they are as a person.
The idea of obtaining more than one black belt seems asinine while the idea of holding more than two seems simply unfathomable. In the list below we will look at 5 UFC fighters who have black belts in multiple disciplines with our minimum starting at three.
5) Rashad Evans
Rashad Evans burst onto the mixed martial arts season after winning The Ultimate Fighter Season 2 at Heavyweight. He would eventually find a home at Light Heavyweight winning the world title in 2008. Evans, who was a NCAA D1 wrestler at Michigan State, also has a very accomplished career in traditional martial arts.
He has obtained the rank of black belt in Karate, Gaidojutsu (Greg Jackson’s submission fighting system), as well as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. As a caveat, Evans earned a spot on our list by obtaining his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt from Rolles Gracie without ever putting on a gi.
4) Stephen Thompson
Thompson, who most notably was involved in not one but two controversial world title fights with Tyron Woodley, is also a multiple black belt owner. As a child and young adult, Thompson trained under his father, Ray Thompson, and earned black belts in not only Kempo Karate and Tetsushin Ryu Ju-Jitsu (Japanese Jujutsu), he has also earned a black belt in an art that seems to be a bit unorthodox as far as belt rankings go: American Kickboxing.
Having an illustrious kickboxing career with a combined amateur and professional record of 57-0, Wonderboy, achieved the rank of black belt after American Kickboxing, some suggest, took cues from Muay Thai and introduced a ranking system as a way to identify skill levels and accomplishments within the art.
3) Georges St-Pierre
Arguably one of the greatest fighters of all time and undoubtedly the greatest Welterweight in UFC history, Georges St-Pierre has been a lifelong martial artist and his career highlights as well as accomplishments reflect as much.
Beginning his martial arts career in traditional Kyokushin karate, GSP would earn a black belt in the art and as his training progressed on the professional level he would go on to earn a black belt from Greg Jackson in his submission fighting system, Gaidojutsu, as well as the coveted Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt from Bruno Fernandes.
2) Fabricio Werdum
Fabricio Werdum is a well-decorated professional fighter as well as martial artists. He is the former UFC Heavyweight Champion, two-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champiom, a two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club World Heavyweight Champion and a European Jiu-Jitsu champion.
He has competed in every professional fighting league of note with the exception of Bellator which includes the UFC, PRIDE, and Strikeforce but even more impressive are his three martial arts black belts. Werdum holds one of the highest ranks in the arts of Judo, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
1) Anderson Silva
Anderson Silva is, in the eyes of most martial artists and martial arts enthusiast, the greatest fighter of all time and one of the greatest martial artists of all time being compared to the likes of Bruce Lee. Without a doubt, Silva is the greatest and most diverse martial artist of our generation holding five rankings in five various martial arts as well as being a professional mixed martial artist and professional boxer. Silva holds the rank of black belt in Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as well as a yellow rope in Capoeira.
In the UFC, Silva became one of the greatest champions of all time holding the longest title streak in league history which ended in 2013 after 2,457 consecutive days (6 years 8 months and 27 days) which included 16 consecutive wins, 10 title defenses, and 13 coveted post-fight bonuses which are awarded based on performance.
