Ricardo Arona remains a legendary figure in MMA and Jiu-Jitsu, even though he hasn’t competed in many years.
His last fight was in September 2009, where, at 31, he defeated Marvin Eastman at Bitetti Combat 4.
In an attempt to unravel the mystery of the best version of Ricardo Arona, TATAME reached out to Carlão Barreto – UFC Fight Pass commentator – and Bebeo Duarte – legendary Brazilian Top Team coach – both of whom closely followed Arona’s journey on the mats and in the ring.
Carlão Barreto believes that Arona’s true greatness laid in submission grappling.
He highlighted Arona’s remarkable achievement of never conceding a point in the tournament:
I think Ricardo Arona was born for Grappling, he was born to fight ADCC.
He was an undisputed champion, a guy who never received a point in this event.Not that he wasn’t a great athlete in Pride, but it seems that Ricardo Arona was born to fight in the ADCC, and the ADCC recognized this by placing him in the Hall of Fame.
Bebeo Duarte described his friend Arona as two different athletes:
I think there are two Ricardo Aronas – the MMA/Vale-Tudo fighter and the Grappling fighter (ADCC).
And he had good times in both versions, he was very good without the gi, in Grappling he was at his peak at that time.And, later, he was “the guy” for Pride, Vale-Tudo.
So, I think they are different fights from the same athlete and different moments in his career.
