Cole Franson

Cole Franson is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Maurício Mariano, being also one of the main representatives of the Tinguinha BJJ association in the sport’s adult black belt division. Franson built his reputation as one of America’s rising BJJ athletes while competing in the lower belt divisions of the sport, a time when Cole conquered important titles in the IBJJF Pan American Championship, the UAEJJF Continental Pro tournament, and the SJJF World Championships. Cole’s status was cemented during his very first few months at black belt with more important podium placements.

Cole Franson Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Cole Thomas Franson

Nickname: N/A

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Jr > Maurício Mariano > Cole Franson

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF Asian Open (2018)
• 1st Place IBJJF Seattle Open (2018*)
• 1st Place IBJJF Las Vegas Open NoGi (2018)
• 2nd Place IBJJF European Open NoGi (2019)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Seattle Open (2018)
• 2nd Place SJJIF World Championship NoGi (2019)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship NoGi (2019)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Las Vegas Open (2018)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2018 brown)
• 1st Place UAEJJF Continental Pro (2018 brown)
• 1st Place SJJF World Championship (2017 brown)
• 1st Place FIVE Grappling California (2018 brown)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2015 purple)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2016 brown)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pans No-gi Championship (2017 brown)
• 3rd Place IBJJF San Diego BJJ Pro (2017 brown)
• 3rd Place UAEJJF Grand Slam LA (2017 brown)

Favorite Position/Technique: Reverse DLR Hook

Weight Division:  Peso Pena (70,00 kg / 154.5 lbs)

Team/Association: Tinguinha JJ

Cole Franson Biography

Cole Franson was born on July 26, 1994, in Clovis, California, United States of America.

Fascinated by sports from a young age, Cole spent his childhood days playing football (soccer) and baseball, while also developing an interest in pro-wrestling from a fan standpoint. This fascination for WWE style shows led him to mixed martial arts (MMA) during his early teens, and after seeing a few Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bouts he decided to give Brazilian jiu-jitsu a try – one of the most popular methods applied inside the octagon.

The first BJJ gym Cole trained at ended up closing down within 6 months, an episode that drove Franson to high school wrestling. He returned to jiu-jitsu a few months later, settling at the Fresno Kickboxing Academy (which later changed its name to Halo BJJ) in 2008, with coach Ray Alvarado – student of Maurício Mariano, also known as Tinguinha.

Although an avid BJJ player, Franson shared his love for the mats with wrestling for a couple of years, playing for the Alta Sierra Junior high school and Buchanan High School.

Training at Halo BJJ, a Tinguinha JJ affiliate, Cole was promoted up to purple belt, by coach Alvarado. In 2013, Franson started training with coach Mariano at the Tinguinha Jiu Jitsu headquarters, where Cole earned his brown and black belts, the latter being awarded in July 2018.

Cole Franson vs Wellington Modena