Orlando Sanchez, also known as “The Cuban Tree Stump”, is an American born Jiu-Jitsu black belt under “Zé Radiola” who competes in the ultra-heavyweight division for the Gracie Barra team (grappling). Orlando Sanchez is also known for his past drug dependence, which he overcame through practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, becoming in the process one of the fastest Americans to have reached the degree of black belt in the sport (4 years). His path in martial arts has also led Orlando Sanchez to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), a sport he fights for both Gracie Barra and the Kings MMA Team of Rafael Cordeiro.
Orlando Sanchez Jiu-Jitsu
Full Name: Orlando Mario Sanchez
Nickname: “The Cuban Tree Stump” is a direct result of Orlando’s Cuban heritage and his stature (1,79cm/5’9” and an ultra-heavyweight), the nickname was given by his former coach, Alberto Crane.
Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie Sr. > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Junior > Jose Olimpio > Orlando Sanchez
Main Achievements:
- 1st Place ADCC World Championship (2015)
- 2nd Place ADCC World Championship (2017)
Main Achievements (Colored Belts):
- 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2010 blue)
- 1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2012 brown)
- 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2012** brown)
- 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2010/2009 blue)
* Absolute
** Weight and absolute
Favorite Position/Technique: Guard Passing
Weight Division: Peso Pesadíssimo (over 100kg/221lbs)
Team/Association: Gracie Barra
Orlando Sanchez Biography
Orlando Sanchez was born in La Cañada, California in 1982. He played sports in his youth, getting through college on a football scholarship. After his sporting career finished, Orlando’s turned to partying, which drove to alcohol and drug abuse, ultimately leading to depression. By the age of 26, Sanchez had reached 360 pounds of weight and felt the urge to change the way his life was heading.
Through the incentive of a good friend, Orlando Sanchez turned his focus towards martial arts, training Muay Thai. Thai Boxing led Orlando to Alberto Crane who became his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach. Sanchez started competing regularly reaching the degree of brown belt in an astounding 3 years of training winning tournaments such as Gracie Nationals, Grapplers Quest and the Pan-American. In training with Alberto Crane, Orlando Sanchez had the chance of getting to know and train with Gracie Barra’s network of exquisite coaches and competitors such as Romulo Barral, Draculino and “Ze Radiola“. Ze Radiola became a close friend of Orlando Sanchez, and it was Radiola who awarded Sanchez his black belt on September 2012, after a great competitive year as a brown belt where Sanchez won important tournaments such as the Pan American Championships and the Brazilian Nationals in both his weight class and the open weight divisions.
Being a relentless competitor, Orlando Sanchez also picked up MMA, training with Rafael Cordeiro at Kings MMA and becoming one of the main partners of Fabricio Werdum. Orlando also competed in MMA with a rampant start of 3 wins and one no-contest.
Orlando Sanchez Grappling Record
-
BY POINTS
3 (23%) -
BY ADVANTAGES
2 (15%) -
BY SUBMISSION
2 (15%) -
BY DECISION
6 (46%) -
BY PENALTIES
0 (0%) - BY DQ
0 (0%)
2 SUBMISSIONS WINS
-
BY POINTS
3 (50%) -
BY ADVANTAGES
0 (0%) -
BY SUBMISSION
0 (0%) -
BY DECISION
1 (17%) -
BY PENALTIES
2 (33%) - BY DQ
0 (0%)
0 SUBMISSION LOSSES
Orlando Sanchez Fight History
ID | Opponent | W/L | Method | Competition | Weight | Stage | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4518 | Andre GalvaoAndre Galvao | L | Referee Decision | Pan American | ABS | 4F | 2013 |
4741 | Leandro LoLeandro Lo | L | Pts: 6x0 | World Champ. | ABS | RDS | 2013 |
4812 | Abraham MarteAbraham Marte | L | Pts: 8x0 | World Champ. | O100KG | R1 | 2013 |
5036 | Roberto AbreuRoberto Abreu | L | Pen | ADCC | O99KG | 4F | 2013 |
13823 | Marcus AlmeidaMarcus Almeida | L | Pts: 3x0 | ADCC | 99+KG | F | 2017 |
21667 | Nick Rodriguez | L | Pts: 0x0, Pen | ADCC | O99KG | 4F | 2019 |
4501 | James PuopoloJames Puopolo | W | Adv | Pan American | ABS | R1 | 2013 |
4509 | Leandro LoLeandro Lo | W | Referee Decision | Pan American | ABS | R2 | 2013 |
4708 | Fernando Nara | W | Pts: 2x2, Adv | World Champ. | ABS | RDS | 2013 |
4728 | Pedro MelloPedro Mello | W | Points | World Champ. | ABS | RDS | 2013 |
5032 | Kitner Mendoga | W | RNC | ADCC | O99KG | R1 | 2013 |
7868 | Janne-Pekka | W | Armlock f/ crucifix | ADCC | O99KG | R1 | 2015 |
7875 | Dean ListerDean Lister | W | Referee Decision | ADCC | O99KG | 4F | 2015 |
7878 | Vinny MagalhaesVinny Magalhaes | W | Referee Decision | ADCC | O99KG | SF | 2015 |
7881 | Jared DoppJared Dopp | W | Referee Decision | ADCC | O99KG | F | 2015 |
13809 | H. Sekine | W | Pts: 2x0 | ADCC | 99+KG | E1 | 2017 |
13818 | Tom DeBlassTom DeBlass | W | Referee Decision | ADCC | 99+KG | 4F | 2017 |
13820 | Jared DoppJared Dopp | W | Referee Decision | ADCC | 99+KG | SF | 2017 |
21662 | Mateusz Juskowiak | W | Pts: 2x0 | ADCC | O99KG | R1 | 2019 |
Orlando Sanchez vs William Wheeler (MMA)
Good write up. I didn't even know he got his black belt six months ago.
He got his black belt on August 19, 2012 as the day before, Ze Radiola awarded Lucas Rocha his black belt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMufkNCct7E&fe…
Jiu Jitsu Saves.
Nice story but definitely one of the most boring jiu-jitsu players of all time.
This is amazing, I can't wait to see him tonight for my jiu jitsu seminar!!!