Rafael Cordeiro

{{Infobox martial artist

| image = Rafael Cordeiro.png

| name = Rafael Cordeiro

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|06|01}}

| birth_place = Curitiba, Brazil

| other_names = Mestre

| residence = Huntington Beach, California, United States

| height = 5-foot 10 in

| weight = {{cvt|155|lb|kg st}}

| weight_class = Lightweight

| style = Muay Thai

| team = Kings MMA (2010–present)
Chute Boxe Academy (until 2009)

| mma_kowin = 1

| mma_subwin = 2

| mma_decwin = 1

| mma_koloss = 0

| mma_subloss = 1

| mma_decloss = 1

| mma_draw =

| mma_nc =

| sherdog = 422

}}

Rafael Cordeiro (born June 1, 1973) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts (MMA) coach and founder of MMA Gym, Kings MMA. He is best known for training multiple MMA world champions.

History

Cordeiro was a fighter affiliated with the Chute Boxe Academy where he participated in mixed martial arts and Muay Thai. He was three-time Brazilian Muay Thai champion and lightweight champion at the International Vale Tudo Championship (IVC).{{Cite web|url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/OneonOne-with-Rafael-Cordeiro-81403|title=One-on-One with Rafael Cordeiro|website=Sherdog}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sherdog.com/events/IVC-9-The-Revenge-279|title=IVC 9 - The Revenge|website=Sherdog}}

In 1999, Cordeiro stopped competing professionally and started his career as a full-time coach at Chute Boxe where would remain until 2009.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmaweekly.com/20-years-in-rafael-cordeiro-exits-chute-boxe-2|title=– 20 YEARS IN, RAFAEL CORDEIRO EXITS CHUTE BOXE | MMAWeekly.com|date=April 19, 2009}} In 2008 he moved to the United States and in 2010 opened his own gym, Kings MMA in Huntington Beach, California.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B_0BzPRpdPI/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/kingsmma_hb/2302473228635198408 |archive-date=December 25, 2021 |url-access=registration|title=Rafael Cordeiro (@kingsmma_hb) posted on Instagram • May 5, 2020 at 4:30pm UTC|website=Instagram}}{{cbignore}}

Cordeiro has won the 2012 and 2016 coach of the year awards for MMA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2013/1/11/3867210/2012-world-mma-awards-results|title=World MMA Awards 2012 Results|first=Bryan|last=Tucker|date=January 11, 2013|website=MMA Fighting}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2016/2/5/10924620/world-mma-awards-2016-results|title=World MMA Awards 2016 Results|first=Bryan|last=Tucker|date=February 5, 2016|website=MMA Fighting}}

In 2019, during the weigh-ins for UFC 244, the NYSAC "determined that Kelvin Gastelum made contact with another person while on the scale, a violation of the weigh in policy". This was because he was in contact with Cordeiro, who was his coach for the bout. As a result, Gastelum and Rafael Cordeiro were fined $1,000 and $200 respectively by New York State Athletic Commission.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/11/8/20955654/nysac-fines-kelvin-gastelum-rafael-cordeiro-and-corey-anderson-for-ufc-244-actions|title=NYSAC fines Kelvin Gastelum, Rafael Cordeiro and Corey Anderson for UFC 244 actions|last=Marrocco|first=Steven|date=November 8, 2019|website=MMA Fighting|language=en|access-date=November 9, 2019}}

In 2020, Cordeiro was trainer and cornerman to the former boxing world heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson for his exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingexcitement.com/boxing/who-is-mike-tysons-trainer-rafael-cordeiro-mma-star-training-boxing-legend-for-roy-jones-jr-comeback|title=Who is Mike Tyson's trainer Rafael Cordeiro?|website=Sporting Excitement|date=November 25, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/11/25/21612555/rafael-cordeiro-mike-tyson-ko-roy-jones-jr-ruleset-exhibition-boxings|title=Coach says Mike Tyson aiming to knock out Roy Jones Jr. despite rules: 'No one spars a full month for an exhibition'|first=Guilherme|last=Cruz|date=November 25, 2020|website=MMA Fighting}}

Notable students

=Mixed martial arts=

Anderson Silva - Former UFC Middleweight Champion{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2017/3/16/14941160/ufc-212-anderson-silva-kelvin-gastelum-rafael-cordeiro-kings-mma-news|title=Anderson Silva's former coach will train Kelvin Gastelum for UFC 212|first=Lucas|last=Rezende|date=March 16, 2017|website=Bloody Elbow}}
Maurício Rua - Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix Champion
Wanderlei Silva - Former PRIDE Middleweight Champion and the 2003 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix Tournament Champion
Fabrício Werdum - Former UFC Heavyweight Champion
Rafael dos Anjos - Former UFC Lightweight Champion
Cris Cyborg - Former UFC Women's Featherweight Champion
Lyoto Machida - Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2014/7/3/5867711/lyoto-machida-gegard-mousasi-chris-weidman-mma-news|title=Lyoto Machida's coach: Chris Weidman is going to get knocked out|first=Guilherme|last=Cruz|date=July 3, 2014|website=MMA Fighting}}
Murilo Rua - Former EliteXC Middleweight Champion
Beneil Dariush - Former RITC Lightweight Champion
Marvin Vettori{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmamania.com/2020/12/3/21807318/fighter-on-fighter-breaking-down-ufc-vegas-16s-marvin-vettori|title=Fighter on Fighter: Breaking down UFC Vegas 16's Marvin Vettori|first=Andrew|last=Richardson|date=December 3, 2020|website=MMA Mania}} - Former VFC Welterweight Champion
Kelvin Gastelum
Giga Chikadze