Erik Paulson was born on June 28,1966 and is an American mixed martial artist.
18 Facts About Erik Paulson
1.
2.
Erik Paulson is the first American to win the World Light-Heavy Weight Shooto Title in Japan.
3.
In 1988 Erik Paulson returned to explore grappling when he started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Rorion, Royce and Rickson Gracie in his garage.
4.
Erik Paulson got hooked with the style, and through Nakamura he got in touch with Satoru Sayama in order to fight in Shooto.
5.
In 1993, Erik Paulson had his first fight there, submitting Kazuhiro Kusayanagi.
6.
Erik Paulson asked to compete in Ultimate Fighting Championship, but the Gracies refused as Royce was already going to compete there, so Paulson ended up cornering him instead.
7.
Later, in 1995, Erik Paulson took part in an MMA tournament similar to UFC, World Combat Championships, which divided its participants in "strikers" and "grapplers" in order to pit them against each other in the finals.
8.
Again, a Gracie participated in the event, Renzo, but this time Erik Paulson got the green light to take part in the tournament.
9.
Unfortunately, Paulson was put into the striker block, in which rules prohibited submission finishes, and it took away Erik's best field.
10.
Erik Paulson still competed in Shooto, being sent as a representative to the Vale Tudo Japan event, where he was submitted in 0:41 by Canadian grappler Carlos Newton.
11.
Erik Paulson retired shortly after, focusing in teaching as opposed to fighting, though he came out of retirement in October 2007 to headline the first HDNET MMA fight card.
12.
Erik Paulson took on Jeff Ford in the main event of the night.
13.
Erik Paulson made quick work of Ford, winning by spinning armbar in the opening minutes of the first round.
14.
Erik Paulson is the founder of Combat Submission Wrestling, and STX Kickboxing.
15.
Erik Paulson is closely affiliated with Sean Sherk and Brock Lesnar of the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy.
16.
Erik Paulson has a younger brother, Leif Paulson, who is an up-and-coming grappler in his own right.
17.
Erik Paulson played Kumite fighter Stellio in Bloodsport III, where his character faced Alex Cardo played by Daniel Bernhardt.
18.
Erik Paulson trained Djimon Hounsou in Shoot Wrestling for his role of Mixed Martial Arts instructor Jean Roqua in the 2008 action drama Never Back Down.