From wrestler to world-class grappler in record time, Nick Rodriguez (aka Nicky Rod) has become one of the most watched athletes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Quick Nicky Rod Facts
- Full name: Nicholas Pete Rodriguez
- Born: August 30, 1996 (Philadelphia, PA)
- Height/Weight: 6’3″, ~220 lbs
- Team: B-Team Jiu Jitsu (formerly Danaher Death Squad)
- Rank: Black Belt in BJJ
- Nickname: The Black Belt Slayer
Nicky Rod’s Grappling Beginning
Nick Rodriguez was born on August 30, 1996, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but grew up in Clayton, New Jersey. He got into wrestling in the sixth grade and kept doing it through high school. He was good—good enough to qualify for the NJSIAA state championships as a senior.
Then he hit college at Ferrum College, a DIII wrestling school. And here’s something wild—he went from 170 lbs to 220 lbs in one year. His college record? 23 wins, 4 losses. After a year, he left college to pursue a modeling career with Wilhelmina Models.
Nicky Rod BJJ: From Newbie to Beast
In 2018, a friend invited Nick to try a Jiu-Jitsu class just to stay in shape. Two weeks later, he was competing and winning in a submission grappling tournament.
Under the guidance of coach Jay Regalbuto, Nick competed in his first tournament after just three weeks of training and didn’t lose a single match. A few months later, he started training with John Danaher at Renzo Gracie Academy.
Nick exploded onto the scene, winning at Grappling Industries and medaling at ADCC North American Trials. He also took gold at the IBJJF World No-Gi Championship (blue belt division) by submitting all three of his opponents.
Nicky Rod ADCC: From Trials to Podium (As a Blue Belt?!)
In 2019, Nick entered the ADCC North American Trials and won the +99 kg bracket. That earned him a spot at the 2019 ADCC World Championship.
There, he beat Mahamed Aly, Orlando Sanchez, and Cyborg Abreu. He made it to the finals as a blue belt and only lost to Kaynan Duarte by points. On the podium, he was promoted to purple belt.
That run made the world take notice. And the nickname “Black Belt Slayer” stuck.
Nick Rodriguez Highlights (Why Everyone’s Watching Him)
- 2x ADCC Silver Medalist (2019, 2022)
- EBI 20 Absolute Champion
- Craig Jones Invitational 80kg Champion (2024)
- Known for his explosive wrestling and body lock pass
- Only one submission loss in over 40 matches (to Kaynan Duarte)
His highlight reels are packed with monster takedowns, smooth transitions, and lightning-fast body lock passes. Look up “Nick Rodriguez takedown compilation” on YouTube—you’ll see what we mean.
Gordon Ryan vs. Nick Rodriguez 2 — The Rematch
After losing to Gordon in the ADCC 2022 finals via heel hook, Nick got another shot at him in the UFC Fight Pass Invitational. This time, they went to overtime. No submission. But Gordon won by escape time.
Gordon claimed Nick was greasing. Nick denied it on the Mark Bell Podcast. The rivalry? Still hot. Fans are hoping for a third match soon.
Nick’s Style: Strength, Speed, and Pressure
Nick’s grappling style is heavy on wrestling, speed, and control. He uses:
- Body Lock Passes to shut down guards and score.
- Foot sweeps to surprise opponents.
- Relentless pressure to rack up points.
- Explosiveness and smart scrambles to stay one step ahead.
He trains hard. His workout routines include wrestling drills, lifting, sled work, and conditioning circuits.
Nick Rodriguez: From Danaher Death Squad to B-Team
John Danaher gave Nick his shot. He sharpened Nick’s defense and leg lock awareness. But in 2021, the Danaher Death Squad split up.
Nick joined Craig Jones, Nicky Ryan, and Ethan Crelinsten to form B-Team Jiu Jitsu in Austin, Texas.
Since then, Nick has added to his resume, beating top-tier grapplers and winning the CJI 2024 Absolute Division, submitting Max Gimenis, Owen Livesey, Adam Bradley, and Fellipe Andrew in one night.
Nick’s Grappling Record
As of early 2025:
- 42 Matches
- 37 Wins (17 by submission)
- 7 Losses (1 by submission)
- 2 Draws
That’s a wild record for someone who started BJJ at age 22.
Final Thoughts
Nick Rodriguez proves one thing: you don’t need to start BJJ as a kid to be great. He started at 22 and became a world-class grappler within two years, beating black belts with pure work ethic, pressure, and wrestling.
Want to get better at grappling? Study Nicky Rod’s jiu-jitsu game to learn to control the pace, master the body lock, and build cardio that lasts.
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