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Learn from the greats.

Chicago MMA has welcomed champions, world-class coaches, and lineage holders to the mat. Explore the instructors who have shared their craft with our community.

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The guest roster

A room full of teachers.

Every profile below is a concise, sourced introduction. Open the details on any card to review credentials and research sources.

Showing all 12 guests.

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu · Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu · Mixed martial arts

Ralph Gracie

Ralph Gracie is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and longtime Gracie Jiu-Jitsu teacher whose official academy states he has spent more than three decades mastering and teaching the art. He oversees six California academies led by black belts trained under his guidance. A professional MMA veteran, Gracie compiled a 6–1 record, with four submission victories, and competed in PRIDE Bushido. Known in MMA as "The Pitbull," he brings seminar participants a direct Gracie-family perspective on technical execution, position, and relentless training.

Credentials & sources

More than three decades mastering and teaching Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
Oversees six California academies led by black belts trained under his guidance
Professional MMA record of 6–1, including four submission wins

AI-standardized from a public source reference; source and rights information are linked below.

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Muay Thai · MMA striking

Mark DellaGrotte

Mark DellaGrotte is the founder and owner of Sityodtong Boston, a Muay Thai academy established after he trained under Master Kru Yodtong Senanan at the Sityodtong camp in Pattaya, Thailand. Sityodtong identifies him as an appointed Muay Thai conservator and champion; the Boston Herald reported that he served as the UFC’s technical adviser for television broadcasts. Seminar participants gain a rare opportunity to study Thai-boxing lineage with a coach whose work connects traditional Muay Thai and elite MMA.

Credentials & sources

Founder and owner of Sityodtong Boston
Appointed conservator of Muay Thai (per Sityodtong Boston)
UFC technical adviser for television broadcasts (reported by the Boston Herald)

AI-standardized from a public source reference; source and rights information are linked below.

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Brazilian jiu-jitsu · Mixed martial arts · Submission grappling

Murilo Bustamante

Murilo Bustamante is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts pioneer: a Carlson Gracie black belt, 1999 World Jiu-Jitsu Champion and former UFC middleweight champion. He helped found Brazilian Top Team in 2000 and is its current leader, following a career that also included PRIDE competition. Bustamante teaches Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submission grappling internationally. Seminar participants can learn from a foundational figure whose competitive experience connects elite BJJ, early MMA and practical submission fighting.

Credentials & sources

Former UFC Middleweight Champion
1999 World Jiu-Jitsu Champion
Co-founder and current leader of Brazilian Top Team
Carlson Gracie black belt

AI-standardized from a public source reference; source and rights information are linked below.

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Mixed martial arts · Wrestling

Matt Hughes

Matt Hughes is a retired American mixed martial artist and collegiate wrestler whose wrestling, ground-and-pound and submission skills powered a landmark UFC welterweight career. A two-time UFC Welterweight Champion and UFC Hall of Fame inductee, he won the title in 2001 and again in 2004; UFC records list a 46–9–0 career. He was also a two-time NCAA Division I All-American at Eastern Illinois. Seminar audiences can learn from an athlete whose pressure-based wrestling shaped elite MMA competition.

Credentials & sources

Two-time UFC Welterweight Champion
UFC Hall of Fame inductee
Two-time NCAA Division I All-American (Eastern Illinois University)
UFC record: 46–9–0

AI-standardized from a public source reference; source and rights information are linked below.

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Kickboxing

Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan

Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan is an Italian kickboxer and multiple-time world champion, widely recognized for technical precision. He won K-1 World MAX tournaments in 2009 and 2010, the 2012 GLORY Lightweight Slam, and ONE’s 2019 Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix. GLORY describes him as a master of distance and counterattacking, while ONE lists him as a World Grand Prix champion. His tournament success and timing-led striking style make his perspective relevant to kickboxing and MMA seminar participants.

Credentials & sources

2009 K-1 World MAX tournament winner
2010 K-1 World MAX tournament winner
2012 GLORY Lightweight Slam tournament winner
2019 ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix Champion

AI-standardized from a public source reference; source and rights information are linked below.

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Brazilian jiu-jitsu · Submission grappling

Pete “The Greek” Letsos

Pete “The Greek” Letsos is a Chicago-born Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Carlson Gracie Jr. and founder of Rio Jiu Jitsu. An early U.S. BJJ competitor who trained and competed in Brazil, he won the 2001 Gracie Invitational at purple belt and also earned São Paulo State Trials and Relson Gracie Open titles. His Wrist Lock The World instructionals focus on wristlock mechanics and submissions, making his seminar especially relevant to grapplers seeking practical details.

Credentials & sources

Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Carlson Gracie Jr.
Founder of Rio Jiu Jitsu
2001 Gracie Invitational champion (purple belt, weight and absolute)
São Paulo State Trials and Relson Gracie Open champion (purple belt)

AI-standardized from a public source reference; source and rights information are linked below.

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Brazilian jiu-jitsu · No-gi submission grappling

Jason Rau

Jason Rau is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Matt Serra and head instructor at Vanguard Academy on Long Island. He trained in Renzo Gracie Academy’s “Blue Basement” under John Danaher and was runner-up at the ADCC North American Trials. Rau is a seasoned submission-grappling competitor, with appearances at Polaris, Fight to Win and Kasai Pro. Seminar participants can learn from a technical coach whose experience spans modern no-gi grappling and submission-oriented attacks.

Credentials & sources

Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Matt Serra
Head Instructor at Vanguard Academy
ADCC North American Trials runner-up
Trained under John Danaher at Renzo Gracie Academy’s Blue Basement

AI-standardized from a public source reference; source and rights information are linked below.

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Judo · Mixed martial arts · Bare-knuckle boxing

Héctor 'Lightning' Lombard

Héctor ‘Lightning’ Lombard is a Cuban-Australian combat-sports veteran whose foundation is international-level judo. A former Olympic judoka, he became the first Bellator Middleweight World Champion and later competed in the UFC at middleweight and welterweight. Lombard’s crossover career also includes Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship competition. Seminar participants can learn from a high-level judoka and longtime mixed martial artist whose experience spans grappling, striking, and cage fighting.

Credentials & sources

Former Olympic judoka
First Bellator Middleweight World Champion
UFC middleweight and welterweight competitor
BKFC competitor

AI-standardized from a public source reference; source and rights information are linked below.

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Freestyle wrestling · Collegiate wrestling

Matt Gentry

Matt Gentry is a freestyle wrestler and the University of Chicago’s head wrestling coach. He became Stanford’s first NCAA wrestling champion by winning the 157-pound title in 2004, completing a 42–0 season. Representing Canada, he competed at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and finished fifth at 74 kg in London. Seminar attendees can learn from an NCAA champion and two-time Olympian whose experience spans elite international competition and collegiate coaching.

Credentials & sources

2004 NCAA 157-pound wrestling champion for Stanford
Two-time Canadian Olympian (Beijing 2008; London 2012)
Fifth place in men’s freestyle wrestling at 74 kg, London 2012
Head Wrestling Coach, University of Chicago

AI-standardized from a public source reference; source and rights information are linked below.

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Luta Livre · No-Gi submission grappling · Vale Tudo / MMA

Hugo Duarte

Grand Master Hugo Duarte is a Brazilian Luta Livre No-Gi specialist and 9th-degree red belt. USA Luta Livre identifies him as a grandmaster involved in developing Luta Livre in the American submission-grappling community and calls him a pioneer whose techniques helped shape Brazilian no-gi submission grappling and Vale Tudo. Duarte also competed professionally in MMA, including at UFC 17 and PRIDE 4. Seminar participants can learn from a longtime Luta Livre figure with both Vale Tudo competition and teaching experience.

Credentials & sources

Grand Master; 9th-degree red belt in Luta Livre
50 years of Luta Livre experience (per USA Luta Livre seminar page)
Professional MMA competitor; competed at UFC 17 and PRIDE 4

AI-standardized from a public source reference; source and rights information are linked below.

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Muay Thai · Kickboxing · Boxing

Bogdan Stojčić

Bogdan Stojčić is a Serbian Muay Thai and kickboxing coach, founder and head coach of Victory, a Muay Thai club in Novi Sad. Chicago Mixed Martial Arts identified him as Victory Gym’s owner and a leading Serbian kickboxing instructor for a Muay Thai seminar. His public channel includes striking instruction on counters, knees, kicks, and boxing-based drills, giving seminar participants access to a coach whose work centers on practical stand-up development and team training.

Credentials & sources

Founder and head coach of Victory Muay Thai club, Novi Sad
Owner of Victory Gym
Presented by Chicago Mixed Martial Arts as a leading Serbian kickboxing instructor

AI-standardized from a public source reference; source and rights information are linked below.

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Muay Thai

Karuhat Sor Supawan

Karuhat Sor Supawan is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter celebrated as a technical fimeu stylist of the sport’s Golden Age. A three-time Lumpinee Stadium champion—once at 112 pounds and twice at 122—he recorded 165 wins in 190 bouts. Also known as Yodsian (“The Superstar”), Karuhat used sharp counters and elbows to overcome larger opponents and later coached at Sitkaruhat Gym. Seminar participants can learn from a revered technician whose approach centers on timing, distance, composure, and intelligent counter-fighting.

Credentials & sources

Three-time Lumpinee Stadium champion: 112 lb once and 122 lb twice
190 professional bouts: 165 wins, 23 losses, and 2 draws
Former coach at Sitkaruhat Gym in Bangkok

AI editorial representation created from public research; not an official photograph.

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Presentation note

Consistent look.
Clear sourcing.

Portraits have been AI-standardized into one black, white, and red editorial treatment so the roster feels like one Chicago MMA archive. The images are presentation treatments, not claims that Chicago MMA owns the original photography. Source and rights information is available on every card.

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Learn from the greats.

A room full of teachers.

Ralph Gracie

Mark DellaGrotte

Murilo Bustamante

Matt Hughes

Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan

Pete “The Greek” Letsos

Jason Rau

Héctor 'Lightning' Lombard

Matt Gentry

Hugo Duarte

Bogdan Stojčić

Karuhat Sor Supawan

Consistent look.Clear sourcing.

Bring the next teacher to the mat.

Consistent look.
Clear sourcing.