BJJ

Mike Fowler - 4th Degree BJJ Black Belt

Mike Fowler - 4th Degree BJJ Black Belt

1. Mike Fowler’s Details

Mike Fowler’s Details
Name  Michael Lee Fowler
Nickname  N/A
Born  Virginia Beach, US
Age  40 years
Date of Birth  December 30, 1982
Weight  82 kg (181 lbs)
Weight Division Peso Medio (82 kg/181 lbs)
Last Weigh-in N/A
Height  5’5”
Foundational Style  BJJ
Career Disclosed Earnings  N/A
College University  N/A
Rank 4rd-Degree Black Belt
Head Coach  Lloyd Irvin
Last Fight  Fight to Win 200
Favorite Technique Half Guard
Lineage  C. Gracie > H. Gracie >R. Gracie > Jorge Pereira > Leo Dalla > Lloyd Irvin > Mike Fowler
Team Association  N/A
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2. Mike Fowlers’s Biography

Mike Fowler was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia in the United States on December 30, 1982. He became famous because of his leopard-style haircut and defeating famous BJJ fighters. Fowler was the first BJJ athlete who completed the “Grappling Blue Print,” a curriculum by Lloyd Irvin.

2.1. A Sports Kid

Fowler started his martial arts career learning taekwondo and wrestling. He started wrestling during high school. His interest in combat sports helped him eventually learn about jiu-jitsu.

2.2. Starting Mixed Martial Arts Training

Fowler’s wrestling coach was the person who introduced jiu-jitsu to him. Fowler wanted to start his jiu-jitsu career at a competitive institute, eventually deciding on Lloyd Irvin’s academy.


He immediately fell in love with grappling after the first class and paid the advance fee for the whole year. At this time, Fowler was training in BJJ and MMA.

2.3. Getting into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

When Fowler had an MMA record of 2-0, he decided to focus all of his attention on Brazilian jiu-jitsu only. He left college and joined Lloyd Irvin Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Maryland. His struggle and passion made him the poster boy of Ivrin’s academy.

2.4. First Coach Lloyd Irvin

Irvin was Fowler’s first BJJ coach and awarded him with his black belt. Under his coaching, Fowler made various records. He competed 20 times each year in international tournaments. Irvin became famous thanks to the growing reputation of his star student.

2.5. Joining Atos Jiu-Jitsu

In March 2012, Fowler left his mentor, Irvin, and joined Atos Jiu-Jitsu. Later, he would also leave Atos Jiu-Jitsu to open his own academy in Hawaii.

2.6. Mike Fowler’s BJJ Career Highlights

Third Fastest American to Earn a Black Belt

In the early days of his jiu-jitsu training, Fowler resolved to attain his black belt in record time like BJ Penn. To ensure faster progression, he strove to compete 20 times internationally every year. He became the third fastest American to be promoted to black belt in just three and a half years.

Multiple-Time American National Champion and Asian Open Champion

Fowler won the gold medal in the IBJJF Pan Championship, the American National Championship, and the Grappling Quest while he was a blue and purple belt. After getting his black belt, Fowler became a three-time American National Champion and three-time Asian Open Champion.

Submitted Various BJJ Legends

Fowler submitted various BJJ legends in his black belt career. He defeated Renzo Gracie and multiple-time world champion Saulo Ribeiro.

Opened an Academy in Hawaii

Fowler traveled around a lot to lead seminars based on his competitive career. He shared his knowledge with many BJJ students. To fulfill his dream, Fowler went to Hawaii and opened his own academy, North Shore Jiu-Jitsu. He is the head instructor and trains students from the local community.

3. Mike Fowler’s Historic Fights

3.1. Mike Fowler Vs. Saulo Ribeiro

Fowler faced Ribeiro in the quarterfinal of the 2007 ADCC Championship. Ribeiro is a BJJ legend promoted to black belt by Royler Gracie.


Both fighters were highly energetic at the start of the match. Ribeiro started the match with a pulling guard but could not secure his position. Fowler initially took the top position but Ribeiro got around and took Fowler by the back. Ribeiro applied a rear naked choke from the back. Luckily, Fowler resisted the hold for one and a half minutes. After Fowler successfully resisted the rear naked choke, Ribeiro applied a full guard.


Fowler tried to escape from the full guard and ended up trapped in a complicated position. He found his head trapped under Ribeiro’s arm who also had ahold of his right arm. Fowler saw an opportunity and tried to counterattack by grabbing ahold of Ribeiro. In response, Ribeiro fell back onto the ground and Fowler’s head escaped from his grip.


Finding himself back in the top position, Fowler tried his best to control Ribeiro’s movements. He tried to submit Ribeiro multiple times but Ribeiro managed to resist. Finally, Fowler grabbed ahold of Ribeiro’s foot. Ribeiro also tried to grab Fowler’s foot but failed. At the end of the fight, Fowler submitted Ribeiro with a foot lock.


Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Stage Weight Class
2007 ADCC Saulo Ribeiro W Footlock 4F -77kg

3.2. Mike Fowler Vs. Kyle Sukehira

Fowler faced Kyle Sukehira in the 2008 World Championship. Fowler took the top position at the start of the match. Though he tried his best to control Sukehira’s movement, Sukehira managed to break free. Sukehira tried to apply a guillotine choke and an armbar one after the other. However, Fowler still managed to resist and escape.


Though still on the bottom, Sukehira tried to get Fowler into a hold. Eventually, he managed to apply a triangle but Fowler escaped and managed to get on top of him. Sukehira tried to escape but Fowler could not be shaken off. At the end of the match, Fowler submitted Kyle Sukehira with a cross-collar choke from a mount.


Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Stage Weight Class
2008 World Championship Kyle Sukehira W Cross-Collar Choke from Mount Eliminator Middleweight

4. Mike Fowler’s Main Achievements

4.1. Mike Fowler’s Main Achievements in International Tournaments

Year Event Belt Weight Division
2003 US Open Blue Belt N/A
2003 IBJJF American Nationals Purple Belt Lightweight
2003 IBJJF American Nationals Purple Belt Absolute
2003 IBJJF Pan Championship Purple Belt Lightweight
2003 Grapplers Quest Pro-Division N/A N/A
2004 Grapplers Quest Pro-Division N/A N/A
2005 IBJJF American Nationals Black Belt Middleweight
2006 IBJJF American Nationals Black Belt Middleweight
2007 IBJJF Asian Open Black Belt Middleweight
2008 IBJJF Asian Open Black Belt Absolute
2009 IBJJF Asian Open Black Belt Middleweight
2009 IBJJF American Nationals Black Belt Middleweight

4.2. Mike Fowler’s Achievements as Black Belt

Year Event Belt Position
2005 IBJJF American Nationals Black Belt 1st
2006 IBJJF American Nationals Black Belt 1st
2006 IBJJF Pan Championship Black Belt 2nd
2007 IBJJF Asian Open Black Belt 1st
2007 ADCC World Championship Black Belt 4th
2008 IBJJF Asian Open Black Belt 1st
2009 IBJJF American Nationals Black Belt 1st
2009 IBJJF Asian Open Black Belt 1st

4.3. Mike Fowler’s Achievements as Colored Belt

Year Event Belt Position
2003 IBJJF Pan Championship Blue Belt 1st
2003 Grapplers Quest Pro-Division N/A 1st
2003 IBJJF American Nationals Purple Belt 1st
2003 US Open Purple Belt 1st
2004 Grapplers Quest Pro-Division N/A 1st
2005 CBJJO World Cup Brown Belt 3rd

5. Mike Fowler’s Professional Record Break Down

5.1. Mike Fowler’s Professional Record Break Down

19 Matches 8 Wins 10 Losses 1 Draw
Decision  4 1 0
Submission  2 6 0
Points  1 3 0
Other  1 0 0
Draw  0 0 1

5.2. Method of Submission

Method 2 Wins 6 Losses
Armbar  1 0
Toehold  1 0
Bow and Arrow  0 2
Triangle  0 1
Cross Choke  0 1
Guillotine  0 1
Choke  0 1

6. Mike Fowler’s Fight History

Year Competition Opponent W/L Method Weight
2006 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship Daniel Moraes L Points Middleweight
2006 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship Andre Galvao L Choke Middleweight
2007 ADCC Saulo Ribeiro W Toehold -77kg
2007 ADCC Marcelo Garcia L Guillotine -77kg
2007 ADCC Andre Galvao L Points -77kg
2008 World Championship Kyle Sukehira W Cross Choke from Mount Middleweight
2009 American National R. Teixeira W Other Middleweight
2010 European Jiu-Jitsu Championship Gustavo Campos L Points Middleweight
2012 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship Rubens Charles L Bow and Arrow Featherweight
2012 San Diego Trials Alexandre Ribeiro L Cross Choke Absolute Division
2012 San Diego Trials R. Beaugeard W Decision Absolute Division
2014 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship Victor Estima L Triangle Middleweight
2015 Marianas Open Kennan Cornelius L Bow and Arrow Absolute Division
2015 Marianas Open L.Blanco W Armbar Absolute Division
2015 Marianas Open Josh Hinger W Points Absolute Division
2015 Polaris 1 Eduardo Telles D Other Middleweight
2019 Fight to Win 132 Ridge Blackburn W Decision 180 lbs
2019 Fight to Win 104 Samuel Snow W Decision 170 lbs
2019 Fight to Win 99 Joe Murphy W Decision 170 lbs
2022 Fight to Win 200 Evan Esaki L Decision N/A

7. Mike Fowler’s Top Fights Links

Mike Fowler VS Kyle Sukehira / World Championship 2008

Mike Fowler SUBMITS BJJ Legend With Footlock At ADCC!


Photo Credit: @thefowlereffect

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