Nicholas Pete Rodriguez

Nick “Nicky Rod” Rodriguez, also known as “The Black Belt Slayer”, is an American no-gi grappler with a strong wrestling background and a prominent place in the modern submission grappling world.

Profile

The story

Rodriguez began wrestling in sixth grade and built a strong scholastic and collegiate foundation. After a brief period at Ferrum College, he switched to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2018. He quickly earned his blue belt, won an IBJJF world title at that level, and defeated established black belts in the ADCC circuit.

In 2019, Rodriguez won the ADCC North American Trials and took silver at the ADCC World Championship in the over-99-kilogram division. In 2022, he repeated that silver-medal ADCC performance as a brown belt and won the EBI 20 tournament. After his time with the Danaher Death Squad, he co-founded B Team Jiu-Jitsu in Austin, Texas, with Craig Jones, Ethan Crelinsten, and Nicky Ryan.

In the ring

Fighting style

Wrestling-based top pressure and control, supplemented by leg locks from the Danaher system, including heel hooks. Rodriguez uses explosive takedowns, heavy pressure, and physical control to create positions and submission opportunities.

Results

Performance

Silver medalist at the ADCC World Championship in 2019 and 2022; winner of the ADCC North American Trials; winner of EBI 20: The Absolutes; champion of the Craig Jones Invitational; IBJJF world champion at blue belt; co-founder of B Team Jiu-Jitsu.

Over the years

Timeline

High school: wrestles for Clayton High School in New Jersey.
After high school: wrestles for one year at Ferrum College and builds a collegiate record of 23-4.
2018: starts jiu-jitsu, joins Renzo Gracie Academy, and wins an IBJJF world title as a blue belt.
2019: wins the ADCC North American Trials and silver at the ADCC World Championship; earns the nickname “The Black Belt Slayer”.
2021: after the Danaher Death Squad disbands, co-founds B Team Jiu-Jitsu with training partners.
2022: earns a brown belt, wins ADCC silver again and the EBI 20 tournament.
2023–2025: achieves multiple victories in major submission grappling formats, including a notable win over Kaynan Duarte.

Influence

Legacy

Rodriguez is considered a prime example of an athlete who, through a wrestling foundation, physical strength, and exceptional work ethic, shook up the established BJJ scene in a short time. His successes as a colored belt and his role in founding B Team Jiu-Jitsu have had a lasting influence on the modern no-gi scene.