Mariusz Ryszard Linke (31 July 1969 – 30 May 2022)[4] was a Polish professional mixed martial artist and grappler.

Mariusz Linke
Born(1969-07-31)31 July 1969[1]
Zielona Góra, Poland
Died30 May 2022(2022-05-30) (aged 52)
Poland
Other namesManolo
ResidenceSzczecin-Dąbie, Poland[1]
NationalityPolish
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Weight210 lb (95 kg; 15 st)
DivisionLightweight
Welterweight
Middleweight
Reach72.5 in (184 cm)
StyleBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu
StanceSouthpaw
Fighting out ofSzczecin, Poland
TeamLinke Gold Team (2005–2022)
Gracie Barra Łódź (2006–2022)
Chute Boxe Academy (2001–2003, 2005)[2]
Beserkers Team (1999–2004)
Macaco Gold Team
Singpatong Impacts (2014)
TrainerJorge Patino
Cristiano Marcello
Marcin Rogowski[3]
Singpatong Sitnumnoi
Rank4th dan black belt in Judo
4th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[2]
Years active1999–2022
Mixed martial arts record
Total16
Wins11
By knockout1
By submission10
Losses5
By knockout3
By submission2
By decision0
UniversityAcademia Wychowania Fitzycznego i Sportu (class of 2004)
Spouse
Iwona Linke
(m. 2000)
Children2
Notable studentsMaciej Jewtuszko, Przemysław Saleta, Tomasz Narkun, Felipe Arantes, Francisco Treviño
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Mariusz Linke
Medal record
Representing  Poland
Men's Black Belt Jiu-Jitsu
European Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Lisbon, Portugal -76 kg
Gold medal – first place 2012 Lisbon, Portugal -76 kg
Silver medal – second place 2012 Lisbon, Portugal Absolute
Gold medal – first place 2014 Lisbon, Portugal 94 kg
Gold medal – first place 2015 Lisbon, Portugal 94 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Lisbon, Portugal 100+ kg
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Lisbon, Portugal Absolute
North American Grappling Association
Silver medal – second place 2012 Atlantic City, New Jersey -77 kg
Gold medal – first place 2012 Atlantic City, New Jersey Absolute
Pan American No-Gi Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Rome, Italy 84 kg
Gold medal – first place 2015 Rome, Italy 94 kg

Career

edit

He was most notable for being the first Polish born black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the highest ranking active Polish judoka and BJJ practitioner in both mixed martial arts and grappling, and one of the most decorated grapplers in Poland. He was also the first Polish grappler to travel to Brazil and receive training under a Gracie trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.[3] Linke notably competed in the European Championship, NAGA, Grapplers Quest, ADCC, and the Pan American Games. Linke was in talks with top Polish promotion Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki to negotiate a two-fight contract to close out his mixed martial arts career by the end of 2015, Linke stated despite retiring from fighting he would still continue his grappling career.

Death

edit

On May 30, 2022 Linke died after contracting a staphylococcal infection earlier in the year, the bacterial infection later spread into his bloodstream and attached to his heart valves causing Linke to develop infective endocarditis.[5]

Grappling titles and accomplishments

edit

[2][6]

Other information

edit

Mariusz received his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under former Strikeforce fighter, coach and fight promoter Jorge Patino, Linke also had two training stints with current UFC fighter Cristiano Marcello during his stay in Brazil between 2001 and 2003 and again in 2005. Linke's nickname "Manolo" was taken from the movie Scarface, his personal friends said that Linke was really laid back and looked and acted like the character Manolo Ribera, played by Steven Bauer.[2]

Linke was part of the BJJ lineage that began with the creator Mitsuyo Maeda and was later passed on to one of the founding instructors of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil, Carlos Gracie.

Linke was one of very few BJJ practitioners to start at white belt and skip blue to purple, his instructors Jorge Patino and Cristiano Marcello mutually decided to skip Linke from white to purple in late 2002 due to his extensive Judo background, this skip in rank is a very rare occurrence and was the first person under Jorge Patino and first BJJ practitioner to join Chute Boxe Academy to do so.

Linke was also known for his outlandish appearance, covered in numerous tattoos and coloring his nails and hair to distract other fighters.

Maruisz produced the most black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Poland, as of 2017 he promoted 43 black belts in BJJ, 77 brown belts and over 200 purple belts.

After winning his gold medal at the Pan Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship in 2015 Linke became the unofficial record breaking holder for most medals won in professional grappling and contact sports as a Polish competitor.

Mixed martial arts record

edit
Professional record breakdown
16 matches 11 wins 5 losses
By knockout 1 3
By submission 10 2
By decision 0 0
Draws 0
No contests 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 11-5   PotocznyDawid Potoczny Submission (keylock) Imperium Arena: Fijaka vs. Ostrowski 8 December 2013 1 2:22 Szczecin, Poland Middleweight debut
Loss 10-5   GrzeskowiakMarcin Grzeskowiak TKO (shoulder injury) IFC: Winner's Punch 19 November 2010 1 1:40 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Loss 10-4   GracieGregor Gracie Submission (rear naked choke) BCFC: Gracie vs Linke 2 October 2010 1 2:13 Newark, New Jersey, United States Return to Welterweight
Win 10-3   BaranLukasz Baran TKO (punches) IFC - Tsunami Tournament 1 19 March 2010 1 1:25 Debrzno, Poland Fought at Lightweight
Win 9-3   BaranLukasz Baran Submission (standing arm-triangle choke) Bushido 6 8 January 2010 1 0:20 Szczecin, Poland Fought at Lightweight
Loss 8-3   SuleckiPiotr Sulecki TKO (corner stoppage) Iron Fist 26 September 2009 1 1:30 Szczecin, Poland Catchweight bout (166 lbs)
Win 8-2   MaciorTomasz Macior Submission (arm-triangle choke) Warriors Extreme Fighting 27 June 2008 1 2:09 Pila, Poland Lightweight debut
Win 7-2   PtaszynskiLukasz Ptaszynski Submission (arm-triangle choke) Bushido 5 14 December 2007 1 3:32 Szczecin, Poland
Win 6-2   ZakrzewskiSlawomir Zakrzewski Submission (arm-triangle choke) Bushido 3 25 February 2006 1 1:43 Szczecin, Poland
Win 5-2   IgnatowiczDonat Ignatowicz Submission (kimura) Bushido 2 26 February 2005 1 1:18 Szczecin, Poland
Win 4-2   IgnatowiczDonat Ignatowicz Submission (rear naked choke) Bushido 1 7 March 2004 1 2:34 Szczecin, Poland
Loss 3-2   KulikAndrzej Kulik KO (stomp and punches) Berserkers Arena 2 11 January 2004 1 0:15 Szczecin, Poland
Loss 3-1   AsmusRodrigo Durok Asmus Submission (guillotine choke) Brazil Super Fight 19 September 2003 1 4:35 Alegre, Brazil
Win 3-0   GrabowskiDamian Grabowski Submission (rear naked choke) Berserkers Arena 1 6 June 2003 1 1:36 Szczecin, Poland
Win 2-0   BresDariusz Bres Submission (keylock) Polish All-Style Karate Organization - Japanese Gala 1 May 2003 1 1:23 Siemiatycze, Poland
Win 1-0   Zakrzewski Slawomir Zakrzewski Submission (triangle choke) 13 International Boxing Tournament - Pomeranian Griffin Cup 14 December 2001 1 24:00 Szczecin, Poland

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Mariusz". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d BJJ Heroes (17 July 2012). "Mariusz Linke - BJJ Heroes: the jiu jitsu encyclopedia". Bjjheroies.com. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Interview with Mariusz "Manolo" Linke, Poland's first BJJ black belt - Bjj Eastern Europe". Bjjee.com. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  4. ^ Nie żyje polska legenda brazylijskiego jiu-jitsu! Mariusz Linke miał 52 lata (in Polish)
  5. ^ "Mariusz Linke is dead. The legendary Polish master was attacked by a bacterium". 31 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Bjj Eastern Europe Shop – Mariusz Linke of Poland wins golds at Naga Worlds". Cosbus.dk. Archived from the original on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
edit