Mariusz Linke


Mariusz Ryszard Linke is a Polish professional mixed martial artist and grappler who is 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 is also the first Polish grappler to travel to Brazil and receive training under a Gracie trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. Linke has notably competed in the European Championship, NAGA, Grapplers Quest, ADCC and the Pan American Games. Linke is currently in talks with top Polish promotion Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki to negotiate a 2 fight contract to close out his mixed martial arts career by the end of 2015, Linke has stated despite retiring from fighting he will still continue his grappling career and is rumored to be in the 2014 ADCC Polish Trials to enter the 2015 ADCC World Championship.

Grappling titles and accomplishments

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 2001-2003 and again in 2005. Linke's nickname "Manolo" is taken from the movie Scarface, his personal friends have said that Linke is really laid back and looks and acts just like the character Manolo Ribera, played by Steven Bauer.
Linke is 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 is 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 is also known for his outlandish appearance, covered in numerous tattoos and coloring his nails and hair to distract other fighters.
Maruisz has produced the most black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Poland, as of 2017 he has 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 has become the unofficial record breaking holder for most medals won in professional grappling and contact sports as a Polish competitor.

Mixed martial arts record