Gerald Strebendt
Gerald Strebendt, c. early 2000s
BornGerald Ray Strebendt
(1979-03-01) March 1, 1979
Coos Bay, Oregon, U.S.
Other namesBangkok Ready
The Finishing Machine
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight154 lb (70 kg; 11.0 st)
DivisionLightweight
Fighting out ofLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Team10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu
Years active2001–2008
Mixed martial arts record
Total16
Wins9
By knockout1
By submission8
Losses7
By knockout4
By submission3
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Gerald Ray Strebendt (born March 1, 1979)[1] is an American retired professional mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 2001 until 2008, he fought for the UFC and Cage Rage. He is the former Cage Rage World lightweight champion.

Career

A former member of the United States Marine Corps,[2] Strebendt is known for being the first student of the now world-renowned Brazilian Jiu-jitsu practitioner, Eddie Bravo where he adopted Eddie's rubber guard, and twister game. In 2004 he became the first fighter to execute a twister in an MMA match.[3]

Strebendt was a key witness in the 2005 murder trial of Rafiel Torre.[2] Torre, whose real name is Ralph Bartel, initially offered Strebendt $10,000 to kill the victim, 32-year-old Bryan Richards, who had a sizable life insurance policy and with whose wife Torre was having an affair.[2] After Strebendt refused, Torre committed the murder himself, then told Strebendt a few days later that he had killed Richards in self-defense with a rear naked choke.[2] Torre asked Strebendt to provide him with an alibi, a request which was met with Strebendt's refusal.[2] More than a year after the killing, Strebendt voluntarily came forward and provided his story to detectives, out of concern that Torre would escape punishment for the murder.[2] Torre was convicted of the murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole; he is appealing the sentence.

On January 29, 2014, Strebendt shot and killed 53-year-old David Paul Crofut, also of Springfield, during an altercation following a traffic collision between the two drivers' vehicles.[4] Strebendt called 911 following the collision but before shooting Crofut and was still connected with the 911 call when the shot was fired.[5] Strebendt claims self-defense in the shooting; Strebendt's attorney, Mike Arnold of Eugene, states that Strebendt reached into his vehicle and retrieved his weapon, a loaded .223 caliber semi-automatic rifle, because Crofut verbally threatened his life.[5] Carrying a loaded rifle in a vehicle is legal in Oregon.[6] Crofut was unarmed during the altercation, and no weapons other than Strebendt's rifle were found at the scene.[7] Following the shooting, Strebendt was handcuffed and taken into custody, but was released later that night.[5] According to Strebendt on the 911 call, Crofut hit him "on purpose with his vehicle."[8] Strebendt can be heard on the 911 call instructing Crofut to "back away" and "don't fucking come near me."[8] At the time of his death, Crofut had a blood alcohol content of 0.156%.[9] The legal limit for driving under the influence of alcohol in Oregon is 0.08%.[10]

Strebendt was arrested and charged with murder on March 6, 2014, after a grand jury indictment.[11] On May 21, 2015, the murder charge was dismissed and Strebendt pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide due to police establishing "some mitigating evidence" favoring Strebendt.[9] His attorney Mike Arnold and co-counsel Emilia Gardner went on to write a book about Strebendt and the case called Finishing Machine.[12] He was released from state prison in 2017.[13]

Eight months after his release from prison, Strebendt was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing an underage female on April 25, 2018.[14] He was later sentenced by courts in Lane County, OR to two years and four months in prison with two years and eight months of probation.[15]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
16 matches 9 wins 7 losses
By knockout 1 4
By submission 8 3
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 9–7 Lyle Beerbohm Submission (injury) EWC 3: Capitol Invasion January 12, 2008 1 2:42 Salem, Oregon, U.S.
Win 9–6 Will Shutt Submission (rear-naked choke) SF 20: Homecoming October 27, 2007 1 N/A Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Loss 8–6 Vítor Ribeiro Submission (guillotine choke) Cage Rage 12 July 12, 2005 1 1:13 London, England
Loss 8–5 Sean Sherk TKO (punches) Extreme Challenge 58 June 11, 2004 1 3:52 Medina, Minnesota, U.S.
Loss 8–4 Jean Silva Submission (triangle choke) Cage Rage 6 May 23, 2004 2 N/A London, England For the vacant Cage Rage World Lightweight Championship.
Win 8–3 Dave Elliot Submission (twister) Cage Warriors 7: Showdown May 9, 2004 1 0:48 Barnsley, England
Win 7–3 Pat Carr Submission (rear-naked choke) XFC 2: The Perfect Storm November 9, 2003 4 4:53 Cornwall, England
Loss 6–3 Josh Thomson KO (punches) UFC 44 September 26, 2003 1 2:45 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win 6–2 Jean Silva Submission (rear-naked choke) Cage Rage 2 February 22, 2003 1 N/A London, England Won the vacant Cage Rage World Lightweight Championship.
Win 5–2 Carmelo Serrato Submission (rear-naked choke) Ultimate Cage Fighting 1 May 9, 2002 1 N/A Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Loss 4–2 Charles Bennett TKO (submission to punches) GC 7: Casualties of War November 4, 2001 1 1:40 Colusa, California, U.S.
Win 4–1 Noah Shinable TKO (cut) GC 6: Caged Beasts September 9, 2001 1 4:23 Colusa, California, U.S.
Win 3–1 Aaron Anderson Submission (triangle choke) GC 5: Rumble in the Rockies August 19, 2001 N/A N/A Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Win 2–1 Mike Meto Submission (armbar) Kage Kombat July 9, 2001 1 1:52 San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Loss 1–1 Eiji Mitsuoka TKO (submission to punches) KOTC 9: Showtime June 23, 2001 1 2:23 San Jacinto, California, U.S.
Win 1–0 Aaron Herring Submission (armbar) Bushido 2 April 21, 2001 1 2:54 Yokohama, Japan

References

  1. ↑ Mixed martial arts show results Date: September 26, 2003
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Leveque, Rod. "DA says man used martial arts move to kill lover's husband", The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, Canada), July 29, 2005.
  3. ↑ Strebendt, Gerald. "Gerald's Tweet with Photo of Joe Rogan". Twitter. Gerald Strebendt (official twitter) @StrebendtGerald. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  4. ↑ Moran, Jack. "Police investigate deadly shooting", The Register-Guard (Eugene, Oregon) January 31, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Moran, Jack. "Shooting details under scrutiny", The Register-Guard (Eugene, Oregon) February 6, 2014
  6. ↑ Martin, Damon. "Police investigating deadly shooting involving former UFC fighter Gerald Strebendt", Fox Sports Haymaker, February 5, 2014
  7. ↑ Dudley, Kelsey. "Police still piecing together car crash and deadly shooting", KMTR Newssource 16 (Eugene, Oregon) February 4, 2014
  8. 1 2 Strebendt, Gerald (January 29, 2014). "911 Call of Gerald Strebendt (YouTube)". 911 Call of terrified UFC vet Gerald Strebendt shooting. Gerald Strebendt (YouTube). Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Man who shot and killed motorist pleads guilty to lesser charge". Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  10. ↑ "ORS 813.010 – Driving under the influence of intoxicants – 2013 Oregon Revised Statutes". www.oregonlaws.org. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Murder charge for man who claimed self-defense in shooting". Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  12. ↑ Arnold, Mike; Gardner, Emilia (October 12, 2016). Finishing Machine (Ebook ed.). Eugene, Oregon, USA: Versus Publishing. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-9978484-2-7. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  13. ↑ Kowal, Eric. "Former one-time UFC fighter, Gerald Strebendt, convicted of sexually abusing teen". My MMA News. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Former UFC fighter, convicted in road rage killing, arrested for sexually abusing underaged female". Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  15. ↑ Bissell, Tim. "Ex-UFC fighter Gerald Strebendt sentenced for sexual abuse of martial arts student". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
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