So… I woke up on Thursday morning and saw my facebook newsfeed alight with the amazing antics of Erie Pennsylvania based Dan Swift. For anyone who doesn’t know, Dan is a legit BJJ black belt under Jonathan Stutzman (a black belt under Jorge Gurgel), and an actual former MMA fighter. This guy has participated in 56 professional fight (winning precisely 28 of them.) He was an active MMA fighter between 2000 and 2009, including bouts against Eddie Wineland, Heath Pedigo, Miguel Torres and Jeff Curran, and Roger Huerta. The guy has been around.
Dan decided to make a video the other day explaining why he believes that Chris Weidman shouldn’t be fighting and has less than a blue belt level in jiu jitsu given his inability to shake Luke Rockhold from mount. That’s right, you read that correctly.
What’s more, Dan’s main credential that he cites in his video is that he has “fought in over 200 street fights.” Knowing Dan, that number is as accurate as it is alarming. The guy has that affect on people. Ask anyone who knows him, including Dan, he’s a bit of a character.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UijGjBPHuPw
What The Pennsylvania Hitman (his actual nickname) doesn’t take into account in his video is the level of grappling that both Weidman and Rockhold possess. If Luke Rockhold mounts you and is allowed to throw blows to your head, chances are you’re not getting out of there regardless of your level in BJJ. There are ways to escape mount, and mount is escapable, but the reality is Chris Weidman had already taken a substantial amount of punishment before it even got to that point.
Simply put, you can drill solutions to problems, but until you are faced with a specific problem you never really know how you’re going to handle it. Chris Weidman will likely come back with a better game plan and defenses in place to deal with the situation he faced should it arise again, but going the rout of an “ape on PCP” to quote Mr. Daniel Swift is probably not going to work against an opponent like Luke Rockhold.
Dan has already drawn the ire of some of the elite in the BJJ community including Tom Deblass who had this to say:
“What a joke. It’s funny I expected people that never been in a fight or no previous professional fighting or Grappling experience to bad mouth Weidman after the fight, there will always be people who run their mouth. What I didn’t expect was Jiu-Jitsu “black belts” with mma experience to be bad mouthing. Surely could Chris have done things differently? Absolutely. Is it wrong to give your opinion on how to make things better? Absolutely not. But do so with respect. This dude is implying weidman should have “quit fighting” because he didn’t escape Rockholds mount. Perhaps you forget Chris got hit a ton before that, he was exhausted, and Rockhold is a monster. Dan swift you wouldn’t last 2 minutes with Weidman or Rockhold.”
And recent EBI competitor, Ruben Alvarez who had this to say:
“I find it funny when people dudes keep record of how many street fights they been in? Like homie kill yourself for saying shit like that. I don’t even know how many fights in the street I’ve been in but I wouldn’t be proud of it or keep a record.”
We’ll see where this absolute delight goes over the course of the 2015 holiday season. From your favorite Jiu Jitsu Jew, Merry Christmas everyone!
That guy is a joke trying to make a name for himself. An embarrassment to his mentors and the sport.
Dumbass! Let’s get Luke or another MMA fighter to mount him and throw elbows and punches with very bad intentions to his head and see how “easy” he can escape.
Wow. this is one of those clowns that looks for their 15 minutes of fame. Clearly this guy has some attention issues. Regardless he brings shame to the art and to his own mentors. Ass clowns like this are a dime a dozen. By the looks of his demonstration, looks like he could use more drilling himself. I feel sorry for his students.
Well for one point of view I understand what he’s saying, Chris not even TRIED to escape. But realistically Rockhold’s pressure must be insane. And no, it’s not that simple when you know you can go unconscious with one punch.
Yeah bro I’m a Blackbelt turn on your side like that and I’m going to smash your ear, or go S mount and that silly shit you showed won’t work. That’s a high level Blackbelt on another World Class grappler, not two dudes drilling mount escape in their garage.
He won 28 of his 56 fights lol what a full! He probably lost 150 of his 200 street fights ??
haha..goodness. We all have opinions. I give props for him sharing, (even though i’m unsure about the technicalities). His students do as well.
@O? -good point. He was all over him. Easier to visualize, drill or plan then implement during….like Tyson said “everybody has a plan tip they get punched in the face”..hahah.
Just another idiot, in another ‘vertical’ video. Hehehe!
Why don’t people give Luke Rockhold credit for his Jiu Jitsu, wrestling and striking. I believe he is just better than Chris Weidman all round and trains at very good gym and has been praised for his BJJ, his wrestling and grappling….and he was also not a 100% fit….imagine what would have happen if he was the end may have been sooner
Worst mount escape ever…..i prefer rib push escape, is more effective, this “black belt” guy is a dumbass, Weidman is well rounded but Rockhold looks much better.
Dan Swift, 41, has been busted today under the suspicion he was running a dog fighting ring. The Police in Erie, Pennsylvania rescued a number of dogs.
Well now he is famous for killing dogs! What a piece of shit.