Ricardo Almeida is a long time Bordentown resident who has had an academy in Hamilton.

 

Obviously, Almeida could be inducted as a master grappler, a worthy MMA fighter, or as a respected trainer.  However, Almeida is being inducted for taking the historic step of being the first UFC and Pride veteran to ever offer their services back to the sport as a MMA official.

 

On May 5, 2012, he made his major event debut as a main card judge at UFC on FOX 3 card at the Izod Center in East Rutherford.

Almeida is a third degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Renzo Gracie.

 

Almeida is a veteran of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, PRIDE Fighting Championships, ADCC, Grapplers Quest and a former Middleweight King of Pancrase.

 

Almeida has trained and taught former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar and many others at his Gracie system academy in Hamilton.