2012 World MMA Lightweight Scouting Report - #9 - Jordan Rinaldi

Name:	Jordan Rinaldi
Nickname:	--
Age:	24
Height:	5'10"
Location:	Charlotte, North Carolina

The Carolinas aren't known for producing top-tier mixed martial arts talent at a blistering pace. Over the years, fighters such as UFC veteran Rodney Wallace, Strikeforce veteran Tim Kennedy, and women's 135 lb. fighter Tara Larosa have emerged from the region as quality fighters worthy of stints in the major leagues of MMA. It's our hopes that we can help add another name to that list in the future.

Team R.O.C.'s Jordan Rinaldi (5-0) may be the man to bring prominence to North Carolina once again. The 24-year-old lightweight has impressed in his five-fight professional career so far, finishing off four of his five opponents and remaining undefeated over the last year-and-a-half. As an amateur, Rinaldi amassed as 5-1 record, finishing four of his five wins inside the opening frame.

While his record is respectable on the surface, it takes some digging to find the awe in what he's accomplished so far. In his fourth professional appearance, Rinaldi submitted The Ultimate Fighter 14's Dennis Bermudez (7-3) in only two minutes and thirteen seconds. He was scheduled to face fellow prospect Dakota Cochrane (11-2) after the win, but the fight fell through. In its place, Rinaldi accepted a bout with Tenyeh Dixon on five days notice at welterweight. At fight time, Dixon outweighed Rinaldi by roughly twenty to twenty-five pounds.

As you can imagine, Rinaldi didn't have the easiest time dealing with the sheer size of Dixon, but he survived a brutal beating on the feet to submit his opponent in the second round to win the Complete Devastation welterweight crown.

Rinaldi's strong wrestling and purple belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills provide a solid foundation of offense for the Charlotte, North Carolina-based fighter. He relentlessly works for takedowns, utilizing his physically superior frame to power through his opposition. On the floor, Rinaldi is a legit submission threat, normally working toward the back or attempting to isolate a limb from mount.

Jordan's one area of concern is his striking, although that isn't to say he isn't improving in that department either. It's difficult to assess where exactly he stands, especially when Dixon, who was a borderline middleweight, had reach and power on Rinaldi in their bout in November. Against opponents more his size, Rinaldi has been respectable enough on the feet to damage opponents and avoid being knocked out.

Rinaldi is currently trying to make it onto the fifteenth season of The Ultimate Fighter. Considering the fact that he has a win over The Ultimate Fighter 14's runner-up Dennis Bermudez, it isn't a reach to believe he will make it on the show. If he doesn't, however, I wouldn't worry too much. Rinaldi has the tools to become something much bigger than a regional superstar. At only five fights, we were hesitant to rank him any higher, but 2012 could be the year he proves he is a top five prospect in the lightweight division.

Check out more video footage of Jordan Rinaldi after the jump...

Jordan Rinaldi vs. Joe Carroll

Jordan Rinaldi HL

Jordan Rinaldi vs Tenyeh Dixon - Complete Devastation 2

Dennis Bermudez vs Jordan Rinaldi

Michael Gallese vs Jordan Rinaldi

Jordan Rinaldi Vs. D'Juan Owens