Gerald Strebendt
| Gerald Strebendt | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
March 1, 1979 Coos Bay, Oregon, United States |
| Other names | Bangkok Ready |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st) |
| Division | Lightweight |
| Style | BJJ, Shooto, MCMAP, 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu, Judo. |
| Fighting out of | Los Angeles, California |
| Team | 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu |
| Years active | Since 2008 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 16 |
| Wins | 9 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 8 |
| Losses | 7 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 5 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Gerald Strebendt is a mixed martial artist, having competed in MMA organisations such as the UFC and Cage Rage. The highlight of Gerald's career was at UFC 44, where he took on top lightweight,Josh Thomson - losing in the first round by KO. Despite losing, Gerald showed an aggressive grappling style in his match, living up to his name "The Finishing Machine" - A name that has stood by him for his entire MMA career, where he has never gone to a decision, win or lose.
A former member of the United States Marine Corps, Strebendt is known for being the first student of the now world-renowned juijitsu 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. In the past, Gerald also trained with comedian and UFC commentator Joe Rogan.
Strebendt currently owns and operates Northwest Training Center in Springfield, Oregon. He has continued his involvement in MMA by training several successful amateur and professional fighters.
Strebendt was a key witness in the 2005 murder trial of Rafiel Torre. Torre 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. 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. Torre asked Strebendt to provide him with an alibi, a request which was met with Strebendt's refusal. 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. 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. Strebendt called 911 following the collision but before shooting Crofut and was still connected with the 911 call when the shot was fired. 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. Carrying a loaded rifle in a vehicle is legal in Oregon. Crofut was unarmed during the altercation, and no weapons other than Strebendt's rifle were found at the scene. Following the shooting, Strebendt was handcuffed and taken into custody, but was released later that night. According to Strebendt on the 911 call, Crofut hit him "on purpose with his vehicle." Strebendt can be heard on the 911 call instructing Crofut to "back away" and "don't fucking come near me." At the time of his death, Crofut had a blood alcohol content of 0.156%. The legal limit for driving under the influence of alcohol in Oregon is 0.08%.
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