Bill “The Grill” Cooper

Bill Cooper, also known as ‘Bill The Grill’, is an American grappler who earned the rank of black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu training under the supervision of Ricardo Miller at the Paragon jiu jitsu academy. Bill Cooper is one of the most exciting jiu jitsu competitors of his generation, being also the youngest American to have achieved a black belt in BJJ at the time of the grading. Bill Cooper has ventured into Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as well, having competed in prestigious organizations such as Strikeforce.

Bill Cooper Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: William Cooper

Nickname: The Grill derives from his exquisite set of front teeth.

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti > Ricardo Miller > William Cooper

Main Achievements:

• IBJJF Pan American Champion (2007 brown belt)
• IBJJF Houston International Open Champion (2010)
• GQ Best of the West Champion (2007)
• IBJJF World Championship Runner-up (2008/2007 absolute brown)
• IBJJF World No-Gi Championship Runner-up (2007 absolute)
• IBJJF World Championship 3rd Place (2010)
• IBJJF World No-Gi Championship 3rd Place (2008)

Favourite Technique/Position: Open Guard

Weight Division: Peso Medio (82kg-181lbs), Peso Leve (76kg-167lbs)

Team/Association: Paragon BJJ

Bill Cooper, Bill “The Grill” Biography

Bill Cooper was born on the 5th of May, 1987 in Santa Barbara – California. He started practicing Jiu Jitsu when he was in his early teens with Ricardo Franjinha. His natural ability for the sport was evident from the get go, as he started competing in Grapplers Quest when he was a mere 15 years of age. Jeff Glover a prestigious veteran grappler from the same camp as Bill Cooper (Paragon BJJ) said of Cooper that with just one year of training he was already having trouble to submit “The Grill” and by the 3rd year he was trying not to be submitted.

In 2007 Bill Cooper fought the Pan American, winning the competition with flying colours, submitting everyone in the brown belt division. He went on to medal at the Mundial that same year (in the absolute division) where Bill was desqualified in the final – against Otavio Souza – for not wearing underwear, a very unusual event in a final of a major tournament. After the World Championships he was awarded his black belt, at age 20. Meaning he was the youngest American to have received a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the time.

In 2008 Bill Cooper embargoed in a career in MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) with a win against Ricardo Patino at the “Future Stars of MMA” event in Las Vegas. A fight he won by RNC in one minute. He continued his career in MMA throughout 2009 with two more wins leaving his Kimono on the shelf, but he came back strong in 2010 with some good wins and great displays of BJJ in important tournaments such as the Mundial, the Nogi Worlds.

Bill Cooper Highlight

Bill Cooper vs Roberto Abreu

Bill Cooper featured in “All Things BJJ”

Bill Cooper’s MMA debut (against Ricardo Patino)