Benny Rogmans

Benny Rogmans (born June 29, 1968) is a retired Belgian mixed martial artist and Judo practitioner. He currently is a mixed martial arts trainer, who operates the Team Topfighter gym in Dessel, Belgium. Rogmans has trained many successful fighters, including former Belgian/European Champion Kamil Uygun, former Belgian Champion Jimmy Mertens and Belgian Champion Michael Kuiper

Judo
Born in Geel, Belgium, Rogmans trained in Judo as a child. He continued to practise Judo in his local judo gym in Herselt, Belgium until he was 19 years old. After studying the course Close Combat Instructor, Benny was ready to train again and he looked for a good judo gym. This is where he found "Judoclub Samurai" in Eindhout, Belgium.

Pancrase & Cagefighting
In 1996, during a training with Leon van Dijk, Benny came in contact with Pancrase for the first time. He describes this as a surprising discovery and he trained with Leon since then who made him an all-around fighter.

In 1999, Benny was contacted to enter Absolute Fighting Championship 7 in Russia. A cage fight with almost no rules, even headbutts and elbows - also on the ground - were allowed. Benny accepts the challenge and was prepared by Leon with a "Spartan" training. On 04/29/2000, Benny was set to fight Ashab Gorbakov. He lost this fight by KO (Knee to the head).

In 2002, during the humanitarian assignment in Kosovo, the French Foreign Legion organised a Marital Arts Day. Benny and a few colleagues were invited to participate. Benny was set to fight against 1st Sergeant Legionair Magryta and won this fight by submission (guillotine choke) after 2:14.

Early career
On December 12, 2002, Benny fought against Daan Kooiman at Fights at the Border in Lommel, Belgium. He won this fight by decision, but more important was that this fight was the introduction of mixed martial arts in Belgium. After the fight, Benny decided to start his own gym in mixed martial arts, vale tudo and pancrase. With the start of Team Topfighter, Benny Rogmans was the first one to open a mixed martial arts gym in Belgium, and considered the founder of this sport in Belgium.

Trivia

 * President MMA Council VKBMO
 * Judge Grade Commission MMA
 * 1st Degree Black Belt Judo
 * 1st Degree Black Belt MMA
 * Fighter in Vale-Tudo and Pancrase
 * A.F.C. fighter in Russia
 * Close Combat Instructor in the Belgian Army
 * Student from Leon van Dijk