THE FOUNDER • THE LEGACY

Roland Sarria.

Cuban-born American martial artist, coach, and combat sports promoter — founder and driving force behind Rage in the Cage.

Read His Story Contact Rage in the Cage

FOOTBALL•BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU•MMA•COACH•PROMOTER

ABOUT ROLAND SARRIA

Built for competition.
Driven to build fighters.

Roland Sarria is a Cuban-born American martial artist, coach, and combat sports promoter widely recognized as a pioneering figure in mixed martial arts in the American Southwest. He is best known as the founder and mastermind behind Rage in the Cage (RITC), one of the region's longest-running MMA promotions.

Born in Cuba in 1963, Sarria later immigrated to Southern California. Long before the cage, he was a fiercely competitive football player. As a starting nose guard at Leuzinger High School, he earned the 1981 Ocean League Defensive Player of the Year honor during his senior season and received second-team All-CIF recognition.

He continued at El Camino College, starting at nose guard in 1982 and 1983. At roughly 150 pounds, Sarria competed against substantially larger offensive linemen, relying on leverage, strength, explosiveness, and relentless aggression. His football career eventually ended because of personal circumstances, but the competitive foundation carried into the next chapter of his life.

MARTIAL ARTS & BJJ

From the gridiron to the mat.

During the 1990s, Sarria transitioned heavily into martial arts as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was beginning its rapid rise in the United States. He developed his foundational grappling skills at the Rickson Gracie West LA Academy, training alongside Rickson Gracie, Ken Gabrielson, and Rodrigo Gracie, and eventually earned his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.

Brausa Academy was formed in 1996 and later transitioned into the RITC Training Center, creating a home for the training philosophy and competitive culture that would become closely tied to Rage in the Cage.

THE CREATION OF RITC

Building the cage in Arizona.

In 1997, Sarria shifted his focus to Arizona and launched Rage in the Cage in 1998. Cage fighting faced significant regulatory opposition, skepticism, and financial hurdles during the sport's pioneer era. Despite warnings that the promotion would be shut down, Sarria kept building and established RITC as an Arizona combat sports staple.

Across more than two decades, Sarria has promoted more than 1,000 professional and amateur combat sports events spanning MMA, boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, and grappling.

THE TALENT INCUBATOR

A proving ground for fighters.

Rage in the Cage became a launching pad for regional athletes looking to prove themselves and advance to larger stages. Through the promotion and training environment, Sarria helped develop hundreds of fighters, including future UFC veterans such as Edwin Dewees and Joe Riggs.

That mission continues today: give fighters a stage, give fans real combat sports action, and create opportunities for the next generation.

THE NEXT CHAPTER

Rage returns to Southern Arizona.

Roland Sarria has brought Rage in the Cage back to Southern Arizona with multi-discipline combat sports events at Desert Diamond Casino in the Tucson area — continuing a legacy that began decades ago and remains focused on fighters, fans, and unforgettable nights of competition.

“Rage in the Cage was built to give fighters a place to prove they belong.”

ROLAND SARRIA • FOUNDER, RAGE IN THE CAGE