Justin Rheaume

In search of a post-college competitive outlet, Justin Rheaume decided to use his high school and college wrestling experience as a base for learning jiu jitsu. After seven months of training in jiu jitsu and boxing, Justin was persuaded by his training partners to try his hand at mixed martial arts. With his grappling skills at his side, Justin began to climb through the ranks of Minnesota's 205 pound fighters. Now he's considered one of Minnesota's top amateur light heavyweights and has earned a spot amongst the state's top ten, a list largely composed of professional fighters.

Justin recently won the Brutaal light heavyweight belt after defeating Danyelle Williams in a much-anticipated rematch.

June 10th, 2011
Event: Brutaal Genesis
Promotion: Brutaal

Justin enters the cage in front of an Austin crown to face Danyelle "D.R." Williams, a man he defeated in their first encounter two years prior. The two are set to fight for the vacant Brutaal light heavyweight belt in the evening's main event.

D.R. is riding a three-fight win streak that culminated in April with a 31 second knockout win over fellow 205-pounder Anthony Radke. Justin is looking to reaffirm his status as a top light heavyweight after suffering a loss to no. 6 ranked Branden Noetzel. Both Justin and D.R. are on course to become professional fighters and their rematch might determine which fighter turns the corner first.

Although Justin scored a first round TKO against D.R. in their previous fight, Brutaal promoter Nick Ghams expected a different kind of fight their second time around.

"I know Rheaume handled him pretty easily the first time, but I think Danyelle has improved a lot since then and I think we'll see a much different fight. I really think it's going to be a good one," Gamst told Minnesota Mixed Martial Arts News.

When the bell finally rings and the title fight begins, the two fighters come together to put Gamst's prediction to the test. Within moments, Justin is able to drag D.R. to the ground where the chess match begins. Justin, who has been training in jiu jitsu for several years, has the upper hand.

"He came out swinging rights and lefts and it gave me opportunities to close the distance and get to where I wanted to," says Justin.

By the second round, Justin believes he has D.R. figured out. Justin threatens with an arm bar and D.R. takes the bait.

"I set up the arm bar and as I saw him defending it, I wanted to surprise him with a different technique."

D.R. was surprised, and so was the Austin crowd. At 1:43 into the second round, Justin ends the fight by submitting D.R. with an omoplata, a submission seldom seen in Mixed Martial Arts competition and even more seldom recognized my most MMA fans.

With the belt around his waist and trainer Ray White and teammate Dan Moret at his side, Justin Rheaume stands a Brutaal light heavyweight champion and proud representative of Mankato Martial Arts.