Professor Erik Klinger and UFC legend and pioneer Marco Ruas at the Ruas Vale Tudo MMA instructor course in Costa Mesa. Marco Ruas is credited with bringing all aspects of martial arts to the fight game and to the UFC when he racked up a series of wins in the early days of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Mixed Martial Arts. He is also a pioneer of Vale Tudo (Anything Goes) in Brazil before the UFC hit on U.S. soil. Marco Ruas is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Master Joe Moreira.