Lloyd Irvin

Irvin became the head coach of the eponymous Team Lloyd Irvin, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts organization operating in the Mid-Atlantic States of the U.S.[6][7][8] A number of prominent grapplers and MMA fighters have attended his academy at one time, such as Mike Fowler, JT Torres, and Ryan Hall.[9] Irvin's team grew to be one of the best, earning medals in some of the most prestigious Brazilian jiu-jitsu championships.[2]

In January 2013, two of Lloyd Irvin's students (Nicholas Schultz and Matthew Maldonado) were arrested and charged for the violent rape of a female teammate on New Years Eve.[10][11][12] Irvin came under scrutiny after it was revealed that he had been involved in a 1989 gang rape case, for which he was acquitted while his fellow defendants were all convicted.[1][2][13] In the wake of the controversy and after reports of abuse, including allegations of sexual misconduct, came up from former students of Irvin.[14][15][16] As a result, most of the team's senior competitors, including Keenan Cornelius, JT Torres, Marcos Yemaso and Jordon Shultz left the team.[17][18] A December 2013 article on the controversy in the Miami New Times, including accounts from former Irvin associates and students, claimed that students were training in a cult like environment.[19] In March 2013 Irvin disbanded his affiliate program, citing the "lynch mob" mentality of his attackers.[20][21]