Via MMA Junkie:

For UFC welterweight Dustin Hazelett (11-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC), 2008 has proven to be a breakout year.

After a solid showing against top contender Josh Koscheck earlier this year, the 22-year-old fighter posted a stellar victory over Josh Burkman in June that garnered Hazelett two hefty “fight night” bonuses and a loyal fan following.

However, during a Tuesday ceremony at Jorge Gurgel’s MMA academy in West Chester, Ohio, Hazelett scored his biggest accomplishment to date: a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.

With a packed house of students, friends and family, Gurgel issued six belts to his students. The lone black belt went to Hazelett, whom Gurgel called his “star student.”

“It was pretty surprising,” said Hazelett, who needed just five years and 10 months to earn the rare honor. “Usually when you get promoted, you reach a point where you’re like, ‘Man, I really deserve it.’ And then you get your ass kicked, and you’re like, ‘Man, I probably really don’t deserve this.’ And then you reach a point where you’re like, ‘Well, it’ll come when it comes,’ and you stop worrying about it.

“That’s where I was.”

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