Josh Barnett got a BJJ blackbelt from Erik Paulsen & Rigan Machado without ever training BJJ

[yetanother]

Ben confirmed that he self promoted to black from brown belt, not sure it that is really the case or is he joking around.

 

[AnotherOldGuy]

Not a trend, a specific style of a specific school headed by erik paulson due to his own unique training history.

True, though the trend is much more general than that. Judo and wrestling have been taking techniques from each other for over a century, and at an increasing pace in the last couple of decades. Sambo has always borrowed from both judo and wrestling, now both are borrowing from sambo. BJJ has always taken from judo and folk/freestyle/greco wrestling; judo is now taking from BJJ in return.

Basically, as Picasso said, mediocre artists borrow, great artists steal -- they see something they like and make it their own. Every competitive style has always done this, and with the Internet its become much easier and prevalent. If it works, someone will adapt it for their style.

 

[Normot]

I think Chael Sonnen declares Askren as a BJJ black belt if I am not wrong

Ben Askren declared himself a black belt and invited all comers to prove him wrong.
Fair enough.