David Rickels

Last updated
David Rickels
Born (1989-01-05) January 5, 1989 (age 35)
Derby, Kansas, United States
Other namesThe Caveman
Nationality American
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight175 lb (79 kg; 12.5 st)
Division Welterweight
Lightweight
Reach72 in (183 cm)
Fighting out of Wichita, Kansas, United States
TeamJanjira Muay Thai
Years active2010–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total29
Wins21
By knockout7
By submission6
By decision8
Losses6
By knockout4
By submission1
By decision1
No contests2
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

David Rickels (born January 5, 1989) is an American professional mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle fighter who is currently competing in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. A professional since 2010, he is a 23-fight veteran of the Bellator MMA, and won the Season Eight Lightweight Tournament.

Contents

Background

Rickels was born and raised in Derby, Kansas, a 2007 graduate of Derby High School where he competed in wrestling. He then went on to attend Butler Community College. Started his own promotion called Evolution Fighting Championship in late 2015. [1]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Rickels compiled an amateur record of 8-1, and made his professional mixed martial arts debut in February 2010. He won via first-round TKO and went on to compile an undefeated record of 5-0 before being signed by Bellator. [2]

Bellator MMA

Rickels made his Bellator debut on April 9, 2011, at Bellator 40 where he defeated formerly undefeated Dylan Smith by a first-round triangle choke submission. [3]

Rickels next fought Strikeforce veteran Richard Bouphanouvong on May 7, 2011, at Bellator 43 where he won by triangle choke in round 2. [4]

After defeating Levi Avera with a third-straight win by triangle choke in Bellator in 2011, Rickels was featured in the Bellator Season 6 Welterweight Tournament in 2012. He faced Jordan Smith in the opening round of the tournament at Bellator 63 and won via KO at just 22 seconds into the first round. In the semifinals at Bellator 69, Rickels faced Karl Amoussou. The bout was back-and-forth but in the end, Amoussou won the fight via controversial split decision, giving Rickels his first professional loss.

Rickels returned to face Jason Fischer at Bellator 82. He won via unanimous decision.

Rickels was picked to enter the Lightweight Season 8 Tournament where he defeated Lloyd Woodard in the quarterfinals at Bellator 87 via unanimous decision. Rickels was to face Russian prospect Alexander Sarnavskiy, but Sarnavskiy fractured his hand during his first fight and had to withdraw from the tournament. Rickels instead faced Jason Fischer in a rematch and won via unanimous decision. In the finals at Bellator 94, Rickels took on Saad Awad. He dropped Awad with a right hand at the very end of the second round, but Awad remained resting on his back instead of getting up to his corner, resulting in the referee declaring an end to the match, controversially making Rickels the winner by TKO.

With the tournament win, Rickels faced undefeated 11-0 Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler at Bellator 97. [5] He lost the fight via knockout at just 44 seconds into the first round.

In March 2014, Rickels entered into the Bellator season 10 lightweight tournament, where he faced Patricky Pitbull in the opening round at Bellator 113. He lost the fight via knockout in the second round.

Rickels faced Davi Ramos on October 24, 2014, at Bellator 130. [6] He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Rickels faced John Alessio at Bellator 139 on June 26, 2015. [7] Rickels almost finished Alessio in the first round, but an unintentional illegal knee from Rickels landed on Alessio's head when he was down and prompted the referee to stop the fight. Alessio couldn't continue and the fight was overturned to a no contest.

Rickels had a rematch with Michael Chandler on November 6, 2015, at Bellator 145. [8] He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

Rickels faced Melvin Guillard on July 21, 2016, at Bellator 159. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round. However, the loss was overturned to a No-Contest after Guillard tested positive for a non-performance-enhancing banned substance. [9]

Rickels faced Aaron Derrow at Bellator 171 on January 27, 2017. He won the fight via TKO, due to punches in the third round. [10]

Rickels was expected to face Brennan Ward at Bellator 185 on October 20, 2017, [11] however, an injury to Ward forced him out of the bout, and Rickels was removed from the fight card as a result. [12]

After an injury to Derek Anderson, Rickels stepped in as a replacement to face Adam Piccolotti at Bellator 189 on December 1, 2017. [13] He won the 160 lb catchweight fight by unanimous decision. [14]

Rickels faced Michael Page on May 25, 2018, at Bellator 200. [15] He lost the fight via verbal submission due to a punch in the second round. [16]

After his 23rd fight in Bellator on August 24, 2019, Rickels became a free agent.

Bare-knuckle boxing

On January 23, 2020, news surfaced that Rickels had signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. He was expected to make his promotional debut on March 14, 2020 with opponent to be determined, but the event was cancelled. [17] Instead, Rickels made his debut on October 10, 2020, defeating Cliff Wright by decision.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
29 matches21 wins6 losses
By knockout74
By submission61
By decision81
No contests2
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss21–6 (2) Yaroslav Amosov Submission (D'Arce choke) Bellator 225 August 24, 201924:05 Bridgeport, Connecticut, United StatesCatchweight (175 lbs) bout.
Win21–5 (2) A.J. Matthews TKO (punch) Bellator 219 March 29, 201923:24 Temecula, California, United States
Win20–5 (2)Guilherme VasconcelosDecision (unanimous) Bellator 210 November 30, 201835:00 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Loss19–5 (2) Michael Page TKO (retirement) Bellator 200 25 May 201820:43 London, United Kingdom
Win19–4 (2) Adam Piccolotti Decision (unanimous) Bellator 189 December 1, 201735:00 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United StatesCatchweight (160 lbs) bout.
Win18–4 (2)Aaron DerrowTKO (punches) Bellator 171 January 27, 201730:44 Mulvane, Kansas, United StatesReturn to Welterweight.
NC17–4 (2) Melvin Guillard NC (overturned) Bellator 159 July 22, 201612:14 Mulvane, Kansas, United StatesOriginally KO loss; Overturned to a no contest when Guillard tested positive for a banned substance.
Win17–4 (1)Bobby CooperTKO (knee and punches) Bellator 150 February 26, 201613:49 Mulvane, Kansas, United States
Loss16–4 (1) Michael Chandler TKO (punches) Bellator 145 November 6, 201523:05 St. Louis, Missouri, United States
NC16–3 (1) John Alessio NC (illegal knee) Bellator 139 June 26, 201512:24 Mulvane, Kansas, United States
Win16–3 Davi Ramos Decision (unanimous) Bellator 130 October 24, 201435:00 Mulvane, Kansas, United States
Loss15–3 Patricky Pitbull KO (punches) Bellator 113 March 21, 201420:54 Mulvane, Kansas, United States Bellator Season 10 Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Win15–2 J.J. Ambrose TKO (punches) Bellator 103 October 11, 201332:37 Mulvane, Kansas, United States
Loss14–2 Michael Chandler KO (punches) Bellator 97 July 31, 201310:44 Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United StatesFor the Bellator Lightweight World Championship.
Win14–1 Saad Awad TKO (punches) Bellator 94 March 28, 201325:00 Tampa, Florida, United StatesWon the Bellator Season Eight Lightweight Tournament.
Win13–1 Jason Fischer Decision (unanimous) Bellator 91 February 28, 201335:00Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States Bellator Season Eight Lightweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win12–1 Lloyd Woodard Decision (unanimous) Bellator 87 January 31, 201335:00 Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States Lightweight debut; Bellator Season Eight Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Win11–1 Jason Fischer Decision (unanimous) Bellator 82 November 30, 201235:00 Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United StatesCatchweight (160 lbs) bout.
Loss10–1 Karl Amoussou Decision (split) Bellator 69 May 18, 201235:00 Lake Charles, Louisiana, United StatesBellator Season Six Welterweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win10–0 Jordan Smith KO (punches) Bellator 63 March 30, 201210:22 Uncasville, Connecticut, United StatesBellator Season Six Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Win9–0Levi AveraSubmission (triangle choke) Bellator 53 October 8, 201121:06 Miami, Oklahoma, United States
Win8–0Kody FrankDecision (unanimous)SKC: Hotter than Hell Fight NightJuly 16, 201135:00 Wichita, Kansas, United States
Win7–0Richard BouphanouvongSubmission (triangle choke) Bellator 43 May 7, 201121:11 Newkirk, Oklahoma, United StatesCatchweight (179 lbs) bout.
Win6–0Dylan SmithSubmission (triangle choke) Bellator 40 April 9, 201113:32 Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States
Win5–0Aaron FondryDecision (split)Friday Night Fights New England: BurlingtonFebruary 25, 201135:00 Burlington, Vermont, United States
Win4–0Charles JonesSubmission (triangle choke)C3 Fights: Slammin Jammin Weekend 6October 22, 201022:19 Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States
Win3–0Kelly AllenSubmission (triangle choke)Eye Win: ShowtimeAugust 14, 201013:31 Wichita, Kansas, United States
Win2–0Michael GlennSubmission (armbar)Eye Win: DevastationJune 19, 201012:15 Wichita, Kansas, United States
Win1–0Chris EvingerTKO (knees and punches)Eye Win: Valentine's Day MassacreFebruary 13, 201012:40 Wichita, Kansas, United States

Bare knuckle record

Professional record breakdown
3 matches2 wins1 loss
By knockout01
By decision20
Draws0
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss2–1 Mike Richman KO (punch) BKFC 23 April 8, 202220:32 Wichita, Kansas, United States
Win2–0 Julian Lane (fighter) Decision (unanimous) BKFC Fight Night: Wichita October 23, 202152:00 Wichita, Kansas, United States
Win1–0 Cliff Wright Decision (unanimous) BKFC 13: Beltran vs. Stamps October 10, 202052:00 Salina, Kansas, United States

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