Kenny Robertson

Last updated
Kenny Robertson
BornKenneth Duane Robertson [1]
(1984-02-14) February 14, 1984 (age 40)
East Peoria, Illinois, United States
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) [2]
Weight170.5 lb (77.3 kg; 12.18 st)
Division Welterweight
Reach74.0 in (188 cm) [3]
Fighting out of Spring Bay, Illinois, United States
TeamTeam Robertson
Central Illinois Combat Club
Wrestling NCAA Division I Wrestling [4]
Years active2008–2016, 2021–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total22
Wins15
By knockout7
By submission6
By decision2
Losses7
By knockout2
By decision5
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Kenneth Duane Robertson [1] (born February 14, 1984) is an American mixed martial artist. A professional mixed martial artist since 2008, he has also competed for the UFC and Bellator.

Contents

Before MMA

In high school he wrestled for Metamora Township High School. [5] Robertson excelled in wrestling, where he was a three time NCAA Division I qualifier [4] for Eastern Illinois University. While competing for the Panthers he was a four time West Regional conference finalist. He took 3rd his freshman year, 2nd sophomore years in 2005, and then won the championship as a junior and senior in 2006 and 2007. As a junior in 2006, he was one match away from being an All American at the NCAA championships. His senior year was the last year that Eastern Illinois University sponsored a wrestling program, making Robertson the last NCAA qualifier the school ever had.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Robertson compiled a 10–0 professional MMA record before signing with the UFC including a submission win over TUF alum John Kolosci at Bellator XXV.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Robertson was expected to make his UFC debut against fellow unbeaten fighter, Pascal Krauss on November 13, 2010, at UFC 122. [6] However, Robertson was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Mark Scanlon. [7]

Robertson eventually made his UFC debut on February 5, 2011, at UFC 126, losing to Mike Pierce via TKO in the second round. [8] Following the loss, Robertson was released from the promotion.

Post-UFC

Robertson had his first post-UFC fight against fellow UFC veteran Lúcio Linhares on October 1, 2011. He won via KO due to a spinning backfist in round 1.

Return to UFC

Robertson made his UFC return against Aaron Simpson on July 11, 2012, at UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman, replacing an injured Jon Fitch. [9] He lost the fight via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).

Robertson defeated Brock Jardine on February 23, 2013, at UFC 157. [10] He was victorious in the first round due to a modified kneebar from the back mount position. The submission applies pressure to the hamstring of the opponent by grabbing the ankle and hyperextending at the knee. The finish earned him the Submission of the Night bonus. [11]

Robertson faced Sean Pierson on June 15, 2013, at UFC 161. [12] Pierson defeated Robertson via majority decision.

Robertson was expected to face Joao Zeferino on September 4, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 28. [13] However, Robertson pulled out of the bout citing and injury and was replaced by UFC newcomer Elias Silverio. [14]

Robertson faced Thiago Perpétuo on March 23, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 38. [15] He won the fight via submission in the first round. [16]

Robertson was briefly linked to a bout with Zak Cummings on July 16, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 45. [17] However, Cummings was pulled from that fight in favor of a matchup with Gunnar Nelson a few days later at UFC Fight Night 46 after his opponent Ryan LaFlare was removed from the card. [18] Subsequently, Robertson eventually faced Ildemar Alcântara on July 5, 2014, at UFC 175. [19] He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Robertson faced Sultan Aliev on January 24, 2015, at UFC on Fox 14. [20] He won the fight via knockout in the first round. The win also earned Robertson his first Performance of the Night bonus award. [21]

Robertson was expected to face George Sullivan on April 18, 2015, at UFC on Fox 15. [22] However, Robertson pulled out of the bout citing injury and was replaced by Tim Means. [23]

Robertson next faced Ben Saunders on July 25, 2015, at UFC on Fox 16. [24] He lost the back-and-forth fight by split decision. [25]

Robertson faced Roan Carneiro on September 17, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 94. [26] He lost the fight via split decision and was subsequently released from the promotion. [27]

Post-UFC career

After over four years away from competition, Robertson is scheduled to challenge Dante Schiro for the Caged Aggression Welterweight Championship at Caged Aggression 30 on March 27, 2021. [28]

Robertson faced Chris Curtis on July 30, 2021, at XMMA 2. He lost the bout via unanimous decision. [29]

Personal life

Now that his career in fighting has ended he has become a teacher at Eureka High School in Eureka, Illinois, teaching industrial arts. [30] He has also previously taught woodshop at Metamora High School. [31]

Championships and achievements

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
22 matches15 wins7 losses
By knockout42
By submission90
By decision25
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss15–7 Chris Curtis Decision (unanimous)XMMA 2: Saunders vs. NijemJuly 30, 202135:00 Greenville, South Carolina, United States
Loss15–6Dante SchiroTKO (punches)Caged Aggression 30: Triple Threat Day 3March 27, 202123:48 Davenport, Iowa, United StatesFor the Caged Aggression Welterweight Championship.
Loss15–5 Roan Carneiro Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Johnson September 17, 201635:00 Hidalgo, Texas, United States
Loss15–4 Ben Saunders Decision (split) UFC on Fox: Dillashaw vs. Barão 2 July 25, 201535:00 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win15–3 Sultan Aliev KO (punches) UFC on Fox: Gustafsson vs. Johnson January 24, 201512:42 Stockholm, SwedenPerformance of the Night.
Win14–3 Ildemar Alcântara Decision (unanimous) UFC 175 July 5, 201435:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win13–3 Thiago Perpétuo Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Henderson 2 March 23, 201411:45 Natal, Brazil
Loss12–3 Sean Pierson Decision (majority) UFC 161 June 15, 201335:00 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Win12–2Brock JardineSubmission (Suloev stretch) [35] UFC 157 February 23, 201312:57 Anaheim, California, United StatesSubmission of the Night.
Loss11–2 Aaron Simpson Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman July 11, 201235:00 San Jose, California, United States
Win11–1Lúcio LinharesKO (spinning back fist)FF 31: Fight Festival 31October 1, 201114:44 Helsinki, Finland
Loss10–1 Mike Pierce TKO (punches) UFC 126 February 5, 201120:29 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win10–0 John Kolosci Submission (americana) Bellator 25 August 19, 201020:57 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win9–0Igor AlmeidaTKO (punches)MFC: Maximo Fighting ChampionshipApril 30, 201020:50 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win8–0 Gerald Meerschaert Submission (kneebar)MT 19: Madtown Throwdown 19May 2, 200913:15 Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Win7–0LeVon MaynardDecision (unanimous)C3: DominationNovember 22, 200835:00 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win6–0Roy TimmonsTKO (punches)Cage Rage: KokomoAugust 9, 200811:51 Kokomo, Indiana, United States
Win5–0 Herbert Goodman Submission (armbar)Combat USA: Battle in the Bay 7May 30, 20083N/A Green Bay, Wisconsin United States
Win4–0Brady GillianSubmission (armbar)Cage Rage: LafayetteMay 3, 200810:55 Lafayette, Indiana, United States
Win3–0AJ SkibaTKO (punches)C3: Corral Combat Classic 2April 26, 200813:18 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win2–0Jay FinneganTKO (punches)Cage Rage: LafayetteMarch 22, 200810:53 Lafayette, Indiana, United States
Win1–0Joe BryantTKO (punches)Cage Rage: LafayetteMarch 22, 200810:23 Lafayette, Indiana, United States

See also

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References

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  3. "Fight Card - UFC Fight Night Gustafsson vs. Johnson". UFC.com. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
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  8. "Mike Pierce vs Kenny Robertson expected for UFC 126 in February". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
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  28. Bryan Henderson (March 24, 2021). "Out of Obscurity: Babilon MMA 20, Titan FC 68 and LFA 103". combatpress.com.
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  33. "UFC 157 bonuses: Lawler, Robertson, Bermudez, Grice earn $50K awards". MMAjunkie.com . February 24, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  34. Thomas Gerbasi (June 20, 2013). "2013 Unofficial Half-Year Awards - The Submissions". Ultimate Fighting Championship .
  35. "Before This Weekend, There Was Only One Suloev Stretch Kneebar in UFC History...Now, There Are Three".