Rick Cheek

Last updated

Rick Cheek
Rick Cheek.JPG
BornRichard P. Cheek
(1977-10-04) October 4, 1977 (age 46)
San Francisco, California, United States
Other namesSavage
Nationality American
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight113 kg (249 lb; 17.8 st)
Division Heavyweight
Style Kickboxing, Muay Thai
Fighting out of Rohnert Park, California, United States
TeamNor-Cal Fighting Alliance
TrainerBilly Olsen
Years active2000–present
Kickboxing record
Total29
Wins22
By knockout19
Losses5
By knockout5
Draws1
No contests1
Mixed martial arts record
Total8
Wins4
By knockout4
Losses4
By knockout1
By submission3
Last updated on: July 7, 2012

Richard P. "Rick" Cheek (born October 4, 1977) is an American kickboxer and mixed martial artist who competes in the heavyweight division. A North American Muay Thai champion as an amateur, Cheek turned professional in 2005 and debuted in K-1 the same year. He holds notable wins over WSOF standout Dave Huckaba in MMA, 2001 K-1 Japan Grand Prix Champion Nicholas Pettas and multiple time world kickboxing champion Mike Sheppard. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Career

Cheek was the United States Air Force boxing champion [4] and started training in kickboxing and Muay Thai in 2000 at the age of twenty-three. In August 2004, he competed in a four-man tournament held over two days in Orlando, Florida to determine the IKF Amateur North American Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lb) Muay Thai Champion. After defeating Bernard Settle, Jr. by technical knockout in round two of their semi-final bout, he outpointed Brian Wells to a unanimous decision in the final to take the crown. [5] He followed this up with the IKF's Amateur California Muay Thai title when he stopped Ben Davis with low kicks in round one in Fairfield, California on March 26, 2005. [6]

After turning professional, Cheek made his K-1 debut on August 13, 2005, in a tournament reserve bout at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas II against Mike Sheppard, knocking him out in the second round. [7] He was absent from both K-1 Las Vegas events in 2006 due to a torn ACL and MCL he sustained in February 2006. [4]

After a year out of the ring, Cheek returned on August 11, 2007, for the K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Las Vegas tournament. He stopped Imani Lee with a barrage of unanswered punches in round three in the quarter-finals but was unable to continue in the tournament due to a leg injury and was replaced by Doug Viney, who eventually went on to win the title. [8] [9]

In early 2008, Cheek fought for the Miami Force in the World Combat League and, on June 20, 2008, faced Patrice Quarteron for the vacant IKF World Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lb) Muay Thai title in Montego Bay, Jamaica. He was sent to the canvas early with a flurry of punches and elbows. After beating the count, he was dropped with a low kick, which also caused Quarteron to fall over. As both fighters fell to the canvas, Quarteron's knee landed on Cheek's head, seemingly knocking him unconscious. [10]

He soon made his way back to K-1 to fight in the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii in Honolulu on August 9, 2008. He won by TKO against Kyokushin karate stylist Nicholas Pettas in the quarter-finals when Pettas aggravated a groin injury sustained in training early in the fight. He was then eliminated by the eventual tournament winner Gökhan Saki in the semis. He was floored with low kicks before being crumpled with a liver punch towards the end of round one. [11] [12] [13]

In his second attempt at a world title, he challenged Ben Edwards for the vacant ISKA World Super Heavyweight (+96.4 kg/212 lb) Oriental rules [ broken anchor ] belt in Canberra, Australia on April 4, 2009, but was KO'd inside the first minute of the opening frame. [14]

On August 28, 2010, Cheek lost to Steven Banks via second-round KO in a fight for the WBC Muaythai United States Super Heavyweight (+104.5 kg/230 lb) title. He struggled with the knees of Banks, being floored by them on four occasions throughout the match. [15]

Cheek suffered a one-sided beating at the hands of Cătălin Moroşanu, after re-tearing his MCL in the first round in their SuperKombat World Grand Prix 7 in Varna, Bulgaria bout on July 7, 2012. He was dropped five times, forcing referee Cezar Gheorghe to call a halt to the bout in the second round. [16]

Championships and awards

Kickboxing

Mixed martial arts

Boxing

Kickboxing record

22 wins (19 KOs), 5 losses, 1 draw, 1 no contest
DateResultOpponentEventLocationMethodRoundTime
2012-07-07Loss Flag of Romania.svg Cătălin Moroşanu SuperKombat World Grand Prix 7 Varna, Bulgaria TKO (right hook)21:07
2010-08-28Loss Flag of the United States.svg Steve BanksWCK Muay Thai Primm, Nevada, USA KO (knees)22:52
For the WBC Muaythai United States Super Heavyweight (+104.5 kg/230 lb) Championship.
2009-05-30Win Flag of the United States.svg Ethen Cox WCSC The Awakening San Francisco, California, USA Decision (unanimous)53:00
Wins the WCSC World Super Heavyweight Muay Thai Championship.
2009-04-04Loss Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ben Edwards World Domination Canberra, Australia KO (right cross)10:55
For the ISKA World Super Heavyweight (+96.4 kg/212 lb) Oriental Championship.
2008-08-09Loss Flag of the Netherlands.svg Gökhan Saki K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii, Semi Finals Honolulu, Hawaii, USA KO (left hook to the body)12:36
2008-08-09Win Flag of Denmark.svg Nicholas Pettas K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii, Quarter Finals Honolulu, Hawaii, USA TKO (injury)11:15
2008-06-20Loss Flag of France.svg Patrice Quarteron Champions of Champions I Montego Bay, Jamaica KO (right low kick)12:00
For the IKF World Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lb) Muay Thai Championship.
2007-08-11Win Flag of the United States.svg Imani Lee K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Las Vegas, Quarter Finals Las Vegas, Nevada, USA TKO (punches)31:52
2006-02-18Win Flag of England.svg Mahmoud Fowzi Combat Sports Challenge 12 Richmond, Virginia, USA TKO (corner stoppage)11:56
Wins the WKA United States Super Heavyweight (+95 kg/209 lb) Muay Thai Championship.
2005-08-13Win Flag of the United States.svg Mike Sheppard K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas II, Reserve Bout Las Vegas, Nevada, USA KO20:48
Amateur kickboxing record
DateResultOpponentEventLocationMethodRoundTime
2008-03-28Win Flag of the United States.svg Terry Bullman WCL Eastern Conference Playoffs St. Charles, Missouri, USA Decision (28-20)23:00
2005-03-26Win Flag of the United States.svg Ben Davis Fairfield Fight Fest Fairfield, California, USA KO (low kick)10:50
Wins the IKF Amateur California Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lb) Muay Thai Championship.
2004-08-15Win Flag of the United States.svg Brian Wells IKF North American Classic, Final Orlando, Florida, USA Decision (unanimous)33:00
Wins the IKF Amateur North American Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lb) Muay Thai Championship.
2004-08-14Win Flag of the United States.svg Bernard Settle, Jr. IKF North American Classic, Semi Finals Orlando, Florida, USA TKO21:03
2004-02-28Win Flag of the United States.svg Matt Dunn Feet & Fists of Fury Roseville, California, USA TKO21:40

Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
8 matches4 wins4 losses
By knockout41
By submission03
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss4-4 Mike Hayes TKO (submission to punches) PFC: Best of Both Worlds February 8, 200921:01 Lemoore, California, United States
Loss4-3Dave HuckabaSubmission (armbar)Gladiator Challenge 87: Collision CourseNovember 22, 200810:37 Roseville, California, United States
Loss4-2Buddy RobertsSubmission (rear naked choke)Cage Combat Fighting Championships: MayhemMay 17, 200810:52 Santa Rosa, California, United States
Win4-1Richard BlakeKO (punches)Cage Combat Fighting Championships: AnnihilationFebruary 16, 200812:05 Santa Rosa, California, United StatesWins the Cage Combat Fighting Championships Heavyweight Championship.
Loss3-1 Chase Gormley Submission (keylock)Gladiator Challenge 73: High NoonDecember 22, 200722:20 Sacramento, California, United States
Win3-0Thomas RosserTKO (punches)Gladiator Challenge 63: CrackdownMay 11, 200711:15 South Lake Tahoe, California, United States
Win2-0Joe AbouataKO (punch)Gladiator Challenge 62: Sprawl or BrawlApril 14, 200710:31 Lakeport, California, United States
Win1-0Dave HuckabaTKO (punches)Gladiator Challenge 57: Holiday BeatingsDecember 16, 200621:35 Sacramento, California, United States

Related Research Articles

Rick John Roufus is a retired American kickboxer. He has also competed professionally in boxing and mixed martial arts. An accomplished professional fighter throughout his competitive career, Roufus has won multiple world championships across the globe in several weight classes, he was world champion as a super middle weight, light heavyweight and heavyweight. Roufus held titles for all the major kickboxing associations worldwide, and is known for his boxing skills and powerful kicks. He is the older brother of Duke Roufus who is also a kickboxer and a Muay Thai and mixed martial arts instructor. Rick Roufus is the Global Director of Fighter Development for PKA Worldwide. In 2012 Rick Roufus was inducted into the World Kickboxing League Hall of Fame.

Azem Maksutaj[a] is a Swiss former kickboxer who had competed in the lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. Originally from the Kosovo,[b] he relocated to Switzerland at an early age where he began training in Muay Thai at fifteen. After capturing the Swiss national title at lightweight during his first year of competitions in 1992, he then went on to win European and world honours in 1994 while fighting around the 77 kg super middleweight mark. The late 1990s saw him move between light heavyweight and cruiserweight, taking five world titles in those divisions, before eventually making the jump to heavyweight in 2001 where he spent the remainder of his career, acting as a journeyman in the K-1 promotion while also winning four other world titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duane Ludwig</span> American mixed martial arts fighter

Duane Paul Ludwig is an American mixed martial arts coach, retired professional kickboxer and mixed martial artist.

Jörgen Ingmar Kruth is a retired Swedish professional kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He is a former two time World Muay Thai Council Heavyweight Muaythai World Champion. He is considered to be among the greatest Scandinavian kickboxers of all time.

Jeffrey Ryan "Duke" Roufus is an American former kickboxer and head coach of the Roufusport based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. He is a well-known striking coach in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray Sefo</span> New Zealander kickboxer, boxer and mixed martial arts fighter

Ray Sefo is a New Zealand fight promoter and retired kickboxer, boxer, and mixed martial artist. He was the K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 Runner-up, is a six-time Muay Thai World Champion, and was an eight time K-1 World Grand Prix Finals tournament participant. He is the president of MMA promotion Professional Fighters League. In kickboxing, he defeated world champions Jerome Le Banner, Peter Aerts, Stefan Leko, Mike Bernardo, and Mark Hunt. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers to have never won the K-1 World Grand Prix. As mixed martial artist, he most notably competed in the now defunct Strikeforce in 2009 and 2011.

Dennis Raymond Alexio is an American former professional kickboxer and actor who competed in the light heavyweight, cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. Starting out as a light heavyweight, Alexio kicked off his career with an extensive, knockout-laden undefeated streak before losing a decision to Don "The Dragon" Wilson in a World Kickboxing Association (WKA) World Super Light Heavyweight Full Contact Championship match in 1984. He rebounded from this by winning the Professional Karate Association (PKA) World Light Heavyweight title that same year before moving up to cruiserweight and taking the International Sport Karate Association (ISKA) World Cruiserweight Full Contact strap. In the late 1980s, he began his transition to the heavyweight division where he won six world titles and was considered the undisputed World Heavyweight Champion. He faced the two toughest tests of his career in 1992 against Branko Cikatić and Stan Longinidis - both of whom were heavier fighters - fighting to a controversial draw with Cikatić and losing to Longinidis via an early low kick KO which resulted in a broken leg.

Stan "The Man" Longinidis is an Australian retired heavyweight kickboxer and 8-time world kickboxing champion. Born in Melbourne of Greek ethnicity, Longinidis is one of the few fighters to win world titles in four different styles of kickboxing competition: international rules, Oriental rules, full contact and Muay Thai. He holds notable victories over Branko Cikatić, Adam Watt, Peter Graham, Musashi and Dennis Alexio.

Robert Diem Kaman was a Dutch nine-time kickboxing and Muay Thai world champion. He was often called "Mr. Low Kick" because of his feared low kicks which he used to set up his devastating offensive attacks.

Stefan Leko is a German heavyweight kickboxer. He is the current WKA Super-Heavyweight world champion in kickboxing, and former Muay Thai world super-heavyweight champion and Kickboxing world super-heavyweight champion, WMTA, WKN, IKBO, IKBF, and WKA world champion, K-1 European Grand Prix 1998 champion, 1999 K-1 Dream champion and two time K-1 World Grand Prix in Las Vegas tournament champion. He fights out of Team Golden Glory in Breda, Netherlands under Cor Hemmers. Since 2011 Stefan Leko is coached and managed by Tom Trautsch and won two Heavyweight World Champion Titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freddy Kemayo</span> French heavyweight kickboxer (born 1982)

Freddy Kemayo is a French heavyweight kickboxer. He is a three-time French Kickboxing Champion.

Xhavit Bajrami[a] is a Swiss former kickboxer who competed in the heavyweight division. A Seido karate practitioner and Andy Hug student, Bajrami built up an undefeated record domestically before he was recruited by K-1 where he won the K-1 Braves '99 tournament and finished as runner-up in two other tournaments. He is also a two-time Muay Thai world champion, having won the ISKA World Super Heavyweight title in 2004 and the WKN World Super Heavyweight strap in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gökhan Saki</span> Dutch kickboxer and mixed martial arts fighter

Gökhan Saki is a Turkish-Dutch kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He is a Dutch, European and World Muay Thai champion, K-1 World GP 2006 in Amsterdam tournament finalist, K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii champion and former Glory Light Heavyweight Champion. Saki also competed in the light heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrice Quarteron</span> French kickboxer (born 1979)

Patrice "The Dark Ronin" Quarteron is a French heavyweight kickboxer, fighting out of Évry, Essonne. He is two time French and European Muay Thai champion and current IKF Muay Thai Super Heavyweight World champion.

Dževad Poturak is a Bosnian heavyweight kickboxer, fighting out of Jumruk Gym in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is the former WAKO Pro World Low-Kick champion and K-1 Fighting Network Prague 2007 tournament champion.

K-1 World MAX 2002 World Tournament Final was a kickboxing event promoted by the K-1 Organisation. It was the inaugural K-1 World MAX final for middleweight kickboxers, consisting of eight finalists and two reserve fighters, with all bouts fought under K-1 rules. The tournament fighters had qualified via preliminary tournaments or had been invited due to their achievements in the world of kickboxing and Muay Thai. In total there were ten fighters at the event, representing seven countries.

K-1 World MAX 2003 World Tournament Final was a kickboxing event promoted by the K-1 organization. It was the second ever K-1 MAX final for middleweight kickboxers involving eight finalists and two reserve fighters, with all bouts fought under K-1 rules. The tournament fighters had qualified via preliminary tournaments, had been involved in the previous years final, or had been invited due to their achievements in kickboxing and Muay Thai. As well as tournament bouts there was also a super fight, also fought under K-1 rules. In total there were twelve fighters at the event, representing seven countries.

Manson Howard Gibson is a retired American kickboxer and a 12-time world champion in kickboxing and Muay Thai. He was known for his vicious use of spinning techniques and wild, unpredictable style, mixing elements of kickboxing, Taekwondo and Northern Praying Mantis martial arts. He was sometimes referred to as the "Thai Killer" or the "Black Bruce Lee". Gibson was one of America's greatest kickboxers, and is credited with over 100 wins and more than 80 KOs, including around 40 via headkick.

Dewey Cooper is an American former kickboxer and boxer who competed in the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. After becoming a two-time world champion in 2000 by taking the WKC heavyweight and WKF cruiserweight titles, he would go on to become a regular competitor in the K-1 promotion's US events. He came close to winning a K-1 Grand Prix Tournament when he defeated Nobu Hayashi and Samoan power puncher Mighty Mo, but lost out to Michael McDonald in the final of the K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 in Las Vegas I all in the same night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stéphane Susperregui</span> French kickboxer (born 1984)

Stéphane Ippo Susperregui is a French kickboxer. He is the current WKN World Oriental Rules Heavyweight and former WKA K-1 World Heavyweight champion.

References

  1. "Tournament Overview - | K-1sport.de". Archived from the original on 12 September 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  2. "FansOfK1.com - results K-1 Hawaii". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  3. "GC 57 - Holiday Beatings. Gladiator Challenge". sherdog.com. 16 December 2006. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  4. 1 2 "New blood primed for war in Las Vegas". www.boxinglasvegas.com. Retrieved 4 August 2008.[ dead link ]
  5. "IKF News - APRIL, 2006". www.ikfkickboxing.com. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  6. "March News 2005". www.ikfkickboxing.com. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  7. "– MIGHTY MO BASHES BOTHA | MMAWeekly.com". Mmaweekly.com | Ufc and Mma News, Results, Rumors, and Videos. 14 August 2005. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  8. "– UNDERDOG WINS BELLAGIO K-1 TOURNEY | MMAWeekly.com". Mmaweekly.com | Ufc and Mma News, Results, Rumors, and Videos. 12 August 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  9. "Doug Viney Wins K-1 Las Vegas Shocker". K-1 grand Prix Website. Archived from the original on 23 August 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  10. à 00h00, Par F. L. Le 24 juin 2008 (23 June 2008). "Quarteron champion du monde IKF". leparisien.fr. Retrieved 30 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. says, Cinderella Soundtrack (11 August 2008). "Gokhan Saki – K-1 Cinderella Man" . Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  12. "Butterbean Goes Down Again, Saki and Hari Win Big at K-1 World GP 2008" . Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  13. "K-1 WORLD GP 2008 in HAWAII 8/9/08 Kickboxing Match Review K-1 Event". www.quebrada.net. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  14. "ISKA World Headquarters – International Sport Karate and Kickboxing Association, Worldwide Leaders in Sanctioning and Regulating Karate, Kickboxing, and MMA" . Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  15. "WCK Muay Thai Event Recap: Sitzes, Richards, and Bonnel all victorious". Archived from the original on 18 December 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  16. "Liver Kick". Liver Kick. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  17. Holland, Jesse (10 August 2008). "K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 quick results". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  18. "fighter's profile - Rick Cheek | K-1sport.de". k-1sport.de. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  19. "WORLD COMBAT SPORTS CHALLENGE ANNOUNCES CHANGES". Sherdog. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  20. 1 2 "Wka Usa". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  21. "FansOfK1.com - Lee Named Eighth Las Vegas Tournament Competitor". Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.