| Ryan Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 5, 1984 Danville, Illinois, United States |
| Other names | The Tank Engine |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 184.5 lb (83.7 kg; 13.18 st) |
| Division | Welterweight Middleweight |
| Reach | 75.0 |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Coconut Creek, Florida |
| Team | American Top Team |
| Rank | Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ricardo Liborio |
| Years active | 2007–2015 (MMA) |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 28 |
| Wins | 20 |
| By knockout | 8 |
| By submission | 11 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Losses | 8 |
| By submission | 5 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Ryan Drew Thomas (born November 5, 1984) is an American mixed martial artist. He was a two-time national qualifier in college wrestling at Waubonsee Community College before transferring to Eastern Illinois University, where he wrestled at the NCAA Division I level and earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education.
After completing his collegiate wrestling career, Thomas compiled a 4–0 amateur record, winning the 16-man “Iowa Meanest Man Tournament” in Davenport, Iowa. Following his undefeated amateur run, he turned professional, competing initially at middleweight before moving to the welterweight division. His early success on the regional circuit eventually propelled him to a short-notice debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2008.
Thomas made his UFC debut at UFC 87: Seek and Destroy after stepping in on 12 days' notice to replace the injured Jared Rollins in a bout against Ben Saunders. [1] Thomas lost the fight via submission (armbar) in the second round. [2]
Thomas was originally scheduled to fight Matt Riddle at UFC 91, but Riddle withdrew due to injury. Thomas instead faced Matt Brown, who stepped in as a replacement opponent. Thomas lost the bout by armbar submission in the second round, and he was released from the promotion following the bout. [3]
In April 2010, Thomas signed with Bellator and entered the promotion's Season Two Welterweight Tournament. He lost his first bout with Ben Askren at Bellator 14 via first-round stoppage in what was considered a controversial finish.
After Jim Wallhead withdrew from the tournament, Thomas was reinserted into the bracket and faced Jacob McClintock at Bellator 15, winning by first-round TKO to advance to a semifinal rematch with Askren. Thomas lost the rematch at Bellator 19 via unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 30–27 for Askren.
Thomas later faced Wallhead on October 14, 2010, at Bellator 32, losing by unanimous decision.
| 28 matches | 20 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 8 | 0 |
| By submission | 11 | 5 |
| By decision | 1 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 20–8 | Roger Carroll | Decision (unanimous) | Ring of Dreams: Fight Night 16 | May 9, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 19–8 | William Hill | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Hoosier Fight Club 23 | February 7, 2015 | 3 | 4:35 | Valparaiso, Indiana, United States | Returned to Middleweight. |
| Win | 18–8 | Joshua Thorpe | TKO (punches) | Colosseum Combat 30 | October 11, 2014 | 1 | 4:06 | Kokomo, Indiana, United States | Defended CC Welterweight Championship. |
| Loss | 17–8 | Dominique Steele | Decision (unanimous) | XFC 27: Frozen Fury | December 13, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Muskegon, Michigan, United States | |
| Win | 17–7 | Rocky France | Submission (triangle choke) | XFC 25: Boiling Point | September 6, 2013 | 2 | 1:27 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | |
| Win | 16–7 | Rocky France | TKO (retirement) | Colosseum Combat 25 | June 1, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Kokomo, Indiana, United States | Defended CC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 15–7 | Corey Hill | Submission (armbar) | XFC 21: Night of Champions 2 | December 7, 2012 | 1 | 2:34 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
| Win | 14–7 | Evilasio Silva Araujo | Submission (punches) | AF - Arena Fight Mossoro | March 8, 2012 | 1 | 2:30 | Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil | |
| Win | 13–7 | John Kolosci | Submission (reverse triangle choke) | XFC 15: Tribute | December 2, 2011 | 1 | 4:46 | Tampa, Florida, United States | |
| Loss | 12–7 | Jonatas Novaes | Submission (armbar) | Combat USA | May 14, 2011 | 1 | 4:08 | Racine, Wisconsin, United States | For the Combat USA Illinois State Championship. |
| Win | 12–6 | Daniel Head | Submission (triangle choke) | Colosseum Combat 16 | February 19, 2011 | 1 | 2:04 | Kokomo, Indiana, United States | Won CC Interim Welterweight Championship. |
| Loss | 11–6 | Jim Wallhead | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 32 | October 14, 2010 | 3 | 5.00 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
| Loss | 11–5 | Ben Askren | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 19 | May 20, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Grand Prairie, Texas, United States | Bellator Season 2 Welterweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 11–4 | Jacob McClintock | TKO (punches) | Bellator 15 | April 22, 2010 | 1 | 4:11 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Bellator Season 2 Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Loss | 10–4 | Ben Askren | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 14 | April 15, 2010 | 1 | 2:40 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Bellator Season 2 Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 10–3 | Ryan Stout | Submission (triangle choke) | War in the Yard | August 8, 2009 | 1 | 1:57 | Anderson, Indiana, United States | |
| Loss | 9–3 | Matt Brown | Submission (armbar) | UFC 91 | November 15, 2008 | 2 | 0:57 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 9–2 | Ben Saunders | Submission (armbar) | UFC 87 | August 9, 2008 | 2 | 2:28 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | UFC debut. |
| Win | 9–1 | John McElroy | Submission (triangle choke) | AFA: American Fighting Association | July 17, 2008 | 1 | 0:36 | Des Moines, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 8–1 | Jason Holmes | Submission (strikes) | Courage Fighting Championships 11 | May 2, 2008 | 1 | 2:15 | Champaign, Illinois, United States | Won CFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–1 | Jason Bowling | TKO (punches) | Extreme Challenge 94 | April 19, 2008 | 1 | 1:48 | Danville, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 6–1 | Kenny Allen | Submission (triangle choke) | Extreme Challenge 89 | February 23, 2008 | 1 | 2:54 | Decatur, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 5–1 | Jesse Lennox | Submission (armbar) | Mainstream MMA - Cold War | January 26, 2008 | 3 | 2:03 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Chris Bachmeier | TKO (Punches) | WFC - Downtown Throwdown | September 14, 2007 | 3 | 1:06 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Walt Denim | KO (punch) | Courage Fighting Championships 9 | June 20, 2007 | 1 | 0:45 | Terre Haute, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Tyler Anderson | Submission | MMA - Genesis 3 | June 15, 2007 | 1 | 0:50 | St. Charles, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Kris Huffman | TKO (punches) | Courage Fighting Championships 8 | April 21, 2007 | 1 | 1:16 | Decatur, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Ron Wilson | Submission (verbal) | Dragons Cage - Marion | April 14, 2007 | 1 | 1:56 | Marion, Illinois, United States |
