Tony Gravely

Last updated

Tony Gravely
BornAntonio Lamar Gravely [1]
(1991-09-28) September 28, 1991 (age 32)
Martinsville, Virginia, United States
Height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Weight135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb)
Division Bantamweight
Reach69 in (175 cm) [2]
Fighting out ofCoconut Creek, Florida
TeamTech MMA & Fitness Academy (2013–2020) [3]
American Top Team (2020–present) [4]
RankBlack belt in Taekwondo [5]
Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu [5]
Wrestling NCAA Division I Wrestling [5]
Years active2015–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total32
Wins23
By knockout10
By submission3
By decision10
Losses9
By knockout1
By submission5
By decision3
University Appalachian State University
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Tony Gravely [1] (born September 28, 1991) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division. A professional since 2015, he is most notable for his time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Contents

Background

Gravely's father was a taekwondo instructor for over 25 years, so he started taking Tae Kwon Do when he was about three or four years old. He trained and competed in Tae Kwon Do until he started wrestling in sixth grade, continuing wrestling from sixth grade all the way through college. [6]

A native of Martinsville, Virginia, Gravely attended Magna Vista High School, where he was a four-time all-state wrestler. He had two undefeated seasons and was a two-time Virginia state champion while wrestling in high school. [7]

After high school, Gravely attended Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina on a wrestling scholarship. In three seasons wrestling for the Mountaineers, Gravely appeared in two NCAA Tournaments and won a Southern Conference Tournament Championship. He left Appalachian State with a major in construction management. [8]

According to the Martinsville Bulletin, Gravely quit his construction project manager day job in 2016 and decided to focus full-time on an MMA career. [9] He trained at Tech MMA Academy in Southwest Virginia for years as he pursued a professional fighting career. [10]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Following a 6-1 amateur career, Gravely had his first professional fight in October 2015 against Chad Wiggington. He won the fight at the Elite 8 Warrior Challenge in a unanimous decision to claim his first victory. [11] In his second bout, Gravely lost to Pat Sabatini by first-round rear-naked choke submission at CFFC 52.

After a six fight winning streak, Gravely suffered dropped three of his next four fights, getting submitted by Ricky Bandejas in the second round, outpointed by Merab Dvalishili, and armbarred by Manny Bermudez. For his lone outing with Legacy Fighting Alliance at LFA 17, Gravely defeated Keith Richardson via unanimous decision. He also defeated Jerrell Hodge and Jordan Morales. On the strength of that run, Gravely challenged Patchy Mix (11-0) for the KOTC Bantamweight Championship at KOTC: No Retreat in May 2018. Gravely was submitted by the first round, falling to Mix's dangerous guillotine. Gravely defeated his next three foes via TKO that saw wins over Drako Rodriguez, earning him the KOTC Bantamweight Championship and James Quigg. In the main event of CES MMA 53, he knocked out Kody Nordby in the first round for the CES MMA Bantamweight Championship. Gravely would defend his CES MMA title twice with back to back stoppages at CES MMA 54 where he knocked out Kris Moutinho in the fourth round and CES MMA 55 where Gravely submitted Darren Mima in round two via rear-naked choke. [12] [13]

Gravely got his break in UFC when he was selected to be a part of Dana White's Contender Series 24 in 2019. He earned the formal invite to join the UFC after recording a knockout of Ray Rodriguez in the third round of his Contender Series fight. [14]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Gravely made his UFC debut against Brett Johns on January 25, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos. [15] He lost the fight via a rear-naked choke in round three. [16] This bout earned him the Fight of the Night award. [17] Brett Johns in Raleigh, North Carolina. After his debut, Gravely announced he would be moving to Florida to train with American Top Team. [18]

Gravely faced Geraldo de Freitas on November 14, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos. [19] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [20]

Gravely was scheduled to face Nate Maness at UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum on April 17, 2021. [21] However, Maness was removed from the bout for undisclosed reasons and he was replaced by Anthony Birchak. [22] Gravely won the fight via technical knockout in round two. [23] This fight earned him a Performance of the Night award. [24]

The bout with Maness was rescheduled for September 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann. [25] Gravely lost the fight via technical knockout in round two. [26]

Gravely faced promotional newcomer Saimon Oliveira on January 22, 2022, at UFC 270. [27] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [28]

Gravely faced Johnny Muñoz Jr. on June 4, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 207. [29] He won the bout in the first round after knocking down Muñoz after the latter ran into an uppercut on a takedown attempt. [30]

Gravely faced Javid Basharat on September 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 210. [31] He lost the bout via unanimous decision. [32]

Gravely faced Victor Henry on March 11, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 221. [33] He lost the fight via split decision. [34]

On June 5, 2023, news surfaced that Gravely had fought out his contract and the organization opted not to renew it. [35]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
32 matches23 wins9 losses
By knockout101
By submission35
By decision103
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss23–9 Victor Henry Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili March 11, 202335:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss23–8 Javid Basharat Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Song September 17, 202235:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win23–7 Johnny Muñoz Jr. KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik June 4, 202211:08 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win22–7Saimon OliveiraDecision (unanimous) UFC 270 January 22, 202235:00 Anaheim, California, United States
Loss21–7 Nate Maness TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann September 18, 202122:10 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win21–6 Anthony Birchak TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum April 17, 202121:31 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesPerformance of the Night.
Win20–6 Geraldo de Freitas Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos November 15, 202035:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss19–6 Brett Johns Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos January 25, 202032:53 Raleigh, North Carolina, United StatesFight of the Night.
Win19–5Ray RodriguezTKO (punches) Dana White's Contender Series 24 August 13, 201932:16 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win18–5Darren MimaSubmission (rear-naked choke)CES 55: Wells vs. de JesusMarch 29, 201924:54 Hartford, Connecticut, United StatesDefended the CES Bantamweight Championship.
Win17–5Kris MoutinhoKO (punches)CES 54: Andrews vs. LoganJanuary 19, 201944:02 Lincoln, Rhode Island, United StatesDefended the CES Bantamweight Championship.
Win16–5Kody NordbyKO (slam)CES 53: Gravely vs. NordbyNovember 2, 201810:36 Lincoln, Rhode Island, United StatesWon the vacant CES Bantamweight Championship.
Win15–5Drako RodriguezTKO (punches)KOTC: Territorial ConflictSeptember 15, 201853:49 Niagara Falls, New York, United StatesWon the vacant KOTC Bantamweight Championship.
Win14–5Bruno FerreiraTKO (punches)Road to M-1 USAAugust 11, 20181N/A Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Win13–5James QuiggTKOFight Lab 59June 22, 201831:08 Charlotte, North Carolina, United StatesWon the Fight Lab Bantamweight Championship.
Loss12–5 Patchy Mix Submission (guillotine choke)King of the Cage: No RetreatMay 12, 201811:44 Salamanca, New York, United StatesFor the KOTC Bantamweight Championship.
Win12–4Jerrell HodgeDecision (unanimous)CFFC 68October 21, 201735:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win11–4Jordan MoralesDecision (unanimous)PA Cage Fight 29September 22, 201735:00 Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, United StatesWon the PACF Bantamweight Championship.
Win10–4 Keith Richardson Decision (unanimous) LFA 17 July 21, 201735:00 Charlotte, North Carolina, United StatesCatchweight (140 lb) bout.
Win9–4Francis HealyDecision (unanimous)KOTC: Heavy HandsMay 13, 201735:00 Washington, Pennsylvania, United StatesFeatherweight bout.
Loss8–4 Manny Bermudez Submission (armbar)Cage Titans 33April 8, 20171N/A Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States
Loss8–3 Merab Dvalishvili Decision (unanimous)Ring of Combat 57November 18, 201635:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win8–2Tim SosaDecision (unanimous)KOTC: Harm's WaySeptember 17, 201635:00 Washington, Pennsylvania, United States
Loss7–2Ricky BandejasSubmission (rear-naked choke)CFFC 60August 6, 201622:32 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win7–1Dave RobertsTKO (punches)CFFC 58May 21, 201632:37 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win6–1Dylan CalaSubmission (rear-naked choke)Cage Rage 4April 16, 201613:01 Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
Win5–1Paul GrantTKO (punches)Ring of Combat 54March 4, 201631:02 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win4–1Reginald Barnett Jr.Decision (unanimous)Elite Warrior Challenge 9February 6, 201635:00 Salem, Virginia, United States
Win3–1Dwayne Holman Jr.Decision (unanimous)CFFC 55: Chookagian vs. VarelaJanuary 9, 201635:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United StatesReturn to Bantamweight.
Win2–1Vladimir KazbekovSubmission (rear-naked choke)Global Proving Ground 22November 21, 201524:20 Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, United StatesCatchweight (130 lb) bout.
Loss1–1 Pat Sabatini Submission (rear-naked choke)CFFC 52: Horcher vs. RegmanOctober 31, 201512:47 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United StatesFeatherweight debut.
Win1–0Chad WiggingtonDecision (unanimous)Elite Warrior Challenge 8October 10, 201535:00 Salem, Virginia, United StatesBantamweight debut.

[36]

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