Mike Rhodes (fighter)

Last updated
Mike Rhodes
BornMichael Rhodes
(1989-12-04) December 4, 1989 (age 32)
Waterloo, Iowa, United States
Other namesBiggie
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Division Middleweight
Welterweight
Reach74.5 [1]
Fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Team Roufusport
RankBrown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu [2]
Years active2012-present
Mixed martial arts record
Total19
Wins12
By knockout4
By submission4
By decision4
Losses6
By submission3
By decision3
No contests1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Michael Rhodes (born December 4, 1989) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Middleweight division. A professional competitor since 2012, Rhodes has formerly competed for the UFC, Bellator MMA, Absolute Championship Berkut, and RFA.

Contents

Background

Rhodes was born and raised in Waterloo, Iowa. He was a troubled youth who often got into fights and had anger management issues. He competed in basketball and football during high school at Waterloo East High School and Columbus Catholic High School in his senior year. He was talented, later continuing his basketball career in college at Ellsworth Community College. During college, Rhodes began training in cardio kickboxing in order to lose weight, losing 110 lbs before transitioning into a career in mixed martial arts. [3]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Rhodes compiled an amateur MMA record of 6-2 and was the Iowa Challenge Amateur Middleweight Champion before making his professional debut in 2012. Rhodes then went 6-1 as a professional and won the RFA Welterweight Championship, before being signed by the UFC. Rhodes signed with the UFC in the winter of 2013. [4]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Rhodes made his promotional debut against fellow newcomer George Sullivan on January 25, 2014 at UFC on Fox 10. [4] Sullivan won the fight via unanimous decision. [5]

Rhodes next faced Robert Whittaker on June 28, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 43. [6] Rhodes lost the fight via unanimous decision. [7]

Rhodes was next scheduled to face Paulo Thiago on September 13, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 51. [8] However, Rhodes pulled out of the fight citing an injury.

Rhodes made his next appearance against Erick Silva on December 20, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 58 on December 20, 2014. [9] Rhodes was defeated via technical submission due to an arm-triangle choke in the first round and was subsequently released from the promotion. [6] [10]

Post-UFC

After being released from the UFC, Rhodes returned to the regional circuit and faced Tom Angeloff at NAFC: Explosion on April 11, 2015. He won via knockout in the first round.

Bellator MMA

On February 28, it was announced that Rhodes would replace Chris Honeycutt in a bout against Kendall Grove at Bellator 174 on March 3, 2017. However, Rhodes was unable to make the required weight, and the bout scratched after they were unable to come to an agreement for the bout to proceed at a catchweight. [11]

Rhodes next faced Rafael Lovato Jr. at Bellator 181 on July 14, 2017. He lost the fight via submission in the first round. [12]

On February 20, 2018 it was announced that Bellator had released Rhodes from the promotion. [13]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
19 matches12 wins6 losses
By knockout40
By submission43
By decision43
No contests1
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win12–6Christian TorresDecision (unanimous) LFA 68 May 31, 201935:00 Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States Light Heavyweight debut.
Win11–6BJ LacySubmission (ankle lock)Ascendancy FC 18August 11, 201812:00 Waterloo, Iowa, United States
Loss10–6Ibragim ChuzhigaevDecision (unanimous) ACB 87: Mousah vs. Whiteford May 19, 201835:00 Nottingham, England
NC10–5 (1) Bryan Baker NC (elbows to back of head)Extreme Beatdown: Beatdown 21March 10, 201823:18 New Town, North Dakota, United StatesBaker threw illegal elbows to the back of Rhodes' head.
Loss10–5 Rafael Lovato Jr. Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 181 July 14, 201711:59 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Win10–4Rakim ClevelandSubmission (guillotine choke)VFC 51: Emerson vs. WestJune 24, 201622:42 Urbandale, Iowa, United StatesReturn to Middleweight; won the VFC Middleweight Championship.
Win9–4Mark StoddardDecision (unanimous)NAFC: Super BrawlJanuary 30, 201635:00 Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States
Win8–4Taki UluilakepaSubmission (rear-naked choke)Prestige FC 1: AtonementOctober 24, 201533:54 Weyburn, Saskatchewan, CanadaCatchweight (175 lbs) bout.
Win7–4Tom AngeloffKO (punch)NAFC: ExplosionApril 11, 201511:36 Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States
Loss6–4 Erick Silva Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Dollaway December 20, 201411:15 Barueri, Brazil
Loss6–3 Robert Whittaker Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Te-Huna vs. Marquardt June 28, 201435:00 Auckland, New Zealand
Loss6–2 George Sullivan Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Thomson January 25, 201435:00 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win6–1 Alan Jouban Decision (unanimous)RFA 10: Rhodes vs. JoubanOctober 25, 201355:00 Des Moines, Iowa, United StatesWon RFA Welterweight Championship.
Win5–1Benjamin SmithTKO (punches)RFA 8: Pettis vs. PeggJune 21, 201310:56 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Loss4–1 Brandon Thatch Submission (rear-naked choke)RFA 7: Thatch vs. RhodesMarch 22, 201312:22 Broomfield, Colorado, United States
Win4–0Quartus StittTKO (retirement)Madtown Throwdown 29: UnstoppableJanuary 5, 201325:00 Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Win3–0Matt GauthierSubmission (armbar)RWC: Rogue Warrior Championships 3September 6, 201214:04 Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States Welterweight debut.
Win2–0Torrey BerendesKO (punch)Madtown Throwdown 28: Hells BellsAugust 11, 201210:42 Madison, Wisconsin, United StatesCatchweight bout of 180 lbs.
Win1–0 Zak Ottow Decision (unanimous)NAFC: ColosseumMay 4, 201235:00 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

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References

  1. ↑ "Mike Rhodes". Tapology.
  2. ↑ "Mike Rhodes". UFC.
  3. ↑ Gary D'Amato. "MMA fighter Mike Rhodes turns his life around in the octagon". jsonline.com.
  4. 1 2 Zane Simon (2014-01-13). "UFC signs top welterweight prospect Mike Rhodes to debut against George Sullivan". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  5. ↑ Staff (2014-01-25). "UFC on FOX 10: George Sullivan vs. Mike Rhodes". mmaweekly.com. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  6. 1 2 Staff (2014-05-05). "UFC Fight Night 43 gets Whittaker-Rhodes". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-05-05.
  7. ↑ Matt Erickson (2014-06-28). "UFC Fight Night 43 results: Robert Whittaker cruises past Mike Rhodes". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
  8. ↑ Jacob Cooper (2014-07-13). "Paulo Thiago vs. Mike Rhodes set for UFC Fight Night 51". cagepages.com. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
  9. ↑ Guilherme Cruz (2014-10-21). "Erick Silva returns at UFC Fight Night 58 against Mike Rhodes". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  10. ↑ Dana Becker (2015-01-21). "UFC cuts ties with welterweight Mike Rhodes". fightline.com. Retrieved 2015-01-21.
  11. ↑ Mike Bohn (2017-03-02). "Kendall Grove-Mike Rhodes scratched from Bellator 174". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  12. ↑ John Morgan (July 14, 2017). "Bellator 181 results: Derek Campos scores trilogy win over Brandon Girtz in blood-soaked instant classic". mmajunkie.com.
  13. ↑ Guilherme Cruz (2018-02-20). "Bellator trims roster, parts ways with 13 fighters". mmafighting.com.
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