J.J. Ambrose (born February 6, 1987) is an American

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorp ...

currently competing in

One Fighting Championship ONE Championship (formerly ONE Fighting Championship) is a Singaporean combat sports Promoter (entertainment), promotion. Founded on 14 July 2011 by entrepreneur Chatri Sityodtong and former ESPN Star Sports senior executive Victor Cui, its eve ...

. He has also competed for

Bellator Bellator, warrior in Latin, may refer to: * Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States * Bishop Bellator of Archaeological site of Sbeitla, Sufetula (5th century) Taxonomy * Bellator (fish), ''Bellator'' (fish), a fis ...

Lightweight Lightweight is a weight class in combat sports and rowing. Boxing Professional boxing The lightweight division is over 130 pounds (59 kilograms) and up to 135 pounds (61.2 kilograms) weight class in the sport of boxing. Notable lightweight boxe ...

division,

Affliction Affliction or Afflicted may refer to: Books * ''Affliction'' (novel), a 2013 Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter novel by Laurell K. Hamilton * ''Affliction'', a novel by Russell Banks, basis of the 1998 film Film and TV * ''Affliction'' (1997 film), ...

and Pacific Xtreme Combat.

Background

Ambrose was born in

Long Beach, California Long Beach is a city in Los Angeles County, California. It is the 42nd-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 466,742 as of 2020. A charter city, Long Beach is the seventh-most populous city in California. Incorporate ...

and later moved to Arizona after his parents divorced. He is of Italian descent and began

wrestling Wrestling is a series of combat sports involving grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into martial arts, combat ...

in the fifth grade, began

boxing Boxing (also known as "Western boxing" or "pugilism") is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards, throw punches at each other for a predetermined ...

in high school, and then began

Brazilian jiu-jitsu Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ; pt, jiu-jitsu brasileiro ) is a self-defence martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting (ne-waza) and submission holds. BJJ focuses on the skill of taking an opponent to the ground, control ...

in his senior year of high school, his first fight later that year. Ambrose graduated from

Mohave High School Mohave High School is the high school for Bullhead City, Arizona. It is operated by the Colorado River Union High School District. Athletics The Thunderbirds were the Class B state basketball runners-up in the 1972–73 season, won the Class B s ...

in Bullhead City, AZ.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Ambrose made his professional mixed martial arts debut in 2005, fighting mainly for California-based promotions. After compiling a record of ten wins, two losses and one no contest, he signed with

Affliction

Ambrose faced Mike Pyle on July 19, 2008 at Affliction: Banned. He lost via submission in the first round.

Pacific Rim organizations and The Ultimate Fighter

After winning a bout in Mexico, Ambrose obtained more six wins in a row for Pacific Rim promotions as Pacific Xtreme Combat. Ambrose also appeared in the first episode of '' The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck''. He lost via unanimous decision against Sevak Magakian during the entry round. In 2012, Ambrose signed with Bellator to compete in the Lightweight Tournament.

Bellator Fighting Championships

Ambrose faced

Brent Weedman Brent Weedman (born February 10, 1984) is a retired American mixed martial artist who has competed in Bellator's Welterweight division. He has competed in several Bellator Tournaments, including the: Bellator Season Four Welterweight Tournamen ...

on March 23, 2012 at

Bellator 62 2012 in Bellator MMA was the sixth installment of the Bellator Fighting Championships, which began on March 9, 2012. The sixth season of Bellator was originally scheduled to begin on March 2, 2012. However, the debut was pushed back a week so i ...

in the quarterfinal match of the season six lightweight tournament. He lost via submission in the second round. Ambrose faced Brian Warren on January 17, 2013 at

Bellator 85 2013 in Bellator MMA was the eighth installment of the Bellator MMA, which began on January 17, 2013 and ended on April 4, 2013. Mixed martial arts tournaments were held in five Mixed martial arts weight classes, weight classes and all of the ch ...

. He won via submission in the second round. Ambrose faced

David Rickels David Rickels (born January 5, 1989) is an American professional mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle fighter who is currently competing in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. A professional since 2010, he is a 23-fight veteran of the Bellat ...

on October 11, 2013 at

Bellator 103 2013 in Bellator MMA was the eighth installment of the Bellator MMA, which began on January 17, 2013 and ended on April 4, 2013. Mixed martial arts tournaments were held in five Mixed martial arts weight classes, weight classes and all of the ch ...

. Ambrose lost the bout via technical knockout in the third round. Over four years since his fight with Rickels, Ambrose faced

Saad Awad Saad Awad ( ar, سعد عوض , born June 7, 1983) is an American mixed martial artist competing in Bellator's lightweight division. A professional competitor since 2006, Awad has formerly competed for Strikeforce and King of the Cage. Backgr ...

at Bellator 193 on January 26, 2018. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Post Bellator

Ambrose faced Spike Carlyle on October 17, 2021 at Cage Warriors 130. He lost the bout via knockout in the second round. Ambrose faced Jordan Bailey on September 23, 2022 at Cage Warriors 143. He lost the bout via guillotine choke in the second round.

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Loss , align=center, 35–10 (2) , Jordan Bailey , Submission (guillotine choke) , Cage Warriors 143 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 3:05 ,

San Diego, California San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United States ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 35–9 (2) , Hoshi Friedrich , Submission (guillotine choke) , Hex Fight Series 23 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, N/A ,

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

, Australia , , - , Loss , align=center, 34–9 (2) , Spike Carlyle , KO (punch) , Cage Warriors 130 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:19 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 34–8 (2) , Kitt Campbell , Decision (unanimous) , Hex Fight Series 20 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Australia , , - , Win , align=center, 33–8 (2) ,

Akihiro Murayama is a Japanese mixed martial artist who has competed mainly for Pancrase, Shooto and Greatest Common Multiple. Mixed martial arts career Early career Murayama started his professional career in 2003. In his first years, he fought mainly for ' ...

, Decision (unanimous) , Pancrase 306 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 32–8 (2) , Art Hernandez , Submission (guillotine choke) , WFC 104 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:57 ,

Laughlin, Nevada Laughlin is an unincorporated resort town and census-designated place in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is located on the Colorado River, directly across from the much larger Bullhead City, Arizona. Laughlin lies south of Las Vegas, i ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 31–8 (2) , Beau Rawiri , Submission (guillotine choke) , Hex Fight Series 18 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:35 ,

, Australia , , - , Win , align=center, 30–8 (2) , Alaa Mansour , Submission (guillotine choke) , Wawan MMA 18 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:10 ,

Kuwait Kuwait (; ar, الكويت ', or ), officially the State of Kuwait ( ar, دولة الكويت '), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to the nort ...

, , - , Loss , align=center, 29–8 (2) ,

, Decision (unanimous) , Bellator 193 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Temecula, California Temecula (; es, Temécula, ; Luiseño: ''Temeekunga'') is a city in southwestern Riverside County, California, United States. The city had a population of 110,003 as of the 2020 census and was incorporated on December 1, 1989. The city is a t ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 29–7 (2) , Ben Wall , Decision (unanimous) , Hex Fight Series 9 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Melbourne, Victoria Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung–Taungurung language, Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the St ...

, Australia , , - , Win , align=center, 28–7 (2) , Takahiro Ashida , Submission (guillotine choke) , Pacific Xtreme Combat 56 , , align=center, 4 , align=center, N/A ,

Mangilao Mangilao is a Villages of Guam, village on the eastern shore of the United States territory of Guam. The village's population has decreased slightly since the island's 2010 census. Cliffs lie along much of the village's shoreline provide dramatic ...

, Guam , , - , Win , align=center, 27–7 (2) , Dylan Fussell , Decision (unanimous) , Pacific Xtreme Combat 55 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Guam , , - , Win , align=center, 26–7 (2) ,

Francisco Treviño Francisco Javier Treviño Ibarguen (born December 17, 1981) is a Mexican mixed martial artist with American citizenship. He competes in the Lightweight division, and formerly fought for the UFC. He was born in Reynosa, Tamaulipas but grew up ...

, Submission (guillotine choke) , Hex Fight Series 6 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 4:35 ,

, Australia , , - , Win , align=center, 25–7 (2) ,

Fabio Mello Fabio is a given name descended from Latin ''Fabius'' and very popular in Italy and Latin America (due to Italian migration). Its English equivalent is Fabian. The name is written without an accent in Italian and Spanish, but is usually accented ...

, TKO (punches) , Gladiators Fighting Championship 9 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 3:48 ,

Mishref Mishref ( ar, مشرف) is a residential area in Kuwait City, Kuwait, within the Hawalli Governorate, south of Bayan and west of Salwa. Mishref has only 6 blocks (1,2,3,4,5 and 6), and all other blocks or extensions in West Mishref don't originall ...

, Kuwait , , - , Loss , align=center, 24–7 (2) ,

, Decision (split) , Hex Fight Series 5 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Australia , , - , Win , align=center, 24–6 (2) , Oriol Gaset , Submission (guillotine choke) , Hex Fight Series 4 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:57 ,

, Australia , , - , Win , align=center, 23–6 (2) ,

Ricky Legere Ricky Legere (born December 21, 1985) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor since 2007, Legere has formerly competed for Bellator MMA, Strikeforce, the RFA, ...

, Submission (guillotine choke) , KOTC: Bitter Rivals , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:36 ,

Ontario, California Ontario is a city in southwestern San Bernardino County in the U.S. state of California, east of downtown Los Angeles and west of downtown San Bernardino, the county seat. Located in the western part of the Inland Empire metropolitan area, ...

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 22–6 (2) ,

Kazuki Tokudome is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division of ONE Championship. A professional competitor since 2007, he has also competed in Pancrase, Sengoku Raiden Championships and the Ultimate Fighting ...

, Decision (unanimous) , Pancrase: 267 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 22–5 (2) , Ahmad Ibrahim , Submission (guillotine choke) , Gladiator Fighting Championship 6 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 0:48 ,

Kuwait City Kuwait City ( ar, مدينة الكويت) is the capital and largest city of Kuwait. Located at the heart of the country on the south shore of Kuwait Bay on the Persian Gulf, it is the political, cultural and economical centre of the emirate, ...

, Kuwait , , - , Win , align=center, 21–5 (2) , Adam Gonzalez , Submission (rear-naked choke) , WFC: World Fighting Championships 21 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:21 ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 20–5 (2) ,

, TKO (punches) ,

, , align=center, 3 , align=center, 2:37 ,

Mulvane, Kansas Mulvane is a city in Sedgwick and Sumner counties in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 6,286. History Mulvane was laid out in 1879 at the junction of five Santa Fe rail lines. It is named for ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 20–4 (2) , Ibrahim Ahmed , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Gladiator Fighting Championship 3 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:27 ,

, Kuwait , , - , NC , align=center, 19–4 (2) , Ibrahim Ahmed , No Contest , Gladiator Fighting Championship 2 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:00 ,

, Kuwait , , - , Win , align=center, 19–4 (1) , Brian Warren , Submission (guillotine choke) ,

, , align=center, 2 , align=center, 0:50 ,

Irvine, California Irvine () is a Planned community, master-planned city in South Orange County, California, United States, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Irvine Company started developing the area in the 1960s and the city was formally incorporated on ...

, United States , Catchweight (165 lb) bout. , - , Win , align=center, 18–4 (1) , Mu Gyeom Choi , KO (punch) , PRO FC 7 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, N/A ,

Taipei Taipei (), officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about southwest of the n ...

, Taiwan , , - , Loss , align=center, 17–4 (1) ,

, Submission (

Von Flue choke A chokehold, choke, stranglehold or, in Judo, shime-waza ( ja, 絞技, translation=constriction technique) is a general term for a grappling hold that critically reduces or prevents either air (choking)''The New Oxford Dictionary of English'' ( ...

) ,

, , align=center, 2 , align=center, 3:26 ,

Laredo, Texas Laredo ( ; ) is a city in and the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Laredo has the distinction of flying seven flags (the flag of t ...

, United States , Bellator Season 6 Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinal , - , Win , align=center, 17–3 (1) , Sebastien Garguier , Decision (unanimous) , Pacific Xtreme Combat 27 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Mangilao, Guam Mangilao is a village on the eastern shore of the United States territory of Guam. The village's population has decreased slightly since the island's 2010 census. Cliffs lie along much of the village's shoreline provide dramatic views, including ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 16–3 (1) , Robert Palacios , Submission (punches) , Rites of Passage 11 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:59 ,

Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands Saipan ( ch, Sa’ipan, cal, Seipél, formerly in es, Saipán, and in ja, 彩帆島, Saipan-tō) is the largest island of the Northern Mariana Islands, a commonwealth of the United States in the western Pacific Ocean. According to 2020 est ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 15–3 (1) , Masakazu Taguchi , TKO (punches) , Trench Warz 13 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:01 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 14–3 (1) , Gyo Pyung Hwang , Technical submission (D'arce choke) , Pacific Xtreme Combat 20 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:20 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 13–3 (1) , Bill Saures , Submission (guillotine choke) , Pacific Xtreme Combat 18 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:45 , Mangilao, Guam, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 12–3 (1) , Hideto Kondo , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Pacific Xtreme Combat 17 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:26 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 11–3 (1) , Iure Silva , Submission (armbar) , Cage of Fire 14 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 2:19 ,

Guadalajara, Jalisco Guadalajara ( , ) is a metropolis in western Mexico and the capital of the state of Jalisco. According to the 2020 census, the city has a population of 1,385,629 people, making it the 7th largest city by population in Mexico, while the Guadalaj ...

, Mexico , , - , Loss , align=center, 10–3 (1) , Mike Pyle , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Affliction: Banned , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:51 ,

Anaheim, California Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orange County, the 10th-most p ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 10–2 (1) , Jason Cordero , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Total Fighting Alliance 10 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:14 ,

Santa Monica, California Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 9–2 (1) , Iure Silva , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Cage of Fire 10 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:43 , Mexico , , - , Win , align=center, 8–2 (1) , Jason Cordero , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Total Fighting Alliance 8 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:59 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 7–2 (1) , Marco Soto , TKO (punches) , Cage of Fire 9 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, N/A , Mexico , , - , Win , align=center, 6–2 (1) , Adam Lehman , Submission (guillotine choke) , Total Fighting Alliance 7 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:43 , Santa Monica, California, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 5–2 (1) , Ben Gonzalez , TKO (punches) , Total Fighting Alliance 6 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:06 ,

, United States , , - , NC , align=center, 4–2 (1) , Adam Lehman , No Contest , Total Fighting Alliance 5 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:29 , Santa Monica, California, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 4–2 , Andrew Flores , Decision (unanimous) , Total Fighting Alliance 4 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Carson, California Carson is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, in the South Bay region of Los Angeles, located south of downtown Los Angeles and approximately away from Los Angeles International Airport. Incorporated on February 20, 1968, ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 3–2 , Jason Zickerman , Submission (rear-naked choke) , California Xtreme Fighting 2 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:36 ,

Upland, California Upland is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States on the border with neighboring Los Angeles County. The municipality is located at an elevation of 1,242 feet (379 m). As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 79,040 ...

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 2–2 , Vince Guzman , Submission (triangle choke) , California Xtreme Fighting 1 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:48 , Upland, California, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 2–1 , Luke Hodges , Decision (unanimous) , Total Combat 11 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Yuma, Arizona Yuma ( coc, Yuum) is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. The city's population was 93,064 at the 2010 census, up from the 2000 census population of 77,515. Yuma is the principal city of the Yuma, Arizona, M ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Adam Lehman , Decision (unanimous) , WFC: Rumble at the Ramada , , align=center, 3 , align=center, N/A ,

Norwalk, California Norwalk is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 105,549 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census and an estimated 103,949 in 2019. It is the 58th most densely-populated ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Donald Bolt , N/A , Kage Kombat , , align=center, N/A , align=center, N/A , California, United States ,

Personal life

Ambrose owns and operates a gym, STEEL Athletics in Guam.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ambrose, J. J. 1987 births Living people American male mixed martial artists Welterweight mixed martial artists Lightweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing boxing Mixed martial artists utilizing wrestling Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu Sportspeople from Santa Clara, California