Michael Rhodes (born December 4, 1989) is an American professional

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, incorpo ...

currently competing in the Middleweight division. A professional competitor since 2012, Rhodes has formerly competed for the

UFC The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

, Bellator MMA,

Absolute Championship Berkut Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA), formerly known as Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB), is a Russian mixed martial arts, kickboxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu organization and one of the leading promotions in Europe. To date, most events have been ...

, and RFA.

Background

Rhodes was born and raised in

Waterloo, Iowa Waterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census the population was 67,314, making it the eighth-largest city in the state. The city is part of the Waterloo – Cedar Falls ...

. 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 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, inc ...

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

. Rhodes signed with the UFC in the winter of 2013.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Rhodes made his promotional debut against fellow newcomer George Sullivan on January 25, 2014 at UFC on Fox 10. Sullivan won the fight via unanimous decision. Rhodes next faced Robert Whittaker on June 28, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 43. Rhodes lost the fight via unanimous decision. Rhodes was next scheduled to face

Paulo Thiago Paulo Thiago Alencar Antunes (; born January 25, 1981) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Middleweight division of KSW. A professional competitor since 2005, he has also competed for the UFC and Jungle Figh ...

on September 13, 2014 at

UFC Fight Night 51 ''UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Arlovski'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 51'') was a mixed martial arts event held on September 13, 2014, at Ginásio Nilson Nelson in Brasília, Brazil. Background The event in Brasília was the first that the ...

. However, Rhodes pulled out of the fight citing an injury. Rhodes made his next appearance against

Erick Silva Erick Vinicius Silva (born June 21, 1984) is a Brazilian former mixed martial artist who competed in the Welterweight division. A professional from 2005 till 2019, he competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Bellator MMA, and Jungle Fight, ...

on December 20, 2015 at

UFC Fight Night 58 ''UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Dollaway'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 58'') was a mixed martial arts event held at the Ginásio José Corrêa in Barueri, Brazil on December 20, 2014. Background The event was the second that the UFC has hoste ...

on December 20, 2014. Rhodes was defeated via technical submission due to an arm-triangle choke in the first round and was subsequently released from the promotion.

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 Kendall Grove (born November 12, 1982) is an American mixed martial artist who is currently signed to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2003, he has also competed for the Bellator MMA, UFC, KSW, ProElite, King ...

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. Rhodes next faced Rafael Lovato Jr. at Bellator 181 on July 14, 2017. He lost the fight via submission in the first round. On February 20, 2018 it was announced that Bellator had released Rhodes from the promotion.

Championships and accomplishments

Resurrection Fighting Alliance Legacy Fighting Alliance is an American mixed martial arts promotion, created as a result of the ''Legacy Fighting Championship'' and ''Resurrection Fighting Alliance'' merger in early 2017. History Resurrection Fighting Alliance On October 11, ...

** RFA Welterweight Champion (One time) *Victory Fighting Championship ** VFC Middleweight Champion (Current) *

Cage Fury Fighting Championships Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion primarily operating in the Northeastern United States. Founded by Felix and Amy Martinez, they promoted their first shows in Atlantic City, New Jersey, l ...

** CFFC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 10–4 , Rakim Cleveland , Submission (guillotine choke) , VFC 51: Emerson vs. West , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:42 ,

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Waukesha, Wisconsin Waukesha ( ) is the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area. Its population was 71,158 at the 2020 census. The city is adjacent to the Village of Waukesha. History The area tha ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 8–4 , Taki Uluilakepa , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Prestige FC 1: Atonement , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:54 ,

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, Canada , Catchweight (175 lbs) bout. , - , Win , align=center, 7–4 , Tom Angeloff , KO (punch) , NAFC: Explosion , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:36 ,

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, Submission (arm-triangle choke) , UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Dollaway , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:15 ,

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 6–1 ,

Alan Jouban Alan Michael Joubanhttp://boxing.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/boxingnvgov/content/results/2016_Results/07-07-16MMA.pdf (born November 25, 1982) is an American retired professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Welterweight division. A profess ...

, Decision (unanimous) , RFA 10: Rhodes vs. Jouban , , align=center, 5 , align=center, 5:00 ,

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 5–1 , Benjamin Smith , TKO (punches) , RFA 8: Pettis vs. Pegg , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:56 ,

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Brandon Thatch Brandon Michael Mathew Thatch (born July 11, 1985) is an American professional mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Thatch was adopted at age five by his m ...

, Submission (rear-naked choke) , RFA 7: Thatch vs. Rhodes , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:22 ,

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Zak Ottow Zachary Ottow (born ) is an American mixed martial artist who formerly competed in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor since 2011, he has also competed for King of the Cage. Background ...

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References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rhodes, Mike American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu American male mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists from Iowa African-American mixed martial artists Welterweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Living people People from Iowa 1989 births Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters 21st-century African-American sportspeople 20th-century African-American people