Mike Rhodes (fighter) explained

Mike Rhodes
Other Names:Biggie
Birth Name:Michael Rhodes
Birth Date:day=4 month=12 year=1989
Birth Place:Waterloo, Iowa, United States
Height:6 ft 1 in
Weight:185 lb
Weight Class:Middleweight
Welterweight
Reach:74.5[1]
Fighting Out Of:Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Team:Roufusport
Rank:Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[2]
Years Active:2012-present
Mma Kowin:4
Mma Subwin:4
Mma Decwin:4
Mma Subloss:3
Mma Decloss:3
Mma Nc:1
Sherdog:87296

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.

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. 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

|-|Win|align=center||Christian Torres|Decision (unanimous)|LFA 68||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States|||-| Win| align=center| 11–6 (1)| BJ Lacy| Submission (ankle lock)| Ascendancy FC 18| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:00| Waterloo, Iowa, United States||- | Loss| align=center|10–6 (1)| Ibragim Chuzhigaev| Decision (unanimous)| ACB 87: Mousah vs. Whiteford| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Nottingham, England ||-| NC| align=center|10–5 (1)| Bryan Baker| NC (elbows to back of head)| Extreme Beatdown: Beatdown 21| | align=center| 2| align=center| 3:18| New Town, North Dakota, United States ||-| Loss| align=center|10–5| Rafael Lovato Jr.| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Bellator 181| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:59| Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States ||-| Win| align=center|10–4| Rakim Cleveland| Submission (guillotine choke)| VFC 51: Emerson vs. West| | align=center| 2| align=center| 2:42| Urbandale, Iowa, United States ||-| Win| align=center| 9–4| Mark Stoddard| Decision (unanimous)| NAFC: Super Brawl| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States||-| Win| align=center| 8–4| Taki Uluilakepa| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Prestige FC 1: Atonement| | align=center| 3| align=center| 3:54| Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada|Catchweight (175 lbs) bout.|-| Win| align=center| 7–4| Tom Angeloff| KO (punch)| NAFC: Explosion| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:36| Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 6–4| Erick Silva| Submission (arm-triangle choke)| | | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:15| Barueri, Brazil| |-| Loss| align=center| 6–3| Robert Whittaker| Decision (unanimous)| | | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Auckland, New Zealand| |-| Loss| align=center| 6–2| George Sullivan| Decision (unanimous)| | | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Chicago, Illinois, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 6–1| Alan Jouban| Decision (unanimous)| RFA 10: Rhodes vs. Jouban| | align=center| 5| align=center| 5:00| Des Moines, Iowa, United States||-| Win| align=center| 5–1| Benjamin Smith| TKO (punches)| RFA 8: Pettis vs. Pegg| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:56| Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 4–1| Brandon Thatch| Submission (rear-naked choke)| RFA 7: Thatch vs. Rhodes| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:22| Broomfield, Colorado, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 4–0| Quartus Stitt| TKO (retirement)| Madtown Throwdown 29: Unstoppable| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Madison, Wisconsin, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 3–0| Matt Gauthier| Submission (armbar)| RWC: Rogue Warrior Championships 3| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:04| Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States||-| Win| align=center| 2–0| Torrey Berendes| KO (punch)| Madtown Throwdown 28: Hells Bells| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:42| Madison, Wisconsin, United States||-| Win| align=center| 1–0| Zak Ottow| Decision (unanimous)| NAFC: Colosseum| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States|

Notes and References

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