Mike Rhodes (fighter)
{{short description|American mixed martial arts fighter}}
{{Infobox martial artist
| name = Mike Rhodes
| other_names = Biggie
| image =
| image_size = 200px
| alt =
| caption = Mike Rhodes at the UFC FN 43 Weigh-ins
| birth_name = Michael Rhodes
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|year=1989|month=12|day=4}}
| birth_place = Waterloo, Iowa, United States
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| residence =
| height = 6 ft 1 in
| weight = 185 lb
| weight_class = Middleweight
Welterweight
| reach = 74.5{{cite web|url=http://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/18711-mike-rhoads|title=Mike Rhodes|work=Tapology}}
| style =
| stance =
| fighting_out_of = Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
| team = Roufusport
| rank = Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu{{cite web|url=https://www.ufc.com/athlete/mike-rhodes|title=Mike Rhodes|work=UFC}}
| years_active = 2012-2019
| mma_kowin = 5
| mma_subwin = 4
| mma_decwin = 4
| mma_koloss =
| mma_subloss = 3
| mma_decloss = 3
| mma_draw =
| mma_nc = 1
| url =
| sherdog = 87296
| footnotes =
| updated =
| spouse =
}}
Michael Rhodes (born December 4, 1989) is an American former professional mixed martial artist. Rhodes competed in the UFC, Bellator MMA, Absolute Championship Berkut, and RFA and Cage Fury Fighting Championships.
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.jsonline.com/sports/mma-fighter-mike-rhodes-turns-his-life-around-in-the-octagon-b99167901z1-240669561.html|title=MMA fighter Mike Rhodes turns his life around in the octagon|author=Gary D'Amato|work=jsonline.com}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2014/1/13/5303950/ufc-signs-welterweight-prospect-mike-rhodes-vs-george-sullivan-fox-henderson-mma-news|title=UFC signs top welterweight prospect Mike Rhodes to debut against George Sullivan|publisher=bloodyelbow.com|author=Zane Simon|date=2014-01-13|accessdate=2014-01-13}}
=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.{{cite news|url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-on-fox-10-george-sullivan-vs-mike-rhodes|title=UFC on FOX 10: George Sullivan vs. Mike Rhodes|publisher=mmaweekly.com|author=Staff|accessdate=2014-01-25|date=2014-01-25}}
Rhodes next faced Robert Whittaker on June 28, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 43.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2014/05/ufc-fight-night-43-gets-perosh-villante-whittaker-rhodes-delos-reyes-vaculik|title=UFC Fight Night 43 gets Whittaker-Rhodes|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|accessdate=2014-05-05|date=2014-05-05}} Rhodes lost the fight via unanimous decision.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2014/06/ufc-fight-night-43-results-robert-whittaker-cruises-past-mike-rhodes|title=UFC Fight Night 43 results: Robert Whittaker cruises past Mike Rhodes|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Matt Erickson|accessdate=2014-06-28|date=2014-06-28}}
Rhodes was next scheduled to face Paulo Thiago on September 13, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 51.{{cite web|url=http://cagepages.com/2014/07/13/paulo-thiago-vs-mike-rhodes-set-ufc-fight-night-51/|title=Paulo Thiago vs. Mike Rhodes set for UFC Fight Night 51|publisher=cagepages.com|author=Jacob Cooper|date=2014-07-13|accessdate=2014-07-13}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2014/10/21/7027939/erick-silva-returns-at-ufc-fight-night-58-against-mike-rhodes|title=Erick Silva returns at UFC Fight Night 58 against Mike Rhodes|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Guilherme Cruz|accessdate=2014-10-21|date=2014-10-21}} Rhodes was defeated via technical submission due to an arm-triangle choke in the first round and was subsequently released from the promotion.{{cite web|url=http://www.fightline.com/ufc-cuts-ties-welterweight-mike-rhodes/|title=UFC cuts ties with welterweight Mike Rhodes|publisher=fightline.com|author=Dana Becker|accessdate=2015-01-21|date=2015-01-21}}
=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.{{cite news|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2017/03/kendall-grove-mike-rhodes-joe-taimanglo-steve-garcia-scratched-from-bellator-174|title=Kendall Grove-Mike Rhodes scratched from Bellator 174|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Mike Bohn|date=2017-03-02|accessdate=2017-03-02}}
Rhodes next faced Rafael Lovato Jr. at Bellator 181 on July 14, 2017. He lost the fight via submission in the first round.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2017/07/bellator-181-live-results-and-video-stream-645-p-m-et|title=Bellator 181 results: Derek Campos scores trilogy win over Brandon Girtz in blood-soaked instant classic|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=John Morgan|date=July 14, 2017}}
On February 20, 2018, it was announced that Bellator had released Rhodes from the promotion.{{cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2018/2/20/17032582/bellator-trims-roster-13-fighters-released|title=Bellator trims roster, parts ways with 13 fighters|author=Guilherme Cruz|date=2018-02-20|publisher=mmafighting.com}}
Championships and accomplishments
- Resurrection Fighting Alliance
- RFA Welterweight Champion (One time)
- Victory Fighting Championship
- VFC Middleweight Champion (Current)
- Cage Fury Fighting Championships
- CFFC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
{{MMArecordbox
| draws=
| nc= 1
| ko-wins= 5
| ko-losses=
| sub-wins= 4
| sub-losses= 3
| dec-wins= 4
| dec-losses= 3
| dq-wins=
| dq-losses=
| other-wins=
| other-losses=
}}
{{MMA record start}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|align=center|{{nowrap|13–6 (1)}}
|Najim Wali
|KO (punch)
|CFFC 80: Rhodes vs. Wali
|{{dts|2019|November|22}}
|align=center|2
|align=center|0:55
| Newport News, Virginia, United States
||{{small|Won the CFFC Light heavyweight championship.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|align=center|{{nowrap|12–6 (1)}}
|Christian Torres
|Decision (unanimous)
|{{dts|2019|May|31}}
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States
||{{small|Light Heavyweight debut.}}
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 11–6 (1)
| BJ Lacy
| Submission (ankle lock)
| Ascendancy FC 18
| {{dts|2018|August|11}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:00
| Waterloo, Iowa, United States
|
|-
| {{no2}}Loss
| align=center|10–6 (1)
| Ibragim Chuzhigaev
| Decision (unanimous)
| ACB 87: Mousah vs. Whiteford
| {{dts|2018|May|19}}
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Nottingham, England
|
|-
| {{Nocontest|}}NC
| align=center|10–5 (1)
| NC (elbows to back of head)
| Extreme Beatdown: Beatdown 21
| {{dts|2018|March|10}}
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 3:18
| New Town, North Dakota, United States
|{{small|Baker threw illegal elbows to the back of Rhodes' head.}}
|-
| {{no2}}Loss
| align=center|10–5
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| {{dts|2017|July|14}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 1:59
| Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
|
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center|10–4
| Rakim Cleveland
| Submission (guillotine choke)
| VFC 51: Emerson vs. West
| {{dts|2016|June|24}}
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 2:42
| Urbandale, Iowa, United States
|{{small|Return to Middleweight; won the VFC Middleweight Championship.}}
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 9–4
| Mark Stoddard
| Decision (unanimous)
| NAFC: Super Brawl
| {{dts|2016|January|30}}
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States
|
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 8–4
| Taki Uluilakepa
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| Prestige FC 1: Atonement
| {{dts|2015|October|24}}
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 3:54
| Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada
|Catchweight (175 lbs) bout.
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 7–4
| Tom Angeloff
| KO (punch)
| NAFC: Explosion
| {{dts|2015|April|11}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 1:36
| Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States
|
|-
| {{no2}}Loss
| align=center| 6–4
| Submission (arm-triangle choke)
| UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Dollaway
| {{dts|2014|December|20}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 1:15
| Barueri, Brazil
|
|-
| {{no2}}Loss
| align=center| 6–3
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC Fight Night: Te-Huna vs. Marquardt
| {{dts|2014|June|28}}
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Auckland, New Zealand
|
|-
| {{no2}}Loss
| align=center| 6–2
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Thomson
| {{dts|2014|January|25}}
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Chicago, Illinois, United States
|
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 6–1
| Decision (unanimous)
| RFA 10: Rhodes vs. Jouban
| {{dts|2013|October|25}}
| align=center| 5
| align=center| 5:00
| Des Moines, Iowa, United States
|{{small|Won RFA Welterweight Championship.}}
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 5–1
| Benjamin Smith
| TKO (punches)
| RFA 8: Pettis vs. Pegg
| {{dts|2013|June|21}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 0:56
| Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
|
|-
| {{no2}}Loss
| align=center| 4–1
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| RFA 7: Thatch vs. Rhodes
| {{dts|2013|March|22}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:22
| Broomfield, Colorado, United States
|
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 4–0
| Quartus Stitt
| TKO (retirement)
| Madtown Throwdown 29: Unstoppable
| {{dts|2013|January|5}}
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 5:00
| Madison, Wisconsin, United States
|
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 3–0
| Matt Gauthier
| Submission (armbar)
| RWC: Rogue Warrior Championships 3
| {{dts|2012|September|6}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 4:04
| Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States
|{{small|Welterweight debut.}}
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 2–0
| Torrey Berendes
| KO (punch)
| Madtown Throwdown 28: Hells Bells
| {{dts|2012|August|11}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 0:42
| Madison, Wisconsin, United States
|{{small|Catchweight bout of 180 lbs.}}
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
| align=center| 1–0
| Decision (unanimous)
| NAFC: Colosseum
| {{dts|2012|May|4}}
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
|
{{end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Sherdog}}
- {{UFC|mike-rhodes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhodes, Mike}}
Category:American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Category:American male mixed martial artists
Category:Mixed martial artists from Iowa
Category:African-American mixed martial artists
Category:Welterweight mixed martial artists
Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Category:Sportspeople from Iowa
Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters