# Rodney Wallace (fighter)

Rodney Wallace (born November 21, 1981) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight division. A professional competitor from 2008 to 2017, he has competed for the UFC, Bellator, the MFC, M-1 Global, KSW, and Absolute Championship Berkut.

## Background

Wallace was born in Bamberg, South Carolina, moved to Passaic, New Jersey when he was one year old, then returned to his birthplace at the age of 13 when he began playing football and wrestling. At Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School in Bamberg, South Carolina, Wallace competed in both sports as well as track and field. He reached the state tournament in wrestling when he was freshman, then won the South Carolina state championship in his sophomore, junior, and senior years.
He continued his football career with a scholarship to NCAA Division II Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina where he was an All-Conference running back from 2001 to 2004 and finished his career as the school's all-time leading rusher.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Wallace lost his UFC debut at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale by unanimous decision to former WEC Light Heavyweight Champion Brian Stann.
Wallace next fought Jared Hamman on March 27, 2010, at UFC 111. Wallace lost this fight by way of a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). This fight was very fast-paced and there were several situations in which both men were rocked. The fight was selected as Fight of the Night, earning both fighters $65,000.
Wallace was scheduled to face Stanislav Nedkov on August 7, 2010, at UFC 117. However, Nedkov was forced from the card with an injury and was replaced by Phil Davis. Wallace lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Following the loss to Davis, Wallace was released from the promotion.

### Independent promotions

After his release from the UFC, Wallace went on to face and defeat David Heath at MFC 27 via unanimous decision. He lost his second fight for the promotion against Emanuel Newton at MFC 28 via submission.
Wallace next faced Cale Yarbrough on April 15, 2011, at Scrap Live: Fight Night 7.
Rodney Wallace next fought Derrick Mehmen at WMMA 1: Fighting for a Better World on March 31, 2012. Wallace won this fight via unanimous decision.
Wallace next competed against Polish fighter Mamed Khalidov on May 12, 2012, at KSW XIX. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.
Rodney Wallace next fought former WEC Middleweight Champion Paulo Filho to a draw at Selva MMA on August 4, 2013, in Brazil.

### Bellator MMA

Wallace made his debut for Bellator MMA on April 11, 2014, at Bellator 116. He faced Carlos Eduardo and won the fight via unanimous decision.
Wallace faced Kelly Anundson on June 6, 2014, at Bellator 121. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
In August 2014, Wallace was released from Bellator, along with twelve other fighters.

### Absolute Championship Berkut

Wallace faced Shamil Gamzatov on January 13, 2017, at ACB 51. He lost the fight by split decision.

## Bare knuckle boxing career

He challenged Croatian Marko Martinjak for his UBBADA world cruiserweight title at BKB 5 event in Coventry on April 22, 2017, losing the fight via first round TKO due to a cut above the eye.

## Championships and accomplishments

* SMASH Fight
** SMASH Fight Light Heavyweight Championship (One time, current)
* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Jared Hamman
* Warfare FC
** WFC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time, current)
* Hard Knocks Fighting
** HKFC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time, current)

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 43 matches | 26 wins | 16 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 6 |
| By submission | 3 | 1 |
| By decision | 17 | 9 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 26–16–1 | Konstantin Gluhov | KO (spinning back kick to the body) | ProFC 63 | September 10, 2017 | 2 | 2:58 | Rostov-on-Don, Russia | |
| Loss | 26–15–1 | Juan Espino | Decision (unanimous) | Combate Comas MMA 3 | June 10, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Santa Cruz, Bolivia | |
| Loss | 26–14–1 | Ivan Shtyrkov | Decision (unanimous) | RCC Boxing Promotions | February 18, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Chelyabinsk, Russia | Return to Heavyweight. |
| Loss | 26–13–1 | Shamil Gamzatov | Decision (split) | ACB 51: Silva vs. Torgeson | January 13, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Irvine, California, United States | |
| Win | 26–12–1 | Julio Gallegos | Decision (unanimous) | Conflict MMA 42 | November 12, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Indian Trail, North Carolina, United States | |
| Loss | 25–12–1 | Isa Umarov | Decision (unanimous) | ACB 38: Breakthrough | May 20, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Rostov-on-Don, Russia | |
| Loss | 25–11–1 | Saparbek Safarov | TKO (retirement) | Akhmat Fight Show 18: Grand Prix 2016 | April 9, 2016 | 2 | 5:00 | Grozny, Russia | |
| Win | 25–10–1 | Daniel Spohn | Decision (unanimous) | HKFC: Hard Knocks 48 | January 29, 2016 | 5 | 5:00 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | Defended the HKFC Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 24–10–1 | Adrian Miles | Submission (rear-naked choke) | HKFC: Hard Knocks 47 | November 13, 2015 | 5 | 2:36 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | Won the vacant HKFC Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 23–10–1 | Kalib Starnes | Decision (unanimous) | HKFC: Hard Knocks 44 | June 26, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | |
| Loss | 22–10–1 | Misha Cirkunov | TKO (head kick) | HKFC: Hard Knocks 41 | January 30, 2015 | 1 | 2:00 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | Lost HKFC Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 22–9–1 | Clay Davidson | Decision (unanimous) | HKFC: Hard Knocks 40 | December 12, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | Won the HKFC Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Loss | 21–9–1 | Kelly Anundson | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 121 | June 6, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 21–8–1 | Ariel Gandulla | Decision (unanimous) | HKFC: Hard Knocks 36 | May 10, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada | |
| Win | 20–8–1 | Carlos Eduardo | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 116 | April 11, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Temecula, California, United States | |
| Loss | 19–8–1 | Maxim Grishin | Decision (split) | Driven MMA: One | March 1, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Canton, Ohio, United States | |
| Loss | 19–7–1 | Luiz Cane | KO (flying knee) | SFT 1 | September 20, 2013 | 1 | 3:56 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Draw | 19–6–1 | Paulo Filho | Draw (time limit) | Selva MMA 2 | August 4, 2013 | 5 | 5:00 | Rio Branco, Brazil | |
| Win | 19–6 | Matheus Wendell Santi Scheffel | TKO (punches) | SMASH Fight 2 | July 13, 2013 | 2 | 2:56 | Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil | Won the SMASH Fight Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 18–6 | Aaron Johnson | KO (punches) | Warfare FC 9: Apocalypse | June 21, 2013 | 1 | 2:00 | North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States | Won the Warfare FC Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 17–6 | Salomão Ribeiro | Decision (unanimous) | Jungle Fight 53 | June 1, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Japeri, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 16–6 | Joaquim Ferreira | TKO (punches) | SMASH Fight 1 | May 3, 2013 | 3 | 1:22 | Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil | |
| Win | 15–6 | Guilherme Viana | Decision (split) | Iron Fight Combat 2 | December 7, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil | Return to Light Heavyweight. |
| Loss | 14–6 | Michał Materla | KO (punches) | KSW 21: Final Resolution | December 1, 2012 | 1 | 0:22 | Warsaw, Poland | Middleweight debut; for the KSW Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 14–5 | Cristiano Lazzarini | TKO (punches) | Brasil Fight 6: Brasil x EUA | September 21, 2012 | 2 | 4:28 | Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil | |
| Win | 13–5 | Aaron Johnson | KO (punch) | RFN: Renaissance Fight Night | July 28, 2012 | 4 | 4:00 | Montgomery, Alabama, United States | Originally for the RFN Light Heavyweight Championship; Wallace missed weight. |
| Loss | 12–5 | Mamed Khalidov | KO (punch) | KSW 19 | May 12, 2012 | 1 | 1:55 | Łódź, Poland | Catchweight (187 lb) bout. |
| Win | 12–4 | Derrick Mehmen | Decision (unanimous) | WMMA 1: Fighting for a Better World | March 31, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | El Paso, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 11–4 | Cale Yarbrough | Decision (unanimous) | Scrap Live: Fight Night 7 | April 15, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States | |
| Loss | 10–4 | Emanuel Newton | Submission (rear-naked choke) | MFC 28: Supremacy | February 25, 2011 | 2 | 4:34 | Enoch, Alberta, Canada | |
| Win | 10–3 | David Heath | Decision (unanimous) | MFC 27 | November 12, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Enoch, Alberta, Canada | |
| Loss | 9–3 | Phil Davis | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 117 | August 7, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Oakland, California, United States | |
| Loss | 9–2 | Jared Hamman | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 111 | March 27, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 9–1 | Brian Stann | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale | December 5, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 9–0 | Gregory Milliard | Decision (unanimous) | VFC: A Night Of Vengeance | September 5, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Oranjestad, Aruba | |
| Win | 8–0 | Aaron Stark | Submission (kimura) | VFC: A Night Of Vengeance | September 5, 2009 | 2 | 2:18 | Oranjestad, Aruba | |
| Win | 7–0 | Antwain Britt | Submission (armbar) | VFC: A Night Of Vengeance | September 5, 2009 | 1 | 3:59 | Oranjestad, Aruba | |
| Win | 6–0 | Marcus Vanttinen | Decision (unanimous) | M-1 Challenge 16: USA | June 5, 2009 | 2 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | Light Heavyweight debut. |
| Win | 5–0 | Michael Brown | Decision (unanimous) | RFC: Revolution Fight Club 3 | February 20, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Carlos Zevallos | TKO (punches) | RFC: Revolution Fight Club 2 | December 19, 2008 | 1 | 0:08 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Ovince St. Preux | Decision (unanimous) | VFC 1: Vengeance Fighting Championship 1 | September 27, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Concord, North Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Toni Valtonen | Decision (unanimous) | M-1 Challenge 3: Gran Canaria | May 31, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | San Agustin, Grand Canaria, Spain | |
| Win | 1–0 | Wesley Cantillo | Decision (unanimous) | RFC 1: Revolution Fight Club 1 | April 18, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |