# Rudy Bears

Rudy Bears (born November 12, 1978) is an American former professional mixed martial artist, who competed in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor who started his career in 2007, Bears has formerly competed for Bellator, Strikeforce, Titan Fighting Championships and M-1 Global.

## Background

Bears is from Independence, Missouri and had a troubled upbringing, involving himself with street gangs and crime. He originally attended Van Horn High School but was caught trying to steal a car and as a result, was placed in jail for one month while looking at seven years in the penitentiary. It was during this time in jail, at the age of 17, that Bears decided to turn his life around. He wrote a heartfelt letter to the judge, who gave the young Bears a second chance. The judge released Bears on probation while in exchange Bears would have to finish high school and stay out of trouble, Bears then graduated from Truman High School and began practicing the martial arts.

## Mixed martial arts career
### International Sport Combat Federation

Before competing in professional mixed martial arts, Bears competed as an amateur in the International Combat Sport Federation, primarily as a Middleweight, and won three ICSF titles.

### Early professional career

Bears made his professional debut against future Strikeforce veteran and current UFC Lightweight, Isaac Vallie-Flagg. Bears won the bout in the first round via rear-naked choke submission. Bears then compiled a record of 10-3 with one-fight stints in the Titan Fighting Championships and M-1 Global organizations, winning both by TKO. After the TKO win for M-1 Global, in a catchweight bout of 175 lbs. Bears was invited to compete in Strikeforce.

### Strikeforce

Bears made his Strikeforce and Welterweight debut against then-undefeated future UFC veteran, Tyron Woodley in the main event, Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Bears on November 20, 2009. Bears lost the fight via arm-triangle choke submission and would not return to Strikeforce, as Bears then signed with the Bellator Fighting Championships.

### Bellator

Bears made his Bellator debut at Bellator 16 against Brent Weedman and was knocked out in the first round, the first knockout loss of Bear's career. He then appeared three more times for the organization, going 2-1 in his next three fights with the loss being a rematch with Zak Cummings, who had defeated Bears early in his career.

### Titan Fighting Championships

After his stint in Bellator, Bears signed with the Titan Fighting Championships and made his debut for the organization against former UFC Welterweight, Jason High. Bears lost the bout via technical submission 51 seconds into the fight after refusing to tap out due to a guillotine choke submission.
After bouncing back with a win via rear-naked choke submission, Bears has lost six of his last eight fights competing for both Bellator and Titan FC.

### Shamrock Fighting Championships

Following a win over Zak Bucia, Bears defeated Josh Weston via rear-naked choke submission on January 17, 2015 at Shamrock FC: Shock to earn himself the promotion's vacant Welterweight title and a Bellator contract.

### Return to Bellator

Bears faced Michael Page at Bellator 140 on July 17, 2015. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.
Bears next faced Neiman Gracie at Bellator 163 on November 4, 2016. He lost the fight via submission in the first round.

## Championships and accomplishments

* Shamrock Fighting Championships
** SFC Welterweight Championship (One time)

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 31 matches | 16 wins | 15 losses |
| By knockout | 5 | 5 |
| By submission | 8 | 8 |
| By decision | 3 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 16–15 | Neiman Gracie | Submission (armbar) | Bellator 163 | November 4, 2016 | 1 | 4:39 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Catchweight (175 lbs) bout. |
| Loss | 16–14 | Michael Page | KO (punch) | Bellator 140 | July 17, 2015 | 1 | 1:05 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 16–13 | Josh Weston | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Shamrock FC: Shock | January 17, 2015 | 2 | 1:40 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Won the vacant SFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 15–13 | Zak Bucia | Decision (unanimous) | Shamrock Promotions: Impact | July 26, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
| Loss | 14–13 | Ryan Jensen | TKO (punches) | Victory Fighting Championship 39 | March 30, 2013 | 1 | 1:01 | Ralston, Nebraska, United States | |
| Loss | 14–12 | Igor Fernandes | Submission (anaconda choke) | Show Fighting Enterprise 1 | March 1, 2013 | 1 | 2:51 | Quito, Ecuador | |
| Loss | 14–11 | Paul Daley | TKO (punches) | Bellator 72 | July 20, 2012 | 1 | 2:45 | Tampa, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 14–10 | Nick Nolte | Submission (punches) | Titan FC 22 | May 25, 2012 | 1 | 3:58 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | Catchweight (175 lbs) bout. |
| Loss | 13–10 | Marcio Navarro | Decision (split) | Bellator 56 | October 29, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | |
| Loss | 13–9 | A.J. Matthews | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 53 | October 8, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Miami, Oklahoma, United States | Catchweight (175 lbs) bout. |
| Loss | 13–8 | Forrest Petz | TKO (punches) | C3 Fights: Great Plains Sizzling Slamfest | July 30, 2011 | 1 | 2:55 | Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Win | 13–7 | Darryl Cobb | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Titan FC 18 | May 27, 2011 | 1 | 3:30 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | Middleweight bout. |
| Loss | 12–7 | Jason High | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | Titan FC 16 | January 29, 2011 | 1 | 0:51 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | |
| Win | 12–6 | Chad Reiner | KO (punch) | Bellator 32 | October 14, 2010 | 1 | 1:29 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Catchweight (180 lbs) bout. |
| Loss | 11–6 | Zak Cummings | Submission (D'arce choke) | Bellator 26 | August 26, 2010 | 1 | 1:27 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Middleweight bout. |
| Win | 11–5 | Brian Green | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 22 | June 17, 2010 | 1 | 3:29 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Catchweight (180 lbs) bout. |
| Loss | 10–5 | Brent Weedman | KO (punches) | Bellator 16 | April 29, 2010 | 1 | 4:19 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Catchweight (173 lbs) bout. |
| Loss | 10–4 | Tyron Woodley | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Bears | November 20, 2009 | 1 | 2:52 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | Welterweight debut |
| Win | 10–3 | Brendan Seguin | TKO (punches) | M-1 Global: Breakthrough | August 28, 2009 | 2 | 1:01 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Catchweight (175 lbs) bout. |
| Win | 9–3 | Ted Worthington | Decision (unanimous) | Extreme Fight Production | June 12, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 8–3 | Charles Jones | TKO (punches) | C3 Fights | February 28, 2009 | 2 | 2:47 | Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Win | 7–3 | Dominic Brown | TKO (punches) | Titan FC 12 | December 19, 2008 | 2 | 1:39 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 6–3 | Chris Easter | KO (punch) | Havic Prizefighting: Downtown Throwdown 2 | November 22, 2008 | 1 | 2:18 | Wichita, Kansas, United States | |
| Win | 5–3 | Jake Short | Decision (split) | C3 Fights: Showdown 2 | August 16, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Cherokee, North Carolina, United States | |
| Loss | 4–3 | Joey Gorczynski | Submission (guillotine choke) | Freestyle Cage Fighting 21 | July 26, 2008 | 1 | 0:54 | Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Win | 4–2 | Tom Jones | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Freestyle Cage Fighting 20 | June 14, 2008 | 1 | 1:33 | Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Win | 3–2 | Nate James | Submission (rear naked choke) | CCCF: Battle on the Border | March 29, 2008 | 1 | 0:39 | Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Loss | 2–2 | Zak Cummings | Submission (choke) | FM: Productions | February 1, 2008 | 3 | 2:08 | Rolla, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 2–1 | Ruben Escamilla | Submission (triangle choke) | CCCF: Contenders | January 19, 2008 | 2 | 1:21 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Loss | 1–1 | Leonardo Pecanha | Submission (armbar) | Titan FC 9 | September 22, 2007 | 1 | 0:38 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Isaac Vallie-Flagg | Submission (rear-naked choke) | FW 15: Rumble at Rt. 66 Casino | July 28, 2007 | 1 | 4:00 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | |