# Rich Hale

Richard "Rich" Hale (born May 17, 1985) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Heavyweight division. A professional since 2006, he is perhaps best known for his 10-fight stint with Bellator MMA, and made it to the finals of the promotions Season Seven Heavyweight and Season Four Light Heavyweight tournaments.

## Mixed martial arts career

Hale made his professional debut in December 2006.

### Rage in the Cage

Hale started his career fighting for the promotion Rage in the Cage. He has a record of 13 wins and 2 losses in his career under the promotion. He won the Rage in the Cage Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight Championships.

### Bellator

In February 2011, Bellator announced that Hale would be a part of the Bellator Season Four Light Heavyweight Tournament and that he would National Champion wrestler Nik Fekete in the quarterfinals.
Hale made his Bellator debut on March 26, 2011 at Bellator 38 where he defeated Nik Fekete via technical submission (inverted triangle choke) to move on to the Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinals.
At Bellator 42, Hale competed in the semi-finals of the Season Four Light Heavyweight Tournament against D.J. Linderman. Hale won by a narrow split decision to move on to the Light Heavyweight Tournament Finals where he fought Christian M'Pumbu at Bellator 45. He lost via TKO in the third round.
In late 2012, Hale moved up in weight as he joined the Heavyweight Tournament in Bellator's Season Seven. He faced Mike Wessel in the opening quarter-finals at Bellator 75 on October 5, 2012. He won the fight via vicious TKO, stopping his opponent via strikes at just 1:19 into the first round. In the semifinals, he faced Thiago Santos. After being rocked in the first minute of the fight, Hale regained his composure and won the fight via TKO in the first round.
Hale faced Russian Alexander Volkov in the final, with the winner awarded the Bellator Heavyweight Championship. The fight took place at Bellator 84 on December 14, 2012, with Volkov winning by unanimous decision after five rounds.
Hale fought Ryan Martinez at Bellator 96. He was knocked out in the first round by ground and pound from Martinez.
In March 2014, Hale returned to the heavyweight division. He faced Blagoi Ivanov in the opening round of the Bellator Season Ten Heavyweight Tournament at Bellator 111 on March 7, 2014. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

## Accomplishments

* Bellator MMA
** Bellator Season Four Light Heavyweight Tournament Runner-Up
** Bellator Season Seven Heavyweight Tournament Runner-Up
* Rage in the Cage
** RITC Heavyweight Championship (One time)
** RITC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 31 matches | 23 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 11 | 3 |
| By submission | 8 | 0 |
| By decision | 4 | 4 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 23–7–1 | Eric Lunsford | TKO (strikes) | Road to ONE: RUF 39 | March 13, 2021 | 1 | 3:11 | Glendale, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 22–7–1 | Dale Sopi | Decision (unanimous) | RUF MMA 36 | October 13, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Loss | 21–7–1 | Blagoi Ivanov | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 111 | March 7, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | Bellator MMA: Season Ten Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Loss | 21–6–1 | Ryan Martinez | KO (punches) | Bellator 96 | June 19, 2013 | 1 | 2:19 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | Bellator 2013 Summer Series Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Loss | 21–5–1 | Alexander Volkov | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 84 | December 14, 2012 | 5 | 5:00 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | Bellator Season 7 Heavyweight Tournament Final. For the vacant Bellator Heavyweight World Championship. |
| Win | 21–4–1 | Thiago dos Santos | TKO (punches) | Bellator 79 | November 2, 2012 | 1 | 3:31 | Rama, Ontario, Canada | Bellator Season 7 Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 20–4–1 | Mike Wessel | TKO (punches) | Bellator 75 | October 5, 2012 | 1 | 1:19 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | Bellator Season 7 Heavyweight Tournament Quarter Final. |
| Win | 19–4–1 | Josh Burns | TKO (punches) | Bellator 69 | May 18, 2012 | 1 | 0:38 | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States | Return to Heavyweight. |
| Win | 18–4–1 | Carlos Flores | KO (punch) | Bellator 55 | October 22, 2011 | 1 | 0:18 | Yuma, Arizona, United States | Catchweight (211 lbs) bout. |
| Loss | 17–4–1 | Christian M'Pumbu | TKO (punches) | Bellator 45 | May 21, 2011 | 3 | 4:17 | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States | Bellator Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Final. For the inaugural Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship. |
| Win | 17–3–1 | D.J. Linderman | Decision (split) | Bellator 42 | April 23, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Concho, Oklahoma, United States | Bellator Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 16–3–1 | Nik Fekete | Technical Submission (inverted triangle choke) | Bellator 38 | March 26, 2011 | 1 | 1:55 | Tunica, Mississippi, United States | Bellator Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 15–3–1 | Dave Mewborn | TKO (punches) | Top Combat Championship 3: No Where to Hide | October 23, 2010 | 1 | 3:36 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Light Heavyweight debut. |
| Win | 14–3–1 | Mike Zanski | Submission (guillotine choke) | Rage in the Cage 140 | March 20, 2011 | 3 | 1:28 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | |
| Loss | 13–3–1 | Antwain Britt | Decision (majority) | Vendetta Fighting Championship: A Night of Vengeance | September 5, 2009 | 2 | 5:00 | Oranjestad, Aruba | |
| Win | 13–2–1 | Evan Nedd | Decision (majority) | Vendetta Fighting Championship: A Night of Vengeance | September 5, 2009 | 2 | 5:00 | Oranjestad, Aruba | |
| Win | 12–2–1 | Adam Padilla | TKO (punches) | Rage in the Cage 130 | July 18, 2009 | 1 | 2:12 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | |
| Draw | 11–2–1 | Jordan Smith | Draw | Throwdown Showdown 4: Cuatro | June 6, 2009 | 5 | 5:00 | West Valley City, Utah, United States | |
| Win | 11–2 | Rich Beecroft | TKO (punches) | Rage in the Cage 125 | April 17, 2009 | 1 | 0:33 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 10–2 | Shawn Frye | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Rage in the Cage 123 | March 21, 2009 | 1 | 1:33 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 9–2 | Matt Lucas | Submission (kimura) | Rage in the Cage 121 | February 6, 2009 | 2 | 2:03 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 8–2 | Lyle Steffens | KO | Rage in the Cage 119 | November 22, 2008 | 2 | 0:44 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 7–2 | Roger Mejia | TKO | Rage in the Cage 117 | November 8, 2008 | 2 | 0:16 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 6–2 | Adam Padilla | Submission (rear naked choke) | Rage in the Cage 116 | September 27, 2008 | 1 | 1:01 | Prescott, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 5–2 | Jeremiah Martinez | KO (punch) | Rage in the Cage 113 | August 2, 2008 | 1 | 1:01 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | |
| Loss | 4–2 | Matt Lucas | Decision (unanimous) | RITC 100: The Centennial | September 15, 2007 | 3 | 3:00 | Fountain Hills, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 4–1 | Rich Beecroft | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Rage in the Cage 97 | June 30, 2007 | 1 | 0:25 | Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 3–1 | Steve Sayegh | Submission (guillotine choke) | Rage in the Cage 94 | April 28, 2007 | 2 | 0:42 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 2–1 | Rich Alten | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Rage in the Cage 93 | April 20, 2007 | 2 | 0:59 | Arizona, United States | |
| Loss | 1–1 | Jimmy Ambriz | KO (punches) | Rage in the Cage 91 | February 24, 2007 | 1 | 0:53 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Wendell Lowe | Decision (unanimous) | RITC 89: Triple Main Event | December 2, 2006 | 3 | 3:00 | Maricopa County, Arizona, United States | |