# Mike Richman

Michael Richman (born June 23, 1985) is an American mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer currently competing with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, where he is the current BKFC Light Heavyweight Champion. A professional competitor in mixed martial arts since 2008, Richman has competed for Bellator MMA, the Lightweight division of the Legacy Fighting Alliance, and is also 2-0 as a professional boxer.

## Background

Born and raised in Rosemount, Minnesota, began competing in wrestling from a young age and was also a fan of boxing and mixed martial arts. Richman attended Rosemount High School where he competed in wrestling before joining the United States Marine Corps upon graduating. After serving three tours as an infantryman in Iraq and reaching the rank of Sergeant, Richman began training in mixed martial arts in 2008.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

Richman made his professional debut in 2008 and compiled an undefeated record of 8-0 before competing on The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck.

### The Ultimate Fighter

Richman was one of 32 contestants selected to compete on The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck. In his opening bout to get into the house, Richman lost to Aaron Wilkinson by unanimous decision after two rounds.

### Bellator MMA

Richman made his Bellator MMA debut against WEC veteran Chris Horodecki at Bellator 64. In a huge upset, Richman won via KO at 1:23 of the first round.
After his win over Horodecki, Richman competed in the Bellator Season Seven Featherweight Tournament. In the quarterfinal round at Bellator 76, Richman defeated Jeremy Spoon via head KO 23 seconds into the first round. In the semifinals, he faced Shahbulat Shamhalaev and lost via brutal KO in the first round.
Richman proved he was the superior fighter in his Bellator 88 Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal bout against Mitch Jackson. Richman won a decisive first-round TKO victory. Richman dominated Jackson on his feet, dropping him three times with short left hooks.
Richman faced Alexandre Bezerra in the semifinals on March 7, 2013 at Bellator 92. He won the bout via split decision.
Richman faced Magomedrasul Khasbulaev in the Bellator Featherweight Tournament Final on April 4, 2013 in Atlantic City. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Richman faced Akop Stepanyan at Bellator 106 on November 2, 2013. Richman had been in trouble early in the fight, but floored Stepanyan with a left hook in the first round. He then faced Desmond Green at Bellator 110 in the quarter-finals of the Featherweight Tournament. Richman lost via unanimous decision.
Richman faced Goiti Yamauchi on May 17, 2014 at Bellator 120. He lost the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision.
In the fall of 2014, Richman moved down to the bantamweight division. He debuted at 135 against Ed West at Bellator 126 on September 26, 2014. He won the fight via knockout in the first round. He also made his signature 'walk-off knockout', where he backs off the fighter before referee called stoppage on the fight.
Richman faced promotional newcomer Nam Phan at Bellator 131 on November 15, 2014. He won the fight via knockout in the first round.
Richman was expected to face former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Eduardo Dantas at Bellator 135 on March 27, 2015. However, the bout was removed from the fight card after Richman suffered an undisclosed injury. The fight eventually took place at Bellator 137 on May 15, 2015. Richman lost the back-and-forth fight by unanimous decision.
On June 9, 2015 the California State Athletic Commission confirmed that Richman had failed a post fight drug test following his fight against Eduardo Dantas at Bellator 137. He tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs according to CSAC Executive Director Andy Foster and will be suspended two years and fined $2,500 for the rule infraction.

## Bare-knuckle boxing
### BKB

Following his suspension from mixed martial arts, Richman ventured into bare-knuckle boxing. At the time, the sport was still illegal in the United States so he traveled to the United Kingdom for his first fight under the BKB promotion on June 9, 2018.

### Valor Bare Knuckle

Richman had his first bare-knuckle fight on US soil at Valor Bare Knuckle 1 on September 21, 2019. His fight with JC Llamas ended in a no contest after an accidental headbutt inflicted a cut above Llamas' eye and rendered him unable to continue.

### Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship

Richman made his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship debut against Marcel Stamps on April 30, 2021 at BKFC 17. He won by first-round technical knockout via shoulder injury.
He next faced Dakota Cochrane on September 10, 2021 at BKFC 21, whom he defeated by second-round knockout.
Richman faced David Rickels on April 8, 2022 at BKFC 23, winning by second-round knockout.

#### Interim BKFC Light Heavyweight Champion

After three consecutive victories, Richman was set to face Isaac Doolitle for the interim BKFC Light Heavyweight Championship on October 15, 2022 at BKFC 31. He won the fight and interim title via third-round knockout.
As interim champion, Richman was scheduled to face reigning champion Lorenzo Hunt in a title unification bout at KnuckleMania 3 on February 17, 2023. Despite knocking Hunt down in the first round, Richman was knocked out and suffered the first loss of his bare-knuckle boxing career.

#### Post championship

Richman challenged David Mundell for the BKFC Middleweight Championship at BKFC 47 on July 14, 2023. He lost the fight via knockout in the second round. Afterwards, Richman announced his retirement.
Richman came out of retirement to face Erick Lozano on April 12, 2024 at BKFC Fight Night Clearwater in the main event. He won the bout in the fifth round by knockout.

#### BKFC Light Heavyweight Champion

Richman challenged Jared Warren for the BKFC Light Heavyweight Championship at BKFC on DAZN 4 on December 21, 2024. He won the fight and championship by knockout in the first round. This fight earned him his first Knockout of the Night award.
Richman is scheduled to make the first defense of his light heavyweight title against Josh Dyer at BKFC on DAZN 5 on May 10, 2025.

## Championships and accomplishments

* Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
** BKFC Light Heavyweight Champion (One time, current)
** Interim BKFC Light Heavyweight Champion (One time)
** Knockout of the Night (One time) vs. Jared Warren
* Bellator Fighting Championships
** Bellator Season Eight Featherweight Tournament Runner-Up

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 26 matches | 18 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 9 | 1 |
| By submission | 7 | 0 |
| By decision | 2 | 7 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 18-8 | Jeff Peterson | Decision (unanimous) | Legacy Fighting Alliance 29 | December 15, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States | Moved up to Lightweight. |
| Loss | 18-7 | Lazar Stojadinovic | Decision (unanimous) | Legacy Fighting Alliance 2 | January 20, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States | Moved up to Featherweight. |
| Loss | 18–6 | Eduardo Dantas | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 137 | May 15, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Temecula, California, United States | Tested positive for banned substances in post-fight drug test. |
| Win | 18–5 | Nam Phan | KO (punches) | Bellator 131 | November 15, 2014 | 1 | 0:46 | San Diego, California, United States | |
| Win | 17–5 | Ed West | KO (punches) | Bellator 126 | September 26, 2014 | 1 | 2:44 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Bantamweight debut. |
| Loss | 16–5 | Goiti Yamauchi | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 120 | May 17, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Southaven, Mississippi, United States | |
| Loss | 16–4 | Desmond Green | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 110 | February 28, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Bellator Season 10 Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 16–3 | Akop Stepanyan | TKO (punches) | Bellator 106 | November 2, 2013 | 1 | 4:05 | Long Beach, California, United States | |
| Loss | 15–3 | Magomedrasul Khasbulaev | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 95 | April 4, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Bellator Season Eight Featherweight Tournament Final. |
| Win | 15–2 | Alexandre Bezerra | Decision (split) | Bellator 92 | March 7, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Temecula, California, United States | Bellator Season Eight Featherweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 14–2 | Mitch Jackson | TKO (head kick and punches) | Bellator 88 | February 7, 2013 | 1 | 4:57 | Duluth, Georgia, United States | Bellator Season Eight Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Loss | 13–2 | Shahbulat Shamhalaev | KO (punches) | Bellator 79 | November 2, 2012 | 1 | 1:45 | Rama, Ontario, Canada | Bellator Season Seven Featherweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 13–1 | Jeremy Spoon | KO (head kick and punch) | Bellator 76 | October 12, 2012 | 1 | 0:23 | Windsor, Ontario, Canada | Bellator Season Seven Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 12–1 | Chris Horodecki | KO (punches) | Bellator 64 | April 6, 2012 | 1 | 1:23 | Windsor, Ontario, Canada | |
| Win | 11–1 | Morgan Sickinger | Decision (unanimous) | Driller Promotions / SEG: Downtown Showdown 1 | November 26, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 10–1 | Christopher Lane | TKO (punches) | Riot at the Hyatt: Packer vs. Viking | September 23, 2011 | 1 | 1:43 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | |
| Loss | 9–1 | Brian Pearman | Decision (split) | Seconds Out / Vivid MMA: Showdown at the Sheraton 2 | February 26, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Bloomington, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 9–0 | Mike Lindquist | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Seconds Out / Vivid MMA: Combat on Capital Hill 4 | November 12, 2010 | 1 | 1:14 | Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 8–0 | Ryan Stock | TKO (punches) | Seconds Out / Vivid MMA: Tour of Duty 1 | February 27, 2010 | 1 | 1:14 | Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 7–0 | Derek Getzel | Submission (anaconda choke) | Ambition Promotions: The Crucible | September 12, 2009 | 1 | 3:36 | Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Wes Ronchi | Submission (triangle choke) | Brutaal: Fight Night | June 3, 2009 | 2 | 0:42 | Shakopee, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Chris Coplan | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Brutaal: Fight Night | February 13, 2009 | 1 | 3:07 | Shakopee, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Deryck Ripley | Submission | Brutaal: Fight Night | December 5, 2008 | 1 | 4:50 | Shakopee, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Mel Ott | Submission (armbar) | Brutaal: Fight Night | September 5, 2008 | 1 | 1:10 | Shakopee, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Rob Degroot | Submission (armbar) | Brutaal: Fight Night | June 27, 2008 | 1 | 0:48 | Shakopee, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Jason Trett | TKO (punches) | Brutaal: Fight Night | April 25, 2008 | 1 | 1:45 | Shakopee, Minnesota, United States | |

## Bare knuckle boxing record

Professional record breakdown :
| 10 matches | 7 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 7 | 2 |
| No contests | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 7–2 (1) | Jared Warren | KO (punch) | BKFC on DAZN Hollywood, FL | December 21, 2024 | 1 | 0:44 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | Won the BKFC Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–2 (1) | Erick Lozano | KO (punch) | BKFC Fight Night: Clearwater | April 12, 2024 | 5 | 0:53 | Clearwater, Florida, United States | |
| Loss | 5–2 (1) | David Mundell | KO (punch) | BKFC 47 | July 14, 2023 | 2 | 1:54 | Lakeland, Florida, United States | For the BKFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Loss | 5–1 (1) | Lorenzo Hunt | KO (punch) | BKFC KnuckleMania 3 | February 17, 2023 | 1 | 1:50 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | For the undisputed BKFC Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 5–0 (1) | Isaac Doolittle | KO (punch) | BKFC 31 | October 15, 2022 | 3 | 1:35 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | Won the interim BKFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Return to Light Heavyweight. |
| Win | 4–0 (1) | David Rickels | KO (punch) | BKFC 23 | April 8, 2022 | 2 | 0:32 | Wichita, Kansas, United States | Middleweight debut. |
| Win | 3–0 (1) | Dakota Cochrane | KO (punch) | BKFC 21 | September 10, 2021 | 2 | 0:37 | Omaha, Nebraska, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 (1) | Marcel Stamps | KO (punch) | BKFC 17 | April 30, 2021 | 1 | 1:06 | Birmingham, Alabama, United States |
| NC | 1–0 (1) | JC Llamas | NC (accidental headbutt) | Valor Bare Knuckle 1 | September 21, 2019 | 1 | 3:00 | New Town, North Dakota, United States | Accidental headbutt rendered Llamas unable to continue. |
| Win | 1–0 | Marcus Gaines | TKO | BKB 11 | June 9, 2018 | 2 | N/A | London, England, United States | |