Mike Rhodes (fighter)
Michael Rhodes (born December 4, 1989) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Middleweight division. A professional competitor since 2012, Rhodes has formerly competed for the UFC, Bellator MMA, Absolute Championship Berkut, and RFA. 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. 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. 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. Rhodes next faced Robert Whittaker on June 28, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 43. Rhodes lost the fight via unanimous decision. Rhodes was next scheduled to face Paulo Thiago on September 13, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 51. 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. Rhodes was defeated via technical submission due to an arm-triangle choke in the first  round and was subsequently released from the promotion. 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. Rhodes next  faced Rafael Lovato Jr. at Bellator 181 on July 14, 2017. He lost the fight via submission in the first round. On February 20, 2018 it was announced that Bellator had released Rhodes from the promotion.