Austin Vanderford
Austin Vanderford (born March 21, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist, currently signed to Bellator MMA where he competes in the Middleweight division. As of March 1, 2022, he is #2 in the Bellator Middleweight Rankings. Background. Vanderford was born in Santa Rosa, California, before moving at the age of 9 months old to Ninilchik, Alaska and developing a taste for competitive sport while wrestling for his high school team, where he became a 2-time Alaska State Wrestling Champion (2007-160 lbs, 2006-152 lbs) both his junior and senior years. After moving to Southern  Oregon University, Vanderford joined the wrestling team, becoming the NAIA National Wrestling Champion (184 lbs.) in 2012 and was a 2-time NAIA All-American wrestler. After finishing his college career graduating with a Bachelors degree, he took up a coaching job with the University for a couple off years, before following his desire to fight and moved swiftly on to the lower ranks of the welterweight MMA circuit and effortlessly winning all four bouts of his amateur career. Mixed martial arts career. Early career. Making his professional debut at Prime Fighting 9 on March 11, 2017, Vanderford faced Sol  Renato, going on to defeat him via TKO in first round. He went on to defeat his next two opponents, Adam Fugitt and Ben Fodor, both via unanimous decisions, winning the CageSport Welterweight title against the later at CageSport 47. He would go on to tap out Kenny Licea in the second round via rear-naked choke at VFC 59, before he was invited to face Angelo Trevino on July 17, 2018 at Dana White's Contender Series 13. He won the fight via via rear-naked choke in round two, however did not secure a contract with the UFC . In his last bout on the regionals, Vanderford faced Brazil’s Edmilson Freitas, knocking him out in the first round. Bellator MMA. After going undefeated in 6 bouts on the regional scene, Vanderford signed a multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA. In his debut appearance with Bellator MMA at Bellator 215 on February 15, 2019, he took on Cody Jones and submitted him via arm-triangle choke in the first round. Vanderford faced Joseph Creer at Bellator 225 on August 25, 2019, winning the bout after the doctor stopped the fight after the second round. On November 15, 2019 at  Bellator 234, he faced Russian submission specialist Grachik Bozinyan, defeating him via unanimous decision. Vanderford was scheduled to face Daniel Madrid on September 12, 2020 at Bellator 246. However, he had to pull out of the bout due to unknown reasons. Vanderford was scheduled to face Chris Curtis on November 5, 2020 at Bellator 251. However, Curtis had to pull out of the bout due to a positive COVID test and was replaced by Vinicius de Jesus. Vanderford won the bout via unanimous decision. Vanderford faced Fabian Edwards on May 21, 2021 at Bellator 259, defeating him via unanimous decision . Vanderford fought for the Bellator Middleweight World Championship against Gegard Mousasi at Bellator 275 on February 25, 2022 at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. He lost the fight via technical knockout in round one. Personal life. In September 2018, Vanderford married Paige VanZant, a former UFC strawweight. The couple began dating the previous year, and Vanderford proposed to VanZant in January 2018.