Ryan Thomas (fighter)
Ryan Drew Thomas (born November 5, 1984) is a black belt under Ricardo Liborio and an American mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Middleweight division. He has a degree from Eastern Illinois University in elementary education. He also wrestled at Eastern Illinois University.
| Ryan Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 5, 1984 Danville, Illinois, United States |
| Other names | The Tank Engine |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 184.5 lb (83.7 kg; 13.18 st) |
| Division | Welterweight Middleweight |
| Reach | 75.0 |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Coconut Creek, Florida |
| Team | American Top Team |
| Rank | ⬛ Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ricardo Liborio. |
| Years active | 2007–2015 (MMA) |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 28 |
| Wins | 20 |
| By knockout | 8 |
| By submission | 11 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Losses | 8 |
| By submission | 5 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Mixed martial arts Career
Ryan started his career at middleweight (185 pounds), but dropped to welterweight (170 pounds) after only a few fights.
Ryan has fought for the Ultimate Fighting Championships, Bellator Fighting Championships, Courage Fighting Championships, Dragons Cage, Genesis MMA, Colosseum Combat, World Fighting Championships, and he also won the "Iowa Meanest Man Tournament" (a sixteen-man tournament) in Davenport, Iowa.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
On August 9, 2008, Thomas made his UFC debut at UFC 87 against Ben Saunders, losing via submission in round two.[1]
His next fight was against TUF Alumni Matt Brown at UFC 91, again, losing via submission in round two. He was then cut from the promotion.[2]
Bellator Fighting Championships
In April 2010, Thomas signed with upstart promotion Bellator Fighting Championships. He took part in the promotions Season Two Welterweight Tournament, losing to Ben Askren in a Quarterfinal bout via stoppage in the first round.
After Jim Wallhead was pulled from the tournament, Thomas was given another Quarterfinal bout at Bellator 15 against Jacob McClintock, Thomas defeated McClintock by TKO in the first round to receive a rematch with Askren.
On May 20, 2010, Thomas got a rematch with Ben Askren in a Semifinal bout at Bellator 19, Thomas lost via unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the contest 30-27 in favor of Askren.
Thomas eventually faced Jim Wallhead on October 14, 2010 at Bellator 32 He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Championships and accomplishments
- Colosseum Combat
- CC Welterweight Championship (Two time)
- Interim CC Welterweight Championship (One time)
- Courage Fighting Championships
- CFC Welterweight Championship (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 28 matches | 20 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 8 | 0 |
| By submission | 11 | 5 |
| By decision | 1 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 20–8 | Roger Carroll | Decision (unanimous) | Ring of Dreams: Fight Night 16 | May 9, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 19–8 | William Hill | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Hoosier Fight Club 23 | February 7, 2015 | 3 | 4:35 | Valparaiso, Indiana, United States | Returned to Middleweight. |
| Win | 18–8 | Joshua Thorpe | TKO (punches) | Colosseum Combat 30 | October 11, 2014 | 1 | 4:06 | Kokomo, Indiana, United States | Defended CC Welterweight Championship. |
| Loss | 17–8 | Dominique Steele | Decision (unanimous) | XFC 27: Frozen Fury | December 13, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Muskegon, Michigan, United States | |
| Win | 17–7 | Rocky France | Submission (triangle choke) | XFC 25: Boiling Point | September 6, 2013 | 2 | 1:27 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | |
| Win | 16–7 | Rocky France | TKO (retirement) | Colosseum Combat 25 | June 1, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Kokomo, Indiana, United States | Defended CC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 15–7 | Corey Hill | Submission (armbar) | XFC 21: Night of Champions 2 | December 7, 2012 | 1 | 2:34 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
| Win | 14–7 | Evilasio Silva Araujo | Submission (punches) | AF - Arena Fight Mossoro | March 8, 2012 | 1 | 2:30 | Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil | |
| Win | 13–7 | John Kolosci | Submission (reverse triangle choke) | XFC 15: Tribute | December 2, 2011 | 1 | 4:46 | Tampa, Florida, United States | |
| Loss | 12–7 | Jonatas Novaes | Submission (armbar) | Combat USA | May 14, 2011 | 1 | 4:08 | Racine, Wisconsin, United States | For the Combat USA Illinois State Championship. |
| Win | 12–6 | Daniel Head | Submission (triangle choke) | Colosseum Combat 16 | February 19, 2011 | 1 | 2:04 | Kokomo, Indiana, United States | Won CC Interim Welterweight Championship. |
| Loss | 11–6 | Jim Wallhead | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 32 | October 14, 2010 | 3 | 5.00 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
| Loss | 11–5 | Ben Askren | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 19 | May 20, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Grand Prairie, Texas, United States | Bellator Season 2 Welterweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 11–4 | Jacob McClintock | TKO (punches) | Bellator 15 | April 22, 2010 | 1 | 4:11 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Bellator Season 2 Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Loss | 10–4 | Ben Askren | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 14 | April 15, 2010 | 1 | 2:40 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Bellator Season 2 Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 10–3 | Ryan Stout | Submission (triangle choke) | War in the Yard | August 8, 2009 | 1 | 1:57 | Anderson, Indiana, United States | |
| Loss | 9–3 | Matt Brown | Submission (armbar) | UFC 91 | November 15, 2008 | 2 | 0:57 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 9–2 | Ben Saunders | Submission (armbar) | UFC 87 | August 9, 2008 | 2 | 2:28 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | UFC debut. |
| Win | 9–1 | John McElroy | Submission (triangle choke) | AFA: American Fighting Association | July 17, 2008 | 1 | 0:36 | Des Moines, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 8–1 | Jason Holmes | Submission (strikes) | Courage Fighting Championships 11 | May 2, 2008 | 1 | 2:15 | Champaign, Illinois, United States | Won CFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–1 | Jason Bowling | TKO (punches) | Extreme Challenge 94 | April 19, 2008 | 1 | 1:48 | Danville, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 6–1 | Kenny Allen | Submission (triangle choke) | Extreme Challenge 89 | February 23, 2008 | 1 | 2:54 | Decatur, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 5–1 | Jesse Lennox | Submission (armbar) | Mainstream MMA - Cold War | January 26, 2008 | 3 | 2:03 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Chris Bachmeir | TKO (Punches) | WFC - Downtown Throwdown | September 14, 2007 | 3 | 1:06 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Walt Denim | KO (punch) | Courage Fighting Championships 9 | June 20, 2007 | 1 | 0:45 | Terre Haute, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Tyler Anderson | Submission | MMA - Genesis 3 | June 15, 2007 | 1 | 0:50 | St. Charles, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Kris Huffman | TKO (punches) | Courage Fighting Championships 8 | April 21, 2007 | 1 | 1:16 | Decatur, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Ron Wilson | Submission (verbal) | Dragons Cage - Marion | April 14, 2007 | 1 | 1:56 | Marion, Illinois, United States |
