Brian Ebersole

Brian Keith Ebersole (born November 27, 1980) is an American retired mixed martial artist who competed in the UFC's Welterweight division, and holds a record of 5–3 with the organization. In addition to the UFC, Ebersole has competed in Shooto, Strikeforce, the San Jose Razorclaws of the IFL and King of the Cage. Ebersole retired after having 71 professional MMA fights between 2000 and 2016.

Background Ebersole grew up in Bradley, Illinois. His grandfather started the Bradley-Bourbonnais Youth Wrestling Club in Illinois which served as Ebersole's introduction to amateur wrestling. He began wrestling when he was in kindergarten, was a standout wrestler in middle and high school and earned academic and athletic scholarships to Eastern Illinois University (EIU). He started training with Matt Hughes off and on during his time at EIU, which served as his introduction to mixed martial arts.

In November 2000 Ebersole was arrested following a fight with a Southern Illinois University hockey player. Although the charges were later dropped, Ebersole lost his wrestling scholarship as a result and dropped out of college soon after. Ebersole was a great student, but lost motivation to continue with his education as he could no longer wrestle, leaving with a year's worth of classes not finished. After leaving EIU Ebersole worked on a pig farm before eventually moving to California to train at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) with Jon Fitch and Bob Cook.

In 2007, Ebersole was on a trip in the United States to say goodbye to friends and family before setting up permanent residence in Australia. While there he decided to take a short notice fight for the IFL against Alex Schoenauer. Not only did he lose the fight via split decision, but he failed his post-fight drug test for marijuana. Ebersole claimed he had eaten marijuana brownies before taking the fight, and didn't have time to make sure they cleared his system. This resulted in his second suspension by the CSAC, and reinforced his belief in the necessity of his move to Australia to further his fighting career. Ebersole won via unanimous decision using unorthodox strikes and ground control in a bout that earned Fight of the Night honors.

In his second UFC fight, Ebersole faced veteran Dennis Hallman on August 6, 2011, at UFC 133. He won the fight via TKO in the first round. Ebersole was also awarded an honorary "getting those horrifying shorts off TV as soon as possible" bonus by Dana White for defeating Hallman, who was wearing Speedos (Speedos have since been banned in the UFC).

Ebersole was expected to face Rory MacDonald on December 10, 2011, at UFC 140. However, McDonald pulled out of their fight due to injury. Ebersole instead faced Claude Patrick, where he won a close, back and forth match via split decision.

Ebersole fought TJ Waldburger on June 22, 2012, at UFC on FX 4 and won the fight via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28). After the bout Ebersole said that he may try to drop down to the lightweight division. If he moves down, it will be the fifth weight class in which he has competed.

Making a quick return to the Octagon less than a month later, Ebersole replaced an injured Claude Patrick and faced James Head on July 21, 2012, at UFC 149. Ebersole received his first UFC loss to Head via split decision snapping his eleven fight winning streak and receiving his first loss since September 2008.

Ebersole made his first appearance in over a year when he fought Rick Story at UFC 167 on November 16, 2013. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Ebersole next fought John Howard on September 27, 2014, at UFC 178. He won the fight via split decision.

Ebersole was expected to face Alan Jouban on June 6, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 68. However, Jouban pulled out of the fight in late March citing injury and was replaced by Omari Akhmedov. Ebersole lost the fight via TKO after he was unable to continue after the first round due to a knee injury sustained from a kick by Akhmedov. Ebersole announced his retirement after the fight.

Post-retirement Ebersole would fight one more time, June 24, 2016, facing Steven Kennedy at Hex Fight Series 6. Kennedy won the main event by decision.

Championships and awards

Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (One time) UFC.com Awards 2011: Ranked #2 Newcomer of the Year Cage Fighting Championship Cage Fighting Championship Welterweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Steven Kennedy Decision (unanimous) Hex Fight Series 6

Melbourne, Australia Loss

Omari Akhmedov TKO (knee injury) UFC Fight Night: Boetsch vs. Henderson

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Win

John Howard Decision (split) UFC 178

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Rick Story Decision (unanimous) UFC 167

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

James Head Decision (split) UFC 149

Calgary, Alberta, Canada Win

TJ Waldburger Decision (unanimous) UFC on FX: Maynard vs. Guida

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Claude Patrick Decision (split) UFC 140

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Win

Dennis Hallman TKO (elbows) UFC 133

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Chris Lytle Decision (unanimous) UFC 127

Sydney, Australia Win

Hamish Robertson TKO (punches) LGIOP: Van Diemen's Caged Mayhem

Tasmania, Australia Win

Carlos Newton Decision (unanimous) Impact FC 1

Brisbane, Australia Win

Martin van Staden Submission (inverted triangle choke) Fight Force 5: Invasion

Johannesburg, South Africa Win

Ian James Schaffa Submission (arm-triangle choke) XMMA 1: Xtreme MMA

Sydney, Australia Win

Jai Bradney Decision (unanimous) CWA: Staunch Cage Wars

Queensland, Australia Win

Shannon Forrester KO (cartwheel kick) XFC: Return of the Hulk

Perth, Australia Win

Shane Nix TKO (knee injury) Cage Fighting Championships 6: Eliminator

Sydney, Australia Loss

Héctor Lombard TKO (submission to punches) Cage Fighting Championships 5

Sydney, Australia Win

Wade Henderson Submission (arm-triangle choke) Cage Fighting Championships 4

Sydney, Australia Win

Dylan Andrews TKO (punches) Cage Fighting Championships 3

Sydney, Australia Win

Gordon Graff Decision (unanimous) KOTC: Perth

Perth, Australia Win

Jon Valuri Decision (unanimous) Shooto Australia: Superfight Australia 1

Perth, Australia Loss

Alex Schoenauer Decision (split) IFL: Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California, United States Win

David Frendin TKO (doctor stoppage) XFC 13: Global Warfare

Queensland, Australia Loss

Kyle Noke Decision (majority) XFC 12: Oktoberfist

Australia NC

Shannon Ritch NC (overturned) FCP: Malice at Cow Palace

San Francisco, California, United States Win

Andrew Varney Decision (unanimous) LOF 8: Legends of Fighting 8

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Win

Matt Horwich Decision (unanimous) Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie

San Jose, California, United States Win

Alex Serdyukov Decision (unanimous) ICFO 1: Stockton

Stockton, California, United States Win

Andy Foster Decision (unanimous) FT 6: Full Throttle 6

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Loss

Masanori Suda Submission (rear-naked choke) Shooto: 1/29 in Korakuen Hall

Tokyo, Japan Win

Gordon Kalimic Submission (arm-triangle choke) MMA Mexico: Day 1

Ciudad Juárez, Mexico Loss

John Renken Decision (unanimous) FFC 12: Freestyle Fighting Championships 12

Indiana, United States Win

Nick Thompson TKO (punches) FFC 12: Freestyle Fighting Championships 12

Indiana, United States Loss

Ed Herman Submission (triangle choke) SF 5: Stadium

Gresham, Oregon, United States Win

Alexei Veselovzorov TKO (punches) Euphoria: Russia vs USA

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Todd Carney Decision (unanimous) KOTR: King of the Rockies 1

Fort Collins, Colorado, United States Win

Shane Tate TKO (punches) EP: XXXtreme Impact

Tijuana, Mexico Win

Emanuel Newton TKO (punches) CFM: Ultimate Fighting Mexico

Monterrey, Mexico Draw

Brad Lynde Draw FCC 12: Freestyle Combat Challenge 12

Racine, Wisconsin, United States Win

Chris Fontaine Decision (unanimous) CFM: Octogono Extremo

Monterrey, Mexico Loss

Tony Fryklund Submission (ankle lock) Dangerzone 17: Dakota Destruction

New Town, North Dakota, United States Win

David Harris Decision (unanimous) CFM: Cage Fighting Monterrey

Monterrey, Mexico Win

Shannon Ritch TKO (punch) CFM: Ultimate Fighting

Monterrey, Mexico Loss

Bret Bergmark Decision (split) UA 4: King of the Mountain

Auberry, California, United States Win

Tom Martini TKO (submission to punches) UW: Minnesota

Fridley, Minnesota, United States Win

Rene Hernandez Submission (arm-triangle choke) MMA: Cuando Hierve la Sangre

Monterrey, Mexico Win

Shane Schartzer Submission (kimura) MMA: Cuando Hierve la Sangre

Monterrey, Mexico Win

Joel Blanton TKO (punches) UW: Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Win

Dan Hart Technical Submission (guillotine choke) CR 4: Cage Rage 4

Kokomo, Indiana, United States Win

Nathan McCabe TKO (punches) The Beginning

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Desmond Peterson TKO (submission to punches) BEFC 2: Big Easy Fighting 2

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Win

Rich Guerin Decision CLM 2: Combate Libre Mexico 2

Mexico Win

Edwin Aguilar Submission (rear-naked choke) CLM 2: Combate Libre Mexico 2

Mexico Win

Chris Gates Submission (armbar) CLM 2: Combate Libre Mexico 2

Mexico Loss

Jay Massey Submission (rear-naked choke) TCC: Battle of the Badges

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Jamie Schell KO (punch) UW: Horn vs Wikan

Minnesota, United States Win

Josh Mueller Submission (rear-naked choke) UW: Battle for the Belts

Minnesota, United States Loss

Kerry Schall Submission (kneebar) UW: Battle for the Belts

Fridley, Minnesota, United States Win

Mark Lowry Submission (arm-triangle choke) UW: Battle for the Belts

Fridley, Minnesota, United States Loss

Stephan Bonnar Submission (guillotine choke) IHC 3: Exodus

Hammond, Indiana, United States Light Heavyweight bout. Win

Eric Zent Submission (choke) CR 3: Cage Rage 3

Kokomo, Indiana, United States Win

Ed Meyers Submission (choke) CR 3: Cage Rage 3

Kokomo, Indiana, United States Loss

Adrian Serrano Submission (rear-naked choke) TCC: Total Combat Challenge

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Darrell Smith Submission (armbar) FFCC: Finke's Full Contact Challenge

Highland, Indiana, United States Win

Josh Hoover TKO (submission to slam) FFCC: Finke's Full Contact Challenge

Highland, Indiana, United States Win

Eddie Sanchez Decision (unanimous) FFCC: Finke's Full Contact Challenge

Highland, Indiana, United States Loss

Jay Massey Submission (armbar) MMA: Invitational 4

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Jeremy Morrison Submission (armbar) FFCC: Finke's Full Contact Challenge

Highland, Indiana, United States Win

Enrique Lowe Submission (armbar) FFCC: Finke's Full Contact Challenge

Highland, Indiana, United States Win

Jose Garcia Submission (rear-naked choke) TCC: Total Combat Challenge

Chicago, Illinois, United States Loss

Chris Albandia Decision TCC: Total Combat Challenge

Chicago, Illinois, United States