Ed Ruth

Edward Lee Ruth (born October 21, 1990) is an American former professional mixed martial artist and freestyle and folkstyle wrestler. He competed in the Middleweight division of Bellator MMA. As a folkstyle wrestler, he was a three-time NCAA Division I national champion.

Early life and education Ruth was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He wrestled at Susquehanna Township High School prior to transferring to Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey for his senior year, graduating in 2009.

Wrestling As a collegiate wrestler, Ruth competed for Pennsylvania State University from 2010 to 2014. While there, Ruth was a three-time NCAA Division I national champion.

In freestyle wrestling, Ruth represented the United States at the 2014 World Championships and the 2015 World Cup.

In July 2021, Ruth joined the University of Illinois wrestling program as an assistant coach.

Mixed martial arts career In December 2014, Ruth trained with mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Jon Jones. While living in State College, Pennsylvania, Ruth trained at Central PA Mixed Martial Arts with head instructor Ryan Gruhn.

Bellator MMA He signed with Bellator MMA in May 2015. Due to his focus on competing in the 2016 Summer Olympics, Ruth declared that it would "be a little while" before his MMA debut.

Ruth made his professional MMA debut in November 2016 on the undercard of Bellator 163 against Dustin Collins-Miles, fighting in the middleweight division. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.'

In his second professional MMA bout, Ruth faced Emanuele Palombi at Bellator 168 on December 10, 2016. He again won via TKO in the first round.

Ruth was expected to face Aaron Goodwine at Bellator 178 on April 21, 2017 but the bout did not materialize. Ruth instead fought and defeated David Mundell.

Ruth faced UFC veteran Chris Dempsey on November 3, 2017 at Bellator 186. He won the fight via knockout in the second round.

Ruth was originally scheduled to make his welterweight debut and face Lazslo Furko of Hungary, but Furko pulled out due to injury. Ruth then faced Ion Pascu of Romania, who took the fight on two weeks notice at Bellator 196 held in Budapest, Hungary. This fight was agreed at a catchweight of 175 lbs. He won the fight by unanimous decision after taking Pascu down numerous times and landing heavy ground and pound.

Ruth made his welterweight debut against Andy Murad at Bellator 201 in Temecula, California. He won the fight by TKO in round two.

Ruth next entered the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix. He faced Neiman Gracie in the quarterfinals at Bellator 213 on December 15, 2018. He lost the fight via rear-naked choke submission in the fourth round. After the loss, Ruth decided to leave Alliance MMA and join American Kickboxing Academy.

Ruth faced Kiichi Kunimoto at Bellator 224 on July 12, 2019 and won the fight via TKO in the second round.

On August 15, 2019, it was announced that Ruth had signed an exclusive multi-fight, multi-year contract extension with Bellator. As the first fight of his new contract, Ruth faced Jason Jackson at Bellator 231 on October 25, 2019. He won the back-and-forth fight by split decision. 4 out of 6 media scores gave it to Jackson.

Ruth faced Yaroslav Amosov in the main event of Bellator 239, on February 21, 2020. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Ruth faced Taylor Johnson at Bellator 245 on September 11, 2020. He lost the bout due to an inverted heel hook submission early in the first round.

In July 2021, Ruth retired from MMA and took a job as assistant coach with the University of Illinois wrestling program, joining head coach Mike Poeta in his first year at the helm of the program.

Championships and accomplishments Freestyle wrestling United World Wrestling 2015 Henri Deglane Challenge Silver Medalist 2015 Bill Farrell International Open Gold Medalist 2014 Heydar Aliyev Memorial Golden Grand Prix Bronze Medalist USA Wrestling 2015 U.S World Team Trials Silver Medalist 2015 U.S ASICS National Championships Bronze Medalist 2014 U.S World Team Member 2014 U.S Open Bronze Medalist 2013 U.S University National Championships Gold Medalist

Folkstyle wrestling National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Division I All-American out of Pennsylvania State University (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) NCAA Division I 174 lb Third Place out of Pennsylvania State University (2011) NCAA Division I 174 lb National Champion out of Pennsylvania State University (2012) NCAA Division I 184 lb National Champion out of Pennsylvania State University (2013) NCAA Division I 184 lb National Champion out of Pennsylvania State University (2014) Big Ten Conference Big Ten 174 lb Champion out of Pennsylvania State University (2011) Big Ten 174 lb Champion out of Pennsylvania State University (2012) Big Ten 184 lb Champion out of Pennsylvania State University (2013) Big Ten 184 lb Champion out of Pennsylvania State University (2014)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Taylor Johnson Submission (inverted heel hook) Bellator 245

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Loss

Yaroslav Amosov Decision (unanimous) Bellator 239

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Win

Jason Jackson Decision (split) Bellator 231

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Kiichi Kunimoto TKO (punches) Bellator 224

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Neiman Gracie Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 213

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Win

Andy Murad TKO (punches) Bellator 201

Temecula, California, United States Win

Ion Pascu Decision (unanimous) Bellator 196

Budapest, Hungary Win

Chris Dempsey KO (punch) Bellator 186

University Park, Pennsylvania, United States Win

David Mundell TKO (knee to the body) Bellator 178

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Emanuele Palombi TKO (punches) Bellator 168

Florence, Italy Win

Dustin Collins-Miles TKO (punches) Bellator 163

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States NCAA record

Res. Record Opponent Score Date Event

Win 20-1

Win 19-1

Win 18-1

Win 17-1

Win 16-1

Win 15-1

Win 14-1

Win 13-1

Win 12-1

Win 11-1

Win 10-1

Win 9-1

Win 8-1

Win 7-1

Win 6-1

Win 5-1

Win 4-1

Win 3-1

Lose 2-1

Win 2-0

Win 1-0

Freestyle record Res. Record Opponent Score Date Event Location

Loss 42-14

Win 42-13

Loss 41-13

Win 41-12

Win 40-12

Loss 39-12

Win 39-11

Win 38-11

Win 37-11

Win 36-11

Win 35-11

Win 34-11

Loss 33-11

Win 33-10

Loss 32-10

Madison, Wisconsin Loss 32-9

Win 32-8

Win 31-8

Win 30-8

Win 29-8

Win 28-8

Loss 27-8

Win 27-7

Win 26-7

Win 25-7

Loss 24-7

Win 24-6

Win 23-6

Loss 22-6

Win 22-5

Win 21-5

Win 20-5

Madison, Wisconsin Win 19-5

Loss 18-5

Win 18-4

Win 17-4

Win 16-4

Win 15-4

Win 14-4

Loss 13-4

Win 13-3

Win 12-3

Win 11-3

Loss 10-3

Win 10-2

Win 9-2

Win 8-2

Win 7-2

Win 6-2

Win 5-2

Win 4-2

Loss 3-2

Win 3-1

Loss 2-1

Win 2-0

Win 1-0

Submission grappling record