Ferrid Kheder

Ferrid Kheder (born 3 March 1975 ) is a French retired Olympic judoka who placed seventh at the Sydney Olympic Games and a former professional mixed martial artist who fought from 2004 to 2013. He holds the sixth Dan in IJF Judo and a BJJ black belt.

Judo career Kheder began training judo in 1979 at the age of four. He went on to train with the French Team from 1993 to 2001, and in the Tunisia Team from 2001 to 2004. He won twice the Paris Grand Slam (1999 and 2000) and the Dusseldorf Grand Slam (2000 and 2002). He won the european championship U21 in Spain (1995) and the European championship by Team (1996). He has medaled seven times in the Super World Cup and won many Opens and World Cups, he placed 3rd at the European Championship in 2000 and 7th at the 2000 Olympic Games.

Mixed martial arts career In 2004 Kheder started to add Muay Thai and grappling training to his judo background to compete in MMA with Fighting Klub Team (FK TEAM).

In 2005 he moved to Australia to continue his new journey.

In 2007 while fighting in Australia, a manager from the US contacted him and recruited him to join Team Quest in California. He later became contracted under the Bellator organization.

Between September 2008 and June 2011 Kheder won 13 of his 14 fights winning 11 fight by KO or Submission and losing only a decision (28-29) to Daisuke Nakamura at M-1 Global Presents Breakthrough on August 28, 2009.

His interest in BJJ grew through his MMA career during which he had the opportunity to train with some of the worlds best BJJ players.

In 2015 he earned his black belt while living in San Diego.

Today, he teaches Martial Arts.

Xtreme Vale Todo 5 controversy There is some question as to if Kheder's alleged victory over Hermes Franca was rigged by a promoter, Lu Dwyer, during the Xtreme Vale Todo event that took place on December 19, 2010. In addition to the fight's announcer, all three judges, and the referee had scored the bout in favor of Franca. Regardless of the judges' scores, Dwyer declared Kheder the victor, and another promoter raised Kheder's hand in victory after the referee refused to do so.

There is a potential conflict of interest due to the fact that Kheder is primarily sponsored by Dwyer and her business J & L Irrigation. Dwyer sponsors "Team FK" by paying his living expenses and taking a percentage of his winnings.

Days after his controversial decision win Kheder posted on his Facebook page that Dwyer overturned the fight result to a "No Contest" and suggested a 5 round rematch, presumably in the same promotion.

The rematch never happened since Hermes Franca found guilty in the sexual abuse of a child under 14 years of age in 2012 and has been sentenced to 42 months in prison.

Bellator

In 2010 Kheder was supposed to fight in Bellator's Lightweight Tournament but due to a case of appendicitis, he has been forced out of the eight-man field and has been replaced by WEC veteran James Krause.

In 2011 Kheder was 1 kg too heavy and refused to step onto the scale to be weighed and was instead removed from the tournament which allowed Josh Shockley to take Kheder's place.

Judo achievements Year Tournament Place Weight class2003 Paris Super World Cup 3rd Lightweight (73 kg) 2002 Paris Super World Cup 3rd Lightweight (73 kg) Moscow Super World Cup 3rd Lightweight (73 kg) Dusseldorf Super World Cup 1st Lightweight (73 kg) 2000 Olympic Games 7th Lightweight (73 kg) Paris Super World Cup 1st Lightweight (73 kg) Munich Super World Cup 1st Lightweight (73 kg) European Judo Championships 3rd Lightweight (73 kg)1999 Paris Super World Cup 1st Lightweight (73 kg) 1998 World Judo Championships FISU 3rd Lightweight (73 kg) 1997 European Judo Cup by Team 1st Lightweight (73 kg) 1996 European Judo Championships by Team 1st Lightweight (71 kg) 1995 European Judo Championships U23 1st Lightweight (71 kg)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Vincent del Guerra TKO (punch) PFC 5 – Clash of the Titans

Marseille, France Win

Adrian Rodrigues Submission (neck crank) Shidokan Costa Rica – Live Super Fights

San Jose, Costa Rica Loss

Ronys Torres TKO (punches) Amazon Forest Combat 2

Amazonas, Brazil Loss

Lim Hyun-Gyu TKO (punches) PXC – Pacific Xtreme Combat 27

Mangilao, Guam Loss

Aloisio Barros TKO (doctor stoppage) FF – Fight Fever 4

Luxembourg City, Luxembourg Loss

Yoshiyuki Yoshida TKO (punches) Fighting Marcou Arena 2

Palavas-les-Flots, Herault, France Loss

Zorobabel Moreira Decision (unanimous) Dare Championship 1/11

Bangkok, Thailand NC

Hermes França NC (decision overturned by promoter) Xtreme Vale Todo 5

Cartago, Costa Rica Win

Steve Berger TKO (punches) MFL 3 – Mixed Fight League

Laval, Quebec, Canada Win

Randall Jimenez Submission (rear-naked choke) Saint-Tropez Promotions – Xtreme Vale Todo 4

Tamarindo, Costa Rica Win

Rudier Fuentes Submission (armbar) Vale Tudo Montecarlo

Guanacaste, Costa Rica Win

Rogelio Zuniga Submission (armbar) Vale Tudo Montecarlo

Guanacaste, Costa Rica Win

Randall Jimenez TKO (retirement) Saint-Tropez Promotions – Extreme Valetodo Tamarindo

Tamarindo, Costa Rica Loss

Daisuke Nakamura Decision (unanimous) M-1 Global: Breakthrough

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Jeffry Lopez Decision (unanimous) Fite Nite – Guerreros en la Torre

Costa Rica Win

Graydon Tannas KO (punches) UCW 15 – Massacre

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Win

Calvett Huzinger Submission C3 Fights – C3 Fights

Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States Win

Drew Fickett KO (punches) C3 Fights – Knock-Out Rock-Out Weekend

Clinton, Oklahoma, United States Win

Elton Brown Submission (rear-naked choke) MMA Costa Rica – Bushido 2008

San Pedro, Costa Rica Win

Alejandro Solano Rodriguez Decision (unanimous) FN – Fite Nite

Desamparados Canton, Costa Rica Win

Vince Guzman Submission (rear naked choke) AF 2 – Apocalypse Fights 2

Palm Springs, California, United States Win

Douglas Noear Submission (strikes) C3 Fights – Clash in Concho

Concho, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Pedro Santos Decision (unanimous) Jungle Fight 11

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Loss

Paulo Thiago Decision (unanimous) Jungle Fight 10

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Rory McDonell Decision (unanimous) UCW 11 – Hell in the Cage

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Win

Christos Petroutsos TKO (punches) Shooto Belgium – New Batch

Charleroi, Belgium Loss

Tommy Truex Decision (unanimous) SF 21 – Seasons Beatings

Portland, Oregon, United States Win

Mike Neufeld TKO (punches) UCW 10 – X-Factor

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Loss

Pono Pananganan Decision (split) GPG – Gracie Proving Ground

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Win

Will Cunningham KO (punch) Cage Fighting Championship 1

Sydney, Australia Win

Laurent Poirier Submission (armbar) DF – Dumbea Fights

Noumea, New Caledonia Win

Dan Harper KO (knee) DF – Dumbea Fights

Noumea, New Caledonia Win

Gavin Murie Submission (armbar) XFC 12 – Oktoberfist

Australia Win

Fred Sanchez Submission (armbar) DY – Dojo Yaburi

Carmaux, Franca