Rick Cheek

Richard P. "Rick" Cheek (born October 4, 1977) is an American kickboxer and mixed martial artist who competes in the heavyweight division. A North American Muay Thai champion as an amateur, Cheek turned professional in 2005 and debuted in K-1 the same year. He holds notable wins over WSOF standout Dave Huckaba in MMA, 2001 K-1 Japan Grand Prix Champion Nicholas Pettas and multiple time world kickboxing champion Mike Sheppard.

Career Cheek was the United States Air Force boxing champion and started training in kickboxing and Muay Thai in 2000 at the age of twenty-three. In August 2004, he competed in a four-man tournament held over two days in Orlando, Florida to determine the IKF Amateur North American Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lb) Muay Thai Champion. After defeating Bernard Settle, Jr. by technical knockout in round two of their semi-final bout, he outpointed Brian Wells to a unanimous decision in the final to take the crown. He followed this up with the IKF's Amateur California Muay Thai title when he stopped Ben Davis with low kicks in round one in Fairfield, California on March 26, 2005.

After turning professional, Cheek made his K-1 debut on August 13, 2005, in a tournament reserve bout at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas II against Mike Sheppard, knocking him out in the second round. He was absent from both K-1 Las Vegas events in 2006 due to a torn ACL and MCL he sustained in February 2006.

In early 2008, Cheek fought for the Miami Force in the World Combat League and, on June 20, 2008, faced Patrice Quarteron for the vacant IKF World Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lb) Muay Thai title in Montego Bay, Jamaica. He was sent to the canvas early with a flurry of punches and elbows. After beating the count, he was dropped with a low kick, which also caused Quarteron to fall over. As both fighters fell to the canvas, Quarteron's knee landed on Cheek's head, seemingly knocking him unconscious.

He soon made his way back to K-1 to fight in the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii in Honolulu on August 9, 2008. He won by TKO against Kyokushin karate stylist Nicholas Pettas in the quarter-finals when Pettas aggravated a groin injury sustained in training early in the fight. He was then eliminated by the eventual tournament winner Gökhan Saki in the semis. He was floored with low kicks before being crumpled with a liver punch towards the end of round one.

In his second attempt at a world title, he challenged Ben Edwards for the vacant ISKA World Super Heavyweight (+96.4 kg/212 lb) Oriental rules belt in Canberra, Australia on April 4, 2009, but was KO'd inside the first minute of the opening frame.

On August 28, 2010, Cheek lost to Steven Banks via second-round KO in a fight for the WBC Muaythai United States Super Heavyweight (+104.5 kg/230 lb) title. He struggled with the knees of Banks, being floored by them on four occasions throughout the match.

Cheek suffered a one-sided beating at the hands of Cătălin Moroşanu, after re-tearing his MCL in the first round in their SuperKombat World Grand Prix 7 in Varna, Bulgaria bout on July 7, 2012. He was dropped five times, forcing referee Cezar Gheorghe to call a halt to the bout in the second round.

Championships and awards

Kickboxing K-1 K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii 3rd place Holds a record of 3-1 (3 KOs) in the K-1 circuit International Kickboxing Federation IKF Amateur California Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lbs) Muay Thai Championship IKF Amateur North American Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lbs) International Rules Championship World Combat Sports Challenge WCSC World Super Heavyweight Muay Thai Championship World Kickboxing Association WKA United States Super Heavyweight (+95 kg/209 lbs) Muay Thai Championship WKA U.S. Amateur (+91 kg) Muay Thai Championship WKA U.S. Amateur (+91 kg) Kickboxing Championship Golden Gloves 2001 San Antonio Golden Gloves runner up (+201 lbs)

Kickboxing record 22 wins (19 KOs), 5 losses, 1 draw, 1 no contest Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time 2012-07-07 Loss Cătălin Moroşanu SuperKombat World Grand Prix 7 Varna, Bulgaria TKO (right hook) 2 1:07 2010-08-28 Loss Steve Banks WCK Muay Thai Primm, Nevada, US KO (knees) 2 2:52 2009-05-30 Win Ethen Cox WCSC The Awakening San Francisco, California, US Decision (unanimous) 5 3:00 2009-04-04 Loss Ben Edwards World Domination Canberra, Australia KO (right cross) 1 0:55 2008-08-09 Loss Gökhan Saki K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii, Semi Finals Honolulu, Hawaii, US KO (left hook to the body) 1 2:36 2008-08-09 Win Nicholas Pettas K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii, Quarter Finals Honolulu, Hawaii, US TKO (injury) 1 1:15 2008-06-20 Loss Patrice Quarteron Champions of Champions I Montego Bay, Jamaica KO (right low kick) 1 2:00 2007-08-11 Win Imani Lee K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Las Vegas, Quarter Finals Las Vegas, Nevada, US TKO (punches) 3 1:52 2006-02-18 Win Mahmoud Fowzi Combat Sports Challenge 12 Richmond, Virginia, US TKO (corner stoppage) 1 1:56 2005-08-13 Win Mike Sheppard K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas II, Reserve Bout Las Vegas, Nevada, US KO 2 0:48

Amateur kickboxing record Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time 2008-03-28 Win Terry Bullman WCL Eastern Conference Playoffs St. Charles, Missouri, US Decision (28-20) 2 3:00 2005-03-26 Win Ben Davis Fairfield Fight Fest Fairfield, California, US KO (low kick) 1 0:50 2004-08-15 Win Brian Wells IKF North American Classic, Final Orlando, Florida, US Decision (unanimous) 3 3:00 2004-08-14 Win Bernard Settle, Jr. IKF North American Classic, Semi Finals Orlando, Florida, US TKO 2 1:03 2004-02-28 Win Matt Dunn Feet & Fists of Fury Roseville, California, US TKO 2 1:40

Legend:

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Mike Hayes TKO (submission to punches) PFC: Best of Both Worlds

Lemoore, California, United States Loss

Dave Huckaba Submission (armbar) Gladiator Challenge 87: Collision Course

Roseville, California, United States Loss

Buddy Roberts Submission (rear naked choke) Cage Combat Fighting Championships: Mayhem

Santa Rosa, California, United States Win

Richard Blake KO (punches) Cage Combat Fighting Championships: Annihilation

Santa Rosa, California, United States Wins the Cage Combat Fighting Championships Heavyweight Championship. Loss

Chase Gormley Submission (keylock) Gladiator Challenge 73: High Noon

Sacramento, California, United States Win

Thomas Rosser TKO (punches) Gladiator Challenge 63: Crackdown

South Lake Tahoe, California, United States Win

Joe Abouata KO (punch) Gladiator Challenge 62: Sprawl or Brawl

Lakeport, California, United States Win

Dave Huckaba TKO (punches) Gladiator Challenge 57: Holiday Beatings

Sacramento, California, United States