Rodney Wallace

Rodney Wallace (born November 21, 1981) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight division. A professional competitor from 2008 to 2017, he has competed for the UFC, Bellator, the MFC, M-1 Global, KSW, and Absolute Championship Berkut.

Background Wallace was born in Bamberg, South Carolina, moved to Passaic, New Jersey when he was one year old, then returned to his birthplace at the age of 13 when he began playing football and wrestling.

At Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School in Bamberg, South Carolina, Wallace competed in both sports as well as track and field. He reached the state finals in wrestling when he was a freshman, then won the South Carolina state championship his sophomore, junior, and senior years.

He continued his football career with a scholarship to NCAA Division II Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina, where he was an All-Conference running back from 2001 to 2004, and finished his career as the school's all-time leading rusher.

Mixed martial arts career Ultimate Fighting Championship Wallace lost his UFC debut at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale by unanimous decision to former WEC Light Heavyweight Champion Brian Stann.

Wallace next fought Jared Hamman on March 27, 2010, at UFC 111. Wallace lost this fight by way of a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). This fight was very fast-paced and there were several situations in which both men were rocked. The fight was selected as Fight of the Night, earning both fighters $65,000.

Wallace was scheduled to face Stanislav Nedkov on August 7, 2010, at UFC 117. However, Nedkov was forced from the card with an injury and was replaced by Phil Davis. Wallace lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Following the loss to Davis, Wallace was released from the promotion.

Independent promotions After his release from the UFC, Wallace went on to face and defeat David Heath at MFC 27 via unanimous decision. He lost his second fight for the promotion against Emanuel Newton at MFC 28 via submission.

Wallace next faced Cale Yarbrough on April 15, 2011, at Scrap Live: Fight Night 7.

Rodney Wallace next fought Derrick Mehmen at WMMA 1: Fighting for a Better World on March 31, 2012. Wallace won this fight via unanimous decision.

Wallace next competed against Polish fighter Mamed Khalidov on May 12, 2012, at KSW XIX. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Rodney Wallace next fought former WEC Middleweight Champion Paulo Filho to a draw at Selva MMA on August 4, 2013, in Brazil.

Bellator MMA Wallace made his debut for Bellator MMA on April 11, 2014, at Bellator 116. He faced Carlos Eduardo and won the fight via unanimous decision.

Wallace faced Kelly Anundson on June 6, 2014, at Bellator 121. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

In August 2014, Wallace was released from Bellator, along with twelve other fighters.

Absolute Championship Berkut Wallace faced Shamil Gamzatov on January 13, 2017, at ACB 51. He lost the fight by split decision.

Bare knuckle boxing career He challenged Croatian Marko Martinjak for his UBBADA world cruiserweight title at BKB 5 event in Coventry on April 22, 2017, losing the fight via first round TKO due to a cut above the eye.

Championships and accomplishments Mixed martial arts SMASH Fight SMASH Fight Light Heavyweight Championship (One time, current) Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Jared Hamman Warfare FC WFC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time, current) Hard Knocks Fighting HKFC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time, current)

Amateur wrestling South Carolina High School League

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Konstantin Gluhov KO (spinning back kick to the body) ProFC 63

Rostov-on-Don, Russia Loss

Juan Espino Decision (unanimous) Combate Comas MMA 3

Santa Cruz, Bolivia Loss

Ivan Shtyrkov Decision (unanimous) RCC Boxing Promotions

Chelyabinsk, Russia Return to Heavyweight. Loss

Shamil Gamzatov Decision (split) |ACB 51: Silva vs. Torgeson

Irvine, California, United States Win

Julio Gallegos Decision (unanimous) Conflict MMA 42

Indian Trail, North Carolina, United States Loss

Isa Umarov Decision (unanimous) |ACB 38: Breakthrough

Rostov-on-Don, Russia Loss

Saparbek Safarov TKO (retirement) Akhmat Fight Show 18: Grand Prix 2016

Grozny, Russia Win

Daniel Spohn Decision (unanimous) HKFC: Hard Knocks 48

Calgary, Alberta, Canada Win

Adrian Miles Submission (rear-naked choke) HKFC: Hard Knocks 47

Calgary, Alberta, Canada Win

Kalib Starnes Decision (unanimous) HKFC: Hard Knocks 44

Calgary, Alberta, Canada Loss

Misha Cirkunov TKO (head kick) HKFC: Hard Knocks 41

Calgary, Alberta, Canada Win

Clay Davidson Decision (unanimous) HKFC: Hard Knocks 40

Calgary, Alberta, Canada Loss

Kelly Anundson Decision (unanimous) Bellator 121

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Win

Ariel Gandulla Decision (unanimous) HKFC: Hard Knocks 36

Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada Win

Carlos Eduardo Decision (unanimous) Bellator 116

Temecula, California, United States Loss

Maxim Grishin Decision (split) Driven MMA: One

Canton, Ohio, United States Loss

Luiz Cane KO (flying knee) SFT 1

São Paulo, Brazil Draw

Paulo Filho Draw (time limit) Selva MMA 2

Rio Branco, Brazil Win

Matheus Wendell Santi Scheffel TKO (punches) SMASH Fight 2

Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil Win

Aaron Johnson KO (punches) Warfare FC 9: Apocalypse

North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States Win

Salomão Ribeiro Decision (unanimous) Jungle Fight 53

Japeri, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Joaquim Ferreira TKO (punches) SMASH Fight 1

Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil Win

Guilherme Viana Decision (split) Iron Fight Combat 2

Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil Return to Light Heavyweight. Loss

Michał Materla KO (punches) KSW 21: Final Resolution

Warsaw, Poland Win

Cristiano Lazzarini TKO (punches) Brasil Fight 6: Brasil x EUA

Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil Win

Aaron Johnson KO (punch) RFN: Renaissance Fight Night

Montgomery, Alabama, United States Loss

Mamed Khalidov KO (punch) KSW 19

Łódź, Poland Catchweight (187 lb) bout. Win

Derrick Mehmen Decision (unanimous) WMMA 1: Fighting for a Better World

El Paso, Texas, United States Win

Cale Yarbrough Decision (unanimous) Scrap Live: Fight Night 7

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States Loss

Emanuel Newton Submission (rear-naked choke) MFC 28: Supremacy

Enoch, Alberta, Canada Win

David Heath Decision (unanimous) MFC 27

Enoch, Alberta, Canada Loss

Phil Davis Decision (unanimous) UFC 117

Oakland, California, United States Loss

Jared Hamman Decision (unanimous) UFC 111

Newark, New Jersey, United States Loss

Brian Stann Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Gregory Milliard Decision (unanimous) VFC: A Night Of Vengeance

Oranjestad, Aruba Win

Aaron Stark Submission (kimura) VFC: A Night Of Vengeance

Oranjestad, Aruba Win

Antwain Britt Submission (armbar) VFC: A Night Of Vengeance

Oranjestad, Aruba Win

Marcus Vanttinen Decision (unanimous) M-1 Challenge 16: USA

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Light Heavyweight debut. Win

Michael Brown Decision (unanimous) RFC: Revolution Fight Club 3

Miami, Florida, United States Win

Carlos Zevallos TKO (punches) RFC: Revolution Fight Club 2

Miami, Florida, United States Win

Ovince St. Preux Decision (unanimous) VFC 1: Vengeance Fighting Championship 1

Concord, North Carolina, United States Win

Toni Valtonen Decision (unanimous) M-1 Challenge 3: Gran Canaria

San Agustin, Grand Canaria, Spain Win

Wesley Cantillo Decision (unanimous) RFC 1: Revolution Fight Club 1

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, United States