Ryan Schultz

Ryan James Schultz (born July 4, 1977) is an American mixed martial artist. A professional from 2003 to 2013, he has competed in the WEC, IFL, and Japan's World Victory Road. He was the last International Fight League Lightweight Champion, competing for Matt Lindland's Portland Wolfpack.

Biography Schultz was born and raised in North Platte, Nebraska. He was a member of his high school wrestling team, graduating in 1996. Schultz has a degree in criminal justice from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he continued to compete in wrestling, coached by Matt Lindland. After graduation, Ryan worked as an apprentice plumber in Colorado, before embarking on his MMA career. Schultz is a member of Team Quest, training with his former wrestling coach and former UFC veteran Matt Lindland.

Mixed martial arts career Early career Schultz was entered into his first MMA fight by a friend. The fight took place at Dan Severn's promotion Dangerzone, in April 2004, in North Dakota. A few days after the fight, Lindland asked Schultz to join Team Quest, an offer which Schultz accepted. Over the next three years, Schultz competed in 20 fights in various promotions, including the WEC, Hawaiian promotion SuperBrawl, Absolute Fighting Championship, and SportFight - a promotion founded by Matt Lindland and Randy Couture.

On June 18, 2004, Schultz won an eight-man lightweight tournament, at SuperBrawl 36 in Hawaii. Schultz won his first fight that night, against Mike Aina, by a split decision. In the semi-final fight, Schultz submitted Deshaun Johnson by a rear-naked choke in the first round. In the finals, Schultz defeated Roger Huerta, who verbally submitted due to a dislocated jaw.

International Fight League Ryan Schultz entered the IFL promotion as a member of the Portland Wolfpack team, with a record of 13–7–1. He defeated Cam Ward by TKO in his first fight in the promotion, but lost to Los Angeles Anacondas' Chris Horodecki in his second fight, two months later. In his third fight, on December 29, 2006, he faced Quad Cities Silverbacks' future UFC veteran Bart Palaszewski. Schultz dominated the first and second round of the fight, but got caught by Palaszewski's right hand in the third round, and lost by KO. The match was awarded "Fight of the Night" honors.

After winning his next three bouts in the IFL, Schultz was selected to replace John Gunderson (himself a replacement for Shad Lierley) in a fight against Chris Horodecki for the IFL lightweight championship. In the bout, which took place at the IFL: World Grand Prix Finals, Schultz was able to avenged his first loss to Horodecki in the IFL. Schultz pinned Horodecki's right hand early in the first round, continued to pound him until the referee stepped in at 2:51 of the first round, and was crowned the first IFL Lightweight Champion.

Before the IFL promotion folded, Schultz successfully defended his title twice, defeating John Gunderson and Deividas Taurosevicius, both by unanimous decision.

World Victory Road - Sengoku In July 2008, Schultz agreed to a five event deal with the Japanese promotion Sengoku. In his first fight for the promotion, at Sengoku IV, Schultz lost to Mizuto Hirota, by KO in the second round. Schultz faced Jorge Masvidal in his next fight, which took place less than a month after Sengoku IV. Masvidal was able to knockdown Schultz in the first round, and finished him by TKO using strikes on his grounded opponent.

Personal life Ryan married his high school sweetheart and together they have a son. Ryan and his family live in Fort Collins, Colorado. Schultz and fellow MMA fighter Ed Herman own and operate "Trials Martial Arts and Fitness Gym" in Northern Colorado. The gym offers high level mixed martial arts training.

Ryan is featured in the mixed martial arts documentary Fight Life, released in 2013, the film is directed by independent filmmaker James Z. Feng and produced by RiLL Films.

Championships and accomplishments International Fight League IFL Lightweight Championship (One time; First; Last)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Anselmo Luna TKO (punches) Prize Fighting Championship 3

Midland, Texas United States Loss

Scott Cleve KO (punches) SCL: Rise of the King

Denver, Colorado United States Win

Billy Martin Submission (rear-naked choke) MFP: Resurrection

Casper, Wyoming United States Win

Angelo Duarte Submission (rear-naked choke) ROF 42

Broomfield, Colorado United States Loss

Kazunori Yokota KO (punches) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 10

Saitama, Japan Loss

Jorge Masvidal TKO (punches) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 5

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Mizuto Hirota KO (superman punch) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 4

Saitama, Japan Win

Deividas Taurosevicius Decision (unanimous) IFL: Connecticut

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

John Gunderson Decision (unanimous) IFL: Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Chris Horodecki TKO (punches) IFL: World Grand Prix Finals

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Aaron Riley Decision (unanimous) IFL: 2007 Team Championship Final

Hollywood, Florida, United States Win

Savant Young Decision (unanimous) IFL: Everett

Everett, Washington, United States Win

Joe Sampieri Decision (unanimous) IFL: Connecticut

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Loss

Bart Palaszewski KO (punch) IFL: Championship Final

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Loss

Chris Horodecki TKO (head kick and punches) IFL: World Championship Semifinals

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Cam Ward TKO (punches) IFL: Portland

Portland, Oregon, United States Loss

Hermes França KO (punches) AFC 16: Absolute Fighting Championships 16

Boca Raton, Florida, United States Win

Dave Cochran Submission (rear-naked choke) SF 15: Tribute

Portland, Oregon, United States Loss

Kuniyoshi Hironaka Submission (armbar) MARS: MARS

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Rich Clementi Submission (armbar) AFC 14: Absolute Fighting Championships 14

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States Loss

David Gardner Submission (broken rib) FFC 15: Fiesta Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Draw

Gesias Cavalcante Draw SF 11: Rumble at the Rose Garden

Portland, Oregon, United States Win

Hiroyuki Abe TKO (punches) Euphoria: USA vs World

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Loss

Keith Wilson Decision (unanimous) SF 8: Justice

Gresham, Oregon, United States Win

David Gaona TKO (punches) Euphoria: Road to the Titles

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Jason Dent TKO (punches) APEX: Genesis

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Win

Roger Huerta TKO (jaw injury) SB 36: SuperBrawl 36

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Win

Deshaun Johnson Submission (rear-naked choke) SB 36: SuperBrawl 36

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Win

Mike Aina Decision (split) SB 36: SuperBrawl 36

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Win

Gil Castillo Decision (majority) WEC 10

Lemoore, California, United States Loss

Ronald Jhun TKO (corner stoppage) ROTR 5: Rumble on the Rock 5

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Win

Nick Gilardi KO (punches) DB 10: DesertBrawl 10

Bend, Oregon, United States Win

Eddy Ellis KO (punch) SF 1: Revolution

Portland, Oregon, United States Win

Hank Weis TKO (submission to punches) KC 8: Kickdown Classic 8

Denver, Colorado, United States Win

Jeremy Saunders TKO (punches) URC 6: Ultimate Ring Challenge 6

Longview, Washington, United States Win

Hannibal Adofo KO (punch) WEC 8

Lemoore, California, United States Loss

JT Taylor KO (punches) WEC 7

Lemoore, California, United States Win

Jon Henderson TKO (punches) Dangerzone: Dakota Destruction

New Town, North Dakota, United States