Tony Gravely

Tony Gravely

A native of Martinsville, Virginia, Gravely attended Magna Vista High School, where he was a four-time all-state wrestler. He had two undefeated seasons and was a two-time Virginia wrestling state champion.

After high school, Gravely attended Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. In three seasons wrestling for the Mountaineers, Gravely qualified for two NCAA tournaments and won two Southern Conference championships. He graduated Appalachian State with a major in construction management.

According to the Martinsville Bulletin, Gravely quit his construction project manager day job in 2016 and decided to focus full-time on an MMA career. He trained at Tech MMA Academy in Southwest Virginia for years, as he pursued a career as a professional fighter.

Mixed martial arts career Early career Following a 6-1 amateur career, Gravely had his first professional fight in October 2015 against Chad Wiggington. He won the fight at the Elite 8 Warrior Challenge in a unanimous decision to claim his first victory. In his second bout, Gravely lost to Pat Sabatini by first-round rear-naked choke submission at CFFC 52.

After a six fight winning streak, Gravely suffered dropped three of his next four fights, getting submitted by Ricky Bandejas in the second round, outpointed by Merab Dvalishili, and armbarred by Manny Bermudez. For his lone outing with Legacy Fighting Alliance at LFA 17, Gravely defeated Keith Richardson via unanimous decision. He also defeated Jerrell Hodge and Jordan Morales. On the strength of that run, Gravely challenged Patchy Mix (11-0) for the KOTC Bantamweight Championship at KOTC: No Retreat in May 2018. Gravely was submitted by the first round, falling to Mix's dangerous guillotine. Gravely defeated his next three foes via TKO that saw wins over Drako Rodriguez, earning him the KOTC Bantamweight Championship and James Quigg. In the main event of CES MMA 53, he knocked out Kody Nordby in the first round for the CES MMA Bantamweight Championship. Gravely would defend his CES MMA title twice with back to back stoppages at CES MMA 54 where he knocked out Kris Moutinho in the fourth round and CES MMA 55 where Gravely submitted Darren Mima in round two via rear-naked choke.

Gravely got his break in UFC when he was selected to be a part of Dana White's Contender Series 24 in 2019. He earned the formal invite to join the UFC after recording a knockout of Ray Rodriguez in the third round of his Contender Series fight.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Gravely made his UFC debut against Brett Johns on January 25, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos. He lost the fight via a rear-naked choke in round three. This bout earned him the Fight of the Night award. Brett Johns in Raleigh, North Carolina. After his debut, Gravely announced he would be moving to Florida to train with American Top Team.

Gravely faced Geraldo de Freitas on November 14, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Gravely was scheduled to face Nate Maness at UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum on April 17, 2021. However, Maness was removed from the bout for undisclosed reasons and he was replaced by Anthony Birchak. Gravely won the fight via technical knockout in round two. This fight earned him a Performance of the Night award.

The bout with Maness was rescheduled for September 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann. Gravely lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.

Gravely faced promotional newcomer Saimon Oliveira on January 22, 2022, at UFC 270. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Gravely faced Johnny Muñoz Jr. on June 4, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 207. He won the bout in the first round after knocking down Muñoz after the latter ran into an uppercut on a takedown attempt.

Gravely faced Javid Basharat on September 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 210. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Gravely faced Victor Henry on March 11, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 221. He lost the fight via split decision.

On June 5, 2023, news surfaced that Gravely had fought out his contract and the organization opted not to renew it.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (One time) CES MMA CES MMA Bantamweight Championship (One time) Two successful defenses King of the Cage King of the Cage Bantamweight Championship (One time) Fight Lab Fight Lab Bantamweight Championship (One time) PA Cage Fight PACF Bantamweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Victor Henry Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Javid Basharat Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Song

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Johnny Muñoz Jr. KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Saimon Oliveira Decision (unanimous) UFC 270

Anaheim, California, United States Loss

Nate Maness TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Anthony Birchak TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Geraldo de Freitas Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Brett Johns Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States Win

Ray Rodriguez TKO (punches) Dana White's Contender Series 24

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Darren Mima Submission (rear-naked choke) CES 55: Wells vs. de Jesus

Hartford, Connecticut, United States Win

Kris Moutinho KO (punches) CES 54: Andrews vs. Logan

Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States Win

Kody Nordby KO (slam) CES 53: Gravely vs. Nordby

Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States Win

Drako Rodriguez TKO (punches) KOTC: Territorial Conflict

Niagara Falls, New York, United States Win

Bruno Ferreira TKO (punches) Road to M-1 USA

Nashville, Tennessee, United States Win

James Quigg TKO Fight Lab 59

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States Loss

Patchy Mix Submission (guillotine choke) King of the Cage: No Retreat

Salamanca, New York, United States Win

Jerrell Hodge Decision (unanimous) CFFC 68

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Jordan Morales Decision (unanimous) PA Cage Fight 29

Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Keith Richardson Decision (unanimous) LFA 17

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States Win

Francis Healy Decision (unanimous) KOTC: Heavy Hands

Washington, Pennsylvania, United States Loss

Manny Bermudez Submission (armbar) Cage Titans 33

Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Loss

Merab Dvalishvili Decision (unanimous) Ring of Combat 57

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Tim Sosa Decision (unanimous) KOTC: Harm's Way

Washington, Pennsylvania, United States Loss

Ricky Bandejas Submission (rear-naked choke) CFFC 60

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Dave Roberts TKO (punches) CFFC 58

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Dylan Cala Submission (rear-naked choke) Cage Rage 4

Greensboro, North Carolina, United States Win

Paul Grant TKO (punches) Ring of Combat 54

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Reginald Barnett Jr. Decision (unanimous) Elite Warrior Challenge 9

Salem, Virginia, United States Win

Dwayne Holman Jr. Decision (unanimous) CFFC 55: Chookagian vs. Varela

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Vladimir Kazbekov Submission (rear-naked choke) Global Proving Ground 22

Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, United States Loss

Pat Sabatini Submission (rear-naked choke) CFFC 52: Horcher vs. Regman

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Chad Wiggington Decision (unanimous) Elite Warrior Challenge 8

Salem, Virginia, United States