Benji Radach

Benji Radach
Born (1979-04-05) April 5, 1979
Castle Rock, Washington, United States
Other names Razor
Nationality American
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight 186 lb (84 kg; 13.3 st)
Division Middleweight
Light Heavyweight
Welterweight
Fighting out of Castle Rock, Washington, United States
Team Reign MMA
Years active 2001-2004, 2007-2010, 2015-present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 29
Wins 21
By knockout 17
By submission 1
By decision 3
Losses 7
By knockout 5
By decision 2
No contests 1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Benji Russell Radach (born April 5, 1979) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Middleweight division of Bellator MMA. A professional competitor since 2001, Radach has also formerly competed for the UFC, the WEC, Strikeforce, and the Los Angeles Anacondas of the IFL.

Background

Born and raised in Castle Rock, Washington, Radach began his career as a high school wrestler at Castle Rock High School, and was talented. Radach finished fifth at the Washington State Wrestling Championships at 141 pounds as a junior and eighth at 148 pounds as a senior.

Mixed martial arts

Early career

Radach made his professional MMA debut in 2001 and compiled an undefeated record of 10-0 before being signed by the UFC to compete as a Welterweight.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Radach made his UFC debut against Steve Berger at UFC 37 on May 10, 2002. Radach originally was declared the winner via TKO 27 seconds into the first round, but the decision was later overturned when replay showed that Radach hit Berger in the back of the head illegally, which caused the TKO win.[1]

Radach next fought against Nick Serra on June 22, 2002 at UFC 37.5. Radach won via unanimous decision.

Radach then made his next appearance against future UFC Lightweight Champion Sean Sherk at UFC 39 on September 27, 2002. Radach lost in the first round via TKO from a referee stoppage due to a cut.

Post-UFC

Radach returned to the regional circuit where he went 4-1 before facing former WEC Middleweight Champion Chris Leben under the SportFight 4 on June 26, 2004. Radach lost via TKO in the third round after breaking his jaw, and as a result, Radach was kept away from active competition for three years.

International Fight League

Radach returned to MMA in 2007 after signing a contract to compete for the Los Angeles Anacondas of the IFL, coached by Bas Rutten. Radach made his first appearance against Ryan McGivern on February 2, 2007 at IFL: Houston. Radach won via TKO in the second round.

Radach then faced Brian Foster at IFL: Los Angeles on March 17, 2007. Radach won via guillotine choke submission in the first round.

Radach then fought Bristol Marunde at IFL: Everett on June 1, 2007. Radach won via TKO in the first round.

Radach made his next appearance against Gerald Harris at the IFL 2007 Semifinals on August 2, 2007. Radach won via TKO in the first round.

Radach next fought Brent Beauparlant at the IFL World Grand Prix Semifinals on November 3, 2007. Radach won via knockout in the first round.

Undefeated in the promotion, Radach next fought for the inaugural IFL Middleweight Championship against Matt Horwich at the IFL World Grand Prix Finals on December 29, 2007. Radach lost via knockout in the second round.

EliteXC

Radach signed a three-fight deal with EliteXC in 2008 and won his first bout against top-ranked Middleweight Murilo Rua at EliteXC: Heat on October 4, 2008. Radach finished the fight via TKO in the second round.

Strikeforce

After EliteXC's demise, Radach then moved on to Strikeforce where he lost by a controversial knockout to Scott Smith. Radach was winning the fight striking until he was knocked out by a straight right from Smith in the final round.

Radach has suffered many injuries throughout his career, including a broken jaw, a herniated disc, neck surgery, ACL replacement, and a broken collarbone, amongst others. Radach would suffer another problem in February 2010 when he caught a staph infection after surgery on a torn pectoral muscle that was suffered in training.[2]

Radach fought Ovince St. Preux for Strikeforce on December 4, 2010.[3] Radach lost to St. Preux via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-25).

Post-Strikeforce

Radach was expected to return from a three-year hiatus and face Dmitry Samoilov at Tyumen Fight 2 on December 22, 2013. However, in the weeks leading up to the fight, the event was cancelled.[4]

Bellator MMA

Over four years since his last fight, Radach made his Bellator debut against undefeated Ben Reiter at Bellator 137 on May 15, 2015, replacing an injured A.J. Matthews.[5] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Outside MMA

In 2006 Radach foiled an armed robbery attempt in Vancouver, WA by physically disarming a gunman who was trying to hold up the restaurant that Radach was patronizing.[6]

He was recently named the corporate director of instructor's training for LA Boxing. His responsibilities primarily involve training and preparing potential LA Boxing instructors for lessons of various experience levels.[7]

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 21–7–1 Ben Reiter Decision (unanimous) Bellator 137 May 15, 2015 3 5:00 Temecula, California, United States Return to Middleweight.
Loss 21–6–1 Ovince St. Preux Decision (unanimous) Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu II December 4, 2010 3 5:00 St. Louis, Missouri, United States Light Heavyweight bout.
Loss 21–5–1 Scott Smith KO (punch) Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz April 11, 2009 3 3:24 San Jose, California, United States
Win 21–4–1 Murilo Rua TKO (punches) EliteXC: Heat October 4, 2008 2 2:31 Sunrise, Florida, United States
Loss 20–4–1 Matt Horwich KO (punch) IFL: World Grand Prix Finals December 29, 2007 2 1:58 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States For inaugural IFL Middleweight Championship.
Win 20–3–1 Brent Beauparlant KO (punch) IFL: World Grand Prix Semifinals November 3, 2007 1 2:26 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 19–3–1 Gerald Harris TKO (punches) IFL: 2007 Semifinals August 2, 2007 1 3:03 East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States
Win 18–3–1 Bristol Marunde TKO (punches) IFL: Everett June 1, 2007 1 1:28 Everett, Washington, United States
Win 17–3–1 Brian Foster Submission (guillotine choke) IFL: Los Angeles March 17, 2007 1 1:04 Los Angeles, California, United States
Win 16–3–1 Ryan McGivern TKO (punches) IFL: Houston February 2, 2007 2 2:22 Houston, Texas, United States
Loss 15–3–1 Chris Leben TKO (broken jaw) SF 4: Fight For Freedom June 26, 2004 3 3:43 Gresham, Oregon, United States
Loss 15–2–1 Danny Lafever KO (punch) Ultimate Ring Challenge 6 October 25, 2003 1 0:55 Longview, Washington, United States
Win 15–1–1 Gustavo Machado KO (punches) KOTC 28: More Punishment August 16, 2003 1 1:31 Reno, Nevada, United States
Win 14–1–1 Steve Van Fleet KO (punches) IFC WC 18: Big Valley Brawl July 19, 2003 1 1:21 Lakeport, California, United States
Win 13–1–1 Joel Blanton KO (punches) UFCF: Seattle March 1, 2003 1 N/A Seattle, Washington, United States
Win 12–1–1 Chris Irvine KO (punches) Ultimate Ring Challenge 3 January 4, 2003 1 1:02 Kelso, Washington, United States
Loss 11–1–1 Sean Sherk TKO (cut) UFC 39 September 27, 2002 1 4:16 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Welterweight bout.
Win 11–0–1 Nick Serra Decision (unanimous) UFC 37.5 June 22, 2002 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Welterweight bout.
NC 10–0–1 Steve Berger No Contest (overturned by state commission) UFC 37 May 10, 2002 1 0:27 Bossier City, Louisiana, United States {{smallWelterweight bout.}}
Win 10–0 Shannon Ritch TKO (punches) MFC 3: Canadian Pride March 3, 2002 1 1:18 Alberta, Canada
Win 9–0 Eric Davila Decision (unanimous) Rumble in the Rockies January 26, 2002 2 3:00 Denver, Colorado, United States
Win 8–0 Oscar Verdusco KO (punch) UFCF: Olympia Ring Challenge January 5, 2002 1 0:25 Olympia, Washington, United States
Win 7–0 Willy Solorio TKO (punches) IFC: Warriors Challenge 16 November 9, 2001 1 1:23 Oroville, California, United States
Win 6–0 Royden Demotta Submission (punches and knees) WEC 2 October 4, 2001 1 1:01 Lemoore, California, United States
Win 5–0 Eric Perez KO (punch) PPKA: Muckelshoot August 15, 2001 1 0:18 Auburn, Washington, United States
Win 4–0 Dennis Asche Decision (unanimous) DesertBrawl 1 June 1, 2001 3 5:00 Bend, Oregon, United States
Win 3–0 Oz Preciado KO (punch) UFCF: Everett Extreme Challenge 3 May 19, 2001 1 N/A Everett, Washington, United States
Win 2–0 Eric Lucas KO (punch) Rumble in the Ring 2 April 28, 2001 1 0:09 Auburn, Washington, United States
Win 1–0 Clayton Purvis TKO (punches) UFCF: Road To Victory March 17, 2001 3 N/A Olympia, Washington, United States

References

  1. ↑ http://fcfighter.com/post/louisiana-commission-declaresradach-vs-berger-no-contest
  2. ↑ http://www.mmamania.com/2010/2/19/1318133/staph-infection-sends-injured
  3. ↑ "Benji Radach vs. Ovince St. Preux Added to Strikeforce Fight Card". MMAWeekly.com. 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
  4. ↑ "Tyumen Fight 2 Cancelled Event". tapology.com. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  5. ↑ Staff (May 7, 2015). "With A.J. Matthews injured, Ben Reiter will now meet Benji Radach at Bellator 137". themmareport.com.
  6. ↑ "Benji Radach Bio". www.ifl.tv. 2007-01-01. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
  7. ↑ www.ifl.tv

External links

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