Brandon Thatch

Brandon Thatch
Born (1985-07-11) July 11, 1985
Denver, Colorado, United States
Other names Rukus
Nationality American
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1]
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Division Welterweight
Reach 74.5 in (189 cm)[2]
Style Kickboxing, Karate
Team Elevation Fight Team
Years active 2007–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 15
Wins 11
By knockout 7
By submission 4
Losses 4
By submission 3
By decision 1
Amateur career
Total 3
Wins 3
By knockout 1
By submission 2
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Brandon Michael Thatch[3] (born July 11, 1985) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight division of the UFC. A professional since 2007, he has also competed for Strikeforce and the RFA.

Background

Thatch was adopted at age five by his mother's partner, Clarence Thatch, a former karate champion. Thatch began training in karate at the age of 4,[4] and fought in his first kickboxing bout at age 17. He later transitioned into a career in mixed martial arts.[5]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Thatch started his amateur MMA career on March 31, 2007 against Jesse Brown, which he won via second round submission. Thatch went undefeated as amateur in 2007 with 3-0 record. Thatch made his pro debut in June 2008 against Mike Crisman at Ring of Fire 32. He won via TKO 38 seconds into the fight.

Thatch made his Strikeforce debut against Brandon Magana at Strikeforce: At The Mansion II. He lost via split decision. Thatch bounced back from that loss with an 18-second head kick knockout win over Michael Arrant at Ring of Fire 33. In Thatch's next fight he took on Danny Davis Jr, winning via rear-naked choke submission.

Thatch next faced Chris Holland at Ring of Fire 40. He won via KO in only 19 seconds. Next for Thatch was a bout with Chidi Njokuani at Ring of Fire 41, which he won by technical knockout within the first minute. In his next fight Thatch took on Patrick Vallee at Instinct MMA 2 on December 2, 2011, again winning by quick TKO, this time in only 15 seconds. Thatch was named as Bloody Elbow's #3 welterweight prospect in their annual scouting report.[5] Four months later, Thatch fought Jory Erickson at Instinct MMA 3. Thatch won by knockout in 18 seconds, to take his professional record to 7–1, with all seven wins coming by stoppage in the first round.

Thatch was signed to fight Martin Grandmont at Instinct MMA 4 on June 29, 2012. He won via rear-naked choke just under two minutes into the first round.

In Thatch's next fight he headlined Resurrection Fighting Alliance 7 against Mike Rhodes. He won via rear-naked choke again in the first round. Before and after the fight Thatch believed that he was going to get a call from the UFC.[6]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On May 8, 2013, Thatch signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC.[7]

Thatch faced Justin Edwards on August 28, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 27.[8] He won the bout via first round TKO. The win also earned him his first Knockout of the Night bonus award.[9]

In his second UFC fight, Thatch faced Paulo Thiago at UFC Fight Night 32 on November 9, 2013.[10] He won the fight via submission due to a knee to the body in the first round.

Thatch was expected to face Jordan Mein on August 23, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 49, replacing an injured Thiago Alves. [11] Subsequently, Thatch also pulled out of the bout with Mein citing a toe injury.[12]

Thatch was expected to face Stephen Thompson on February 14, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 60.[13] However, Thompson pulled out of the fight on January 30, citing a rib injury.[14] Subsequently, Thatch faced former UFC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson at the event.[15] Thatch lost the back and forth fight via submission in the fourth round.[16] Their performance earned both participants Fight of the Night honors[17]

Thatch was expected to face John Howard on July 11, 2015 at UFC 189.[18] However, on June 23, Thatch was pulled from that bout in favor of a fight with Gunnar Nelson, as his scheduled opponent John Hathaway was forced out with injury.[19] Thatch lost via rear-naked choke submission after getting knocked down by Nelson.[20]

Thatch next faced Siyar Bahadurzada on March 5, 2016 at UFC 196.[21] He lost via submission late in the third round.[22]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 11–4 Siyar Bahadurzada Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC 196 March 5, 2016 3 4:11 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 11–3 Gunnar Nelson Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 189 July 11, 2015 1 2:54 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 11–2 Benson Henderson Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch February 14, 2015 4 3:58 Broomfield, Colorado, United States Fight of the Night.
Win 11–1 Paulo Thiago Submission (knee to the body) UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson November 9, 2013 1 2:10 Goiânia, Brazil
Win 10–1 Justin Edwards TKO (knees and punches) UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Kampmann 2 August 28, 2013 1 1:23 Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Knockout of the Night.
Win 9–1 Mike Rhodes Submission (rear-naked choke) RFA 7 March 22, 2013 1 2:22 Broomfield, Colorado, United States Catchweight (172 lbs) bout.
Win 8–1 Martin Grandmont Submission (rear-naked choke) Instinct MMA: Instinct Fighting 4 June 29, 2012 1 1:55 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Win 7–1 Jory Erickson KO (knee) Instinct MMA: Instinct Fighting 3 March 31, 2012 1 0:18 Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
Win 6–1 Patrick Vallee TKO (knee to the body and punches) Instinct MMA: Instinct Fighting 2 December 2, 2011 1 0:15 Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Win 5–1 Chidi Njokuani TKO (punches) Ring of Fire 41: Bragging Rights August 20, 2011 1 0:53 Broomfield, Colorado, United States Catchweight (173 lbs) bout; Njokuani missed weight.
Win 4–1 Chris Holland KO (punches) Ring of Fire 40: Backlash April 16, 2011 1 0:19 Broomfield, Colorado, United States Won the ROF Young Guns Welterweight Championship.
Win 3–1 Danny Davis Jr. Submission (rear-naked choke) Ring of Fire 39: Summer Brawl 2 August 27, 2010 1 4:12 Denver, Colorado, United States
Win 2–1 Michael Arrant KO (head kick) Ring of Fire 33: Adrenaline January 10, 2009 1 0:18 Broomfield, Colorado, United States
Loss 1–1 Brandon Magana Decision (split) Strikeforce: At The Mansion II September 20, 2008 3 3:00 Los Angeles, California, United States
Win 1–0 Mike Crisman TKO (knees) Ring of Fire 32: Respect June 13, 2008 1 0:38 Broomfield, Colorado, United States

Amateur mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 3–0 Doug Saiz TKO (punches) Ring of Fire 30: Domination September 15, 2007 2 2:33 Broomfield, Colorado, United States
Win 2–0 Josh Kirby Submission (rear-naked choke) Ring of Fire 29: Aftershock April 28, 2007 1 1:26 Broomfield, Colorado, United States
Win 1–0 Jesse Brown Submission (rear-naked choke) Battlequest 5: Avalanche March 31, 2007 2 1:09 Vail, Colorado, United States


See also

References

  1. ↑ "Fight Card - UFC 189 Mendes vs. McGregor". UFC.com. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  2. ↑ "FightCenter - Brandon "Rukus" Thatch". tapology.com. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  3. ↑ http://boxing.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/boxingnvgov/content/results/2016_Results/03-05-16MMA.pdf
  4. ↑ Nick Groke (2015-02-12). "Brandon Thatch coming of age with MMA, as bout vs. Benson Henderson on tap". Denver Post.
  5. 1 2 Leland Rolling (2012-01-07). "2012 World MMA Welterweight Scouting Report: #3 – Brandon Thatch". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2013-08-26.
  6. ↑ Matt Erickson (April 2, 2013). "RFA 7 winner Brandon Thatch believes UFC shot is just around corner". mmajunkie.com.
  7. ↑ Staff (2013-05-08). "UFC signs Colorado-based welterweight Brandon Thatch to multi-fight deal". mmajunkie.com.
  8. ↑ Staff (2013-06-05). "Justin Edwards-Brandon Thatch booked for UFC on FOX Sports 1 2 in Indianapolis". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-06-05.
  9. ↑ Staff (2013-08-28). "UFC Fight Night 27 bonuses: Thatch, Cummings, Condit, Kampmann earn $50K". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  10. ↑ Guilherme Cruz. "Thatch vs. Thiago, Sicilia vs. Castro added to UFN 32". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2013-09-14.
  11. ↑ Steven Marrocco (2014-07-02). "Knee injury scratches Thiago Alves from UFC Fight Night 49, Brandon Thatch now faces Jordan Mein". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-07-02.
  12. ↑ Staff (2014-08-02). "Brandon Thatch withdraws from Jordan Mein fight". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-08-02.
  13. ↑ Chuck Mindenhall (2014-11-13). "Brandon Thatch set to square off with Stephen Thompson in Colorado". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2014-11-13.
  14. ↑ Staff (2015-01-30). "Stephen Thompson Out of UFC Fight Night 60 Main Event, Brandon Thatch Awaits a Replacement". mmaweekly.com. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  15. ↑ John Morgan (2015-02-01). "Benson Henderson vs. Brandon Thatch set as new UFC Fight Night 60 main event". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-02-01.
  16. ↑ Thomas Myers (2015-02-15). "UFC Fight Night 60 results: Ben Henderson survives Brandon Thatch beating, scores sensational rear-naked choke submission". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2015-02-15.
  17. ↑ Staff (2015-02-15). "UFC Fight Night 60 bonuses: Neil Magny got his first $50,000. Who joined him?". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-02-15.
  18. ↑ Mike Bohn (2015-04-01). "Brandon Thatch vs. John Howard added to UFC 189 in Las Vegas". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  19. ↑ Matt Erickson (2015-06-23). "Brandon Thatch meets Gunnar Nelson at UFC 189, John Howard now gets Cathal Pendred". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-06-23.
  20. ↑ Brent Brookhouse (2015-07-11). "UFC 189 results: Gunnar Nelson drops, then chokes out Brandon Thatch in first". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  21. ↑ Staff (2016-02-12). "'Medication' clearance issue moves Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Brandon Thatch to UFC 196". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
  22. ↑ Brent Brookhouse (2016-03-05). "UFC 196 results: Siyar Bahadurzada finishes overmatched Brandon Thatch with choke". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-03-05.
  23. ↑ Brett Okamoto (2015-07-03). "Fight of the midyear: Henderson-Thatch". espn.go.com.
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