All MMA fightersRicco Rodriguez
“Suave”
MMA · Retired54-27 (1 NC)RECORD
17KO / TKO WINS
25SUBMISSION WINS
12DECISION WINS
Profile
| Full name | Not added yet |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Suave |
| Date of birth | 19 Aug 1977 |
| Nationality | American |
| Birthplace | San Jose, California, United States |
| Lives in | Staten Island, New York, United States |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Team | American Fight Club |
| Height | 193 cm (6′4″) |
| Reach | 196 cm (77″) |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Years active | 1999–2019 |
| Status | Retired |
| Pro debut | 25 Mar 1999 |
| Last fight | Loss vs Hatef Moeil, 2 Feb 2019 |
Details on this page were compiled from public information on 11 Oct 2026 (the record is as of that date). Is this you? Claim this profile to correct anything and add your photo and bio. Claim this profile
Titles and honours
- UFC Heavyweight Champion (one time)
- KOTC Openweight Superfight Champion
- UWC Heavyweight Champion (one time)
- CFS Heavyweight Champion (one time)
- ADCC World Championship gold, +99 kg (1998)
- BJJ World Championship absolute gold (1997)
Background
American heavyweight and decorated grappler from San Jose, California, who won the vacant UFC heavyweight title against Randy Couture in 2002, then fought widely on the regional and international circuit for more than 80 bouts. He retired in 2019.
Fight history
82 professional fights. Newest first.
| Result | Opponent | Method | Round | Time | Event | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | Hatef Moeil | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Cage Fight Series 9 | 2 Feb 2019 | Graz, Austria | |
| Loss | Alex Nicholson | TKO (submission to punches) | 1 | 1:27 | AFC 24: CamSoda Legends | 26 Apr 2018 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |
| Win | Nandor Guelmino | Submission (forearm choke) | 3 | 2:30 | Cage Fight Series 8 | 21 Jan 2018 | Graz, Austria | Won the CFS Heavyweight title |
| Loss | Gilbert Yvel | TKO (leg kicks) | 1 | 1:00 | WFCA 31 | 19 Nov 2016 | Grozny, Russia | |
| Loss | Ivan Shtyrkov | TKO (punches) | 1 | 1:55 | Titov Boxing Promotion: Shtyrkov vs. Rodriguez | 9 Sep 2016 | Yekaterinburg, Russia | |
| Loss | Denis Stojnić | TKO (punches) | 2 | 0:22 | Bosnia Fight Championship 2 | 13 Jun 2015 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
| Loss | Dion Staring | TKO (retirement) | 2 | 5:00 | Final Fight Championship 17 | 20 Dec 2014 | Opatija, Croatia | For the FFC Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Nestoras Batzelas | TKO (punches) | 2 | 3:33 | Final Fight Championship 10 | 13 Dec 2013 | Skopje, Macedonia | |
| No contest | Denis Stojnić | NC (overturned) | 1 | 4:55 | Bosnian Fight Championship 1 | 9 Nov 2013 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina | TKO loss overturned due to early stoppage |
| Win | Zelg Galešić | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 2:10 | Final Fight Championship 8 | 25 Oct 2013 | Zagreb, Croatia | Catchweight (95 kg) |
| Loss | Ian Freeman | TKO (punches) | 1 | 2:11 | UCFC 5: Legends of MMA | 27 Jul 2013 | Doncaster, England | |
| Loss | Marcin Łazarz | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | GWC: The British Invasion: US vs. UK | 29 Jun 2013 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | Tomaž Simonič | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 3:49 | Final Fight Championship 5 | 24 May 2013 | Osijek, Croatia | |
| Win | Andreas Kraniotakes | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Cage Fight Series 7 | 12 May 2013 | Unterpremstätten, Austria | |
| Loss | Ante Delija | Decision (unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | House of Gladiators 1 | 21 Dec 2012 | Dubrovnik, Croatia | |
| Win | Kevin Thompson | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 4:45 | UWC 21: Xplosion | 20 Oct 2012 | Southend-on-Sea, England | |
| Loss | Stav Economou | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Dubai FC 1: The Beginning | 4 May 2012 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | |
| Loss | Ruslan Magomedov | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | United Glory 15 | 23 Mar 2012 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Loss | Alexander Volkov | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | BF: Baltic Challenge 3 | 23 Feb 2012 | Kaliningrad, Russia | |
| Loss | Blagoi Ivanov | TKO (retirement) | 3 | 3:33 | Chekhov MMA Tournament | 24 Dec 2011 | Chekhov, Russia | |
| Win | Bashir Yamilkhanov | TKO (punches) | 2 | 2:56 | FEFoMP: Battle of Empires | 17 Dec 2011 | Khabarovsk, Russia | |
| Loss | Glover Teixeira | TKO (submission to punches) | 1 | 1:58 | MMA Against Dengue | 27 Nov 2011 | Duque de Caxias, Brazil | |
| Loss | Michał Kita | Decision (unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | MMA Attack | 5 Nov 2011 | Warsaw, Poland | |
| Loss | Seth Petruzelli | TKO (punches) | 1 | 4:21 | Bellator 48 | 20 Aug 2011 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | Doug Williams | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 2:16 | Shark Fights 17: Horwich vs. Rosholt 2 | 15 Jul 2011 | Frisco, Texas, United States | |
| Win | James McSweeney | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | BAMMA 5: Daley vs. Shirai | 26 Feb 2011 | Manchester, England | |
| Win | Daniel Tabera | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Israel Fighting Championship: Genesis | 9 Nov 2010 | Tel Aviv, Israel | |
| Win | John Juarez | Decision (split) | 3 | 5:00 | USA MMA: Stacked | 31 Jul 2010 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States | |
| Win | Bobby Martinez | Submission (heel hook) | 1 | 1:03 | AFA 4: Parking Lot Beatdown | 17 Jul 2010 | Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | Ken Sparks | TKO (punches) | 1 | 2:32 | USA MMA: Legends | 22 May 2010 | Kinder, Louisiana, United States | |
| Win | Travis Fulton | KO (head kick) | 1 | CT: Cage Thug | 1 May 2010 | Waterloo, Iowa, United States | ||
| Win | Brian Ryan | TKO (punches) | 2 | 2:05 | XKL: Evolution 1 | 20 Mar 2010 | Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States | |
| Win | Patrick Miller | TKO (punches) | 2 | 2:20 | STFC 10: Annihilation | 26 Feb 2010 | McAllen, Texas, United States | |
| Win | Moise Rimbon | Decision (split) | 3 | 3:00 | IAFC: Mayor's Cup 2009 | 27 Nov 2009 | Novosibirsk, Russia | |
| Win | Justin Howard | TKO (submission to punches) | 1 | 2:05 | KOK 7: Judgement Day | 29 Aug 2009 | Austin, Texas, United States | |
| Win | John Brown | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 3 | 2:34 | Reality Combat: The Return | 25 Jul 2009 | Slidell, Louisiana, United States | |
| Loss | Mario Rinaldi | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | WFC: Battle of the Bay 8 | 10 Jul 2009 | Tampa, Florida, United States | |
| Win | Doug Williams | Submission (anaconda choke) | 1 | 1:02 | Armagedon Fighting Championships 09 | 27 Jun 2009 | Tyler, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | Jeff Monson | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Mixed Fighting Alliance: There Will Be Blood | 13 Dec 2008 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | Robert Beraun | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | Rage in the Cage 117 | 8 Nov 2008 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | Rob Broughton | Submission (kneebar) | 2 | 3:39 | Cage Gladiators 9 | 4 Oct 2008 | Liverpool, England | |
| Win | Titus Campbell | Submission (guillotine choke) | 2 | 3:06 | Silver Crown Fights | 8 Aug 2008 | Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | Johnathan Ivey | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | Xp3: The Proving Ground | 26 Jul 2008 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | Chris Guillen | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 4:30 | Ultimate Combat Experience 1 | 27 Jun 2008 | West Valley City, Utah, United States | |
| Loss | Travis Wiuff | Decision (unanimous) | 1 | 5:00 | YAMMA Pit Fighting | 11 Apr 2008 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | YAMMA Heavyweight Tournament semifinal |
| Win | George Bush | Decision (unanimous) | 1 | 5:00 | YAMMA Pit Fighting | 11 Apr 2008 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | YAMMA Heavyweight Tournament bout |
| Loss | Antônio Silva | Decision (split) | 3 | 5:00 | EliteXC: Street Certified | 16 Feb 2008 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | Kevin Filal | TKO (retirement) | 1 | PFP: Ring of Fire | 9 Dec 2007 | Manila, Philippines | ||
| Loss | Ben Rothwell | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 4:00 | IFL 2007 World Championship Finals | 20 Sep 2007 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | |
| Win | Lloyd Marshbanks | TKO (punches) | 1 | 3:11 | MMA Xtreme 13 | 28 Jul 2007 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | Imani Lee | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 2:12 | BIB: Beatdown in Bakersfield | 17 Nov 2006 | Bakersfield, California, United States | |
| Win | Abdias Irisson | TKO (punches) | 1 | MMA Xtreme 7 | 11 Nov 2006 | Tijuana, Mexico | ||
| Win | Ron Waterman | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 1 | 5:00 | WFA: King of the Streets | 22 Jul 2006 | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| Win | Taylor Brooks | Submission (armbar) | 1 | MMA Xtreme 1 | 25 Mar 2006 | Tijuana, Mexico | ||
| Loss | Robert Beraun | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | RITC 78: Back with a Vengeance | 14 Jan 2006 | Glendale, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | Tyler Brooks | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 4:00 | Pro Fight League | 9 Dec 2005 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | David Mori | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | MMA Fighting Challenge 4 | 3 Dec 2005 | Guadalajara, Mexico | |
| Win | Corey Salter | Submission (armbar) | 2 | 0:17 | Ultimate Texas Showdown 3 | 26 Nov 2005 | Dallas, Texas, United States | |
| Win | Jimmy Ambriz | TKO (submission to punches) | 1 | 4:13 | WEC 17 | 14 Oct 2005 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Loss | Ron Waterman | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | WEC 16 | 18 Aug 2005 | Lemoore, California, United States | For the WEC Super Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Andy Montana | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 1:50 | Independent event | 15 Jul 2005 | Fountain Hills, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | Ruben Villareal | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 2:38 | Extreme Wars: X-1 | 2 Jul 2005 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| Win | Scott Junk | Submission (front choke) | 2 | 0:42 | Rumble on the Rock 7 | 7 May 2005 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| Win | Mike Seal | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 1:06 | MMA Mexico: Day 2 | 18 Dec 2004 | Ciudad Juárez, Mexico | |
| Loss | Pedro Rizzo | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | UFC 45 | 21 Nov 2003 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Loss | Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | PRIDE Total Elimination 2003 | 10 Aug 2003 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Loss | Tim Sylvia | TKO (punches) | 1 | 3:09 | UFC 41 | 28 Feb 2003 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Lost the UFC Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Randy Couture | TKO (submission to elbow) | 5 | 3:04 | UFC 39 | 27 Sep 2002 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Won the vacant UFC Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Tsuyoshi Kohsaka | TKO (punches) | 2 | 3:25 | UFC 37 | 10 May 2002 | Bossier City, Louisiana, United States | |
| Win | Jeff Monson | TKO (punches) | 3 | 3:00 | UFC 35 | 11 Jan 2002 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | Pete Williams | TKO (punches) | 2 | 4:02 | UFC 34 | 2 Nov 2001 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | Andrei Arlovski | TKO (punches) | 3 | 1:23 | UFC 32 | 29 Jun 2001 | East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | Paul Buentello | Submission (kneebar) | 2 | 4:21 | KOTC 7: Wet and Wild | 24 Feb 2001 | San Jacinto, California, United States | Won the KOTC Openweight Superfight Championship |
| Win | John Marsh | Decision (unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | PRIDE 12: Cold Fury | 23 Dec 2000 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | Giant Ochiai | Submission (smother choke) | 1 | 6:04 | PRIDE 10 | 27 Aug 2000 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | Gary Goodridge | Decision (unanimous) | 2 | 10:00 | PRIDE 9 | 4 Jun 2000 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| Win | Travis Fulton | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 4:49 | KOTC 2: Desert Storm | 5 Feb 2000 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
| Win | Sam Adkins | Submission (forearm choke) | 1 | 4:32 | Armageddon 2 | 23 Nov 1999 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | Bobby Hoffman | KO (punches) | 1 | 3:13 | SuperBrawl 13 | 7 Sep 1999 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| Win | Steve Shaw | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 1:34 | Rage in the Cage 6 | 10 Jul 1999 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | Rocky Batastini | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 4:58 | Extreme Cage | 25 Mar 1999 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | Scott Adams | Decision | 3 | 4:00 | Extreme Cage | 25 Mar 1999 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Pro debut |