Bobby Southworth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bobby Southworth |
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|---|---|
| Born | Bobby Southworth December 16, 1969 Madison, Wisconsin, United States |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | 228 lb (103 kg; 16.3 st) |
| Division | Light Heavyweight Heavyweight |
| Reach | 76 in (193 cm) |
| Style | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing, Wrestling, Boxing |
| Fighting out of | Santa Cruz, California |
| Team | Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Gracie Systems Ralph Gracie Jiu-jitsu (1996–1997) American Kickboxing Academy (1997–2003, 2004–present) |
| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Dave Camarillo |
| Years active | 1999–2003, 2004–2010 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 17 |
| Wins | 10 |
| By knockout | 6 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Losses | 6 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 1 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Other information | |
| University | UC Davis |
Bobby Southworth, born on December 16, 1969, is a retired American mixed martial artist. He was a champion in the Light Heavyweight division. Bobby fought in big events like PRIDE FC and was on the TV show The Ultimate Fighter. He was also the very first Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion.
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Bobby's Early Life and Training
Bobby Southworth was born in Madison, Wisconsin. He was adopted as a baby and grew up in Santa Cruz, California. He has three sisters.
As a kid, Bobby loved sports! He played football and basketball, went surfing, and ran track. He even played basketball in college at UC Davis.
Bobby got interested in martial arts after watching famous fighters like Royce Gracie. He wanted to stay fit, so a friend invited him to a jiu-jitsu class. Bobby loved it right away! He joined the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu academy. Later, he moved to Gracie Systems.
Bobby also trained and taught jiu-jitsu at Ralph Gracie's academy. He then joined the American Kickboxing Academy. There, he helped start their Brazilian jiu-jitsu program.
Bobby's Mixed Martial Arts Career
Bobby Southworth's first big fight was against Vitor Belfort at PRIDE 13 in Japan. He lost this fight in the first round.
Later, Bobby took a short break from fighting. But he still wanted to compete. So, he returned to the sport about a year later.
Fighting on TV: The Ultimate Fighter
Bobby appeared on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter TV show. He won his first fight against Lodune Sincaid. But he lost his next fight to Stephan Bonnar.
Bobby also fought Sam Hoger on the show's finale. He lost that fight.
Becoming a Champion in Strikeforce
After The Ultimate Fighter, Bobby moved to Strikeforce. His first fight there was against James "The Sandman" Irvin. This fight ended very quickly in a "No Contest." This happened because both fighters accidentally pushed open the cage door!
In his next fight, Bobby got a chance to fight for the vacant Light Heavyweight Championship. He fought Vernon "Tiger" White. Bobby won the fight by decision, becoming the first Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion!
Bobby then had a non-title fight against Anthony Ruiz. He lost this fight. But a rematch was set up, and this time it was for Bobby's championship. Bobby won the rematch against Anthony Ruiz. This made him the only fighter to successfully defend the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship.
In his next title defense, Bobby fought Renato Sobral "Babalu." Bobby lost his championship in the first round due to a cut above his eye. Even though Bobby was fighting well, the doctors stopped the fight because of the cut.
After Strikeforce
Bobby tried out for another season of The Ultimate Fighter. However, that season focused only on Middleweight fighters.
Bobby's last professional fight was in 2010 against Aaron Boyes. He won this fight by knockout in the first round.
Bobby's Life Outside the Ring
Bobby Southworth has four children: three daughters and one son.
In 2008, Bobby helped start the American Kickboxing Academy in Sunnyvale. Later, in 2015, he began coaching at a UFC Gym in San Antonio, Texas.
Bobby's Achievements
- Strikeforce
- Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship (One time, First ever champion)
- One Successful Title Defense
- The only fighter to have successfully defended the Light Heavyweight Championship
Bobby's Fight Record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 17 matches | 10 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 3 |
| By submission | 2 | 2 |
| By decision | 2 | 1 |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 10–6 (1) | Aaron Boyes | TKO (punches) | Xtreme MMA 2 | July 31, 2010 | 1 | 1:56 | Sydney, NSW, Australia | |
| Loss | 9–6 (1) | Renato Sobral | TKO (cut) | Strikeforce: Destruction | November 21, 2008 | 1 | 5:00 | San Jose, California, United States | Lost the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–5 (1) | Anthony Ruiz | Decision (unanimous) | Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson | June 27, 2008 | 5 | 5:00 | San Jose, California, United States | Defended the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Loss | 8–5 (1) | Anthony Ruiz | TKO (cut) | Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Man Survives | November 16, 2007 | 2 | 0:52 | San Jose, California, United States | Non-title bout. |
| Win | 8–4 (1) | Bill Mahood | TKO (rib injury) | Strikeforce: ... Mansion | September 29, 2007 | 1 | 1:15 | Beverly Hills, California, United States | |
| Win | 7–4 (1) | Vernon White | Decision (unanimous) | Strikeforce: Triple Threat | December 8, 2006 | 5 | 5:00 | San Jose, California, United States | Won the inaugural Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| NC | 6–4 (1) | James Irvin | No Contest | Strikeforce: Revenge | June 9, 2006 | 1 | 0:17 | San Jose, California, United States | Both fighters fell from the cage. |
| Loss | 6–4 | Sam Hoger | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale | April 9, 2005 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 6–3 | Bryan Pardoe | TKO | X-1 | September 6, 2003 | 2 | 0:14 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Win | 5–3 | Brian Vanderwalle | Submission (armbar) | IFC WC 18: Big Valley Brawl | July 19, 2003 | 1 | 4:28 | Lakeport, California, United States | |
| Loss | 4–3 | David Pa'aluhi | KO | Warriors Quest 4: Genesis | March 29, 2002 | 1 | 0:16 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| Win | 4–2 | Floyd Sword | TKO | IFC WC 14: Warriors Challenge 14 | July 18, 2001 | 3 | 5:00 | Friant, California, United States | |
| Loss | 3–2 | Vitor Belfort | Submission (rear-naked choke) | PRIDE 13: Collision Course | March 25, 2001 | 1 | 4:09 | Saitama, Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 3–1 | Ivan Sequet | TKO (submission to strikes) | Bushido 1 | January 18, 2001 | 1 | Tempe, Arizona, United States | ||
| Win | 2–1 | Toby Oberdine | Submission (choke) | IFC WC 10: Warriors Challenge 10 | October 11, 2000 | 1 | 2:30 | Friant, California, United States | |
| Win | 1–1 | Bob Ostovich | TKO (punches) | SB 12: SuperBrawl 12 | June 1, 1999 | 1 | 4:22 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| Loss | 0–1 | Jason Godsey | Submission (choke) | Neutral Grounds 12 | May 28, 1999 | N/A | United States |
