Robert Whiteford (born 12 April 1983) is a Scottish mixed martial artist competing in Featherweight division. A professional competitor since 2009, he formerly competed for the UFC, being the first Scottish fighter to be signed by the promotion, Bellator MMA, and Absolute Championship Berkut.

Rob Whiteford
BornRobert Whiteford
(1983-04-12) April 12, 1983 (age 40)
Fauldhouse, West Lothian, Scotland
Other namesThe Hammer
NationalityScottish
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
Weight145.7 lb (66.1 kg; 10.41 st)
DivisionFeatherweight
Reach69.0 in (175 cm)[1]
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofFauldhouse, West Lothian, Scotland
TeamAmerican Top Team, Dinky Ninjas
RankBlack belt in Judo[2]
Years active2009–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total22
Wins16
By knockout7
By submission3
By decision6
Losses5
By knockout2
By submission1
By decision2
No contests1
Other information
Websitehttp://www.robertwhiteford.com/
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Career edit

Whiteford has a strong background in judo and Muay Thai, he first began fighting for team "Hostile Territory" based out of "The Dojo" gym in Alloa. He then joined the Dinky Ninja Fight Team (DNFT) The Griphouse Gym, in Glasgow where he has remained a member of the team since. He now lives and trains in South Florida at American Top Team. He has also spent time training with "Sweden All Stars" in Stockholm.

Whiteford made his professional debut in 2009 competing primarily for regional promotions across the United Kingdom where he was able to compile a record of 10 - 1 before signing with the UFC in the fall of 2013.[3]

Whiteford was also a bronze medalist at the 2006 Commonwealth Judo Championships in 2006 in the category of senior male under 73 kg.[4]

Ultimate Fighting Championship edit

Whiteford made his promotional debut on 26 October 2013, as a short notice replacement for an injured Mike Wilkinson and faced Jimy Hettes at UFC Fight Night 30.[5][6] Hettes defeated Whiteford via submission (triangle choke) in the second round.[7]

Whiteford faced Daniel Pineda on 15 March 2014 at UFC 171.[8] Whiteford defeated Pineda via unanimous decision.[9]

Whiteford was expected to face Dennis Siver on 4 October 2014 at UFC Fight Night 53.[10] However, Whiteford was forced out of the bout in mid-September with an injury and replaced by Charles Rosa.[11]

Whiteford faced Paul Redmond on 18 July 2015 at UFC Fight Night 72.[12] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.

Whiteford faced Darren Elkins on 24 October 2015 at UFC Fight Night 76.[13] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[14]

Whiteford faced Lucas Martins on 10 April 2016 at UFC Fight Night 86.[15] Whiteford lost the fight via split decision and was subsequently released from the promotion.[16][17]

Bellator MMA edit

After three straight wins in Absolute Championship Berkut, Whiteford signed with Bellator. He made his promotional debut against Sam Sicilia at Bellator London 2 on November 23, 2019. Despite being knocked down multiple times during the bout, Whiteford came back and knocked Sicilia out with only six seconds left in the final round.[18]

Whiteford faced Andrew Fisher on October 1, 2021 at Bellator 267.[19] After being eye poked three times, Whiteford was unable to continue and the bout was called a no contest.[20]

Whiteford faced Daniel Weichel on May 13, 2022 at Bellator 281.[21] He lost the bout via TKO stoppage in the first round.[22][23]

Mixed martial arts record edit

Professional record breakdown
22 matches 16 wins 5 losses
By knockout 7 2
By submission 3 1
By decision 6 2
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 16–5 (1) Daniel Weichel TKO (punches) Bellator 281 May 13, 2022 1 1:12 London, England
NC 16–4 (1) Andrew Fisher NC (accidental eye poke) Bellator 267 October 1, 2021 2 2:50 London, England Accidental eye poke rendered Whiteford unable to continue.
Win 16–4 Sam Sicilia KO (punches) Bellator London 2 November 23, 2019 3 4:54 London, England
Win 15–4 Kane Mousah Decision (split) ACB 87: Whiteford vs Mousah May 19, 2018 3 5:00 Nottingham, England
Win 14–4 Nam Phan Technical Submission (front choke) ACB 54: Supersonic March 11, 2017 1 0:29 Manchester, England
Win 13–4 Kevin Petshi Decision (unanimous) ACB 47: Braveheart: Young Eagles 14 1 October 2016 3 5:00 Glasgow, Scotland Catchweight (141 lb) bout.
Loss 12–4 Lucas Martins Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Rothwell vs. dos Santos 10 April 2016 3 5:00 Zagreb, Croatia
Loss 12–3 Darren Elkins Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Holohan vs. Smolka 24 October 2015 3 5:00 Dublin, Ireland
Win 12–2 Paul Redmond KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Leites 18 July 2015 1 3:04 Glasgow, Scotland
Win 11–2 Daniel Pineda Decision (unanimous) UFC 171 15 March 2014 3 5:00 Dallas, Texas, United States
Loss 10–2 Jimy Hettes Technical Submission (triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Munoz 26 October 2013 2 2:17 Manchester, England
Win 10–1 Paul Reed Decision (unanimous) SFC: Reawakening 30 June 2013 3 5:00 Stirling, Scotland
Win 9–1 Martin Svensson TKO (punches) Vision FC 4 12 September 2012 1 0:43 Glasgow, Scotland Won the Vision Featherweight Championship.
Win 8–1 Carl Fawcett Decision (majority) Supremacy Fight Challenge 6 20 May 2012 3 5:00 Gateshead, England
Win 7–1 Antanas Jazbutis Decision (unanimous) Vision FC 3 28 April 2012 3 5:00 Glasgow, Scotland
Win 6–1 Jonny Goodall TKO (punches) Headhunters MMA 2 2 October 2011 1 0:15 Edinburgh, Scotland
Win 5–1 Liam James Decision (unanimous) Supremacy Fight Challenge 2 29 May 2011 3 5:00 Gateshead, England
Win 4–1 David Galbraith KO (punches) On Top 1 2 February 2011 2 1:22 Glasgow, Scotland
Win 3–1 Chris Batty Submission (punches) AC 3: Revolution 1 May 2010 1 N/A Edinburgh, Scotland
Win 2–1 Rich Edgeworth TKO (punches) Hostile Territory 5 10 April 2010 1 N/A Alloa, Scotland
Win 1–1 Alan Duffy TKO (punches) AC 2: The Gathering 28 November 2009 1 2:39 Edinburgh, Scotland
Loss 0–1 Bobby McVitie TKO (doctor stoppage) AC 1: Proving Ground 23 May 2009 1 5:00 Edinburgh, Scotland

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Fight Card - UFC Fight Night Bisping vs. Leites". UFC.com. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Rob Whiteford - Official UFC Fighter Profile". UFC.com. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  3. ^ Zane Simon (23 October 2013). "UFC signs Robert Whiteford to replace Mike Wilkinson against Jimy Hettes at Fight Night 30". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  4. ^ Newbury, Stefan. "Commonwealth Judo Championships 2006 Results, Statistics, and Draw Sheets" (PDF). British Judo. /www.britishjudo.org.uk. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  5. ^ John Morgan and Matt Erickson (20 October 2013). "Robert Whiteford expected to face Jimy Hettes at UFC Fight Night 30". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  6. ^ Staff (20 October 2013). "UFC lands first Scottish fighter, Robert Whiteford to face Jimy Hettes". MMAmount.com. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  7. ^ Steven Marrocco (26 October 2013). "UFC Fight Night 30 results: Jimy Hettes chokes out Robert Whiteford in second". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  8. ^ Staff (19 January 2014). "Daniel Pineda vs. Robert Whiteford added to UFC 171 in Dallas". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  9. ^ Steven Marrocco and Rick Lee (16 March 2014). "Robert Whiteford spares no expletives in tough UFC 171 win over Daniel Pineda". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  10. ^ Staff (29 July 2014). "Dennis Siver meets Robert Whiteford at UFC Fight Night 53 in Stockholm". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  11. ^ Staff (29 September 2014). "As SMMAF rules out Taylor Lapilus, Charles Rosa joins Saturday's UFC Fight Night 53 card". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  12. ^ Matt Erickson (18 May 2015). "Redmond vs. Whiteford, Edwards vs. Pawlak booked for UFC Fight Night 72 in Scotland". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  13. ^ Paul Dollery (14 September 2015). "UFC Dublin card finalised after addition of a cracking featherweight bout". the42.ie. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  14. ^ Brent Brookhouse (24 October 2015). "UFC Fight Night 76 results: Darren Elkins grinds out Robert Whiteford for sweep". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  15. ^ Scott Mullen (4 March 2016). "Robert Whiteford to face Lucas Martins in undercard of Fight Night: Rothwell v Dos Santos". eveningtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  16. ^ Ben Fowlkes (10 April 2016). "UFC Fight Night 86 results: Lucas Martins takes split decision from Robert Whiteford". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  17. ^ Seamus Raftery (21 May 2016). "he UFC Release Scotland's Robert Whiteford". punditarena.com. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  18. ^ Simon Head (23 November 2019). "Bellator Europe 6 results: Michael Page steals show with one-hitter quitter in London". mmajunkie.com.
  19. ^ Heck, Mike (27 July 2021). "Douglas Lima vs. Michael Page 2 headlines Bellator's return to London on Oct. 1". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  20. ^ Guillen, Adam Jr. (1 October 2021). "Bellator 267 results: Live streaming play-by-play updates | 'Lima vs MVP 2'". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  21. ^ Youngs, Jose (25 January 2022). "Denise Kielholtz vs. Kana Watanabe, Daniel Weichel vs. Robert Whiteford set for Bellator London". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  22. ^ Sherdog.com. "Bellator 281 'MVP vs. Storley' Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring". Sherdog. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  23. ^ Sherdog.com. "Bellator 281 Highlight Video: Daniel Weichel Quickly Dispatches of Robert Whiteford". Sherdog. Retrieved 14 May 2022.

External links edit