Joe Riggs
Born	September 23, 1982 (1982-09-23) (age 27) Sanford, Maine
Other names	Diesel
Height	5 ft 11.5 in (1.82 m)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)
Style	Freestyle, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Fighting out of	Phoenix, Arizona
Team	Elite Performance
MMA record
Total	43
Wins	31
By knockout	14
By submission	13
Losses	11
Draws	0
No contests	1

Joseph Jonathan Riggs (born September 23, 1982) is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He has competed at weights ranging from Heavyweight down to Welterweight. Currently, Riggs fights as a Welterweight.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Martial arts background 3 Mixed martial arts career 4 Elite Performance 5 Personal life 6 MMA record 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Biography

Riggs was born and raised in Sanford, Maine. He dreamed of fighting in the UFC since he was 10 years old.

[edit] Martial arts background

Riggs started boxing as a child with his father. Although Riggs is right handed, he was encouraged by his boxing coach to fight southpaw, making his power hand his lead hand. He is a former boxer.^[1]

He began wrestling at Cactus high school in Glendale, Arizona, he followed in the footsteps of his hero, Randy Couture, and became an All-American twice. Currently, Riggs also holds a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Second-Dan BJJ black belt, Gustavo Dantas. His manager and trainer is Scott Lewis. Riggs has also trained at Arizona Combat Sports under the Lally brothers.

Riggs' strength training consists primarily of plyometrics. His weight training is geared to maintain his muscle mass, and consists of squats, deadlifts and cleans. Riggs does a lot of pushups and circuit training.^[1]

Riggs credits his success to his knockout power and athleticism. He says that his favorite technique is a right hook, which he knocked out Luke Stewart with on November 20, 2008. Riggs has fought in the UFC eight times, and has also appeared at the Playboy Mansion twice fighting under the Strikeforce banner.

[edit] Mixed martial arts career

Over his career, Riggs has fought in the Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, Middleweight and Welterweight divisions, and became a four-time Desert Quest champion, two-time Grapplers Quest Advance champion, Rage in the Cage Heavyweight and Middleweight champion, Art of War Heavyweight champion, Evolution Combat Heavyweight champion, and XCF Light Heavyweight champion.^[2]

Riggs' dream of fighting in the UFC materialized in 2004, in a winning bout against Canadian fighter Joe Doerksen. Riggs received his shot at the UFC Welterweight title at UFC 56 in November 2005 against Matt Hughes.

Originally, the title shot was offered to Karo Parisyan, who had to withdraw due to a torn hamstring. When Riggs was contacted to take Parisyan's place he jumped at the chance, despite having fought at UFC 55 just a month earlier. However, Riggs did not make the required weight and the fight was declared a non-title event, due to Hughes allowing Riggs to fight him (if a fighter does not make weight for a match, the match may still take place if their opponent allows it). Despite his efforts, Riggs could not mount a significant challenge; Hughes took him down and submitted him with a kimura from half-guard just minutes into the first round of the fight.

Following his loss to Hughes, Riggs rebounded to win against Nick Diaz (decision) at UFC 57. In the hospital room after the fight, Diaz and Riggs got into a physical altercation where they had to be separated by police.

Riggs then moved up to Middleweight to face The Ultimate Fighter alumni Mike Swick. Early in the fight Riggs was caught in a guillotine choke and tapped out. Riggs then fought The Ultimate Fighter 2's Jason Von Flue, submitting him with a triangle choke.

Riggs' last UFC bout was on December 13, 2006 against Welterweight contender Diego Sanchez at UFC Fight Night 7. Riggs lost the fight due to knockout from a hook followed by a knee in 1:45 of the first round.

Following the fight with Sanchez, Riggs chose to go to the WEC and compete for the vacant Middleweight championship, but had to pull out of the fight the day before because of a recurring back injury.^[3]

Riggs lost to Cory Devela via TKO at Strikeforce: At The Dome due to re-injuring his back while pummeling before Devela threw him. He was a heavy favorite in this fight, and his loss continued a streak of performances that did not live up to the expectations for the talented fighter (particularly vs. Hughes, Salaverry, Swick, and Sanchez).

Riggs was to return to action on Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson, facing Jiujitsu specialist Luke Stewart. Riggs stepped in as a late replacement for Shonie Carter who was injured in training. The fight was to be contested at a catchweight of 178 pounds.[1] However, He was denied licensure by the California State Athletic Commission after disclosing his recent use of prescription medication during the licensing process. Joe Riggs lost to Kazou Misaki at Strikeforce at the Playboy Mansion on September 20, 2008.

Joe Riggs won his next fight at Strikeforce: Destruction on November 21, 2008 against Luke Stewart by TKO (Punches) in 2nd round 2:05. Riggs broke his hand throwing the first punch of the bout, but managed to rally in the second round, breaking Stewart's nose in the process. [2]

Riggs next fought on the Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields card from the ScottTrade Center in St. Louis, MO on June 6, 2009 against Phil "The New York Badass" Baroni in a 3-round welterweight bout that was broadcast live on the Showtime cable network. In a very impressive performance that featured his versatile standup game, including several flying knees, Riggs won a unanimous decision over Baroni.

Riggs is expected to compete for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title before the end of 2009.

[edit] Elite Performance

Joe "Diesel" Riggs currently trains at Elite Performance with UFC veterans Jeremy "Gumby" Horn, Travis "Diesel" Wiuff, and DaMarques "Darkness" Johnson.

[edit] Personal life

Joe and his wife, Lisa, welcomed a son in the summer of 2006, but he died shortly after birth.^[4] Their second son, Joseph Diesel Riggs, was born on June 28, 2007.^[5]

[edit] MMA record

Professional record breakdown
45 matches	33 wins	11 losses
By knockout	17	4
By submission	13	6
By decision	3	1
Draws	0
No contests	1

Record	Date	Outcome	Opponent	Method	Event	Round	Time	Location	Notes
32–11–0(1)	2009-12-04	Win	David Barnes	TKO (Strikes)	Rage In The Cage 138	1	0:57	Mesa, Arizona, US
31–11–0(1)	2009-06-06	Win	Phil Baroni	Decision (Unanimous)	Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields	3	5:00	St. Louis, Missouri, US
30–11–0(1)	2008-11-21	Win	Luke Stewart	TKO (Punches)	Strikeforce: Destruction	2	2:05	San Jose, California, US
29–11–0(1)	2008-09-20	Loss	Kazuo Misaki	TKO (Punches)	Strikeforce: At The Mansion II	2	2:29	Beverly Hills, California, US
29–10–0(1)	2008-07-26	Win	Matt Dempsey	Submission (Rear Naked Choke)	RITC 112 – Rage in the Cage 112	2	1:47	Prescott, Arizona, US
28–10–0(1)	2008-02-23	Loss	Cory Devela	Submission (Injury)	Strikeforce: At The Dome	1	1:22	Tacoma, Washington, US
28–9–0(1)	2007-09-29	Win	Eugene Jackson	KO (Punches)	Strikeforce: Playboy Mansion	1	3:56	Beverly Hills, California, US
27–9–0(1)	2007-07-21	Win	Dan Chambers	Submission (Triangle Choke)	HCF – Hardcore Championship Fighting	1	N/A	Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
26–9–0(1)	2006-12-13	Loss	Diego Sanchez	KO (Punches)	UFC Fight Night 7	1	1:45	San Diego, California, US
26–8–0(1)	2006-08-17	Win	Jason Von Flue	Submission (Triangle Choke)	UFC Fight Night 6	1	2:01	Las Vegas, Nevada, US
25–8–0(1)	2006-05-27	Loss	Mike Swick	Submission (Guillotine Choke)	UFC 60: Hughes vs. Gracie	1	2:19	Los Angeles, California, US
25–7–0(1)	2006-02-04	Win	Nick Diaz	Decision (Unanimous)	UFC 57: Couture vs Liddell 3	3	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada, US
24–7–0(1)	2005-11-19	Loss	Matt Hughes	Submission (Kimura)	UFC 56: Full Force	1	3:28	Las Vegas, Nevada, US	Originally a title fight, but Riggs failed to make weight and was changed to a non-title match.
24–6–0(1)	2005-10-07	Win	Chris Lytle	TKO (Cut)	UFC 55: Fury	2	2:00	Uncasville, Connecticut, US	Debut at Welterweight
23–6–0(1)	2005-05-19	Win	Rob Kimmons	Submission (Strikes)	WEC 15: Judgment Day	1	1:24	Lemoore, California, US	Won vacant WEC Middleweight Championship
22–6–0(1)	2005-04-16	Loss	Ivan Salaverry	Submission (Triangle Choke)	UFC 52: Couture vs Liddell 2	1	2:42	Las Vegas, Nevada, US
21–5–0(1)	2004-11-13	Win	Thomas Gil	Submission (Armbar)	RITC 66 – Rage in the Cage 66	1	2:05	Phoenix, Arizona, US
20–5–0(1)	2004-10-21	Win	Chilo Gonzalez	TKO	WEC 12: Halloween Fury 3	1	1:50	Lemoore, California, US
19–5–0(1)	2004-08-21	Win	Joe Doerksen	Submission (Strikes)	UFC 49: Unfinished Business	2	3:37	Las Vegas, Nevada, US
18–5–0(1)	2004-05-28	Win	Shane Johnson	KO	XCF 5: Evolution	1	N/A	Phoenix, Arizona, US
17–5–0(1)	2004-05-07	Win	Kendall Grove	KO (Elbows)	ROTR 5 – Rumble on the Rock 5	1	3:09	Honolulu, Hawaii, US	Debut at Middleweight
16–5–0(1)	2004-04-30	Win	Dave Vitkay	KO	ICC-Trials 2	1	N/A	Minnesota, US
15–5–0(1)	2004-03-20	Win	John Renken	KO	RITC 60: 'The Saint' Goes Marching In	1	0:28	Phoenix, Arizona, US
14–5–0(1)	2004-01-31	Win	Chris Kiever	KO	IFC: Battleground Tahoe	1	0:49	Lake Tahoe, Nevada, US
13–5–0(1)	2004-01-16	Loss	Alex Stiebling	Submission (Triangle Choke)	WEC 9: Cold Blooded	2	1:54	Lemoore, California, US	Debut at Light Heavyweight
13–4–0(1)	2003-12-13	Win	Cory Timmerman	Submission (Armbar)	RITC 57: Tucson Revisited	1	1:11	Tucson, Arizona, US
12–4–0(1)	2003-12-06	Win	Frank Alcala	TKO	IFC: Rumble on the Rio	1	0:31	Hidalgo, Texas, US
11–4–0(1)	2003-09-13	No contest	Andy Montana	No Contest	RITC 53: The Beat Goes On	N/A	N/A	Phoenix, Arizona, US
11–4	2003-07-19	Win	Greg Wikan	TKO (Corner Stoppage)	ECS: Evolution	3	5:00	Phoenix, Arizona, US
10–4	2003-06-21	Win	Will Hammond	TKO	AOW – Art of War	1	N/A	Kalispell, Montana, US
9–4	2003-04-06	Loss	Rodney Faverus	KO (Knee)	K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Preliminary Holland	1	2:00	Zoetermeer, Netherlands
9–3	2003-03-01	Loss	Travis Fulton	Submission (Choke)	RITC 45: Finally	1	0:48	Phoenix, Arizona, US
9–2	2003-01-18	Win	Herb Dean	Submission (Strikes)	RITC 43: The Match	1	0:52	Phoenix, Arizona, US
8–2	2002-12-28	Loss	Wesley Correira	KO	ROTR 1 – Rumble on the Rock 1	2	2:07	Honolulu, Hawaii, US
8–1	2002-12-07	Win	Lemuel Vincent	TKO	RITC 42: Road Trip	1	0:23	Phoenix, Arizona, US
7–1	2002-10-19	Win	Allan Sullivan	Submission (Armbar)	RITC 39: Bring It	3	1:57	Phoenix, Arizona, US
6–1	2002-09-07	Win	Joe Pardo	Decision (Unanimous)	RITC 38: Let's Roll	3	3:00	Phoenix, Arizona, US
5–1	2002-06-22	Win	Jess Morton	TKO	RITC 36: The Rematch	1	3:00	Phoenix, Arizona, US
4–1	2002-05-03	Win	Andy Montana	Submission (Strikes)	RITC 35: This Time It's Personal	1	1:24	Phoenix, Arizona, US
3–1	2002-03-15	Loss	Homer Moore	Decision (Unanimous)	RITC 34: Rage in the Cage 34	3	3:00	Phoenix, Arizona, US
3–0	2002-02-02	Win	Joey Vigueria	Submission (Strikes)	RITC 33: The Big Show	1	2:00	Phoenix, Arizona, US
2–0	2001-11-07	Win	Justin Lyon	Submission (Strikes)	RITC 31: Rage in the Cage 31	1	0:33	Phoenix, Arizona, US
1–0	2001-09-26	Win	Ryan Roath	Submission (Strikes)	RITC 30: Rage in the Cage 30	1	2:32	Phoenix, Arizona, US	Fights at Heavyweight

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Professional MMA record for Joe Riggs from Sherdog
• UFC profile
• Knucklepit interview

Awards and achievements			Vacant Title last held by Chris Leben	2nd WEC Middleweight Champion May 19, 2005 – December, 2006	Vacant Title next held by Paulo Filho