Rick Cheek
Richard P. "Rick" Cheek (born October 4, 1977) is an American kickboxer and mixed martial artist who competes in the heavyweight division. A North American Muay Thai champion as an amateur, Cheek turned professional in 2005 and debuted in K-1 the same year. He holds notable wins over WSOF standout Dave Huckaba in MMA, 2001 K-1 Japan Grand Prix Champion Nicholas Pettas and multiple time world kickboxing champion Mike Sheppard.[1][2][3]
| Rick Cheek | |
|---|---|
| Born | Richard P. Cheek October 4, 1977 San Francisco, California, United States |
| Other names | Savage |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| Weight | 113 kg (249 lb; 17.8 st) |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Style | Kickboxing, Muay Thai |
| Fighting out of | Rohnert Park, California, United States |
| Team | Nor-Cal Fighting Alliance |
| Trainer | Billy Olsen |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 29 |
| Wins | 22 |
| By knockout | 19 |
| Losses | 5 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 8 |
| Wins | 4 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| Losses | 4 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 3 |
Last updated on: July 7, 2012 | |
Career edit
Cheek was the United States Air Force boxing champion[4] and started training in kickboxing and Muay Thai in 2000 at the age of twenty-three. In August 2004, he competed in a four-man tournament held over two days in Orlando, Florida to determine the IKF Amateur North American Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lb) Muay Thai Champion. After defeating Bernard Settle, Jr. by technical knockout in round two of their semi-final bout, he outpointed Brian Wells to a unanimous decision in the final to take the crown.[5] He followed this up with the IKF's Amateur California Muay Thai title when he stopped Ben Davis with low kicks in round one in Fairfield, California on March 26, 2005.[6]
After turning professional, Cheek made his K-1 debut on August 13, 2005, in a tournament reserve bout at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas II against Mike Sheppard, knocking him out in the second round.[7] He was absent from both K-1 Las Vegas events in 2006 due to a torn ACL and MCL he sustained in February 2006.[4]
After a year out of the ring, Cheek returned on August 11, 2007, for the K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Las Vegas tournament. He stopped Imani Lee with a barrage of unanswered punches in round three in the quarter-finals but was unable to continue in the tournament due to a leg injury and was replaced by Doug Viney, who eventually went on to win the title.[8][9]
In early 2008, Cheek fought for the Miami Force in the World Combat League and, on June 20, 2008, faced Patrice Quarteron for the vacant IKF World Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lb) Muay Thai title in Montego Bay, Jamaica. He was sent to the canvas early with a flurry of punches and elbows. After beating the count, he was dropped with a low kick, which also caused Quarteron to fall over. As both fighters fell to the canvas, Quarteron's knee landed on Cheek's head, seemingly knocking him unconscious.[10]
He soon made his way back to K-1 to fight in the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii in Honolulu on August 9, 2008. He won by TKO against Kyokushin karate stylist Nicholas Pettas in the quarter-finals when Pettas aggravated a groin injury sustained in training early in the fight. He was then eliminated by the eventual tournament winner Gökhan Saki in the semis. He was floored with low kicks before being crumpled with a liver punch towards the end of round one.[11][12][13]
In his second attempt at a world title, he challenged Ben Edwards for the vacant ISKA World Super Heavyweight (+96.4 kg/212 lb) Oriental rules belt in Canberra, Australia on April 4, 2009, but was KO'd inside the first minute of the opening frame.[14]
On August 28, 2010, Cheek lost to Steven Banks via second-round KO in a fight for the WBC Muaythai United States Super Heavyweight (+104.5 kg/230 lb) title. He struggled with the knees of Banks, being floored by them on four occasions throughout the match.[15]
Cheek suffered a one-sided beating at the hands of Cătălin Moroşanu, after re-tearing his MCL in the first round in their SuperKombat World Grand Prix 7 in Varna, Bulgaria bout on July 7, 2012. He was dropped five times, forcing referee Cezar Gheorghe to call a halt to the bout in the second round.[16]
Championships and awards edit
Kickboxing edit
- K-1
- K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii 3rd Place[17]
- Holds a record of 3-1 (3 KO's) in the K-1 circuit[18]
- International Kickboxing Federation
- IKF Amateur California Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lbs) Muay Thai Championship
- IKF Amateur North American Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lbs) International Rules Championship
- World Combat Sports Challenge
- WCSC World Super Heavyweight Muay Thai Championship[19]
- World Kickboxing Association
Mixed martial arts edit
- Cage Combat Fighting Championships
- CCFC Heavyweight Championship
Boxing edit
- United States Air Force Athletics
- United States Air Force and Armed Services heavyweight boxing champion[21]
- Golden Gloves
- 2001 San Antonio Golden Gloves Runner Up (+201 lbs)
Kickboxing record edit
| 22 wins (19 KOs), 5 losses, 1 draw, 1 no contest | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | |
| 2012-07-07 | Loss | Cătălin Moroşanu | SuperKombat World Grand Prix 7 | Varna, Bulgaria | TKO (right hook) | 2 | 1:07 | |
| 2010-08-28 | Loss | Steve Banks | WCK Muay Thai | Primm, Nevada, USA | KO (knees) | 2 | 2:52 | |
| For the WBC Muaythai United States Super Heavyweight (+104.5 kg/230 lb) Championship. | ||||||||
| 2009-05-30 | Win | Ethen Cox | WCSC The Awakening | San Francisco, California, USA | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Wins the WCSC World Super Heavyweight Muay Thai Championship. | ||||||||
| 2009-04-04 | Loss | Ben Edwards | World Domination | Canberra, Australia | KO (right cross) | 1 | 0:55 | |
| For the ISKA World Super Heavyweight (+96.4 kg/212 lb) Oriental Championship. | ||||||||
| 2008-08-09 | Loss | Gökhan Saki | K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii, Semi Finals | Honolulu, Hawaii, USA | KO (left hook to the body) | 1 | 2:36 | |
| 2008-08-09 | Win | Nicholas Pettas | K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii, Quarter Finals | Honolulu, Hawaii, USA | TKO (injury) | 1 | 1:15 | |
| 2008-06-20 | Loss | Patrice Quarteron | Champions of Champions I | Montego Bay, Jamaica | KO (right low kick) | 1 | 2:00 | |
| For the IKF World Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lb) Muay Thai Championship. | ||||||||
| 2007-08-11 | Win | Imani Lee | K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Las Vegas, Quarter Finals | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA | TKO (punches) | 3 | 1:52 | |
| 2006-02-18 | Win | Mahmoud Fowzi | Combat Sports Challenge 12 | Richmond, Virginia, USA | TKO (corner stoppage) | 1 | 1:56 | |
| Wins the WKA United States Super Heavyweight (+95 kg/209 lb) Muay Thai Championship. | ||||||||
| 2005-08-13 | Win | Mike Sheppard | K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas II, Reserve Bout | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA | KO | 2 | 0:48 | |
| Amateur kickboxing record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | |
| 2008-03-28 | Win | Terry Bullman | WCL Eastern Conference Playoffs | St. Charles, Missouri, USA | Decision (28-20) | 2 | 3:00 | |
| 2005-03-26 | Win | Ben Davis | Fairfield Fight Fest | Fairfield, California, USA | KO (low kick) | 1 | 0:50 | |
| Wins the IKF Amateur California Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lb) Muay Thai Championship. | ||||||||
| 2004-08-15 | Win | Brian Wells | IKF North American Classic, Final | Orlando, Florida, USA | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Wins the IKF Amateur North American Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lb) Muay Thai Championship. | ||||||||
| 2004-08-14 | Win | Bernard Settle, Jr. | IKF North American Classic, Semi Finals | Orlando, Florida, USA | TKO | 2 | 1:03 | |
| 2004-02-28 | Win | Matt Dunn | Feet & Fists of Fury | Roseville, California, USA | TKO | 2 | 1:40 | |
Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes
Mixed martial arts record edit
| 8 matches | 4 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 1 |
| By submission | 0 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 4-4 | Mike Hayes | TKO (submission to punches) | PFC: Best of Both Worlds | February 8, 2009 | 2 | 1:01 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Loss | 4-3 | Dave Huckaba | Submission (armbar) | Gladiator Challenge 87: Collision Course | November 22, 2008 | 1 | 0:37 | Roseville, California, United States | |
| Loss | 4-2 | Buddy Roberts | Submission (rear naked choke) | Cage Combat Fighting Championships: Mayhem | May 17, 2008 | 1 | 0:52 | Santa Rosa, California, United States | |
| Win | 4-1 | Richard Blake | KO (punches) | Cage Combat Fighting Championships: Annihilation | February 16, 2008 | 1 | 2:05 | Santa Rosa, California, United States | Wins the Cage Combat Fighting Championships Heavyweight Championship. |
| Loss | 3-1 | Chase Gormley | Submission (keylock) | Gladiator Challenge 73: High Noon | December 22, 2007 | 2 | 2:20 | Sacramento, California, United States | |
| Win | 3-0 | Thomas Rosser | TKO (punches) | Gladiator Challenge 63: Crackdown | May 11, 2007 | 1 | 1:15 | South Lake Tahoe, California, United States | |
| Win | 2-0 | Joe Abouata | KO (punch) | Gladiator Challenge 62: Sprawl or Brawl | April 14, 2007 | 1 | 0:31 | Lakeport, California, United States | |
| Win | 1-0 | Dave Huckaba | TKO (punches) | Gladiator Challenge 57: Holiday Beatings | December 16, 2006 | 2 | 1:35 | Sacramento, California, United States |
External links edit
- Official K-1 profile[permanent dead link]
- K-1Sport profile
- Professional MMA record for Rick Cheek from Sherdog
References edit
- ^ . Archived from the original on 12 September 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ "GC 57 - Holiday Beatings. Gladiator Challenge". sherdog.com. 16 December 2006. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ a b "New blood primed for war in Las Vegas". www.boxinglasvegas.com. Retrieved 4 August 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "IKF News - APRIL, 2006". www.ikfkickboxing.com. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ "March News 2005". www.ikfkickboxing.com. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ "– MIGHTY MO BASHES BOTHA | MMAWeekly.com". Mmaweekly.com | Ufc and Mma News, Results, Rumors, and Videos. 14 August 2005. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ "– UNDERDOG WINS BELLAGIO K-1 TOURNEY | MMAWeekly.com". Mmaweekly.com | Ufc and Mma News, Results, Rumors, and Videos. 12 August 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ . K-1 grand Prix Website. Archived from the original on 23 August 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
- ^ à 00h00, Par F. L. Le 24 juin 2008 (23 June 2008). "Quarteron champion du monde IKF". leparisien.fr. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ says, Cinderella Soundtrack. "Gokhan Saki – K-1 Cinderella Man". Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ "Butterbean Goes Down Again, Saki and Hari Win Big at K-1 World GP 2008". Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ "K-1 WORLD GP 2008 in HAWAII 8/9/08 Kickboxing Match Review K-1 Event". www.quebrada.net. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ "ISKA World Headquarters – International Sport Karate and Kickboxing Association, Worldwide Leaders in Sanctioning and Regulating Karate, Kickboxing, and MMA". Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 18 December 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ "Liver Kick". Liver Kick. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ Holland, Jesse (10 August 2008). "K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 quick results". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ "fighter's profile - Rick Cheek | K-1sport.de". k-1sport.de. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ "WORLD COMBAT SPORTS CHALLENGE ANNOUNCES CHANGES". Sherdog. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ a b . Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.