| Brennan Ward | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (1988-06-28)June 28, 1988 (age 36)[1] New London, Connecticut, United States | ||||||||||||||
| Other names | Irish | ||||||||||||||
| Nationality | American | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb) | ||||||||||||||
| Division | Middleweight Welterweight | ||||||||||||||
| Reach | 71 in (180 cm) | ||||||||||||||
| Stance | Orthodox | ||||||||||||||
| Fighting out of | Waterford, Connecticut, United States | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Whaling City Boxing Rivera Athletic Center | ||||||||||||||
| Wrestling | NCAA Division IIIWrestling | ||||||||||||||
| Years active | 2008, 2012–2017, 2022-2024 | ||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 26 | ||||||||||||||
| Wins | 17 | ||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 12 | ||||||||||||||
| By submission | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| By decision | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Losses | 9 | ||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| By submission | 6 | ||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||
| University | Johnson & Wales University Colby Community College | ||||||||||||||
| Notable school(s) | Waterford High School | ||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||
Brennan Ward (born June 28, 1988) is anAmerican professionalmixed martial artist and Bare Knuckle Boxer who most recently competed inBare Knuckle Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2008, Ward formerly competed forCES MMA,Bellator MMA and was theBellator Season Nine Middleweight Tournament Winner.
Ward was born inNew London, Connecticut, and raised inWaterford, Connecticut. Ward's father, Kent, owns aboxing gym, Whaling City Boxing (New London), where Ward began training from a young age.[2] He competed inwrestling atWaterford High School, graduating in 2006, before continuing his career atColby Community College.[3] Ward later transferred toJohnson & Wales University, which has a Division III program. At Johnson & Wales, Ward demonstrated his talents, earningAll-American honors and was also the runner-up in the nation for his weight class, after winning the New England title.[4]
Ward started his professional career in 2008, but only became active in 2012. He fought mainly for Rhode Island's promotionClassic Entertainment and Sports (CES MMA).
With a record of 5 and 0, Ward signed withBellator.
Ward was expected to make his debut against Valter Roberto on November 16, 2012, atBellator 81. However, Roberto was replaced by Sam McCoy due to undisclosed reasons.[5] Ward won via KO in the very first round.[6]
Ward faced Aaron Johnson on February 14, 2013, atBellator 89. He had his first career's defeat via submission at 15 seconds of round one.[7]
Ward was expected to face Vadiano La Luz on February 28, 2013, atBellator 91. However, La Luz was replaced by Yair Moguel due to undisclosed reasons.[8] Ward won via submission due to a rear-naked choke in the first round.[9]
Ward was expected to faceDave Vitkay on September 7, 2013, atBellator 98. However, he was called to replaceAndreas Spång againstJustin Torrey in the quarterfinal match ofBellator Season Nine Middleweight Tournament at the same event.[10] Ward won via TKO in the second round and advanced to the semifinal.[11]
Ward was expected to facePerry Filkins in the semifinal on October 4, 2013, atBellator 102. Filkins, however, was injured and replaced byJoe Pacheco.[12] Ward won the fight via submission in the second round.[13]
Ward facedMikkel Parlo in the finals on November 8, 2013, atBellator 107. He won the fight via TKO due to punches in the second round.[14]
Ward facedBellator Middleweight ChampionAlexander Shlemenko atBellator 114 on March 28, 2014.[15] Despite doing well in the first round, Ward lost the bout due to a submission early in the second round.
Ward was expected to faceJames Irvin atBellator 123 on September 5, 2014, however, the bout was cancelled for unknown reasons. Ward instead facedTamdan McCrory on the same card.[16] Ward lost the bout via knockout in the first round.
Ward was expected to make his Welterweight debut againstJesse Juarez on February 27, 2015, atBellator 134.[17] However, Ward has been moved up to the main card to faceCurtis Millender after Millender's opponent,Michael Page, pulled out of the fight due to a cut over his left eye.[18][19] Ward defeated Millender via submission in the first round.
Ward was expected to face English fighter Gavin Sterritt atBellator 140 on July 17, 2015.[20] However, a week before the fight, his opponent was changed to Roger Carroll. Ward won the fight via knockout in the first round.
Ward next faced Dennis Olson atBellator 144 on October 23, 2015. He won the fight via KO in the first round.
Ward made his international MMA debut on December 31, 2015, as a Bellator MMA representative atRizin Fighting Federation 2. He faced Ken Hasegawa in a 179-pound catchweight bout and won the fight via submission in the second round.
On March 1, 2016, it was announced that Ward would faceStrikeforce vetEvangelista Santos on April 22, 2016, atBellator 153.[21] He lost the fight via heel hook submission in the first round.
Ward next facedSaad Awad atBellator 163 on November 4, 2016. He won the fight via knockout in the first round.
Ward made a quick return to the cage, facingPaul Daley in the co-main event atBellator 170 on January 21, 2017. He lost the fight due to a flying knee in the first round.
Ward facedFernando Gonzalez atBellator 182 on August 25, 2017. He lost the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the third round.[22]
Ward was expected to faceDavid Rickels atBellator 185 on October 20, 2017.[23] Ward pulled out of the fight due to an injury and, as a result, Rickels was removed from the fight card.[24]
After a 15-month layoff, Ward was scheduled to face Andre Fialho on October 12, 2018, atBellator 207.[25] However on September 10, 2018, Ward notified the promotion that he will retire from MMA.[26]
On April 8, 2019, Bare Knuckle FC president David Feldman announced that Ward had signed a contract with the organization.[27]
Ward was expected to face former UFC Welterweight championJohny Hendricks atWorld Bare Knuckle Fighting Federation's inaugural event on November 9, 2018. During the fight week, Ward announced that he wouldn't be fighting at the event due to a contract dispute.[28]
On December 20, 2024, it was announced that Ward had signed with theBare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).[29]
Ward faced James Dennis on February 1, 2025 atBKFC on DAZN: Mohegan Sun.[30] He won the fight by knockout in the first round.[31]
Ward battled with drug addiction throughout his career and after spending time in jail Ward decided to attend rehab and get sober. His first mixed martial arts bout in four and a half years took place atBellator 274 on February 19, 2022, against Brandon Bell.[32] He won the bout in dominant fashion, finishing Bell in the second round via technical knockout.[33]
On April 15, 2022, it was announced that Ward signed a multi-fight contract with Bellator.[34]
Ward's next bout in Bellator was atBellator 282 on June 24, 2022, against Kassius Kayne.[35] He won the bout via TKO stoppage in the second round.[36]
Ward facedSabah Homasi on February 4, 2023, atBellator 290.[37] Ward won by technical knockout in the second round, after dropping Homasi with a head kick and finishing the bout with ground and pound.[38]
Ward facedLogan Storley on August 11, 2023, atBellator 298.[39] He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.It was later revealed that Brennan Ward was severely injured going into the Storley fight, having sustained a torn bicep tendon,as well as a torn UCL ligament in his left arm three weeks before the fight, essentially leaving him with one arm during the entire fight. Brennan's youngest daughter had also just recently been born, complicating his training. Despite this, Brennan insisted on fighting saying "In my younger days, I might've pulled out of that fight. But it was the main event, fighting Logan in his hometown, I know that I had a puncher's chance with my right hand...and I went out there and fought, 'cause that's what I do bro" "But I was not, I was probably about forty percent of myself during that fight"[40][41]
Ward participated in the 2024 PFL season in the Welterweight division, facingDon Madge atPFL 3 on April 19, 2024.[42] He lost the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.[43]
Ward next facedMagomed Umalatov atPFL 6 (2024) on June 28, 2024 atSanford Pentagon stadium inSioux Falls, South Dakota.[44][45] He lost the fight via an anaconda choke submission in the first round. Ward subsequently retired from MMA competition after the bout.[46]
On October 24, 2016, at approximately 7:00 pm, Ward rescued a baby trapped in a stroller abandoned along a busy New London road. The baby was subsequently taken to a nearby fire department – and later hospital – where she was determined to be without injury.[47]
On July 4, 2016, at approximately 12:10 pm, Ward was arrested by the Waterford Police Department on the charges of breach of peace, interfering with a police officer, threatening a public safety officer, and assault on a public safety officer.[48] According to the police report, an inebriated Ward got into an altercation with his female companion (who was also arrested for breach of peace) and subsequently resisted arrest by physically and verbally assaulting the officers present. Officers were also unable to process Ward at the time of his arrest due to his continued belligerence as he repeatedly banged his head on the Plexiglas divider of the squad car and “continued extreme aggression” in his jail cell. Ward proceeded to call three of the four policemen by their first names as well as threatened them and their families. Police also noted that Ward urinated all over the floor and door of his jail cell. He was released on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on August 16, 2016.[49] In December 2019, news surfaced that Ward was sentenced to 120 days in prison and is expected to be released early 2020.[50]
Ward also had a pending case from a January 3, 2014, incident, where he was charged with disobeying the signal of a police officer, reckless driving, and interfering with a police officer.[49]
| 26 matches | 17 wins | 9 losses |
| By knockout | 12 | 3 |
| By submission | 4 | 6 |
| By decision | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 17–9 | Magomed Umalatov | Submission (anaconda choke) | PFL 6 (2024) | June 28, 2024 | 1 | 3:43 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States | |
| Loss | 17–8 | Don Madge | Submission (rear-naked choke) | PFL 3 (2024) | April 19, 2024 | 1 | 1:02 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 17–7 | Logan Storley | TKO (punches) | Bellator 298 | August 11, 2023 | 2 | 4:05 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States | |
| Win | 17–6 | Sabah Homasi | TKO (head kick and punches) | Bellator 290 | February 4, 2023 | 2 | 1:34 | Inglewood, California, United States | |
| Win | 16–6 | Kassius Kayne | TKO (punches) | Bellator 282 | June 24, 2022 | 2 | 1:11 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 15–6 | Brandon Bell | TKO (punches) | Bellator 274 | February 19, 2022 | 2 | 0:32 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Catchweight (175 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 14–6 | Fernando Gonzalez | Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 182 | August 25, 2017 | 3 | 1:02 | Verona, New York, United States | Catchweight (180 lb) bout; Gonzalez missed weight. |
| Loss | 14–5 | Paul Daley | KO (flying knee) | Bellator 170 | January 21, 2017 | 1 | 2:27 | Inglewood, California, United States | |
| Win | 14–4 | Saad Awad | KO (punches) | Bellator 163 | November 4, 2016 | 1 | 1:26 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Loss | 13–4 | Evangelista Santos | Submission (heel hook) | Bellator 153 | April 22, 2016 | 1 | 0:30 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 13–3 | Ken Hasegawa | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Rizin World Grand Prix 2015: Part 2 - Iza | December 31, 2015 | 2 | 1:52 | Saitama, Japan | Catchweight (179 lb) bout. |
| Win | 12–3 | Dennis Olson | KO (punches) | Bellator 144 | October 23, 2015 | 1 | 4:37 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 11–3 | Roger Carroll | KO (punch) | Bellator 140 | July 17, 2015 | 1 | 2:06 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 10–3 | Curtis Millender | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 134 | February 27, 2015 | 1 | 1:39 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Welterweight debut. |
| Loss | 9–3 | Tamdan McCrory | KO (punches) | Bellator 123 | September 5, 2014 | 1 | 0:21 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Loss | 9–2 | Alexander Shlemenko | Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 114 | March 28, 2014 | 2 | 1:22 | West Valley City, Utah, United States | For theBellator Middleweight World Championship. |
| Win | 9–1 | Mikkel Parlo | TKO (punches) | Bellator 107 | November 8, 2013 | 2 | 1:39 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | Bellator Season Nine Middleweight Tournament Final. |
| Win | 8–1 | Joe Pacheco | Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 102 | October 4, 2013 | 2 | 2:41 | Visalia, California, United States | Bellator Season Nine Middleweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 7–1 | Justin Torrey | TKO (punches) | Bellator 98 | September 7, 2013 | 2 | 3:28 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Bellator Season Nine Middleweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 6–1 | Yair Moguel | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 91 | February 28, 2013 | 1 | 0:57 | Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States | Catchweight (187 lbs) bout; Moguel missed weight.[54] |
| Loss | 5–1 | Aaron Johnson | Submission (armbar) | Bellator 89 | February 14, 2013 | 1 | 0:15 | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Sam McCoy | KO (punches) | Bellator 81 | November 16, 2012 | 1 | 2:49 | Kingston, Rhode Island, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Shedrick Goodridge | TKO (punches) | CES MMA: Real Pain | October 6, 2012 | 1 | 2:36 | Providence, Rhode Island, United States | Catchweight (188 lbs) bout. |
| Win | 3–0 | Harley Beekman | Decision (unanimous) | CES MMA: Never Surrender | April 13, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Brennan Scholz | TKO (punches) | CES MMA: Extreme Measures | February 3, 2012 | 1 | 1:32 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | Catchweight (190 lb) bout. |
| Win | 1–0 | Mike Manna | TKO (punches) | USFL: War in the Woods 2 | February 23, 2008 | 1 | 2:15 | Ledyard, Connecticut, United States |
| 1 match | 1 win | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1–0 | James Dennis | KO | BKFC on DAZN: Mohegan Sun | February 1, 2025 | 1 | 0:38 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States |
