| Mike Rio | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | Michael Alexander Rio (1981-07-06)July 6, 1981 (age 43) Miami, Florida, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||
| Other names | The Wolverine | |||||||||||||||||
| Residence | Miami, Florida, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | American | |||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | |||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st) | |||||||||||||||||
| Division | Lightweight | |||||||||||||||||
| Reach | 71.0 in (180 cm) | |||||||||||||||||
| Fighting out of | Miami, Florida, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||
| Team | American Top Team Miramar American Top Team Coconut Creek | |||||||||||||||||
| Wrestling | NAIAWrestling[1] | |||||||||||||||||
| Years active | 2008-2014 | |||||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 15 | |||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 10 | |||||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| By submission | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
| By decision | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Losses | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| By submission | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| By decision | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other information | ||||||||||||||||||
| University | Lindenwood University Harper College | |||||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | ||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Michael Alexander Rio (born July 6, 1981) is an Americanmixed martial artist who last competed in 2014. A professional since 2008, he has competed for theUFC and was a competitor on the 15th season ofThe Ultimate Fighter.
Rio was introduced towrestling at Cutler Ridge Middle School, but truly began competing atMiami Southridge High School, where he went on to win two Florida state championships under high school wrestling coach Jim Husk (who also coached his father, uncle, older brother and two younger brothers) and assistant coach Kenny Johnson.[2] During that time he led his school to two undefeated state championship wins, individually amassing an overall record of 147-10, going undefeated his junior and senior years. Along with those honors, he also holds the national record of fastest pin at 4 seconds at 103 lbs.[3] He was also named to theWrestling USA Magazine's National All-American High School Team as an honorable mention in 2000[4] and Wrestler of the Year (Mr. Wrestling) by FloridaDairy Farmers, Inc.[5]
It was also in high school that Rio met and began some wrestling training with Cuban world champion and now fellow fighterAlexis Vila.
In his first year at thecollegiate level, Rio advanced to the finals of the national tournament, but lost. A year later, he once again advanced to the finals and won his first national championship at the junior college national wrestling championships forHarper College in Illinois at 149 lbs. He then won back-to-back titles at the NAIA national wrestling championships forLindenwood University in Missouri at 149 and 157 lbs, respectively. He was also the only NAIA wrestler that year to defend his back-to-back title.[6][7] Rio finished his college career by being named Most Outstanding Wrestler of the 2006 national championship tournament.[8] And it was because of this performance that he had the honor of being featured in the March 27 issue ofSports Illustrated magazine's long-running segmentFaces in the Crowd.[9]
Additionally, during his time at Lindenwood University he was also the college roommate of now fellow UFC fighter andThe Ultimate Fighter 12 winnerJonathan Brookins.[10]
While working as abouncer at a nightclub, Rio was approached by many former wrestlers asking why he did not fight MMA. After first shunning the idea, he finally gave the sport a try.[11] He began his MMA training at Freestyle Fighting Academy (FFA) inWestchester, Florida, under the tutelage of brothers Marcos andDavid Avellan.[12] Initially thinking this would only be a hobby, it wasn't until the ML Management Group CEO offered her management services that his career really began to take off.[13]
Rio is nicknamed "The Wolverine" after theMarvel Comics character for having a similar look. More specifically, the film version played byHugh Jackman.
Rio's first pro fight came in 2008 when he defeated Marc Seno at Reality Combat Championship 2 with a technical knock out by punches.[14] Mike continued on his winning streak besting his next five opponents via submissions and knockouts between 2008 and 2011, with one fight ending in a unanimous decision against Mike Bruno.[15] It was also during that time that Rio briefly fought for the formerMiami Heat playerGlen Rice's G-Force Fights promotion.[16]
Rio formally trained in Miami at gyms Zen Ju-Jitsu with Coach Enrico Cocco, the Health Joint with Ulises Garcia and Young Tigers with Manuel "Manolo" Lopez andUltimate Fighter alumAlex Caceres.[17][18] Rio has also trained at the Jaco Hybrid Training Center inDelray Beach, Florida, best known for their team, theBlackzilians[19] and has traveled to Texas to train withThe Ultimate Fighter 16 winnerColton Smith and his boxing coach.
Rio has most recently taken up coaching/training at theAmerican Top Team inMiramar, Florida, andCoconut Creek, Florida.
Rio made hisChampionship Fighting Alliance (CFA) debut against opponent and formerUltimate Fighter championEfrain Escudero, but suffered his first loss via decision against the fighter.[20] Rio rebounded by winning his next two contests, prior to being chosen to participate onThe Ultimate Fighter: Live.[21]
Having changed formats and being moved to a different network,The Ultimate Fighter's 15th season debuted live on cable channelFX March 9, 2012 with rivalsDominick Cruz andUrijah Faber coaching the 32 potential candidates vying for a spot inThe Ultimate Fighter house.[22] In the preliminary bout to reach the house, Rio faced Northern Irish fighter, Ali Maclean, and won by submission with arear-naked choke.[23] He was then chosen by current UFC bantamweight champion Cruz along with seven other fighters to represent his "Team Cruz" on the show.
After a visit fromRonda Rousey, weeks of heavy training, enduring a minor knee injury, and a scuffle with teammateJustin Lawrence, Rio's name was finally called to face Faber's British fighterAndy Ogle.[24] The fight was even going into the second round, but Rio fell to Ogle via rear-naked choke.[25]
In the last episode before the season finale, it was revealed by UFC PresidentDana White that all the contestants in the house would fight in the finale except Ogle and Rio due to injuries. The injury to Rio being two broken ribs he suffered during his fight with Ogle. The injury wasn't immediately noticed after the fight, instead it was discovered in training the following week.[26] That didn't deter White, however as he was so impressed by the caliber of talent on the show that he decided to sign them all to contracts, Rio included.[27]
Rio made his official UFC debut when he faced fellowTUF: Live alumnus John Cofer on December 15, 2012, atThe Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson Finale.[28] He won via submission (armbar) in the third round.[29]
Months later, Rio faced and was defeated byFrancisco Trinaldo viaarm triangle choke on May 18, 2013, atUFC on FX 8.[30][31]
Rio then facedThe Ultimate Fighter 13 winnerTony Ferguson on October 19, 2013 atUFC 166.[32] He lost via D'arce choke submission in the first round.
Finally, Rio facedDaron Cruickshank on January 25, 2014, atUFC on Fox 10. He lost the fight when he was stunned due to a wheel kick and finally TKOed by punches at 4:56 of round two. As a result, Rio was released from the promotion.[33]
In late March 2014, Rio signed with Olympic gold medalist boxerHoward Davis Jr.'s Fight Time Promotions. In his first ever main event, he went up against formerBellator fighter Avery McPhatter on May 30 at theWar Memorial Auditorium inFort Lauderdale, Florida.[34] He won in the first round viaD'Arce choke. He also won submission of the night.[35]
In his second main event, Rio faced former Bellator fighter Frank Carrillo for the Fight Time Lightweight Championship on August 29, 2014.[36] He lost the fight via second round knockout.[37] Carrillo, however, was ineligible to win the title belt for lack of making weight. Rio still took the fight.
TheUltimate Fighter wasn't Rio's first taste of television. In 2011, during the fifth season of Miami-based showBurn Notice (eighth episode entitled "Hard Out"), Rio appeared in several scenes in an uncredited mercenary role, even sharing one scene with show starJeffrey Donovan.[38]
Rio also appeared in a music video in 2012 entitled "The Crown" by Miamihip-hop, funk and soul fusion band Dangerflow. In the video he plays a man fired from his day job and forced to fight in night street fights to earn money for his fictional daughter.[39] "The Crown" was also the official song of theMiami Heat championship parade that same year.[40]
Rio's mother and father are of Cuban descent. His mother being born in Miami, his father emigrating to Miami at the age of five. Rio, also born and raised in Miami, participated in many sports with his older brother, including soccer, basketball, baseball, cross country running and wrestling. After his parents divorced and remarried, his family grew and he soon had many siblings, almost all of which also wrestled.[41] After college, Rio returned home and began volunteering coaching atChristopher Columbus High School, where two of his four younger brothers attended and wrestled. Also during that time he began a career in security as a bouncer in Miami'sCoconut Grove and downtownBrickell areas and most currently in Miami'sSouth Beach area.[42]
In April 2015, director/producer Danny Segura put together a short documentary film entitledScraping for a Dollar in which Rio is followed on his daily routine and his attempt to reenter the UFC.[43]
Rio also is a strong advocate ofAutism awareness, having a younger brother with the condition. He often volunteers at schools and conventions and has even created a wristband with his name in which he donates all the proceeds toAutism Speaks.[44] It is because of those efforts that he has become one of the South Florida athletic spokesmen for the organization.[45]
Rio and his family are no strangers to fighting having a grandfather and great uncle,Ricardo Montero Duque (who was a major in the Cuban Army and later the US Army), who fought during theBay of Pigs Invasion againstFidel Castro's forces and for Cuba's independence in the 1950s and 1960s.[46]
Rio is also the cousin ofGaby Sánchez of theTohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan'sNippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
On May 17, 2016, Rio and his fiancée had a child, a boy, his first.
| 15 matches | 10 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 2 |
| By submission | 5 | 2 |
| By decision | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 10–5 | Frank Carrillo | KO (punches) | Fight Time 20 | August 29, 2014 | 2 | 2:18 | Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, United States | For the vacant Fight Time Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–4 | Avery McPhatter | Submission (D'Arce choke) | Fight Time 19: Battle of the Brave | May 30, 2014 | 1 | 2:38 | Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |
| Loss | 9–4 | Daron Cruickshank | TKO (punches) | UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Thomson | January 25, 2014 | 2 | 4:56 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 9–3 | Tony Ferguson | Submission (brabo choke) | UFC 166 | October 19, 2013 | 1 | 1:52 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 9–2 | Francisco Trinaldo | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold | May 18, 2013 | 1 | 3:08 | Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil | |
| Win | 9–1 | John Cofer | Submission (armbar) | The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale | December 15, 2012 | 3 | 4:11 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 8–1 | John Ortolani | TKO (punches) | CFA 4: Izquierdo vs. Cenoble | December 17, 2011 | 1 | 4:53 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 7–1 | Zach Juusola | TKO (punches) | CFA 3: Howard vs. Olson | October 9, 2011 | 1 | 1:01 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Loss | 6–1 | Efrain Escudero | Decision (unanimous) | CFA 2: McCorkle vs. Befort | July 23, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Sylvain Bynum | TKO (punches) | MFA: New Generation 4 | February 11, 2011 | 1 | 0:51 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Jimmy Chaikong | Submission (rear-naked choke) | G-Force Fights: Bad Blood 4 | November 18, 2010 | 1 | 1:38 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Mike Bruno | Decision (unanimous) | MFA: New Generation 3 | September 18, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Carlos Galindo | Submission (choke) | Fite Nite: Terror En La Villa | October 31, 2009 | 2 | 0:59 | San José, Costa Rica | |
| Win | 2–0 | Nathaniel Robinson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | WWCF: Blood War | January 25, 2009 | 1 | 2:45 | Daytona Beach, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Marc Seno | TKO (punches) | Reality Combat Championship 2: The Second Encounter | March 1, 2008 | 1 | 3:09 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States |
| Exhibition record breakdown | ||
| 2 matches | 1 win | 1 loss |
| By submission | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1–1 | Andy Ogle | Submission (rear-naked choke) | The Ultimate Fighter: Live | May 4, 2012 | 2 | 4:19 | Las Vegas,Nevada, United States | Preliminary round. |
| Win | 1–0 | Ali Maclean | Submission (rear-naked choke) | The Ultimate Fighter: Live | March 9, 2012 | 1 | 3:32 | Las Vegas,Nevada, United States | 1 round TUF entry fight. |
