Joe Riggs
 |
Name | Joe Riggs |
| Nickname | Diesel | |
| Association | Arizona Combat Sports | |
| Weight Class | Middleweight (185 lbs.) / Welterweight (170 lbs.) | |
| Height | 6' 0" (183cm) | |
| Style | Boxing, Wrestling | |
| Birth Date | September 23, 1982 | |
| Fighting Out Of | Tempe, Arizona | |
| Country | USA | |
| Joe Riggs Pictures | Official Website |
Joseph Jonathan "Diesel" Riggs is an American mixed martial artist. He has competed at weights ranging from Heavyweight down to Welterweight. Currently, Riggs fights as a Welterweight. He has fought for major promotions such as the WEC, the UFC, and Strikeforce.
Contents |
Professional Record
| Record | 35 - 14 - 0 (Win – Loss – Draw) (1 NC) |
| Wins | 17 (T)KOs 15 Submissions 3 Decisions |
| Losses | 5 (T)KOs 7 Submissions 2 Decisions |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Shannon Ritch | TKO (Punches) | Duel for Domination: MMA Extravaganza | 11/26/2011 | 1 | 0:56 | |
| Loss | Kendall Grove | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | ProElite: Arlovski vs. Lopez | 8/27/2011 | 1 | 0:59 | |
| Loss | Bryan Baker | KO (Punch) | BFC: Bellator Fighting Championships 43 | 5/07/2011 | 2 | 3:53 | |
| Loss | Jordan Mein | TKO (Punches) | Wreck MMA: Strong and Proud | 1/28/2011 | 2 | 4:30 | |
| Win | Trent Thorne | TKO (Elbows) | KOTC: 48 | 11/21/2010 | 1 | 3:56 | |
| Win | Louis Taylor | Submission (Punches) | Strikeforce Challengers 10: Riggs vs. Taylor | 8/13/2010 | 3 | 2:07 | Catchweight (182 lbs.) |
| Loss | Jay Hieron | Decision (Unanimous) | Strikeforce: Miami | 1/30/2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Featured on EASportsMMA.com Live Stream |
| Win | Nick Almen | Submission (Punches and Elbows) | IMMA 1: Ironman MMA 1 | 12/11/2009 | 1 | 1:51 | |
| Win | David Barnes | TKO (Punches) | RITC 138: Rage in the Cage 138 | 12/04/2009 | 1 | 0:57 | |
| Win | Phil Baroni | Decision (Unanimous) | Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields | 6/06/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Luke Stewart | TKO (Punches) | Strikeforce: Destruction | 11/21/2008 | 2 | 2:05 | Welterweight debut |
| Loss | Kazuo Misaki | TKO (Punches) | Strikeforce: Playboy Mansion II | 9/20/2008 | 2 | 2:29 | |
| Win | Matt Dempsey | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | RITC 112: Rage in the Cage 112 | 7/26/2008 | 2 | 1:47 | |
| Loss | Cory Devela | Submission (Slam) | Strikeforce: At the Dome | 2/23/2008 | 1 | 1:22 | |
| Win | Eugene Jackson | KO (Punches) | Strikeforce: Playboy Mansion | 9/29/2007 | 1 | 3:56 | |
| Win | Dan Chambers | Submission (Triangle Choke) | HCF: Unfinished Business | 7/21/2007 | 1 | 3:25 | |
| Loss | Diego Sanchez | KO (Knee) | UFC Fight Night 7: Sanchez vs. Riggs | 12/13/2006 | 1 | 1:45 | Post-fight, Sanchez tested positive for Marijuana |
| Win | Jason Von Flue | Submission (Triangle Choke) | UFC Fight Night 6: Sanchez vs. Parisyan | 8/17/2006 | 1 | 2:01 | |
| Loss | Mike Swick | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | UFC 60: Hughes vs. Gracie | 5/27/2006 | 1 | 2:19 | |
| Win | Nick Diaz | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 57: Liddell vs. Couture 3 | 2/04/2006 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Matt Hughes | Submission (Kimura) | UFC 56: Full Force | 11/19/2005 | 1 | 3:28 | Originally a title fight, but Riggs failed to make weight and was changed to a non-title match |
| Win | Chris Lytle | TKO (Cut) | UFC 55: Fury | 10/7/2005 | 2 | 2:00 | |
| Win | Rob Kimmons | Submission (Punches) | WEC 15: Judgment Day | 5/19/2005 | 1 | 1:24 | Won WEC Middleweight Championship (Vacant) |
| Loss | Ivan Salaverry | Submission (Triangle Choke) | UFC 52: Couture vs. Liddell 2 | 4/16/2005 | 1 | 2:42 | |
| Win | Thomas Gil | Submission (Armbar) | RITC 66: Rage in the Cage 66 | 11/13/2004 | 1 | 2:05 | |
| Win | Isidro Gonzalez | TKO (Punches and Elbows) | WEC 12: Halloween Fury 3 | 10/21/2004 | 1 | 1:50 | |
| Win | Joe Doerksen | Submission (Elbows) | UFC 49: Unfinished Business | 8/21/2004 | 2 | 2:39 | |
| Win | Shane Johnson | TKO | XCF 5: Evolution | 5/28/2004 | 1 | N/A | Won XCF Light Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Kendall Grove | KO (Elbows) | ROTR 5: Rumble on the Rock 5 | 5/07/2004 | 1 | 3:09 | |
| Win | Dave Vitkay | KO | ICC: Trials 2 | 4/30/2004 | 1 | N/A | |
| Win | John Renken | KO | RITC 60: 'The Saint' Goes Marching In | 3/20/2004 | 1 | 0:28 | |
| Win | Chris Kiever | KO | IFC: Battleground Tahoe | 1/31/2004 | 1 | 0:49 | |
| Loss | Alex Stiebling | Submission (Triangle Choke) | WEC 9: Cold Blooded | 1/16/2004 | 2 | 1:54 | |
| Win | Cory Timmerman | Submission (Armbar) | RITC 57: Tucson Revisited | 12/13/2003 | 1 | 1:11 | |
| Win | Frank Alcala | TKO | IFC: Rumble on the Rio | 12/06/2003 | 1 | 0:31 | |
| NC | Andy Montana | No Contest | RITC 53: The Beat Goes On | 9/13/2003 | N/A | N/A | For undisputed RITC Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Greg Wikan | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | ECS: Evolution | 7/19/2003 | 3 | 5:00 | Won Evolution Combat Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Will Hammond | TKO | AOW: Art of War | 6/21/2003 | 1 | N/A | Won Art of War Heavyweight Championship |
| Loss | Travis Fulton | Submission (Choke) | RITC 45: Finally | 3/01/2003 | 1 | 0:48 | |
| Win | Herb Dean | Submission (Strikes) | RITC 43: The Match | 1/18/2003 | 1 | 0:52 | |
| Loss | Wesley Correira | KO | ROTR 1: Rumble on the Rock 1 | 12/28/2002 | 2 | 2:07 | |
| Win | Lemuel Vincent | TKO | RITC 42: Road Trip | 12/07/2002 | 1 | 0:23 | |
| Win | Allan Sullivan | Submission (Armbar) | RITC 39: Bring It | 10/19/2002 | 3 | 1:57 | |
| Win | Joe Pardo | Decision (Unanimous) | RITC 38: Let's Roll | 9/07/2002 | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Win | Jess Morton | TKO | RITC 36: The Rematch | 6/22/2002 | 1 | 3:00 | |
| Win | Andy Montana | Submission (Strikes) | RITC 35: This Time It's Personal | 5/03/2002 | 1 | 1:24 | |
| Loss | Homer Moore | Decision (Unanimous) | RITC 34: Rage in the Cage 34 | 3/15/2002 | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Win | Joey Vigueria | Submission (Strikes) | RITC 33: The Big Show | 2/02/2002 | 1 | 2:00 | |
| Win | Justin Lyon | Submission (Strikes) | RITC 31: Rage in the Cage 31 | 11/07/2001 | 1 | 0:33 | |
| Win | Ryan Roath | Submission (Strikes) | RITC 30: Rage in the Cage 30 | 9/26/2001 | 1 | 2:32 | |
Biography
Joe Riggs was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He dreamed of fighting in the UFC since he was 10 years old. He started fighting during his senior year in high school, and decided to do it full-time soon after.
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 used to be a boxer.
He began wrestling at Cactus high school in Glendale, AZ 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.
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.
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 Grappler's 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.
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.
Most recently, 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. 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 Kazuo Misaki at Strikeforce at the Playboy Mansion on September 20, 2008. Joe Riggs won his last 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.
At Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields, Riggs took on the "New York Badass" Phil Baroni in a Welterweight showdown. The fight went the distance with Riggs winning a unanimous decision.
It was then announced that Riggs would fight his long time rival, Nick Diaz in a welterweight bout at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg on August 15, 2009. Later it was learned that the bout would be for Strikeforce's newly created Welterweight title. Unfortunately, the fight was cancelled, as Riggs suffered a bad reaction to an as of yet undisclosed drug, forcing him off the card, as he would be hospitalized.
It was announced that Riggs would return to action, back where it all started, at a Rage in the Cage event in December 2009, facing off against David Barnes, who he defeated via TKO (Punches) very early in the first round.
It was announced at the end of December of 2009 that Strikeforce expected Riggs to return to action on the promotions Strikeforce: Miami card, where he would face former IFL Welterweight Champion Jay Hieron. The winner of the fight would most likely earn themselves a title shot at the winner of the Nick Diaz and Marius Zaromskis Welterweight title fight that will be taking place on the same card, which Diaz won an impressive fight. The bout was featured on EASportsMMA.com's Live Stream and Hieron went on to win a very one-sided Decision (Unanimous), which he won with his signature ground-and-pound.
Riggs returned to action on August 13, 2010 to headline ShoMMA 10: Riggs vs. Taylor, where he faced off against Louis Taylor in a Catchweight bout of 182 lbs. Riggs and Taylor looked tentative in the opening two rounds, and the light-on-action frames looked practically even. As Taylor began to loosen up on his feet in the third round, Riggs unleashed a left hand that buckled his opponent. Taylor tried to earn another takedown and clear the cobwebs, but Riggs shoved him to his back and moved quickly into a crucifix position. Riggs dropped left hands down from the top, and a battered Taylor didn't wait for referee intervention. The tap to strikes came at the 2:07 mark of the final round.
Personal Life
Joe and his wife, Lisa, welcomed a son in the summer of 2006, but he died shortly after birth. Their second son, Joseph Diesel Riggs, was born on June 28, 2007.
On an episode of The Beatdown on Sherdog.com, Riggs came onto the show. He revealed the fact that he became addicted to painkillers and medication, and had been on it well before his fight with Jason Von Flue. He had been taking as many as twenty painkillers a day, and realized he had a problem "when my doctor prescribed me 120 OxyContin, and I finished them in five days". When he told his doctor about this, he was told that if he was any other person he (the doctor) would've been pumping his stomach. He is now clean.
