Richard Walsh

Australian martial artist
The basics

Quick Facts

IntroAustralian martial artist
PlacesAustralia
isAthlete Mixed martial artist
Work fieldSports
Gender
Male
Birth1 December 1988
Age36 years
Star signSagittarius
The details

Biography

Richard "Richy" Walsh (born 1 December 1988) is an Australian mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division of the UFC. He was also a semi-finalist on the The Ultimate Fighter: Canada vs. Australia.

Background

Walsh graduated from St. Ignatius College in Sydney in 2006. He went on to complete a bachelor's degree in construction at the University of New South Wales before going to study abroad at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Walsh also enrolled in postgraduate law, but chose instead to pursue mixed martial arts. He trains out of VT1 Martial Arts in Chatswood.

Mixed martial arts career

Amateur career

Walsh competed extensively before becoming a professional athlete. He has fought in both amateur Muay Thai and western boxing where he holds records of 10–0 and 6–0 respectively. He is also a former Brazilian jiu-jitsu state champion.

Early professional career

Walsh made his professional mixed martial arts debut on 29 May 2009 when he defeated Tahu Pauro by first-round submission. He went on to fight seven more times, four of which ended in first round victories, before auditioning for TUF: Nations.

The Ultimate Fighter

On 5 December 2013, it was announced that Walsh had been selected as one of the welterweight fighters representing Australia for The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia. The reality show was led by Patrick Côté and Kyle Noke and premiered in early 2014.

In episode five of the show Walsh, who was placed on Team Noke, faced Matt DesRoches from Team Cote. Dominating the fight from start to finish, Walsh scored a unanimous decision and earned the second win for his team. He proceeded to the semi-finals of the competition.

In the semi-finals, Walsh faced the much-touted Olivier Aubin-Mercier. Walsh was defeated in the first round via rear-naked choke.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Walsh fought former teammate Chris Indich on the undercard of The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale: Bisping vs. Kennedy. The event took place on 16 April 2014 at the Colisée Pepsi in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Walsh was able to control the fight for three rounds and was awarded a unanimous decision as a result.

Walsh faced Kiichi Kunimoto at UFC Fight Night 52. He lost the fight via controversial split decision. Many prominent MMA sites and fighters scored the bout in Walsh's favour given his dominance in the first two rounds of the fight.

Walsh faced Alan Jouban on 28 February 2015 at UFC 184. Jouban won the fight via knockout in the first round.

Walsh faced Steve Kennedy on 15 November 2015 at UFC 193. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Walsh faced Viscardi Andrade on 20 March 2016 at UFC Fight Night 85. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Walsh next faced Jonathan Meunier on 27 November 2016 at UFC Fight Night 101. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Personal life

Walsh trained at the same gym as fellow UFC fighter and TUF 20 alumni Alex Chambers prior to the latter's departure in mid 2015. Unlike Chambers, Walsh originally had no intention of competing. However, he has been a longtime fan of MMA and combat sports which finally led to his decision to turn professional.

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
14 matches9 wins5 losses
By knockout41
By submission11
By decision43
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss9–5Jonathan MeunierDecision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Brunson000000002016-11-27-000027 November 201635:00Melbourne, Australia
Loss9–4Viscardi AndradeDecision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir000000002016-03-20-000020 March 201635:00Brisbane, Australia
Win9–3Steve KennedyDecision (unanimous)UFC 193000000002015-11-15-000015 November 201535:00Melbourne, Australia
Loss8–3Alan JoubanKO (elbow and punches)UFC 184000000002015-02-28-000028 February 201512:19Los Angeles, California, United States
Loss8–2Kiichi KunimotoDecision (split)UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson000000002014-09-20-000020 September 201435:00Saitama, Japan
Win8–1Chris IndichDecision (unanimous)The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale: Bisping vs. Kennedy000000002014-04-16-000016 April 201435:00Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Win7–1Aaron ForsterlingDecision (unanimous)Brace For War 18: Canberra000000002012-12-21-000021 December 201235:00Canberra, Australia
Win6–1Amer HusseinTKO (punches)Proud Warrior Productions 5: Magalhaes vs. Brown000000002012-09-14-000014 September 20121Sydney, Australia
Win5–1Callan PotterKO (knee)Gladiators Cage Fighting: Series 2000000002012-08-31-000031 August 201214:15Cronulla, Australia
Win4–1Josh RussellKO (punches)War on the North Shore 15000000002012-04-17-000017 April 201211:10Kallangur, Australia
Win3–1Adriano MagnaniTKO (punches)Pro Cagefighting 1: Gladiators000000002011-06-12-000012 June 201114:30Sydney, Australia
Loss2–1Robert WhittakerSubmission (rear-naked choke)Cage Fighting Championships 11000000002009-11-20-000020 November 200922:40Sydney, Australia
Win2–0Blake DoeringDecision (unanimous)War on the North Shore 10000000002009-07-25-000025 July 200935:00Sydney, Australia
Win1–0Tahu PauroSubmission (rear-naked choke)Elite Fight Night 8000000002009-05-29-000029 May 200913:30Penrith, Australia

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