Rick Cheek

Rick Cheek
Born Richard P. Cheek
(1977-10-04) 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 submission 4
Draws 0
last updated on: July 7, 2012

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]

Career

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

Kickboxing

Mixed martial arts

Boxing

Kickboxing record

22 wins (19 KOs), 5 losses, 1 draw, 1 no contest
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2012-07-07 Loss Romania Cătălin Moroşanu SuperKombat World Grand Prix 7 Varna, Bulgaria TKO (right hook) 2 1:07
2010-08-28 Loss United States 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 United States 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 Australia 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 Turkey 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 Denmark Nicholas Pettas K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii, Quarter Finals Honolulu, Hawaii, USA TKO (injury) 1 1:15
2008-06-20 Loss France 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 United States 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 England 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 United States 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 United States Terry Bullman WCL Eastern Conference Playoffs St. Charles, Missouri, USA Decision (28-20) 2 3:00
2005-03-26 Win United States 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 United States 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 United States Bernard Settle, Jr. IKF North American Classic, Semi Finals Orlando, Florida, USA TKO 2 1:03
2004-02-28 Win United States Matt Dunn Feet & Fists of Fury Roseville, California, USA TKO 2 1:40

Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 4-4 Mike Hayes Submission (verbal) 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

References

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