Ben Saunders (fighter)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Benjamin Saunders (born April 13, 1983), is an American
mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...
who currently fights in the
Welterweight Welterweight is a weight class in combat sports. Originally the term ''welterweight'' was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like muay Thai, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts also use it for their own weight division system to classify th ...
division. He was a featured fighter on '' The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra'', fighting on Team Serra. A professional competitor since 2004, Saunders has formerly competed in the
UFC The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. The larg ...
and
Bellator Bellator, warrior in Latin, may refer to: * Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States * Bishop Bellator of Sufetula (5th century) Taxonomy * ''Bellator'' (fish), a fish genus in the family Triglidae (sea robins) ** ...
.


Background

Saunders was born in
Fort Lauderdale, Florida Fort Lauderdale ( ) is a coastal city located in the U.S. state of Florida, north of Miami along the Atlantic Ocean. It is the county seat of and most populous city in Broward County, Florida, Broward County with a population of 182,760 at the ...
, where he lived until he was in the third grade when he moved to
Coral Springs, Florida Coral Springs is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 134,394. Approximately northwest of Fort Lauderdale, it is a principal city of the Miami metropolitan area in South ...
. Saunders parents were divorced, and as a result he lived with his father. His older brother, Jacob, who practiced
karate (; ; Okinawan language, Okinawan pronunciation: ), also , is a martial arts, martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the Okinawan martial arts, indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tī'' in Okinawan) un ...
, helped teach his younger brother about the
martial art Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; and the pres ...
. His twin brother, Joe, is a former member of the Florida Legislature. When Saunders was eight years old, he had a friend who was learning
Tang Soo Do Tang Soo Do (; ) is a Korean martial arts, Korean martial art based on karate which can include fighting principles from taekkyeon, subak, as well as northern Chinese martial arts. From its beginnings in 1944 to today, Tang Soo Do is used by ...
, which the two soon began practicing daily. However, due to poor financial status Saunders was unable to pay for legitimate instruction. At the age of 14, Saunders began training in
Jeet Kune Do Jeet Kune Do (/ˌdʒiːt kuːn ˈdoʊ/; zh, c=截拳道, l=stop fist way' or 'way of the intercepting fist, j=zit6 kyun4 dou6; abbreviated JKD) is a hybrid martial art conceived and practiced by martial artist Bruce Lee. It was formed from ...
and worked at fast food restaurants so that he could pay the tuition. He worked out with his J. P. Taravella High School wrestling team where he learned
wrestling Wrestling is a martial art, combat sport, and form of entertainment that involves grappling with an opponent and striving to obtain a position of advantage through different throws or techniques, within a given ruleset. Wrestling involves di ...
techniques in exchange for submission techniques that he knew. Saunders, although not an instigator of street fights, did not back down from challenges and was also involved in countless street fights while growing up. At the age of 18, Saunders told his parents that he was leaving for Valencia College, when in fact he was going to train with
Din Thomas Din Yero Thomas ( ; born September 28, 1976) is an American former mixed martial artist who was featured on '' The Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback''. In the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Thomas is a UFC 41 Lightweight Tournament Semifinalist ...
to become a professional fighter.


Mixed martial arts career


''The Ultimate Fighter''

Saunders defeated Dan Barrera in the first round of the competition by majority decision. Saunders reportedly contracted influenza after the Barrera bout. Despite the illness, Saunders competed in the quarter-finals against
Tom Speer Thomas Speer (born August 20, 1984) is a retired American mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 2005 until 2013, he received national exposure on '' The Ultimate Fighter 6: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra'', fighting as a member of Te ...
, losing via unanimous decision.


Ultimate Fighting Championship

Saunders defeated Dan Barrera at The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs Team Serra Finale by unanimous decision. In his second career UFC fight, Saunders defeated UFC newcomer
Ryan Thomas Ryan James Thomas (born 10 June 1984) is a British former actor. He is known for playing the role of Jason Grimshaw on ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' from 2000 until 2016. In 2018, he played Rafael Humphreys in Australian soap opera ''N ...
by armbar in the second round. In his third career UFC fight he fought Brandon Wolff, defeating him in the first round via TKO with knees from the Thai clinch, landing 42 knees on his opponent. This left Wolff's face a bloody and swollen mess. After the bout many comparisons were made between him and
Anderson Silva Anderson da Silva (; born 14 April 1975) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and professional boxer. He is a former UFC Middleweight Champion and holds the record for the longest title reign in UFC history at 2,457 days. This started in 2006 ...
, who is also known for his Thai clinch prowess. Saunders' next fight was supposed to be at UFC 96 against Welterweight standout
Dustin Hazelett Dustin Tyler Hazelett (born April 29, 1986) is a retired American mixed martial artist who had fought as a Welterweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Hazelett was born in Louisa, Kentucky, USA. Hazelett began training in mar ...
, but due to injury Hazelett pulled out of the match. Saunders was then set to face UFC newcomer Ryan Madigan. However, Saunders later pulled out of the match due to an injured foot. On February 28, 2009, it was confirmed that Saunders would be facing
Mike Swick Michael Timothy Swick (born June 19, 1979) is a retired American professional mixed martial artist, who spent most of his career competing for the UFC's middleweight division. Swick, who trains at American Kickboxing Academy alongside fellow wel ...
at
UFC 99 ''UFC 99: The Comeback'' was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on June 13, 2009, in Cologne, Germany. Background This was the first UFC event held in Germany, as well as the first in mainland Europe (eve ...
. Saunders was defeated by Swick by TKO in the second round. As Swick struck, Saunders ducked into Swick's striking range every time which essentially cost him the fight. Saunders defeated
Marcus Davis Marcus Paul Davis (born August 24, 1973), is an American professional mixed martial artist and former professional boxer who is perhaps best known for competing in the UFC. A professional MMA competitor from 2003 until 2014, Davis also compete ...
on November 21, 2009, via KO due to multiple knees at 3:24 into the first round at UFC 106 making him the first man to knock out Davis. Saunders was expected to face off against top ten welterweight
Martin Kampmann Martin Kampmann (born April 17, 1982) is a retired Danish professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is a former Cage Warriors World Middleweight Champion. Background Originally from Aarhus, Denmark ...
at UFC 111 in March. However, an injury forced Kampmann off the card and Saunders was set to face Jake Ellenberger. On March 25, 2010, news broke that Thiago Alves's pre-fight CT scan found an irregularity in his brain, and he was not cleared to fight. Saunders asked to fight Alves's opponent and former #1 contender
Jon Fitch Jon Fitch (born February 24, 1978) is an American retired mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. He has competed in the Welterweight (MMA), Welterweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Professional Fighters League ...
, forcing Saunder's opponent Ellenberger out of the match. Saunders lost to Fitch by unanimous decision. Saunders next faced Dennis Hallman on August 7, 2010, at UFC 117. Ben lost the fight by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28). Following the loss, Saunders was cut from the UFC.


Bellator

On February 3, it was announced by
Bellator Bellator, warrior in Latin, may refer to: * Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States * Bishop Bellator of Sufetula (5th century) Taxonomy * ''Bellator'' (fish), a fish genus in the family Triglidae (sea robins) ** ...
that they had signed Saunders to compete in their Welterweight division. Although he will not be a part of the Season Four Tournament, Saunders fights aired live on the main card. At Bellator 39 Saunders defeated Matt Lee by TKO (doctor stoppage) in the third round after brutalizing Lee in the clinch with knees and elbows for most of the fight. Saunders was expected to fight at Bellator 47 but had to pull out of the event due to an undisclosed injury he suffered in training. Saunders was expected to face Rick Hawn at Bellator 49. But Hawn later pulled out of the bout due to a knee injury. Saunders instead fought replacement Chris Cisneros. Saunders won by TKO in the third round. In the semifinals, Saunders faced Luis Santos at
Bellator 53 2011 in Bellator MMA was the fourth installment of the Bellator Fighting Championships. Mixed martial arts tournaments were held in multiple weight classes, including three of the original tournament classes: Welterweight, Lightweight and Feathe ...
. After getting taken down in the beginning of the first round, Saunders controlled the round by stifling Santos' offense and going for many submission attempts, transitioning from the reverse triangle to the omoplata. The second round played out in similar fashion with Saunders almost getting an omoplata and a carni on two separate occasions. Saunders eventually submitted his opponent via americana armlock transitioning from an arm triangle attempt while in half guard in the third round. In the finals, he faced Douglas Lima at Bellator 57 and lost via KO in the second round. Saunders took part in Bellator Season Six Welterweight Tournament. Saunders faced Raul Amaya in the quarterfinals at Bellator 63 and won by unanimous decision. Saunders lost by unanimous decision to Bryan Baker in the semifinals at Bellator 67. Saunders defeated Brian Warren in just 22 seconds of the first round by TKO due to Knee Strikes at
Bellator 72 2012 in Bellator MMA was the sixth installment of the Bellator Fighting Championships, which began on March 9, 2012. The sixth season of Bellator was originally scheduled to begin on March 2, 2012. However, the debut was pushed back a week so ...
.
Bellator MMA Bellator MMA (formerly Bellator Fighting Championships) was an American mixed martial arts promotion (entertainment), promotion founded in 2008 by Bjorn Rebney and operated until 2025. The promotion takes its name from ''wikt:bellator, bellātor ...
announced Saunders as a competitor in the Bellator's Season Eight Welterweight Tournament. Saunders defeated Koffi Adzitso via unanimous decision at Bellator 86 in the Quarterfinals. Saunders rematched Raul Amaya at
Bellator 90 2013 in Bellator MMA was the eighth installment of the Bellator MMA, which began on January 17, 2013 and ended on April 4, 2013. Mixed martial arts tournaments were held in five weight classes and all of the champions, except the heavyweight c ...
in the semifinals and won via KO due to a head kick in round one. Saunders was scheduled to face Douglas Lima in a rematch in the tournament final at Bellator 93. However, Lima broke his hand so the match was rescheduled for later this year. Saunders eventually faced Lima on September 20, 2013, at Bellator 100. He lost the fight via knockout due to a head kick in the second round. After the loss, Saunders was released from the promotion.


Titan Fighting Championships

In June 2014, Saunders signed with
Titan Fighting Championships Titan Fighting Championship (Titan FC) is an American mixed martial arts promotion based out of Pompano Beach, Florida. Their shows were originally run in and near Kansas City and have since expanded to include venues all over North America and e ...
. For his first fight with the promotion, Saunders was scheduled face UFC veteran
Matt Riddle Matthew Fredrick Riddle (born January 14, 1986) is an American professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. He is signed to Major League Wrestling (MLW), where he is the reigning MLW World Heavyweight Champion in his first reign. He ...
for the vacant TFC Welterweight Championship at Titan FC 29 on August 22, 2014. Riddle, however, withdrew from the bout and was replaced by MMA veteran Jose Landi-Jons. However, that fight was cancelled when Titan FC granted Saunders permission to return to the UFC.


Return to the UFC

On August 7, 2014, it was announced that Saunders would return to fight for the UFC. Saunders faced promotional newcomer Chris Heatherly on August 23, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 49. He was successful in his return, winning the fight in the first round with the first successful
omoplata An armlock in grappling is a single or double joint lock that hyperextends, hyperflexes or hyperrotates the elbow joint or shoulder joint. An armpit lock is very useful; it will immobilize an opponent and pin them on the ground. An armlock tha ...
submission in the UFC. The impressive victory also earned Saunders his first ''Performance of the Night'' bonus award. Saunders then faced
Joe Riggs Joseph Jonathan Riggs (born September 23, 1982) is an American professional bare-knuckle boxer and former mixed martial artist who was most recently signed to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship where he lost via KO to Lorenzo Hunt. He former ...
on December 13, 2014, at
UFC on Fox 13 ''UFC on Fox: dos Santos vs. Miocic'' (also known as ''UFC on Fox 13'') was a mixed martial arts event held at U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona, on December 13, 2014. Background The event was the first that the organization has hosted in ...
. He won the fight by TKO due to injury after Riggs hurt his neck during a takedown and tapped out. Saunders was expected to face Erick Silva on March 21, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 62. However, he pulled out of the fight in early March citing an injury. Saunders faced Kenny Robertson on July 25, 2015, at UFC on Fox 16. He won the back-and-forth fight by split decision. Saunders faced Patrick Côté on January 17, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 81. He lost by TKO in the second round. Saunders next faced
Court McGee Court McGee (born December 12, 1984) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2007, McGee mostly fought in local pr ...
on January 15, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 103. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Saunders faced Peter Sobotta on May 28, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 109. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round. Saunders faced
Alan Jouban Alan Michael Jouban (born November 25, 1982) is an American retired professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor from 2010 to 2021, Jouban has also formerly competed for the Ultimate Fight ...
on February 24, 2018, at UFC on Fox 28. He lost the back-and-forth fight via knockout in the second round. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night bonus. Saunders faced Jake Ellenberger on June 1, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 131, replacing an injured Bryan Barberena. Saunders won the fight by TKO due to a knee to the liver and punches. This win earn him Performance of the Night award. Saunders faced Sérgio Moraes on September 22, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 137. He lost the fight via a submission in round two. Saunders faced Lyman Good on November 3, 2018, at UFC 230, replacing an injured Sultan Aliev. He lost the fight via knockout in round one. Saunders faced promotional newcomer Takashi Sato on April 27, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round. Saunders faced Matt Brown December 14, 2019, at
UFC 245 ''UFC 245: Usman vs. Covington'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on December 14, 2019, at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States. B ...
. He lost the fight via knockout in the second round. The fight marked the last fight of Saunders' prevailing contract and the UFC opted not to renew it, making Saunders a free agent.


Post UFC

Saunders faced Ramsey Nijem on July 30, 2021, at XMMA 2. He won the bout via unanimous decision. Saunders has also announced that he will be opening a new branch of 10th Planet, in Orlando, Florida, where he will serve as the head coach.


Championships and accomplishments

*Combat Fighting Championships **CFC Welterweight Championship (One time) *
Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...
** Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Chris Heatherly and Jake Ellenberger ** Fight of the Night (One time) vs.
Alan Jouban Alan Michael Jouban (born November 25, 1982) is an American retired professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor from 2010 to 2021, Jouban has also formerly competed for the Ultimate Fight ...
**UFC.com Awards ***2014: Ranked #3 Submission of the Year *
World MMA Awards The World MMA Awards are awards presented by ''Fighters Only'' magazine to honor exceptional performance in various aspects of mixed martial arts. Winners are presented with the ''Fighters Only silver statuette''. The World MMA Awards are divided ...
**2014 Submission of the Year vs. Chris Heatherly at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. dos Anjos


Mixed martial arts record

, - , Win , align=center, , Ramsey Nijem , Decision (unanimous) , XMMA 2: Saunders vs. Nijem , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Greenville, South Carolina Greenville ( ; ) is a city in Greenville County, South Carolina, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 70,720 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, sixth-most pop ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 22–13–2 , Matt Brown , KO (elbow and punches) ,
UFC 245 ''UFC 245: Usman vs. Covington'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on December 14, 2019, at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States. B ...
, , align=center, 2 , align=center, 4:55 ,
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 22–12–2 , Takashi Sato , TKO (punches and elbows) , UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:18 ,
Sunrise, Florida Sunrise is a city in central-western Broward County, Florida, Broward County, Florida, United States, and is a principal city of the Miami metropolitan area. The population was 97,335 at the time of the 2020 census. History Early history In ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 22–11–2 , Lyman Good , KO (punches) , UFC 230 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:32 ,
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
,
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 22–10–2 , Sérgio Moraes , Submission (arm-triangle choke) , UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Anders , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 4:42 ,
São Paulo São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...
, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 22–9–2 , Jake Ellenberger , KO (knee to body) , UFC Fight Night: Rivera vs. Moraes , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:56 ,
Utica, New York Utica () is the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The tenth-most populous city in New York, its population was 65,283 in the 2020 census. It is located on the Mohawk River in the Mohawk Valley at the foot of the Adiro ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 21–9–2 ,
Alan Jouban Alan Michael Jouban (born November 25, 1982) is an American retired professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor from 2010 to 2021, Jouban has also formerly competed for the Ultimate Fight ...
, KO (punch) , UFC on Fox: Emmett vs. Stephens , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:38 ,
Orlando, Florida Orlando ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Orange County, Florida, United States. The city proper had a population of 307,573 at the 2020 census, making it the fourth-most populous city in Florida behind Jacksonville, Florida, Jacksonville ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 21–8–2 , Peter Sobotta , TKO (punches and knee) , UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Teixeira , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:29 ,
Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...
, Sweden , , - , Win , align=center, 21–7–2 ,
Court McGee Court McGee (born December 12, 1984) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2007, McGee mostly fought in local pr ...
, Decision (unanimous) , UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Penn , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 20–7–2 ,
Jacob Volkmann Jacob Joseph Volkmann (born September 5, 1980) is an American former mixed martial artist that competed in the Welterweight division. A professional MMA competitor from 2007 to 2016, Volkmann has formerly competed for the UFC, Bellator, and the ...
, Submission (armbar) , Fight Night at the Island , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:17 , Welch, Minnesota, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 19–7–2 , Patrick Côté , TKO (punches) , UFC Fight Night: Dillashaw vs. Cruz , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:14 ,
Boston, Massachusetts Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 19–6–2 , Kenny Robertson , Decision (split) , UFC on Fox: Dillashaw vs. Barão 2 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Chicago, Illinois Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 18–6–2 ,
Joe Riggs Joseph Jonathan Riggs (born September 23, 1982) is an American professional bare-knuckle boxer and former mixed martial artist who was most recently signed to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship where he lost via KO to Lorenzo Hunt. He former ...
, TKO (neck injury) , UFC on Fox: dos Santos vs. Miocic , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:57 ,
Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 17–6–2 , Chris Heatherly , Submission (omoplata) , UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. dos Anjos , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:18 ,
Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa ( ) is the List of municipalities in Oklahoma, second-most-populous city in the U.S. state, state of Oklahoma, after Oklahoma City, and the List of United States cities by population, 48th-most-populous city in the United States. The po ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 16–6–2 , Douglas Lima , KO (head kick) , Bellator 100 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 4:33 ,
Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 16–5–2 , Raul Amaya , KO (head kick) ,
Bellator 90 2013 in Bellator MMA was the eighth installment of the Bellator MMA, which began on January 17, 2013 and ended on April 4, 2013. Mixed martial arts tournaments were held in five weight classes and all of the champions, except the heavyweight c ...
, , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:56 ,
West Valley City, Utah West Valley City is a city in Salt Lake County and an inner suburb of Salt Lake City in the U.S. state of Utah. The population was 140,230 at the 2020 census, making it the second-most populous city in Utah after Salt Lake City. The city inco ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 15–5–2 , Koffi Adzitso , Decision (unanimous) , Bellator 86 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Thackerville, Oklahoma Thackerville is a town in Love County, Oklahoma, United States. It is located near the Texas state border. The population was 400 at the 2020 census. Geography Thackerville is situated near the intersection of U.S. Highway 77 and State High ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 14–5–2 , Brian Warren , TKO (knees) ,
Bellator 72 2012 in Bellator MMA was the sixth installment of the Bellator Fighting Championships, which began on March 9, 2012. The sixth season of Bellator was originally scheduled to begin on March 2, 2012. However, the debut was pushed back a week so ...
, , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:22 ,
Tampa, Florida Tampa ( ) is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. Tampa's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and t ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 13–5–2 , Bryan Baker , Decision (unanimous) , Bellator 67 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Rama, Ontario Chippewas of Rama First Nation, also known as Chippewas of Mnjikaning and Chippewas of Rama Mnjikaning First Nation (, also alternatively Rama Anishinaabek), is an Anishinaabe (Ojibwe, Ojibway) First Nations in Canada, First Nation located in t ...
, Canada , , - , Win , align=center, 13–4–2 , Raul Amaya , Decision (unanimous) , Bellator 63 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Uncasville, Connecticut Uncasville is a village in the town of Montville, Connecticut, United States. It is located in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River where it flows into the Thames River. The name is now applied more generally to all of the ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 12–4–2 , Douglas Lima , KO (punches) , Bellator 57 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:21 ,
Rama, Ontario Chippewas of Rama First Nation, also known as Chippewas of Mnjikaning and Chippewas of Rama Mnjikaning First Nation (, also alternatively Rama Anishinaabek), is an Anishinaabe (Ojibwe, Ojibway) First Nations in Canada, First Nation located in t ...
, Canada , , - , Win , align=center, 12–3–2 , Luis Santos , Submission (americana) ,
Bellator 53 2011 in Bellator MMA was the fourth installment of the Bellator Fighting Championships. Mixed martial arts tournaments were held in multiple weight classes, including three of the original tournament classes: Welterweight, Lightweight and Feathe ...
, , align=center, 3 , align=center, 1:45 ,
Miami, Oklahoma Miami ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Ottawa County, Oklahoma, United States, founded in 1891. Lead and zinc mining were established by 1918, causing the area's economy to boom. This area was part of Indian Territory. Miami is the capit ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 11–3–2 , Chris Cisneros , TKO (knee and punches) , Bellator 49 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 0:29 ,
Atlantic City, New Jersey Atlantic City, sometimes referred to by its initials A.C., is a Jersey Shore seaside resort city (New Jersey), city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Atlantic City comprises the second half of ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 10–3–2 , Matt Lee , TKO (doctor stoppage) , Bellator 39 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 1:24 ,
Uncasville, Connecticut Uncasville is a village in the town of Montville, Connecticut, United States. It is located in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River where it flows into the Thames River. The name is now applied more generally to all of the ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 9–3–2 , Elijah Harshbarger , TKO (submission to punches and elbows) , WEF: Saunders vs. Harshbarger , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:21 ,
Kissimmee, Florida Kissimmee ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Osceola County, Florida, Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 79,226. It is a principal city of the Greater Orlando, O ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 8–3–2 , Dennis Hallman , Decision (unanimous) , UFC 117 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Oakland, California Oakland is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is the county seat and most populous city in Alameda County, California, Alameda County, with a population of 440,646 in 2020. A major We ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 8–2–2 ,
Jon Fitch Jon Fitch (born February 24, 1978) is an American retired mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. He has competed in the Welterweight (MMA), Welterweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Professional Fighters League ...
, Decision (unanimous) , UFC 111 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Newark, New Jersey Newark ( , ) is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, most populous City (New Jersey), city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, the county seat of Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, and a principal city of the New York metropolitan area. ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 8–1–2 ,
Marcus Davis Marcus Paul Davis (born August 24, 1973), is an American professional mixed martial artist and former professional boxer who is perhaps best known for competing in the UFC. A professional MMA competitor from 2003 until 2014, Davis also compete ...
, KO (knees) , UFC 106 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:24 ,
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 7–1–2 ,
Mike Swick Michael Timothy Swick (born June 19, 1979) is a retired American professional mixed martial artist, who spent most of his career competing for the UFC's middleweight division. Swick, who trains at American Kickboxing Academy alongside fellow wel ...
, TKO (punches) ,
UFC 99 ''UFC 99: The Comeback'' was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on June 13, 2009, in Cologne, Germany. Background This was the first UFC event held in Germany, as well as the first in mainland Europe (eve ...
, , align=center, 2 , align=center, 3:47 ,
Cologne Cologne ( ; ; ) is the largest city of the States of Germany, German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city pr ...
, Germany , , - , Win , align=center, 7–0–2 , Brandon Wolff , TKO (knees) , UFC: Fight for the Troops , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:49 ,
Fayetteville, North Carolina Fayetteville ( , ) is a city in and the county seat of Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a major U.S. Army installation northwest of the city. Fayetteville has received the All-Ameri ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 6–0–2 ,
Ryan Thomas Ryan James Thomas (born 10 June 1984) is a British former actor. He is known for playing the role of Jason Grimshaw on ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' from 2000 until 2016. In 2018, he played Rafael Humphreys in Australian soap opera ''N ...
, Submission (armbar) , UFC 87 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:28 ,
Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the state's List of cities in Minnesota, most populous city. Locat ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 5–0–2 , Dan Barrera , Decision (unanimous) , The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra Finale , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 4–0–2 , Charles Blanchard , Submission (armbar) , Combat Fighting Championships 3 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:46 ,
Orlando, Florida Orlando ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Orange County, Florida, United States. The city proper had a population of 307,573 at the 2020 census, making it the fourth-most populous city in Florida behind Jacksonville, Florida, Jacksonville ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 3–0–2 , Kenny Stevens , TKO (punches) , Combat Fighting Championship 1 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:05 ,
Orlando, Florida Orlando ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Orange County, Florida, United States. The city proper had a population of 307,573 at the 2020 census, making it the fourth-most populous city in Florida behind Jacksonville, Florida, Jacksonville ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0–2 , Rick Delvecchio , KO (head kick) , Absolute Fighting Championships 15 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:31 ,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida Fort Lauderdale ( ) is a coastal city located in the U.S. state of Florida, north of Miami along the Atlantic Ocean. It is the county seat of and most populous city in Broward County, Florida, Broward County with a population of 182,760 at the ...
, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0–2 , Reggie Pena , Submission (triangle choke) , Absolute Fighting Championships 14 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:12 ,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida Fort Lauderdale ( ) is a coastal city located in the U.S. state of Florida, north of Miami along the Atlantic Ocean. It is the county seat of and most populous city in Broward County, Florida, Broward County with a population of 182,760 at the ...
, United States , , - , Draw , align=center, 0–0–2 , Diego Lionel Vitosky , Draw , Absolute Fighting Championships 12 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida Fort Lauderdale ( ) is a coastal city located in the U.S. state of Florida, north of Miami along the Atlantic Ocean. It is the county seat of and most populous city in Broward County, Florida, Broward County with a population of 182,760 at the ...
, United States , , - , Draw , align=center, 0–0–1 , Crafton Wallace , Draw , Absolute Fighting Championships 8 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 5:00 ,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida Fort Lauderdale ( ) is a coastal city located in the U.S. state of Florida, north of Miami along the Atlantic Ocean. It is the county seat of and most populous city in Broward County, Florida, Broward County with a population of 182,760 at the ...
, United States ,


See also

*
List of current UFC fighters This list of current UFC fighters records current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighters' information, country origins, recent fighter signings and departures, fight schedules and results and the champion of each division. , the UFC roster c ...
* List of Bellator MMA alumni *
List of male mixed martial artists This is a list of notable professional male mixed martial arts fighters in alphabetical order. __NOTOC__ A * Tank Abbott - ( UFC, Pride, Strikeforce) * Hamdy Abdelwahab - ( UFC) * Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov - ( ACB) * Shamil Abdurakhimov - ...


References


External links

* *
Ben Saunders' The Ultimate Fighter bioBen Saunders' TUF 6 Blog
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Saunders, Ben American male mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists from Florida Mixed martial artists utilizing Jeet Kune Do Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Welterweight mixed martial artists Living people 1983 births People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu Sportspeople from Fort Lauderdale, Florida American Jeet Kune Do practitioners Sportspeople from Coral Springs, Florida Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters