Richard Walsh (born 1 December 1988) is an Australian

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 ...

. He previously competed 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 of 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 ...

. He was also a semi-finalist on '' 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 The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is a public research university based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was established in 1949. The university comprises seven faculties, through which it offers bachelor's, master's and docto ...

before going to study abroad at the

Georgia Institute of Technology The Georgia Institute of Technology (commonly referred to as Georgia Tech, GT, and simply Tech or the Institute) is a public university, public research university and Institute of technology (United States), institute of technology in Atlanta, ...

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 Muay Thai or Muaythai (, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, the Art of Eight Limbs or the Science of Eight Limbs, is a Thai martial art and full-contact combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and various clinch fighting, cl ...

and

western boxing Boxing is a combat sport and martial art. Taking place in a boxing ring, it involves two people – usually wearing protective equipment, such as protective gloves, hand wraps, and mouthguards – throwing punches at each other for a pred ...

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 Kyle Noke (born 18 March 1980) is an Australian retired mixed martial artist who competed as a Welterweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2002, Noke has also fought for EliteXC. Background Noke, origina ...

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 is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the welterweight division. A professional competitor since 2006, he has also competed for the RIZIN, UFC, Bellator, and Pancrase. Background Born and raised in the Nishina ...

UFC Fight Night 52 ''UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 52'') was a mixed martial arts event held on September 20, 2014, at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Background The event was the third time that the organization hosted ...

. 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 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 28 February 2015 at

UFC 184 ''UFC 184: Rousey vs. Zingano'' was a mixed martial arts event held on February 28, 2015, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Background A UFC Middleweight Championship bout between Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort was expected to serve ...

. Jouban won the fight via knockout in the first round. Walsh faced Steve Kennedy on 15 November 2015 at

UFC 193 ''UFC 193: Rousey vs. Holm'' was a mixed martial arts event held on November 14, 2015, at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. It was the most attended UFC event in the history of the company at the time, with 56,214 people filling the stadiu ...

. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Walsh faced Viscardi Andrade on 20 March 2016 at

UFC Fight Night 85 ''UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 85'') was a mixed martial arts event held on March 20, 2016, at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Australia. Background The event was the second that the promotion ...

. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. Walsh next faced Jonathan Meunier on 27 November 2016 at

UFC Fight Night 101 ''UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Brunson'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 101'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship held on November 27, 2016, at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia. Background Thi ...

. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. In May 2017, Walsh was released from the company.

Post Ultimate Fighting Championship

Walsh was awarded his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in January 2018. He is currently working at the UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai.

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.Murray, Oliver
"VT1 Academy fighters Richard Walsh and Alex Chambers take step closer to Ultimate Fighting Championship dreams"
"

Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was foun ...

", Sydney, 16 December 2013. Retrieved on 23 July 2014.

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Loss , align=center , , Jonathan Meunier , Decision (unanimous) , UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Brunson , , align=center , 3 , align=center , 5:00 ,

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

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Brisbane Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...

, Australia , , - , Win , align=center , 9–3 , Steve Kennedy , Decision (unanimous) ,

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, KO (elbow and punches) ,

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Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center , 8–2 ,

, Decision (split) , UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson , , align=center , 3 , align=center , 5:00 , Saitama, Japan , , - , Win , align=center , 8–1 , Chris Indich , Decision (unanimous) , The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale: Bisping vs. Kennedy , , align=center , 3 , align=center , 5:00 ,

Quebec City, Quebec Quebec City is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the Census Metropolitan Area (including surrounding communities) had a populati ...

, Canada , , - , Win , align=center , 7–1 , Aaron Forsterling , Decision (unanimous) , BRACE 18 , , align=center , 3 , align=center , 5:00 ,

Canberra Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...

, Australia , , - , Win , align=center , 6–1 , Amer Hussein , TKO (punches) , Proud Warrior Productions 5: Magalhaes vs. Brown , , align=center , 1 , align=center , ,

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

, Australia , , - , Win , align=center , 5–1 ,

Callan Potter Callan Potter (born 6 September 1984) is an Australian retired mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Mixed martial arts career Early career Potter compiled a pr ...

, KO (knee) , Gladiators Cage Fighting: Series 2 , , align=center , 1 , align=center , 4:15 ,

Cronulla Cronulla is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Boasting numerous surf beaches and swimming spots, the suburb attracts both tourists and Greater Sydney residents. Cronulla is 26 kilometres south of the Sydney central ...

, Australia , , - , Win , align=center , 4–1 , Josh Russell , KO (punches) , War on the North Shore 15 , , align=center , 1 , align=center , 1:10 , Kallangur, Australia , , - , Win , align=center , 3–1 , Adriano Magnani , TKO (punches) , Pro Cagefighting 1: Gladiators , , align=center , 1 , align=center , 4:30 ,

, Australia , , - , Loss , align=center , 2–1 , Robert Whittaker , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Cage Fighting Championships 11 , , align=center , 2 , align=center , 2:40 ,

, Australia , , - , Win , align=center , 2–0 , Blake Doering , Decision (unanimous) , War on the North Shore 10 , , align=center , 3 , align=center , 5:00 ,

, Australia , , - , Win , align=center , 1–0 , Tahu Pauro , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Elite Fight Night 8 , , align=center , 1 , align=center , 3:30 , Penrith, Australia ,

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Walsh, Richard 1988 births Sportsmen from New South Wales Living people Australian male mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters Australian practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu People educated at Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview 21st-century Australian sportsmen