Rory Michael Singer (born May 28, 1976) is an American
mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorpo ...
and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt. Although Rory had made a name for himself as a 185-pound prospect; his big break came after meeting the producers of TUF. They were filming
Forrest Griffin
Forrest Griffin (born July 1, 1979) is an American retired mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. He was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2013 and currently serves as the Vice President of Athlete Development at ...
at The HardCore Gym for his fight against
Stephan Bonnar
Stephan Patrick Bonnar (April 4, 1977 – December 22, 2022) was an American mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. Bonnar competed as a Light Heavyweight (MMA), Light Heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC for most of his car ...
in the finals of season 1. Forrest went on to win Season 1 and Rory was approached soon after to appear on Season 3.
Mixed martial arts career
Singer has a background in many different styles of fighting, being involved in
martial arts since he was 11 years old. He was taught
kickboxing
Kickboxing is a combat sport focused on kicking and punching. The combat takes place in a boxing ring, normally with boxing gloves, mouthguards, shorts, and bare feet to favour the use of kicks. Kickboxing is practiced for self-defense, gen ...
by his brother and then added
karate
(; ; Okinawan pronunciation: ) is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tii'' in Okinawan) under the influence of Chinese martial arts, particularly Fuj ...
,
Taekwondo
''Taekwondo'', ''Tae Kwon Do'' or ''Taekwon-Do'' (; ko, 태권도/跆拳道 ) is a Korean form of martial arts involving punching and kicking techniques, with emphasis on head-height kicks, spinning jump kicks, and fast kicking techniques. ...
, and other traditional
martial arts. He wrestled in high school, and is a former local
Golden Gloves
The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States, where they are awarded a belt and a ring. And the title of nations champion is awarded. The Golden Gloves is a term used to refer to the Nationa ...
and
Muay Thai
Muay Thai ( th, มวยไทย, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, is a combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. This discipline is known as the "art of eight limbs", as it is characterise ...
champion. Singer is also a Black Belt in
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ; pt, jiu-jitsu brasileiro ) is a self-defence martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting ( ne-waza) and submission holds. BJJ focuses on the skill of taking an opponent to the ground, control ...
. He is the co-owner of the noted MMA Gym SBG Athens along with his brother and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Adam Singer. The HardCore Gym had produced such fighters as
Forrest Griffin
Forrest Griffin (born July 1, 1979) is an American retired mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. He was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2013 and currently serves as the Vice President of Athlete Development at ...
and
Brian Bowles. Singer's MMA career includes fighting for several local organizations as well as the AFC,
KOTC,
PRIDE
Pride is defined by Merriam-Webster as "reasonable self-esteem" or "confidence and satisfaction in oneself". A healthy amount of pride is good, however, pride sometimes is used interchangeably with "conceit" or "arrogance" (among other words) wh ...
and 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 Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...
. He gained fame from his appearance on
Spike TV
Paramount Network is an American basic cable television channel owned by the MTV Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Media Networks. The network's headquarters are located at the Paramount Pictures studio lot in Los Angeles.
The channel was ...
's series ''
The Ultimate Fighter 3, making it to the semi-finals where he would lose to Ed Herman.''
After a 5-year break from MMA, Singer was scheduled to fight
Lodune Sincaid
Lodune Ki Sincaid (May 7, 1973 – April 7, 2019) was an American professional mixed martial artist. He was WEC Light Heavyweight Champion in 2006, and was featured on the UFC's '' The Ultimate Fighter 1'' reality show, losing to Bobby Southwo ...
on September 26, 2014. However, Sincaid was pulled from the fight due to suspension by the California State Athletic Commission.
Singer currently resides in Athens, Georgia, where he coaches BJJ, MMA, and Youth Martial Arts for people of all walks of life.
Personal life
Singer married in August 2008. Singer is
Jewish
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
.
He attended the
University of Georgia
, mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things."
, establ ...
where he earned a degree in
biological engineering
Biological engineering or
bioengineering is the application of principles of biology and the tools of engineering to create usable, tangible, economically-viable products. Biological engineering employs knowledge and expertise from a number o ...
.
[
]
Mixed martial arts record
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 11–9
, Bryan Baker
, TKO (punches)
, MFC 20
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 4:56
, Edmonton, Alberta
Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city anch ...
, Canada
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 11–8
, Chilo Gonzalez
, Submission (kneebar)
, AFL: Erupption
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, N/A
, Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is a city in Kentucky, United States that is the county seat of Fayette County. By population, it is the second-largest city in Kentucky and 57th-largest city in the United States. By land area, it is the country's 28th-largest ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 11–7
, Jason MacDonald
Jason Anthony MacDonald (born June 3, 1975) is a Canadian former mixed martial artist. A professional from 1999 until 2013, he is perhaps best remembered for his two stints in the UFC, but also fought for King of the Cage, and the Maximum Figh ...
, TKO (punches)
, UFC 72
''UFC 72: Victory'' was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The event took place Saturday, 16 June 2007 at The Odyssey in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Background
''UFC 72'' continued the UFC's expansion into Eur ...
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 3:18
, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdo ...
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 11–6
, Matt Masterson
, Decision (unanimous)
, Wild Bill's Fight Night 8 (ISKA
The ISKA (originally International Sport Karate Association, later also called the International Sport Kickboxing Association) is one of the major international bodies regulating sport karate and kickboxing matches, and is based in the Unite ...
)
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,71 ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 10–6
, Yushin Okami
is a Japanese mixed martial artist. A professional competitor since 2002, Okami has competed for the UFC, PRIDE, Pancrase, M-1 Global, World Series of Fighting, DEEP, Professional Fighters League, and ONE Championship.
Mixed martial ar ...
, Submission (punches)
, UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 4:03
, Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 10–5
, Josh Haynes
, Decision (unanimous)
, Ortiz vs. Shamrock 3: The Final Chapter
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Hollywood, Florida
Hollywood is a city in southern Broward County, Florida, United States, located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. As of July 1, 2019, Hollywood had a population of 154,817. Founded in 1925, the city grew rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s, and is no ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 9–5
, Ross Pointon
''The Ultimate Fighter 3'' was the third season of the mixed martial arts reality television series ''The Ultimate Fighter''. It premiered on April 6, 2006, immediately after the conclusion of ''Ultimate Fight Night 4''. The season featured sixtee ...
, Submission (triangle choke)
, The Ultimate Fighter: Team Ortiz vs. Team Shamrock Finale
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 0:44
, Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 8–5
, Josh Tamsen
, Submission (triangle choke)
, Full Throttle 3
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 1:23
, Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to t ...
, U.S.
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 7–5
, Dennis Hallman
Dennis Lloyd Hallman (born December 2, 1975) is an American former professional mixed martial artist who competed from 1996 to 2015. A veteran of 75 fights, he competed in various promotions including the UFC, Strikeforce, IFL, the World Series o ...
, Submission (rear naked choke)
, Absolute Fighting Champions 11
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, N/A
, 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 largest city in Broward County with a population of 182,760 at the 2020 census, making it the tenth ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 7–4
, Jason Hathaway
, Submission (rear naked choke)
, ISCF: Domination at the DAC
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 2:06
, Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,71 ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 6–4
, Diego Vitosky
, Submission (rear naked choke)
, Absolute Fighting Championships 9
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 0:58
, 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 largest city in Broward County with a population of 182,760 at the 2020 census, making it the tenth ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 5–4
, Wilson Gouveia
Wilson Gouveia (born October 3, 1978) is a retired Brazilian mixed martial artist. Gouveia formerly fought in the UFC. He is a 4th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and is a member of American Top Team.
Mixed martial arts career
Gouveia ...
, KO (knee)
, KOTC 32: Bringing Heat
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 4:55
, Miami, Florida
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a coastal metropolis and the county seat of Miami-Dade County in South Florida, United States. With a population of 442,241 at th ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 4–4
, James Wakefield
, Submission (armbar)
, ISCF: Anarchy in August
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, N/A
, Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,71 ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 3–4
, Ted Govola
, Decision (split)
, Hardcore Fighting Championships 1
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, N/A
, Revere, Massachusetts
Revere is a city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States, located approximately from downtown Boston. Founded as North Chelsea in 1846, it was renamed in 1871 after the American Revolutionary War patriot Paul Revere. In 1914, the T ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 3–3
, Daijiro Matsui
is a Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. A professional MMA competitor since 1998, he has competed for the PRIDE Fighting Championships, Cage Rage, DEEP, Pancrase, and King of the Cage.
Professional wrestling career
After ...
, Decision (unanimous)
, Pride FC: The Best, Vol. 3
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 5:00
, Tokyo, Japan
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 3–2
, Dustin Denes
, Submission (armlock)
, WEFC 1: Bring It On
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 1:42
, Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city in and the county seat of Cobb County, Georgia, United States. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 60,972. The 2019 estimate was 60,867, making it one of Atlanta's largest suburbs. Marietta is the fourth largest ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 3–1
, Kelly Williams
, TKO (submission to strikes)
, ISCF: Battle at the Brewery
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 2:54
, Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,71 ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 2–1
, Scott Shipman
, Decision (unanimous)
, RSF 7: Animal Instinct
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, N/A
, Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is the most populous city in Polk County, Florida, part of the Tampa Bay Area, located along Interstate 4 east of Tampa. According to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau release, the city had a population of 112,641. Lakeland is a principal c ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 2–0
, Butch Bacon
, Decision (unanimous)
, RSF 6: Mayhem in Myers
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 3:00
, Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers (or Ft. Myers) is a city in southwestern Florida and the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 92,245 in 2 ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 1–0
, Ludwig Strydom
, Submission (triangle choke)
, Pride and Honor
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 0:16
, South Africa
,
See also
* List of select Jewish mixed martial artists
References
External links
*
Additional MMA record info from FCFigher.com
Profile at UFC.com
The HardCore Gym
SBG Athens
{{DEFAULTSORT:Singer, Rory
1976 births
20th-century American Jews
Living people
American male mixed martial artists
Mixed martial artists from New York (state)
Mixed martial artists from Georgia (U.S. state)
Mixed martial artists utilizing boxing
Mixed martial artists utilizing Muay Thai
Mixed martial artists utilizing taekwondo
Mixed martial artists utilizing karate
Mixed martial artists utilizing wrestling
Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Middleweight mixed martial artists
Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters
American Muay Thai practitioners
American male boxers
American male taekwondo practitioners
American male karateka
American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
21st-century American Jews