Rick Cheek

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]

Rick Cheek
BornRichard P. Cheek
(1977-10-04) October 4, 1977
San Francisco, California, United States
Other namesSavage
NationalityAmerican
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight113 kg (249 lb; 17.8 st)
DivisionHeavyweight
Fighting out ofRohnert Park, California, United States
TeamNor-Cal Fighting Alliance
TrainerBilly Olsen
Years active2000–present
Kickboxing record
Total29
Wins22
By knockout19
Losses5
By knockout5
Draws1
No contests1
Mixed martial arts record
Total8
Wins4
By knockout4
Losses4
By knockout1
By submission3
last updated on: July 7, 2012

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
  • K-1
  • International Kickboxing Federation
    • IKF Amateur California Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lbs) Muay Thai Championship
    • IKF Amateur North American Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lbs) International Rules Championship
  • World Combat Sports Challenge
    • WCSC World Super Heavyweight Muay Thai Championship[19]
  • World Kickboxing Association
    • WKA United States Super Heavyweight (+95 kg/209 lbs) Muay Thai Championship
    • WKA U.S. Amateur (+91 kg) Muay Thai Championship[20]
    • WKA U.S. Amateur (+91 kg) Kickboxing Championship[20]

Mixed martial arts
  • Cage Combat Fighting Championships
    • CCFC Heavyweight Championship

Boxing
  • United States Air Force Athletics
    • United States Air Force and Armed Services heavyweight boxing champion[21]
  • Golden Gloves
    • 2001 San Antonio Golden Gloves Runner Up (+201 lbs)

Kickboxing record
22 wins (19 KOs), 5 losses, 1 draw, 1 no contest
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2012-07-07Loss Cătălin MoroşanuSuperKombat World Grand Prix 7Varna, BulgariaTKO (right hook)21:07
2010-08-28Loss Steve BanksWCK Muay ThaiPrimm, Nevada, USAKO (knees)22:52
For the WBC Muaythai United States Super Heavyweight (+104.5 kg/230 lb) Championship.
2009-05-30Win Ethen CoxWCSC The AwakeningSan Francisco, California, USADecision (unanimous)53:00
Wins the WCSC World Super Heavyweight Muay Thai Championship.
2009-04-04Loss Ben EdwardsWorld DominationCanberra, AustraliaKO (right cross)10:55
For the ISKA World Super Heavyweight (+96.4 kg/212 lb) Oriental Championship.
2008-08-09Loss Gökhan SakiK-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii, Semi FinalsHonolulu, Hawaii, USAKO (left hook to the body)12:36
2008-08-09Win Nicholas PettasK-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii, Quarter FinalsHonolulu, Hawaii, USATKO (injury)11:15
2008-06-20Loss Patrice QuarteronChampions of Champions IMontego Bay, JamaicaKO (right low kick)12:00
For the IKF World Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lb) Muay Thai Championship.
2007-08-11Win Imani LeeK-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Las Vegas, Quarter FinalsLas Vegas, Nevada, USATKO (punches)31:52
2006-02-18Win Mahmoud FowziCombat Sports Challenge 12Richmond, Virginia, USATKO (corner stoppage)11:56
Wins the WKA United States Super Heavyweight (+95 kg/209 lb) Muay Thai Championship.
2005-08-13Win Mike SheppardK-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas II, Reserve BoutLas Vegas, Nevada, USAKO20:48
Amateur kickboxing record
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2008-03-28Win Terry BullmanWCL Eastern Conference PlayoffsSt. Charles, Missouri, USADecision (28-20)23:00
2005-03-26Win Ben DavisFairfield Fight FestFairfield, California, USAKO (low kick)10:50
Wins the IKF Amateur California Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lb) Muay Thai Championship.
2004-08-15Win Brian WellsIKF North American Classic, FinalOrlando, Florida, USADecision (unanimous)33:00
Wins the IKF Amateur North American Super Heavyweight (+106.8 kg/235 lb) Muay Thai Championship.
2004-08-14Win Bernard Settle, Jr.IKF North American Classic, Semi FinalsOrlando, Florida, USATKO21:03
2004-02-28Win Matt DunnFeet & Fists of FuryRoseville, California, USATKO21:40

Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
8 matches 4 wins 4 losses
By knockout 4 1
By submission 0 3
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 4-4 Mike Hayes TKO (submission to punches) 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
  1. "Tournament Overview - | K-1sport.de". Archived from the original on 2018-09-12. Retrieved 2014-06-16.
  2. "FansOfK1.com - results K-1 Hawaii". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-06-16.
  3. http://www.sherdog.com/events/GC-57-Holiday-Beatings-4495>
  4. "New blood primed for war in Las Vegas". www.boxinglasvegas.com. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
  5. IKF champion Cheek exposes the IKF
  6. LTD Productions has success with another Fairfield Fight Fest
  7. MIGHTY MO BASHES BOTHA
  8. UNDERDOG WINS BELLAGIO K-1 TOURNEY
  9. "Doug Viney Wins K-1 Las Vegas Shocker". K-1 grand Prix Website. Archived from the original on August 23, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  10. Quarteron champion du monde IKF
  11. Gokhan Saki – K-1 Cinderella Man
  12. Butterbean Goes Down Again, Saki and Hari Win Big at K-1 World GP 2008
  13. K-1 WORLD GP 2008 in HAWAII 8/9/08 Hawaii Stan Sheriff Center
  14. WORLD DOMINATION IN AUSTRALIA: COMPLETE REPORT
  15. WCK Muay Thai Event Recap: Sitzes, Richards, and Bonnel all victorious Archived December 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  16. SuperKombat World Grand Prix III Live Results
  17. K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 quick results - MMAmania.com
  18. http://k-1sport.de/en/database/show_fighter.php?id=369
  19. World Combat Sports Challenge Announces Changes
  20. Wka Usa Archived July 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  21. "FansOfK1.com - Lee Named Eighth Las Vegas Tournament Competitor". Archived from the original on 2014-08-08. Retrieved 2014-06-14.
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