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Rick Story
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Rick Story
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Rick Story (born August 28, 1984) is a retired American mixed martial artist. A professional from 2007 to 2018, he last competed for the Professional Fighters League, but is better known for his 19-fight tenure with the UFC.

Key Information

Background

[edit]

Story was born in Tacoma, Washington, and, at the age of three, his parents divorced. Story grew up in Spanaway, Washington, with his grandmother and his older sister, Elizabeth. Story began wrestling when he was around 12 years old and also began watching UFC fights. Story attended Bethel High School in Spanaway, Washington where he was a standout in both wrestling and football. Story continued his wrestling career at Southern Oregon University, where he was a runner-up in the 2006 NAIA National Championships, and began learning submission grappling from a friend during his sophomore year. After graduating with a degree in health education, Story embarked on a career in mixed martial arts.[1]

Mixed martial arts career

[edit]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

[edit]

Story signed a four-fight deal with the UFC and made his promotional debut, losing to John Hathaway via unanimous decision on the UFC 99 card.

Story had his second UFC fight at UFC 103 after stepping in for Paul Daley against debuting Brian Foster.[2] Story defeated Foster via arm-triangle choke submission at 1:09 of round two and earned Submission of the Night and Fight of the Night honors.[3]

Story won his fight against Jesse Lennox at UFC Fight Night 20 held on January 11, 2010.[4] The fight was a three-round war in which Story was given the unanimous decision win.

In January 2010, he was resigned to a new four-fight deal with the UFC.[5] His first fight with the brand new contract was against Englishman, Nick Osipczak at UFC 112, the UFC's first trip to Abu Dhabi.[6] Story won the fight via controversial split decision.

Story fought Dustin Hazelett on August 7, 2010, at UFC 117.[7] After winning the first round, Story won via second-round TKO.

Story faced future title holder Johny Hendricks on December 4, 2010, at The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale[8] and won the fight via unanimous decision.

After his win over Hendricks, Story called out former number one contender, Thiago Alves. Alves accepted the fight, which took place on May 28, 2011, at UFC 130.[9] Story outworked Alves with his grappling and ring control for the majority of the fight. By the 3rd round, Alves began to connect with Story repeatedly but it wasn't enough. Story won via unanimous decision.

Story was expected to face Nate Marquardt on June 26, 2011, at UFC on Versus 4, replacing an injured Anthony Johnson.[10] Marquardt, however, pulled out of the fight the day of the weigh-ins and Story instead faced Charlie Brenneman.[11] Story lost in a huge upset via unanimous decision.

Story lost to Martin Kampmann via split decision on November 19, 2011, at UFC 139.[12] Dana White incorrectly reported at the post fight press conference that a judge's scores had been tabulated incorrectly and should have been announced as unanimous decision in favor of Kampmann.[13] According to the California State Athletic Commission's website and confirmed by MMADecisions.com, judge Susan Thomas-Gitlin in fact scored the fight in favor of Story.[14]

Story was expected to face Rich Attonito on June 22, 2012, at UFC on FX: Maynard vs. Guida.[15] However, Attonito was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Papy Abedi.[16] Abedi himself was also forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Brock Jardine.[17] Story won the fight via unanimous decision.

Story faced Demian Maia on October 13, 2012, at UFC 153.[18] He lost the bout via first round submission due to a neck crank, this was his first submission and stoppage loss in his career.

Story was expected to face Sean Pierson on March 16, 2013, at UFC 158.[19] However, Pierson was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Quinn Mulhern.[20] Story defeated Mulhern in the first round via TKO after landing a flurry of punches.

Story faced Mike Pyle on May 25, 2013, at UFC 160, replacing an injured Gunnar Nelson.[21] He lost the fight via controversial split decision despite controlling most of the action and dropping Pyle with punches in the first round.

Story faced Brian Ebersole on November 16, 2013, at UFC 167.[22] He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Story faced The Ultimate Fighter 17 winner Kelvin Gastelum on March 15, 2014, at UFC 171. He lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision.

Story was expected to face John Howard at UFC Fight Night 45 on July 16, 2014. However, Howard was forced out of the bout due to injury and was replaced by returning veteran Leonardo Mafra.[23] Story defeated Mafra via submission in the second round.[24]

Story faced Gunnar Nelson on October 4, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 53.[25] Despite suffering a fracture in his left tibia in the second round,[26] he won the fight via split decision.[27]

Story was expected to face Erick Silva on June 27, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 70.[28] However, Silva was removed from the card on June 19, after visa issues restricted his entry to the United States. In turn, Story was removed from the card as well.[29] The bout with Story was rescheduled and was expected to take place on August 23, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 74.[30] Subsequently, Story pulled out of the bout on August 11 citing injury and was replaced by Neil Magny.[31]

Story returned from an 18-month layoff to face Tarec Saffiedine on May 29, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 88.[32] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[33]

In the ultimate fight in UFC, Story faced Donald Cerrone on August 20, 2016, at UFC 202.[34] He lost the fight by TKO in the second round.[35]

Post-UFC career

[edit]

On March 12, 2018, Story announced that he has signed a contract with Professional Fighters League albeit UFC had offered a contract extension.[36]

On November 8, 2018, Story announced his retirement from professional competition.[37]

Personal life

[edit]

Aside from being a professional fighter, Story is also a member of the National Guard.[1]

Championships and accomplishments

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Mixed martial arts record

[edit]
Professional record breakdown
31 matches 21 wins 10 losses
By knockout 4 2
By submission 5 1
By decision 12 7
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 21–10 Handesson Ferreira TKO (arm injury) PFL 10 October 20, 2018 2 1:15 Washington, D.C., United States 2018 PFL Welterweight Quarterfinal bout.
Win 21–9 Carlton Minus Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) PFL 6 August 16, 2018 2 2:55 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 20–9 Yuri Villefort Decision (unanimous) PFL 3 July 5, 2018 3 5:00 Washington, D.C., United States
Loss 19–9 Donald Cerrone TKO (knee and punches) UFC 202 August 20, 2016 2 2:02 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 19–8 Tarec Saffiedine Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Garbrandt May 29, 2016 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 18–8 Gunnar Nelson Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Story October 4, 2014 5 5:00 Stockholm, Sweden
Win 17–8 Leonardo Mafra Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Miller July 16, 2014 2 2:12 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss 16–8 Kelvin Gastelum Decision (split) UFC 171 March 15, 2014 3 5:00 Dallas, Texas, United States
Win 16–7 Brian Ebersole Decision (unanimous) UFC 167 November 16, 2013 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 15–7 Mike Pyle Decision (split) UFC 160 May 25, 2013 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 15–6 Quinn Mulhern TKO (punches) UFC 158 March 16, 2013 1 3:05 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Loss 14–6 Demian Maia Submission (neck crank) UFC 153 October 13, 2012 1 2:30 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win 14–5 Brock Jardine Decision (unanimous) UFC on FX: Maynard vs. Guida June 22, 2012 3 5:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss 13–5 Martin Kampmann Decision (split) UFC 139 November 19, 2011 3 5:00 San Jose, California, United States
Loss 13–4 Charlie Brenneman Decision (unanimous) UFC Live: Kongo vs. Barry June 26, 2011 3 5:00 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Win 13–3 Thiago Alves Decision (unanimous) UFC 130 May 28, 2011 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 12–3 Johny Hendricks Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck Finale December 4, 2010 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 11–3 Dustin Hazelett TKO (punches) UFC 117 August 7, 2010 2 1:15 Oakland, California, United States
Win 10–3 Nick Osipczak Decision (split) UFC 112 April 10, 2010 3 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 9–3 Jesse Lennox Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Maynard vs. Diaz January 11, 2010 3 5:00 Fairfax, Virginia, United States
Win 8–3 Brian Foster Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC 103 September 19, 2009 2 1:09 Dallas, Texas, United States Submission of the Night. Fight of the Night.
Loss 7–3 John Hathaway Decision (unanimous) UFC 99 June 13, 2009 3 5:00 Cologne, Germany
Win 7–2 Brandon Melendez Submission (rear-naked choke) EWC: Vancouver September 6, 2008 1 2:17 Ridgefield, Washington, United States Defended the Elite Warriors Welterweight Championship.
Win 6–2 Wesley Welch KO (punch) Carnage at the Creek 3 August 22, 2008 1 N/A Shelton, Washington, United States
Win 5–2 Jake Ellenberger Decision (unanimous) SportFight 23 June 20, 2008 3 5:00 Portland, Oregon, United States
Win 4–2 Ryan Healy Decision (unanimous) EWC: May Massacre May 10, 2008 5 5:00 Salem, Oregon, United States Won the Elite Warriors Welterweight Championship.[43]
Win 3–2 James Dodge Submission (rear-naked choke) EWC: Welterweight War February 23, 2008 1 3:37 Salem, Oregon, United States
Win 2–2 Jake Paul TKO (punches) EWC: Capital Invasion January 12, 2008 2 1:03 Salem, Oregon, United States
Loss 1–2 Nathan Coy Decision (unanimous) SportFight 21: Seasons Beatings December 22, 2007 3 5:00 Portland, Oregon, United States
Win 1–1 Julio Paulino Decision (unanimous) AFC 41: Thankful Throwdowns November 15, 2007 3 5:00 Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Loss 0–1 Mario Miranda Decision (unanimous) Conquest of the Cage November 6, 2007 3 5:00 Airway Heights, Washington, United States

See also

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Rick Story

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Rick Story (born August 28, 1984) is an American retired who competed professionally in the division from 2007 to 2018, compiling a record of 21 wins and 10 losses, with 4 knockouts, 5 submissions, and 12 decisions among his victories. Born in , Story developed an early interest in wrestling, beginning training around age 12, and continued the sport through high school before pursuing . After an initial 0-17 record at , he joined the and underwent basic training, which he credited with transforming his performance; he then transferred to , where he achieved significant success, including winning 17 matches in a season by 2006. Story transitioned to with limited experience, debuting professionally in 2007 and entering the (UFC) after just 10 months of MMA training in 2010. In the UFC, Story quickly established himself as an aggressive wrestler-based fighter, embarking on a five-fight winning streak that included a unanimous decision victory over future champion Johny Hendricks at The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale in December 2010 and a unanimous decision over Thiago Alves at UFC 130 in May 2011. His bout against Brian Foster at UFC 103 in September 2009 earned Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night honors for his arm-triangle choke finish, marking a pivotal early highlight after his Octagon debut loss. Story's career featured additional notable wins, such as a split decision over Gunnar Nelson at UFC Fight Night 53 in October 2014, but was also marked by setbacks, including a TKO loss to Donald Cerrone in 2016. After departing the UFC, he competed in the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where his final bout was a loss to Handesson Ferreira in October 2018. Story announced his retirement on November 8, 2018, at age 34, citing recurrent shoulder dislocations that prevented a planned final fight, ending an 11-year professional tenure that spanned multiple promotions and showcased his resilience and grappling prowess.

Early Life and Background

Childhood and Family

Rick Story was born on August 28, 1984, in . He grew up in nearby where he spent his formative years. Story was raised with his older sister, Elizabeth. This family structure provided a stable environment in working-class surroundings, fostering his early interest in athletics as a means of . During his childhood, Story showed an initial inclination toward football, playing as a lineman before discovering wrestling in the , inspired by a friend's dedication to the sport. At Bethel High School in Spanaway, he excelled in both sports, earning recognition as a standout wrestler with a 27-6 record at 160 pounds in his senior year and as the South Puget Sound League defensive MVP in football. These high school experiences helped him build resilience amid personal challenges, laying the groundwork for his athletic pursuits.

Education and Early Interests

Rick Story attended Bethel High School in Spanaway, Washington, where he excelled in athletics while maintaining his academic commitments. As a standout wrestler and football player, he balanced rigorous sports training with classroom responsibilities, demonstrating discipline that would later define his career. Story began his collegiate wrestling journey as a walk-on at Pacific Lutheran University, facing early challenges with a 0-17 record in his freshman season. After this season, Story joined the Oregon Army National Guard and completed basic training, crediting the experience with building his mental toughness and discipline. He then transferred to Southern Oregon University, where he earned a wrestling scholarship and thrived, ultimately becoming an NAIA All-American by finishing as the national runner-up at 184 pounds in 2006. In 2007, Story graduated from with a degree in . His early interests extended beyond wrestling to other team sports like football, which honed his collaborative skills and physical conditioning during his high school years. These pursuits in outdoor and group activities laid a foundation for the teamwork essential in his future athletic endeavors.

Entry into Martial Arts

Wrestling Career

Rick Story began wrestling in , earning a spot on the varsity lineup during his final year there. He experienced significant growth as a wrestler at Bethel High School in , where he competed in the 160-pound weight class. As a senior, Story compiled an impressive 27-6 record, establishing himself as a standout while also excelling in football and , where he placed fifth in the state pole vault meet. After graduating from Bethel, Story continued his wrestling career at the collegiate level, initially at in 2002-03. As a freshman competing at 184 pounds, he faced challenges in the program's final season, finishing with a 0-17 record. Undeterred, he transferred to in 2003, where he joined the and showed marked improvement over the next three seasons. At , Story's year at 174 pounds yielded 17 wins and a qualification for the NAIA National Championships. He followed with an 18-10 record as a junior. His senior season in 2005-06 proved transformative, as he posted a 33-7 mark at 184 pounds—one of the top winning seasons in program history—and advanced to the NAIA national title match, securing second-place All-American honors. Story's technical prowess was evident in his senior campaign, where he secured 10 technical falls and 7 pins, highlighting his proficiency in and dominant ground control. In a standout performance at nationals, he became the only competitor to register a against undefeated Willie Parks. Despite wrestling through a pinched , Story's perseverance exemplified the he cultivated, transforming early setbacks into a foundation of resilience. Upon completing his degree at Southern Oregon, Story contemplated continuing his competitive pursuits, including opportunities within the National Guard, but ultimately shifted focus toward mixed martial arts to sustain his drive for high-level competition.

Transition to MMA

Following his successful college wrestling career at Southern Oregon University, where he earned NAIA All-American honors at 184 pounds in 2006, Rick Story transitioned to mixed martial arts in 2007, utilizing his strong grappling foundation to adapt to the demands of the sport. His wrestling background provided a natural bridge, enabling him to focus initially on takedowns and ground control while developing striking and submission skills. Story began training at local gyms in Washington state, including the Braveheart Fight Club in Vancouver—later rebranded as Brave Legion. There, under head coach Pat White, he refined his technique in preparation for competition. Story competed in amateur MMA bouts from 2005 to 2007, compiling a 3-1 record across four fights, with the loss occurring shortly after his professional debut. His victories included a TKO against JD Braud at Humboldt Rumble 1 on May 11, 2005; a third-round submission via strikes over Dave Knight at Valor Fighting: Medford Mayhem on July 16, 2005; and a choke submission of Ryan Tabler at Battle at the Bay 1 on July 7, 2006. Story's sole amateur loss was a to Nate Coy at Sport Fight 21: Seasons Beatings on December 22, 2007. Story made his professional debut on November 6, 2007, at Conquest of the Cage 1, where he faced and lost by after three five-minute rounds. Just nine days later, on November 15, 2007, at Alaska Fighting Championship 41, he earned his first professional win, defeating Julio Paulino via in another three-round bout.

Professional MMA Career

Pre-UFC Fights

Rick Story began his professional mixed martial arts career in 2007, competing in regional promotions across the . His debut came on , 2007, at Conquest of the Cage 1, where he suffered a loss to . Less than two weeks later, on November 15, 2007, he rebounded with a victory over Julio Paulino at Fighting Championship 41. However, Story faced another setback on December 22, 2007, dropping a to Nathan Coy at Strikeforce: Season Beatings. Following these early losses, Story embarked on a six-fight from to 2008, compiling a 7-2 pre-UFC record that highlighted his evolving prowess rooted in his wrestling background. Notable victories included a second-round TKO (punches) against at 3 on January 12, 2008, and a first-round submission (rear-naked choke) over James Dodge at EFC 4: Welterweight War on February 23, 2008. He secured another submission win, again via rear-naked choke, against Brandon Melendez at EFC: Cage Fights on September 6, 2008. Other key triumphs featured a over Ryan Healy in a five-round main event at EFC: May Massacre on May 10, 2008, a against at Strikeforce: Heated on June 20, 2008, and a first-round KO (punches) versus Wesley Welch at Carnage at the Creek 3 on August 22, 2008. These performances across promotions like Strikeforce, EFC, and Carnage at the Creek demonstrated his dominance in exchanges and ground control, often overwhelming opponents with takedowns and positional strikes. With limited MMA training—approximately ten months after transitioning from wrestling—Story's regional success caught the attention of UFC scouts. In January 2009, he signed a four-fight contract with the , debuting later that year.

UFC Tenure

Rick Story entered the UFC in 2009, making his promotional debut against at on June 13, 2009, where he suffered a loss after three rounds. He quickly rebounded, embarking on a six-fight that showcased his resilience and prowess. This run began with a second-round arm-triangle submission victory over Brian Foster at on September 19, 2009, earning him both Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night honors for $65,000 each. Subsequent wins included triumphs over Jesse Lennox at UFC Fight Night 20 on January 11, 2010, and at on April 10, 2010, followed by a second-round TKO (punches) against Dustin Hazelett at on August 7, 2010. The streak peaked with a over undefeated prospect at The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale on December 4, 2010, and another against Alves at on May 28, 2011, solidifying Story's status as a rising contender. The streak ended abruptly at UFC Live 4 on June 26, 2011, when Story dropped a controversial to Charlie Brenneman, who stepped in on less than 24 hours' notice to replace an injured . Story followed with another close loss, a to at UFC 139 on November 19, 2011, marking a challenging period amid increased competition. He regained momentum in 2012 with a win over Brock Jardine at UFC on FX 4 on June 22, 2012, but suffered a first-round submission (neck crank) defeat to at on October 13, 2012. Story's tenure continued with a first-round TKO (punches) over Quinn Mulhern at on March 16, 2013, though he then lost a to Mike Pyle at on May 25, 2013. In late 2013, Story secured a victory against at on November 16, 2013, but faced setbacks with a loss to at on March 15, 2014. He responded with a second-round arm-triangle submission of Leonardo Mafra at UFC Fight Night 45 on July 16, 2014, and a hard-fought over Gunnar Nelson in the main event of UFC Fight Night 53 on October 4, 2014—though he sustained a broken ankle during the second round that required surgery and sidelined him for months. Injuries plagued Story further, including knee and ankle surgeries as well as neck issues necessitating bone spur removal and artificial disc insertion in 2015, leading to an 18-month layoff. Upon returning at UFC Fight Night 88 on May 29, 2016, he won a over , but concluded his UFC run with a second-round TKO (knee and punches) loss to at on August 20, 2016. Story was subsequently released by the promotion after compiling a 12-7 record across 19 appearances.

Post-UFC and Retirement

Following his knockout loss to at on August 20, 2016, Story's contract with the UFC expired, leading to his departure from the promotion after declining a multi-fight extension in hopes of better terms post-victory. He subsequently entered a nearly two-year hiatus to recover from accumulated injuries, including a double procedure that sapped his immediate motivation, while transitioning toward a career in through a 13-month training program in Portland. Story made a brief return to professional fighting in 2018 by signing with the (PFL), where he competed in the division's inaugural season. He secured two regular-season victories: a over Yuri Villefort on July 5 at PFL 3, and a second-round rear-naked choke submission of Carlton Minus on August 16 at PFL 6. However, his campaign ended in the quarterfinals with a second-round TKO loss to Handesson Ferreira on October 20 at PFL 10, stemming from an arm injury during ground strikes. On November 8, 2018, at age 34, Story announced his retirement from MMA via , reflecting on a marked by significant highs and lows while prioritizing family and the physical toll of over a decade in the sport. He concluded his professional tenure with an overall record of 21-10 and has not fought since.

Fighting Style and Techniques

Wrestling and Grappling

Rick Story's foundation is rooted in his , where he initially struggled at before transferring to and achieving success as a NAIA national runner-up in 2006. This background emphasized relentless takedown pressure, translating to an average of 2.53 takedowns landed per during his UFC tenure. Story's preferred grappling techniques centered on clinch control to initiate takedowns, followed by dominant top position work featuring ground-and-pound strikes to wear down opponents. He also incorporated submission threats, securing all five of his submission victories via rear-naked chokes and arm-triangle chokes, often capitalizing on positional advantages from his wrestling base. Story evolved his pure wrestling style into MMA-adapted by integrating submission defenses and opportunistic finishes, particularly against specialists like Dustin Hazelett, whom he neutralized with superior takedown defense and ground control en route to a TKO victory. This adaptation allowed him to maintain offensive pressure while mitigating bottom-position risks, though he faced challenges against elite grapplers like . Statistically, Story demonstrated strong in his early UFC wins, achieving approximately 50% success rates in bouts such as against Nick Ring, where multiple takedowns facilitated his control and path to victory. Overall, he landed 41 takedowns across his UFC career, underscoring his reliance on wrestling to dictate the fight's pace .

Striking and Overall

Rick Story, a former collegiate wrestler, developed his striking skills after transitioning to , emphasizing power punching to complement his ground-based foundation. His heavy hands contributed to four or TKO victories in his professional career, including two during his UFC tenure against Dustin Hazelett and Quinn Mulhern. Story's stand-up game featured a gritty, in-your-face approach characterized by relentless pressure and close-range exchanges, often landing significant strikes at a rate of 3.80 per minute with 41% accuracy in UFC bouts. He incorporated effective body punching to wear down opponents, as demonstrated in his win over , where he outstruck his foe while mixing in threats. This aggressive style allowed him to absorb 2.17 significant strikes per minute while defending 62% of incoming attacks, maintaining offensive momentum. In his overall strategy, Story blended wrestling entries to set up strikes, applying constant forward pressure to dictate the fight's pace against varied opponents like grapplers and strikers. His adaptability was evident in decisions over Gunnar Nelson and Nick Ring, where he adjusted to counter grappling attempts by transitioning to damaging ground-and-pound or stand-up barrages. However, later in his career, Story showed vulnerability to precise counter-strikers, suffering knockouts to and due to lapses in distance management during aggressive advances.

Personal Life

Family and Relationships

Rick Story has maintained a high degree of privacy regarding his personal relationships and family life, sharing few details publicly throughout his MMA career. He has acknowledged support from close family and friends during his time in the UFC and beyond, particularly evident in his 2018 retirement announcement where he thanked them for demonstrating that life extends meaningfully beyond fighting.

Life After Retirement

Following his retirement from professional MMA in November 2018, Rick Story prioritized recovery from a series of debilitating injuries accumulated over his 11-year career, including a fractured ankle, damaged meniscus in his , and an injury sustained in his final bout against Handesson Ferreira in the . Story has publicly discussed the cumulative toll of these injuries, including prior involving two artificial discs in 2015, a broken , and other issues that caused ongoing and limited his training capacity in his later years. Prior to his official retirement, Story had explored transitions outside of fighting, expressing interest in becoming a firefighter as a stable career path amid frustrations with MMA's physical and financial demands; he began a 13-month training course in Portland, Oregon, in early 2017 while managing lingering effects from a knockout loss to Donald Cerrone, which required a double root canal. As of 2025, there have been no announcements of a return to competitive fighting, and Story has maintained a low public profile focused on personal health and recovery.

Championships and Accomplishments

Professional Titles

Rick Story captured the inaugural Elite Warriors Challenge (EWC) Championship on February 23, 2008, defeating James Dodge via rear-naked choke submission at 3:37 of the first round in the main event of EWC 4: Welterweight War. He successfully defended the title just over two months later on May 10, 2008, earning a victory over Ryan Healy after five full rounds in the main event of EWC: May Massacre. He defended the title again on September 6, 2008, defeating Brandon Melendez via rear-naked choke submission at 2:17 of the first round at EWC 7: Cage Fights. These accomplishments highlighted Story's dominance in the regional division during his undefeated streak of seven consecutive wins, contributing significantly to his 7-2 professional record prior to joining the UFC. Despite his success in smaller promotions, Story did not pursue or win championships in major organizations like the UFC, where he competed from 2009 to 2016 without securing a title shot. The EWC title remains his only formal professional championship, underscoring his early career foundation in the MMA scene rather than broader accolades.

Notable Records and Recognitions

Rick Story concluded his professional MMA career with an overall record of 21 wins and 10 losses. Of his victories, four came by or TKO (19%), five by submission (24%), and 12 by decision (57%). During his UFC tenure, Story earned two performance bonuses at in September for his bout against Brian Foster, securing both the Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night awards after submitting Foster via arm-triangle choke in the second round. Story achieved his peak rankings in the division following a six-fight from to , reaching as high as No. 10 in MMA Fighting's rankings after his victory over Thiago Alves at UFC 130. He also peaked in Sherdog's rankings during this period, reflecting his status as a top contender. Following his UFC debut in and early wins, including a 2010 decision over at 12 Finale, Story was frequently highlighted in media as one of MMA's hottest prospects and an up-and-coming talent. As of 2025, Story has not been inducted into any major MMA hall of fame.

References

  1. https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Rick-Story-25989
  2. https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=13289
  3. https://www.oregonlive.com/oregonatwar/2006/04/sou_wrestler_rick_story_credit.html
  4. https://www.naia.org/sports/mwrest/2005-06/releases/20060419vkqxt
  5. https://www.ufc.com/news/fresh-start-rick-story
  6. https://www.ufc.com/video/44267
  7. https://www.facebook.com/mma247official/posts/1802643873181914
  8. https://www.mmafighting.com/2018/11/8/18077328/rick-story-announces-retirement-from-mma-at-age-34
  9. https://www.columbian.com/news/2013/nov/21/story-back-on-track-to-climb-ufc-ladder/
  10. https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/rick-story.html
  11. https://www.mmacrossfire.com/2018/11/11/rick-story-retires-from-mma-at-age-34/
  12. https://www.sweethomenews.com/former-sh-wrestler-works-toward-future-in-mma-cage/
  13. https://washingtonwrestlingreport.net/washington-college-all-americans/
  14. https://www.mmamania.com/2012/12/20/3790356/exclusive-rick-storys-former-coach-pleads-for-him-to-leave-brave
  15. https://combatreg.com/fighters/Rick-Story:E7EDD6024FF5A387
  16. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2010/01/ufc-signs-rick-story-to-new-four-fight-deal
  17. http://ufcstats.com/fighter-details/5b5307450405abf0
  18. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2009/09/ufc-103-fighter-bonuses-vitor-belfort-rick-story-brian-foster-earn-65k-awards
  19. https://www.mmafighting.com/2014/10/7/6943613/rick-story-suffered-broken-ankle-en-route-to-defeating-gunnar-nelson
  20. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/ufc/the-next-chapter-rick-story-reveals-the-reasons-behind-his-extended-hiatus-from-fighting
  21. http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/19Time-UFC-Veteran-Rick-Story-Signs-with-Professional-Fighters-League-133331
  22. https://www.mmafighting.com/2011/05/29/177102/from-humble-athletic-beginnings-rick-story-an-unlikely-ufc-cont
  23. https://bloodyelbow.com/2014/03/15/ufc-171-factgrinder-guide-college-wrestling-careers-gastelum-bermudez-story/
  24. https://www.ufc.com/news/rick-story-lessons-learned
  25. https://www.ufc.com/news/demian-maia-new-threat-170
  26. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/ufc/rick-story-fights-smart-earns-win-in-return-bout-at-ufc-fight-night
  27. https://bloodyelbow.com/2013/11/26/technique-recap-ufc-167-featuring-rick-story-robbie-lawler-johny/
  28. https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/11640613/rick-story-strikes-heavily-favored-gunnar-nelson
  29. https://www.mmamania.com/2016/8/21/12562036/ufc-202-results-from-last-night-rick-story-vs-donald-cerrone-fight-review-analysis
  30. https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-Veteran-Rick-Story-Announces-Retirement-Following-31Bout-Pro-Career-145203
  31. https://www.mmamania.com/2017/2/22/14701778/expendable-rick-story-wont-whine-ready-explore-career-outside-ultimate-business-championship
  32. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/pfl/2018/11/08/ufc-pfl-rick-story-announces-retirement-mma/82150682007/
  33. https://www.sherdog.com/events/EWC-May-Massacre-7693
  34. https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-the-Numbers-Rick-Story-144175
  35. https://www.ufc.com/athlete/rick-story
  36. https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/rick-story-horror
  37. https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/stats/_/id/2500630/rick-story
  38. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1651972-ufc-160-what-we-learned-from-mike-pyle-vs-rick-story
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