Jeremiah Riggs is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 professional wrestler, and mixed martial artist

Mixed martial arts

Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...

 who competes in the welterweight

Welterweight (MMA)

The welterweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*The UFC's & Strikeforce's welterweight division, which groups competitors within 156 to 170 lb...

 and middleweight

Middleweight (MMA)

The middleweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*UFC's & Strikeforce's middleweight division, which groups competitors within 171 to 185 lb...

 divisions. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, Riggs has made a name for himself mainly fighting in the Midwest, and his homestate of Mississippi

Mississippi

Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...

. He was a competitor on SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs Team Forrest as well as a contestant on WWE Tough Enough

WWE Tough Enough

WWE Tough Enough is a professional wrestling reality television program produced by WWE wherein participants undergo professional wrestling training and compete for a contract with WWE. There were two winners per season for the first three seasons, all of which aired on MTV...

.

Early life

Riggs was born and raised in Vicksburg, Mississippi

Vicksburg, Mississippi

Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...

. He is the son of an E-9 who served four years in the Coast Guard followed by 31 years in the National Guard. Riggs attended his local high school, playing baseball and football, lettering in both sports. After graduating high school Riggs went on to enroll into Mississippi Delta Community College

Mississippi Delta Community College

Mississippi Delta Community College is a community college based in Moorhead, Mississippi which is located in Sunflower County. It also offers courses at locations in Drew, Greenville, Greenwood, and Indianola, Mississippi. Its mascot is the Trojan warrior. The college's president is Dr. Larry G....

 where he was on the football team.

Upon graduating from college Riggs signed up with the United States Army

United States Army

The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...

 and served a tour in Afghanistan

Afghanistan

Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...

 with the 1st Ranger Battalion. After leaving the Army in 2005, Riggs worked around Mississippi driving trucks for a living; even owning his own trucking business.

Mixed martial arts

Riggs made his professional debut against Craig Sjoerdsma in New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...

. Riggs won the fight via submission from strikes in the first round. Riggs then fought Robert Thompson for the Southern Fighting Alliance middleweight title belt. The fight lasted all 5 rounds, and Riggs narrowly lost a decision. During the fight, one of Riggs' front teeth was knocked out. In 2007 Riggs sold his trucking company and moved to San Jose to train MMA with Frank Shamrock

Frank Shamrock

Frank Shamrock is a retired mixed martial arts fighter. Shamrock was the first to hold the UFC Middleweight Championship and retired as the four-time defending undefeated champion...

. Riggs was set to become part of the San Jose Razorclaws

San Jose Razorclaws

The San Jose Razorclaws were an International Fight League team based in San Jose, California, United States. The Razorclaws were coached by former King of Pancrase and UFC Lightheavyweight champion Frank Shamrock. The San Jose Razorclaws were established in the middle of the 2006 season and were...

, an International Fight League

International Fight League

The International Fight League was an American mixed martial arts promotion billed as the world's first MMA league. It was founded on January 7, 2006 and closed on July 31, 2008...

 team coached by Shamrock, but the team was disbanded by the IFL before the season began.

After the IFL dissolved Riggs was invited to be a part of season seven of The Ultimate Fighter

The Ultimate Fighter

The Ultimate Fighter is an American reality television series and mixed martial arts competition produced by Spike TV and the Ultimate Fighting Championship , and soon to be shown on FX. The show features unknown, professional MMA fighters living together in Las Vegas, Nevada, and follows them as...

. Riggs was paired against Dan Cramer

Dan Cramer

Daniel John Cramer is an American mixed martial artist. He was a competitor on SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs Team Forrest. Cramer currently fights for Bellator Fighting Championships in their middleweight division....

 in a preliminary match-up to see who obtained entry into the house. Riggs lost a decision, but earned the respect of UFC President Dana White

Dana White

Dana White is the current President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship , a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States.- Biography :...

 and Quinton Jackson

Quinton Jackson

Quinton Ramone Jackson ;, also known as Rampage Jackson, is an American mixed martial artist and actor. He is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Jackson rose to prominence in Japan's Pride Fighting Championships where he was noted for his powerful body slams including a knockout victory over...

. After filming on TUF Riggs moved to Granite City, Illinois

Granite City, Illinois

Granite City is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States, part of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. At the 2010 census, the population was 29,849, making it the third largest city in the Metro-East and Southern Illinois, behind Alton and Belleville...

 to train with Matt Hughes

Matt Hughes (fighter)

Matthew Allen Hughes is an American mixed martial artist, UFC Hall of Famer, and former two-time UFC Welterweight Champion. Hughes put together two separate six-fight winning streaks in the UFC, won the welterweight title on two occasions, defended the belt a record seven times, and holds the...

 at The HIT Squad.

Riggs took a fight against up-and-comer Dom O'Grady, losing the fight via submission late in the last round of the fight. The loss was the start of a four-fight losing streak stretching from 2008 to 2010. During that time he saw defeat from soon-to-be teammate Ken Jackson, and future UFC fighter John Salter

John Salter

John Salter is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting at Middleweight for Strikeforce.-MMA career:John Salter began training in wrestling at age 12, going on to win a 2002 state title while in high school. He went on to attend Lindenwood University in St...

. Riggs broke the streak in February 2010 after pulling off an impressive triangle choke submission over Jesse Beale. After suffering his last loss Riggs went on a five fight winning streak; with wins coming inside the Bellator Fighting Championships

Bellator Fighting Championships

Bellator Fighting Championships is a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. "Bellator", which is Latin for "Warrior", is organized into seasons with each event hosting the rounds of championship knockout tournaments for three-five weight divisions.-History:In its first season,...

, and Strikeforce

Strikeforce

Strikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...

. In 2011 Riggs officially retired from MMA to pursue a career in professional wrestling.

Television career

After competing on The Ultimate Fighter

The Ultimate Fighter

The Ultimate Fighter is an American reality television series and mixed martial arts competition produced by Spike TV and the Ultimate Fighting Championship , and soon to be shown on FX. The show features unknown, professional MMA fighters living together in Las Vegas, Nevada, and follows them as...

 Riggs was selected to go on VH1's hit reality show "Daisy of Love

Daisy of Love

thumb|right|Daisy de la Hoya attending the premiere of VH1's "Daisy of Love" at My House, Hollywood, CA on April 26, 2009Daisy of Love is a reality television dating show which stars Daisy de la Hoya, the runner-up of the VH1 reality dating show Rock of Love 2...

". In an MMA fight arranged by the show's producers Riggs defeated VH1 reality personality "12 Pack" which saw 12 Pack suffer a broken nose and had to go to the hospital after the fight. Riggs finished fifth on the show.

When filming for Daisy of Love ended, Riggs was selected to be a part of another VH1 series I Love Money 3. The show was never aired because another contestant who participated in the competition killed his wife and committed suicide.

Professional wrestling career

Riggs began his professional wrestling career training with Dutch Mantel

Dutch Mantel

Wayne Keown is an American professional wrestler, and author better known by his ring name, Dutch Mantel or Dutch Mantell. He currently is semi-retired but still makes occasional wrestling appearances. He was previously with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a writer behind the scenes...

 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Murfreesboro is a city in and the county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 108,755 according to the United States Census Bureau's 2010 U.S. Census, up from 68,816 residents certified during the 2000 census. The center of population of Tennessee is located in...

.

Tough Enough

In March 2011, he was announced as one of the fourteen contestants for the return of WWE Tough Enough

WWE Tough Enough

WWE Tough Enough is a professional wrestling reality television program produced by WWE wherein participants undergo professional wrestling training and compete for a contract with WWE. There were two winners per season for the first three seasons, all of which aired on MTV...

 set to debut April 4 on the USA Network. Throughout the show Riggs was complimented on his heart, and athleticism. He was nicknamed "MMA" by the trainers because of his mixed martial arts background. Along with Martin, he was one of just two contestants to not get stuck in the bottom three. Riggs finished third on the show, being eliminated in week nine because of his inexperience inside the ring.

Florida Championship Wrestling (2011)

In May 2011, Riggs made his debut for Florida Championship Wrestling

Florida Championship Wrestling

Championship Wrestling from Florida was the corporate and brand name of the Tampa, Florida wrestling office existing from 1961, when Eddie Graham first bought into the promotion, until 1987, when it closed down. It is also referred to as Florida Championship Wrestling...

, the developmental territory for the WWE. He defeated Peter Orlov in his first match as a part of the Tough Enough finale.. However, Riggs was released after being informed that WWE had no interest in signing him following the tryout in FCW.

Filmography

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
| 2007 || The Ultimate Fighter

The Ultimate Fighter

The Ultimate Fighter is an American reality television series and mixed martial arts competition produced by Spike TV and the Ultimate Fighting Championship , and soon to be shown on FX. The show features unknown, professional MMA fighters living together in Las Vegas, Nevada, and follows them as...

|| Himself || TV Series
|-
| 2010 || Daisy of Love

Daisy of Love

thumb|right|Daisy de la Hoya attending the premiere of VH1's "Daisy of Love" at My House, Hollywood, CA on April 26, 2009Daisy of Love is a reality television dating show which stars Daisy de la Hoya, the runner-up of the VH1 reality dating show Rock of Love 2...

|| Himself || TV Series
|-
| 2011 || WWE Tough Enough

WWE Tough Enough

WWE Tough Enough is a professional wrestling reality television program produced by WWE wherein participants undergo professional wrestling training and compete for a contract with WWE. There were two winners per season for the first three seasons, all of which aired on MTV...

|| Himself || TV Series

Mixed martial arts record

|-
| Win
|align=center| 7–5
|   Eric Slocum
| Decision (majority)
| SportFight X Middle Tennessee Mayhem
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Murfreesboro, TN
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 6–5
|   James Sharp
| Decision (unanimous)
| Strikeforce Challengers: Wilcox vs. Ribeiro

Strikeforce Challengers: Wilcox vs. Ribeiro

Strikeforce Challengers: Wilcox vs. Ribeiro was a mixed martial arts event held by the Strikeforce. The twelfth Challengers episode took place on November 19, 2010, at the Jackson Convention Complex in Jackson, Mississippi. The event drew an estimated 210,000 viewers on Showtime.-Televised...

|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Jackson, MS
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 5–5
|   Mike Fleniken
| Decision (unanimous)
| Bellator 30
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Louisville, KY
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 4–5
|   Menden McKeehan
| TKO (punches)
| Absolute Cage Fighting
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 0:17
|Knoxville, TN
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 3–5
|   George Oiler
| Submission (punches)
| Hardorcck MMA 23
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:59
|Albany, KY
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 2–5
|   Keith Johnson
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| EFC Night of Reckoning III
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 4:34
|Tunica, MS
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 2–4
|   Jesse Beale
| Submission (triangle choke)
| EFC Night of Reckoning II
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:48
|Tunica, MS
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 1–4
|   Eric Irvin
| Decision (unanimous)
| Midwest Pro
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 3:00
|Cape Girardeau, MO
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 1–3
|   John Salter

John Salter

John Salter is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting at Middleweight for Strikeforce.-MMA career:John Salter began training in wrestling at age 12, going on to win a 2002 state title while in high school. He went on to attend Lindenwood University in St...

| TKO (punches)
| The 3rd Degree
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:44
|Springfield, IL
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 1–2
|   Ken Jackson
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| Arkansas MMA: Ultimate Fight Night 6
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:07
|Fort Smith, AR
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 1–1
|   Dom O'Grady
| Submission (guillotine choke)
| Xtreme Fighting Organization 25
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 4:16
|Island Lake, IL
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 1–0
|   Craig Sjoerdsma
| Submission
| Ultimate Cage Fighting: 1
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| N/A
|New Orleans, LA
|