Rhadi Ferguson
Encyclopedia
Dr. Rhadi Bullard Ferguson (April 3, 1975 - ) is an Bahamian American
mixed martial arts
trainer, strength and conditioning coach, motivational speaker
, and black belt
in judo
and Brazilian jiu-jitsu
.
where he began training in judo at the age of 7 under the tutelage of 7th degree red and white belt Jack Williams, until the age of 12. Ferguson had to quit judo for several years after his family had left Miami and moved to Rockville, Maryland
and would not begin training again until after he finished college at age 22.
Ferguson is a four time national champion in judo. At the age of 29, Ferguson competed in judo at the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens, Greece in the men's heavyweight division. He was previously an alternate in the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney, Australia.
In addition to judo, Ferguson also holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and has competed in numerous jiu-jitsu and submission grappling tournaments. During his competitive career, Ferguson who stands and weighed 225 lb. had a reported 5% body fat.
Ferguson has coached many athletes including; Taraje Williams-Murray, Anthony Turner, Lloyd Irvin, Karo Parisyan
, Sasha Spencer, Lauryn McNary, Brian Piccolo, Cara Heads
, C.C. Fisher, Thiago Alves
, Brandon Vera
, Jeff Monson
, Valerie Gotay
, Marco González, and Bobby Lashley.
in Rockville, Maryland
in 1992. From 1992 to 1997 Ferguson attended Howard University
in Washington, DC on a football
scholarship and also was one of only a few students in the history of the school to play 3 sports (Football, Wrestling, and Track). Ferguson graduated with a bachelor's degree
in Mechanical Engineering
and later in 2002 received his Master of Arts in Teaching degree (M.A.T.) with a 4.0 GPA from the university. In 2009, he received his Ph.D. in education with a 4.0 GPA from Capella University
.
While at Howard University he became a member of the Omega Psi Phi
fraternity.
Ferguson made his Strikeforce
debut at Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Saffiedine
on January 7, 2011, competing in the light heavyweight
division. He was originally scheduled to face Moldova
n wrestler Ion Cherdivara, but visa issues forced him off the card with John Richard stepping in as a late replacement. Ferguson defeated Richard by submission (Kneebar) at 2:00 in round 2.
.
| Win
| align="center" | 3–0
|
John Richard
| Submission (kneebar)
| Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Saffiedine
|
| align="center" | 2
| align="center" | 2:00
|Nashville, Tennessee
, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 2–0
| Jeremy Boczulak
| TKO (punches)
| Gameness Fighting Championships
|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 1:21
|Nashville, Tennessee
, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 1–0
| Darryell Perry II
| TKO (punches)
| Hybrid Fight League
|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 0:07
|Hopkinsville, Kentucky
, United States
|
Bahamian American
Bahamian Americans are citizens or residents of the United States of Bahamian ancestry. The United States Census of 2000 counted 31,984 people of Bahamian ancestry.-Communities:...
mixed martial arts
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...
trainer, strength and conditioning coach, motivational speaker
Motivational speaker
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...
, and black belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
in judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
and Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
.
Biography
Ferguson grew up in Miami, FloridaMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
where he began training in judo at the age of 7 under the tutelage of 7th degree red and white belt Jack Williams, until the age of 12. Ferguson had to quit judo for several years after his family had left Miami and moved to Rockville, Maryland
Rockville, Maryland
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
and would not begin training again until after he finished college at age 22.
Ferguson is a four time national champion in judo. At the age of 29, Ferguson competed in judo at the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens, Greece in the men's heavyweight division. He was previously an alternate in the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney, Australia.
In addition to judo, Ferguson also holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and has competed in numerous jiu-jitsu and submission grappling tournaments. During his competitive career, Ferguson who stands and weighed 225 lb. had a reported 5% body fat.
Ferguson has coached many athletes including; Taraje Williams-Murray, Anthony Turner, Lloyd Irvin, Karo Parisyan
Karo Parisyan
Karapet Parisyan is an Armenian-American mixed martial artist. From his days as a UFC mainstay Karo holds notable wins over Ryo Chonan, Shonie Carter, Drew Fickett, Matt Serra, Nick Thompson, Chris Lytle, Nick Diaz and Antonio McKee.- Early life:...
, Sasha Spencer, Lauryn McNary, Brian Piccolo, Cara Heads
Cara Heads
Cara Heads is an Olympic weightlifter for the United States. Her coaches are Bob Morris, Tony Ciarelli, and Stephanie Ciarelli.-Weightlifting achievements:*Olympic team member...
, C.C. Fisher, Thiago Alves
Thiago Alves
Thiago Alves d'Araujo is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He started training in Muay Thai when he was 15 and mixed martial arts at 17. He is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has been described as a "Muay Thai wrecking machine". As of July 2011, He is currently ranked the #10 welterweight...
, Brandon Vera
Brandon Vera
Brandon Michael Vera is an American mixed martial artist. He competes as a light heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the winner of the WEC 13 Heavyweight Tournament and currently resides in San Diego, California. He holds notable victories over Frank Mir, Assuerio Silva,...
, Jeff Monson
Jeff Monson
Jeffrey William Monson is an American mixed martial artist from Olympia, Washington. He is a 2 time winner of the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, and a No Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion. He currently holds the Heavyweight titles in the International Sport Karate Association...
, Valerie Gotay
Valerie Gotay
Valerie Lafon-Gotay is a former judoka from the United States.-Biography:Gotay was born in San Diego. Her grandfather Piere Lafon and father Gerald Lafon are former judoplayers so she had good background for judo from youth...
, Marco González, and Bobby Lashley.
Education
Ferguson attended and graduated from Richard Montgomery High SchoolRichard Montgomery High School
Richard Montgomery High School is a secondary public school located in Rockville, Maryland.Richard Montgomery High School is named for Richard Montgomery, an American General who died while attempting to capture the British-held city of Quebec...
in Rockville, Maryland
Rockville, Maryland
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
in 1992. From 1992 to 1997 Ferguson attended Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
in Washington, DC on a football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
scholarship and also was one of only a few students in the history of the school to play 3 sports (Football, Wrestling, and Track). Ferguson graduated with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
and later in 2002 received his Master of Arts in Teaching degree (M.A.T.) with a 4.0 GPA from the university. In 2009, he received his Ph.D. in education with a 4.0 GPA from Capella University
Capella University
Capella University is a for-profit co-educational university with partial residency requirements during the course of study, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.The school is owned by the publicly traded Capella Education Company...
.
While at Howard University he became a member of the Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
fraternity.
MMA career
Ferguson made his professional MMA debut in August 2010 and won his first two bouts via TKO in the first round.Ferguson made his 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...
debut at Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Saffiedine
Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Saffiedine
Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Saffiedine was a mixed martial arts event held by the Strikeforce. The thirteenth Challengers episode took place on January 7, 2011, at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The event drew an estimated 223,000 viewers, with a peak at...
on January 7, 2011, competing in the light heavyweight
Light Heavyweight (MMA)
The light heavyweight division in mixed martial arts generally refers to competitors weighing between 186 and 205 lb . It sits between the lighter middleweight division, and the heavyweight division....
division. He was originally scheduled to face Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
n wrestler Ion Cherdivara, but visa issues forced him off the card with John Richard stepping in as a late replacement. Ferguson defeated Richard by submission (Kneebar) at 2:00 in round 2.
Personal life
Ferguson currently lives in Boca Raton, Florida with his wife Traci Ferguson, and the couple's two children; son Rufus Alexander and daughter Rhadi Isabelle. Ferguson's cousin is street fighter, The Ultimate Fighter 10 cast member and UFC vet, Kevin "Kimbo Slice" FergusonKimbo Slice
Kevin Ferguson , better known as Kimbo Slice, is a Bahamian-American boxer, mixed martial artist and occasional actor...
.
Mixed martial arts record
|-| Win
| align="center" | 3–0
|
John Richard| Submission (kneebar)
| Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Saffiedine
Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Saffiedine
Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Saffiedine was a mixed martial arts event held by the Strikeforce. The thirteenth Challengers episode took place on January 7, 2011, at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The event drew an estimated 223,000 viewers, with a peak at...
|
| align="center" | 2
| align="center" | 2:00
|Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 2–0
|
Jeremy Boczulak| TKO (punches)
| Gameness Fighting Championships
|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 1:21
|Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 1–0
|
Darryell Perry II| TKO (punches)
| Hybrid Fight League
|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 0:07
|Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Hopkinsville is a city in Christian County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 31,577 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Christian County.- History :...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
External links
- Rhadi Ferguson on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
- Rhadi Ferguson at YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Rhadi Ferguson at RevverRevverRevver is a video sharing website that hosts user-generated content. Revver attaches advertising to user-submitted video clips and originally offered to share ad revenue with the video creators. Videos could be displayed, downloaded and shared across the web in either Apple QuickTime or FLV format...