Tyrell Fortune attempts an arm throw at the Dave Schultz Memorial (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)NCAA wrestling champs Ed Ruth and Tyrell Fortune will make their professional mixed martial arts debut at the same event -- Bellator 163: McGeary vs. Davis -- at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. on November 4, Bellator MMA announced Thursday.
Ruth, a three-time NCAA Division I titlist for Penn State, will face Mark Mangiardi in his pro debut in a three-round middleweight (185-pound) bout ... while Fortune, NCAA Division II heavyweight champ for Grand Canyon University, will go up against fellow newcomer Cody Miskell.
These preliminary bouts, which will be streamed live on Bellator.com beginning at 7:50 p.m. Eastern, lead up to the main event, a light heavyweight world title fight that pits champion Liam McGeary (11-0) against former Penn State mat champ Phil Davis (16-3).
Before signing with Bellator in 2015, Ruth crafted an impressive wrestling career, first for nationally-ranked Blair Academy, then for the Nittany Lions. The Harrisburg, Pa. native made history at the 2014 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships by becoming the first three-time national champ in the more than 100 years of Penn State wrestling, winning the 174-pound crown at the 2012 NCAAs, then back-to-back titles at 184 in 2013 and 2014 after placing third at the Nationals in 2011. As a Nittany Lion, Ruth was a four-time NCAA All-American and four-time Big Ten conference champ, compiling an impressive 140-3 record.
Ruth's opponent, Mark Mangiardi, is also making his pro debut at Bellator 163, having fought in four amateur bouts, according to Bellator. Mangiardi, also fighting out of Pennsylvania, launched his MMA career in 2012.
Fortune, a product of Portland, Ore., was a three-time finalist -- and two-time state champ -- for Lake Ridge High School. He won six national freestyle and Greco-Roman titles. Fortune then launched his collegiate career at Clackamas Community College in Oregon, where he won two NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) heavyweight titles. Back in 2010, Fortune had accepted an offer to wrestle at Ohio State, but instead chose Grand Canyon University in Arizona, where he was crowned heavyweight titlist at the 2013 NCAA Division II championships, and was also named Division II Wrestler of the Year. Like Ruth, Fortune signed with Bellator last year.
Facing Fortune in his first pro MMA bout is Kentucky native Cody Miskell, who Bellator lists as having a 5-2 amateur record in MMA.
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now