// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Tyrell Fortune rich? Fortune-ately yes.
| Tyrell Fortune | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 4, 1990 Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Weight | 250 lb (113 kg; 17 st 12 lb) |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Reach | 75 in (191 cm) |
| Team | Arizona Combat Sports |
| Years active | 2016–present (MMA) |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 24 |
| Wins | 18 |
| By knockout | 11 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 5 |
| By disqualification | 1 |
| Losses | 4 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 1 |
| No contests | 2 |
| Other information | |
| University | Grand Canyon University |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Tyrell Fortune (born July 4, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist and former wrestler. He currently competes in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Early life and wrestling career
[edit]Fortune was born on July 4, 1990, in Portland, Oregon.[1][2] At age seven, he started wrestling at a local club in Portland.[3] Fortune attended Parkrose High School before later transferring to Lakeridge High School, competing in wrestling and football in high school.[3][4] During his junior season at Parkrose, he won the state Class 5A championship in his division, while, as a senior at Lakeridge, he won the Class 6A title.[4] While in high school, Fortune won six national championships while competing as a member of Portland's Peninsula Wrestling Club.[4] Competing in Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling, he won two national titles in each event at the Cadet National Championships, and then won both titles at the 2008 Junior National Championships.[4] Fortune was an eight-time All-American and ranked the top wrestling recruit nationally coming out of high school.[1]
In 2009, Fortune represented the U.S. at the Junior World Championships.[5] After high school, he enrolled at Clackamas Community College where he was a top wrestler.[1] He competed there for two years and in both years won the Region 18 title and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) title in his weight class.[1] Fortune later entered Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.[6] He was named the NCAA Division II Wrestler of the Year as a junior after posting a record of 37–1 while winning the national title.[7] Fortune left Grand Canyon short of graduating.[2]
Fortune competed at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia, winning a bronze medal in the 120 kg freestyle event while placing fifth in the Greco-Roman event.[8] The following year, he won gold in the 125 kg event at the World University Wrestling Championships.[9] He also competed at the 2014 Wrestling World Cup for the U.S. team.[10] Fortune attempted to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics but narrowly missed out.[6]
Weight-cutting incident
[edit]Fortune came close to death in 2012 during his wrestling career.[11] A week before an event, Fortune found himself 26 pounds (12 kg) too heavy for the lower weight group,[12] and so reduced his food intake to a bottle of water, a grain bar, and a cup of mandarin oranges. After finding himself one pound above the limit shortly before weigh-ins, he began running in an effort to lose the last pound, but collapsed from multiple organ failure and suffered multiple seizures over the next few hours including in the ambulance. He stated that he was briefly pronounced dead at the hospital,[13][11][12] but managed to completely recover and continued his career.[14]
Mixed martial arts career
[edit]Fortune entered mixed martial arts and signed a contract with Bellator MMA in August 2015.[11] He debuted at Bellator 163 on November 4, 2016.[11] Competing as a heavyweight and aged 26 at the time of his debut, he won by technical knockout (TKO) in the first round of his fight against Cody Miskell.[11][15] In 2017, he fought twice, winning by TKO once and by unanimous decision in the other.[16] Fortune won two fights in 2018 and three in 2019, posting an eight-game winning-streak to begin his career, while six of his wins were finishes.[16] On February 21, 2020, competing at Bellator 239, he was defeated for the first time in his career, being knocked out in the first round by a Timothy Johnson punch.[16] After a Bellator 245 fight against Jack May was ruled no contest due to an accidental kick to the groin, Fortune won three straight fights, including two first-round TKOs, against May at Bellator 255 on April 2, 2021, and against Matt Mitrione at Bellator 262 on July 16, 2021.[16]
Fortune trained at the Arizona Combat Sports club.[6] At Bellator 271, on November 12, 2021, he lost by split decision to Linton Vassell.[17] Following a first-round TKO against Rakim Cleveland on April 15, 2022, at Bellator 277, Fortune was number five in the Bellator heavyweight rankings.[6][16] Fortune faced Daniel James on November 18, 2022, at Bellator 288, and initially was defeated before the match was overturned to no contest after James tested positive for an anabolic substance.[18] On April 21, 2023, Fortune won against Sergey Bilostenniy at Bellator 294 after the latter was disqualified.[16]
Fortune later joined the Professional Fighters League (PFL), making his first appearance at PFL 4 on June 13, 2024, where he won by unanimous decision over Marcelo Golm.[19] On August 2, 2024, he lost at PFL 7 by submission to Sergey Bilostenniy.[16] Fortune later joined the Lights Out Xtreme Fighting (LXF) promotion, winning by TKO against Myron Dennis on May 10, 2025, at LXF 24, before competing under the Ringside United Fighting (RUF) promotion, winning a fight against Tony Lopez on August 16, 2025, by knockout.[16] On September 20, 2025, at LXF 277, Fortune defeated Demoreo Dennis by TKO.[16]
With two weeks' notice, Fortune agreed to fight Marcin Tybura at UFC Fight Night 271 on March 28, 2026, after the withdrawal of Tybura's original opponent.[14] He won by unanimous decision, but announcer Bruce Buffer mistakenly announced Tybura as the winner.[14] After Fortune "exited the octagon and headed toward the tunnel," he was told to return and was correctly announced as the victor.[14]
Fortune was scheduled to face Rizvan Kuniev on June 27, 2026, at UFC Fight Night 280.[20] However, for undisclosed reasons, the bout was moved to July 25, 2026 and took place at UFC Fight Night 282.[21] Fortune lost the fight by technical knockout via knees in the third round.[22] This fight earned him a $100,000 Fight of the Night award.[23]
Championships and accomplishments
[edit]Mixed martial arts
[edit]- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Rizvan Kuniev[23]
Mixed martial arts record
[edit]| 24 matches | 18 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 11 | 2 |
| By submission | 1 | 1 |
| By decision | 5 | 1 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| No contests | 2 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 18–4 (2) | Rizvan Kuniev | TKO (knees) | UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Guskov | July 25, 2026 | 3 | 1:11 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 18–3 (2) | Marcin Tybura | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer | March 28, 2026 | 3 | 5:00 | Seattle, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 17–3 (2) | Demoreo Dennis | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Lights Out Xtreme Fighting 27 | September 20, 2025 | 3 | 3:56 | Long Beach, California, United States | |
| Win | 16–3 (2) | Tony Lopez | KO (punch) | RUF MMA 64 | August 16, 2025 | 1 | 0:27 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Won the vacant RUF MMA Heavyweight championship. |
| Win | 15–3 (2) | Myron Dennis | TKO (punches) | Lights Out Xtreme Fighting 24 | May 10, 2025 | 2 | 2:29 | Long Beach, California, United States | Won the vacant LXF Heavyweight championship. |
| Loss | 14–3 (2) | Sergey Bilostenniy | Submission (heel hook) | PFL 7 (2024) | August 2, 2024 | 1 | 2:00 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | 2024 PFL Heavyweight Tournament Alternate bout. |
| Win | 14–2 (2) | Marcelo Golm | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 4 (2024) | June 13, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 13–2 (2) | Sergey Bilostenniy | DQ (punches to back of head) | Bellator 294 | April 21, 2023 | 1 | 3:26 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| NC | 12–2 (2) | Daniel James | NC (overturned) | Bellator 288 | November 18, 2022 | 2 | 0:27 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Originally a TKO (punches and elbows) win for James; overturned after he tested positive for anabolic substance. |
| Win | 12–2 (1) | Rakim Cleveland | TKO (punches and knee) | Bellator 277 | April 15, 2022 | 1 | 1:38 | San Jose, California, United States | |
| Loss | 11–2 (1) | Linton Vassell | Decision (split) | Bellator 271 | November 12, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 11–1 (1) | Matt Mitrione | TKO (submission to punches) | Bellator 262 | July 16, 2021 | 1 | 1:45 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 10–1 (1) | Jack May | TKO (punches) | Bellator 255 | April 2, 2021 | 1 | 3:16 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 9–1 (1) | Said Sowma | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 251 | November 5, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| NC | 8–1 (1) | Jack May | NC (accidental knee to groin) | Bellator 245 | September 11, 2020 | 1 | 2:42 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Accidental knee to the groin rendered May unable to continue. |
| Loss | 8–1 | Tim Johnson | KO (punch) | Bellator 239 | February 21, 2020 | 1 | 2:35 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Win | 8–0 | Azunna Anyanwu | TKO (punches) | Bellator 233 | November 8, 2019 | 2 | 1:56 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Win | 7–0 | Rudy Schaffroth | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 225 | August 24, 2019 | 2 | 2:08 | Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Ryan Pokryfky | TKO (punches) | Bellator 216 | February 16, 2019 | 1 | 2:21 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Giovanni Sarran | TKO (punches) | Bellator 201 | June 29, 2018 | 2 | 4:35 | Temecula, California, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Joe Hernandez | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 193 | January 26, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Temecula, California, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Branko Busick | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 178 | April 21, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Will Johnson | TKO (punches) | Bellator 171 | January 27, 2017 | 2 | 4:27 | Mulvane, Kansas, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Cody Miskell | TKO (punches) | Bellator 163 | November 4, 2016 | 1 | 2:22 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Heavyweight debut. |
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 "Tyrell Fortune". Grand Canyon Antelopes. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
- 1 2 "Tyrell Fortune". Ultimate Fighting Championship. March 4, 2026. Archived from the original on April 28, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
- 1 2 Smith, Jeff (January 19, 2006). "Fortune no longer an outsider". The Oregonian. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 4 Ulmer, Jerry (July 29, 2008). "A secure hold on wrestling history". The Oregonian. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Good Fortune for Antelopes". Arizona Republic. December 3, 2011. p. 225 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 4 Danzer, Paul (November 12, 2022). "Portland native Tyrell Fortune featured on Bellator 288 MMA event". Portland Tribune.
- ↑ "College Wrestling". The Oregonian. April 18, 2013. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "College wrestler places fifth at world meet". The Oregonian. July 16, 2013. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Nelson, Scott Bernard (July 9, 2014). "Tyrell Fortune of Portland wins university world championship". OregonLive.com. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
- ↑ "Tyrell Fortune". United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on February 8, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Sutelan, Edward (August 23, 2019). "Tyrell Fortune once pronounced dead attempting to cut weight". The Sporting News. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
- 1 2 "MMA: Bellator fighter Tyrell Fortune opens up on near-death experience after weight cut". The New Zealand Herald. November 9, 2019.
- ↑ Fortune, Tyrell (March 28, 2026). "Tyrell Fortune: Living to fight another day after they pronounced me dead". ESPN. Archived from the original on May 12, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Tyrell Fortune wins UFC debut after score error reversal, years after being pronounced dead". WFMD. March 29, 2026.
- ↑ Marocco, Steve (November 4, 2016). "Tyrell Fortune doesn't want to be an average wrestler at Bellator 163". USA Today.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Tyrell Fortune MMA Stats". Sherdog. Archived from the original on February 27, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
- ↑ Segura, Danny; Hannoun, Farah (November 15, 2021). "Linton Vassell calls for title shot following Bellator 271 win over Tyrell Fortune". USA Today.
- ↑ Morehouse, Cade (November 20, 2023). "Tyrell Fortune Says Bellator 288 Fight with Daniel James Ruled No Contest Due to Failed Drug Test". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
- ↑ Albano, Thomas (June 13, 2024). "Tyrell Fortune rocks and wrestles his way to dominant decision win". Professional Fighters League. Archived from the original on December 6, 2025. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
- ↑ Drew Beaupre (May 5, 2026). "UFC reveals banger main event for upcoming UFC Fight Night in Baku". si.com. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ Parviz Iskenderov (May 18, 2026). "UFC Abu Dhabi 2026 confirmed for July". fightmag.com. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
- ↑ Jay Anderson (July 25, 2026). "UFC Abu Dhabi: Rizvan Kuniev crashes through Tyrell Fortune with knees". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
- 1 2 Adam Martin (July 25, 2026). "UFC Abu Dhabi bonuses revealed following explosive event". heavy.com. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
- 1990 births
- Living people
- American male mixed martial artists
- Heavyweight mixed martial artists
- Sportspeople from Portland, Oregon
- Wrestlers from Oregon
- Mixed martial artists from Oregon
- Parkrose High School alumni
- Lakeridge High School alumni
- Clackamas Cougars wrestlers
- Grand Canyon Antelopes athletes
- Mixed martial artists utilizing collegiate wrestling
- Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters