by MMAjunkie.com Staff [mmajunkie-staff] on Mar 28, 2008 at 10:39 am in - News -
Paul Bradley (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), a decorated collegiate wrestler who was picked to compete on the upcoming seventh season of "The Ultimate Fighter," has split ways with the UFC and has signed a deal with EliteXC.
Bradley's new deal with EliteXC was first reported by fiveouncesofpain.com. Bradley's manager, Mike Camp, confirmed the signing with us, but he declined to comment on the details surrounding the fighter's curious split from the UFC.
The UFC usually locks up "The Ultimate Fighter" competitors -- both the winners and the losers -- with contracts. At the very least, the fighters are usually forced to remain inactive during the time in between the show's taping and its debut on Spike TV.
However, since his time in Las Vegas to tape the show, Bradley has fought outside the UFC (a first-round TKO win at a March 15 "Destiny Fights" event) and signed a deal with EliteXC. Yet, "The Ultimate Fighter 7" doesn't debut for another week.
Unlike past seasons of the show, the upcoming season of "The Ultimate Fighter" features 32 fighters -- not 16 -- and all competitors must first win a fight to earn a spot on the cast.
(To avoid any potential spoilers, we will not reveal whether or not Bradley won any "TUF" fights. However, a source close to the show tells us that Bradley's departure had nothing to do with losing a fight.)
Terms of Bradley's new contract with EliteXC were not disclosed, and he hasn't yet been scheduled for his debut with the organization.
Bradley, 24, is a former high school state wrestling champion (and two-time state runner-up) who earned a scholarship to the University of Iowa, a collegiate-wrestling powerhouse. There, the two-time All-American (at 184 lbs.) finished second at the 2004 Big Team Championships and fourth in 2005. He posted a career mark of 77-37.
Bradley, who began competing professionally in MMA in October 2006, spent some time training with Pat Miletich's team in Iowa. He is now a part of C-4 MMA (formerly Damage Incorporated), a Midwest-based team. Like most C-4 fighters, Bradley launched his MMA career with the Indianapolis-based Legends of Fighting organization, one of the country's top regional promotions, where he was the organization's amateur middleweight champion before turning pro.
Of his six professional victories, three have come via knockout, two via submission, and one via decision.
(To avoid any potential spoilers, we will not reveal whether or not Bradley won any "TUF" fights. However, a source close to the show tells us that Bradley's departure had nothing to do with losing a fight.)
hmmm...how funny would it be if he was one of the finalists and they have to show him all season knowing he bounced.
ALSO, PLEASE DO NOT POST SPOILERS ON THIS THREAD. Thanks.
2005-06 -- posted a 20-11 overall record at 184 pounds, going 16-10 in collegiate competition... dual record was 11-6 and Big Ten dual record was 4-4... scored 34 team points in dual matches... placed seventh at Big Ten Championships... won title at Spartan Classic, wrestling unattached... lost a 4-2 decision to Illinois' Pete Friedl in the NWCA All-Star Classic... earned team Coaches Appreciation award... letterwinner.
2004-05 -- all-American, placing fifth at 184 pounds at NCAA Championships... placed fourth at Big Ten Championships... season record was 28-10 overall and 24-9 in collegiate competition... went 10-5 in dual matches and 4-4 in Big Ten duals... scored 33 team points in dual competition... won title at Midlands Championships... lost a 3-2 decision to NCAA Champion Greg Jones of West Virginia at N.W.C.A. All-Star Classic in November... scored four major decisions and one pin... went 2-0 in tiebreak and 1-0 in sudden victory matches... earned team all-American award and Mike McGivern Most Courageous Wrestler award... letterwinner.
2003-04 -- all-American, placing fourth at 184 pounds at NCAA Championships... season record was 26-12 overall and 26-11 in collegiate matches... runner-up at Big Ten Championships, losing a 3-2 decision to Penn State's Eric Bradley in the finals... went 9-6 in Big Ten dual competition and 5-3 in Big Ten duals... scored 37 teams points in dual competition... recorded a team-leading six pins... also scored five major decisions and one technical fall... won title at Central Missouri State Open and placed second at Kaufman-Brand Open... earned team all-American, most pins and most improved wrestler awards... letterwinner.
2002-03 -- went 14-7 overall and 11-7 in collegiate competition at 197 pounds and heavyweight... lost a 5-2 decision to Minnesota's Garrett Lowney in his lone dual and heavyweight match, wrestling for teammate Steve Mocco, who was serving a one-match suspension... won titles at Spartan and Central Missouri State Opens... placed fourth at UNI Open and at FILA National Junior Freestyle Championships... recorded one major decision and four technical falls on the season... four of his season losses were by three points or less... letterwinner.
2001-02 -- redshirted... compiled a 14-3 collegiate record and 15-3 overall record at 184 pounds while wrestling unattached... recorded five major decisions, four pins and one technical fall... won title at Pat "Flash" Flanagan Open... placed second at Kaufman-Brand Open, third at Mike McCready Open and fifth at Central Missouri State Open... ended the season on a seven-match winning streak.
High School -- state champion as a senior after placing second as a sophomore and junior... prep career record was 168-18 with 92 pins... three-time conference champion... AWN sixth-team all-American...won 178-pound title at 2001 Northern Plains Junior Freestyle Regionals... set school record for most two-point near falls (43) and team set record for most team points scored... academic all-conference as a junior... Cadet National champion as a freshman, placing fifth as a sophomore... two-time team MVW, winning team toughness award as a sophomore... lettered four years in wrestling, two in football and one in baseball... first team all-conference in football as a senior... wrestling coach was Jay Hoskey.
Like Eddie said, Paul is a standup guy, and he definitely has a bright future in the sport. And you guys dont know the circumstances as to why he is not on the show, I will tell you that the reason he isnt on is bc of something that hasnt happened on TUF before. But I'll leave it at that, and look out for Paul in the future, he was a 2x AA at Iowa, and he's one tough son of a bitch! haha
And you guys dont know the circumstances as to why he is not on the show, I will tell you that the reason he isnt on is bc of something that hasnt happened on TUF before. But I'll leave it at that,
"Like Eddie said, Paul is a standup guy, and he definitely has a bright future in the sport. And you guys dont know the circumstances as to why he is not on the show, I will tell you that the reason he isnt on is bc of something that hasnt happened on TUF before. "
Paul Bradley (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), a decorated collegiate wrestler who was picked to compete on the upcoming seventh season of "The Ultimate Fighter," has split ways with the UFC and has signed a deal with EliteXC.