// Roster Index›Welterweight›Dossier · David Rickels
UFC FIGHTER PROFILE_
UFC · UNKNOWNSTOCK 0WELTERWEIGHT

David
Rickels

NICKNAME"The Caveman"·UNITED STATES
PROFESSIONAL RECORD
23-6-0
CURRENT FORM
1W STREAK
NEXT FIGHT
NO BOUT ANNOUNCED
David Rickels
FIGHTER -
UNI🇺🇸
PROFILE PHOTO
PROFILE
PROFILE DATA! COLD
HEIGHT
5'11"
AGE
37
WEIGHT
Welterweight
PROFESSIONAL RECORD_
31 BOUTS
WIN
23
LOSS
6
DRAW
0
WIN RATE
79%
23/31 bouts
FINISH RATE
65%
of professional wins
LAST 5 FIGHTS1W STREAK · 3-2
LWWLW
Form trend 0 over the last 90 days.
STYLE SUMMARY_
DATA: COLD
FIGHTING STYLE
WELL ROUNDED

Well rounded fighter with no dominant single weapon — 35% of wins are by ko/tko.

KEY STRENGTHS

Closes distance and trades — most wins come from heavy hands inside the first two rounds.

KEY RISKS

Pressure boxers willing to wade into the pocket have found chins on offer; cardio drops in late rounds.

// PERFORMANCE_METRICS · 02_

STRIKE / GRAPPLE
VITALS

Observed profile rates compared with stored weight-class medians where coverage exists. Any fallback uses a labeled UFC reference average; no fallback is presented as a division median.

// SLPM▲ ABOVE
4.29
Strikes Landed/Min
Reference value 2.65
// STR. ACC▲ ABOVE
59%
Striking Accuracy
Reference value 47%
// SAPM▼ BELOW
5.53
Strikes Absorbed/Min
Reference value 2.74
// STR. DEF▼ BELOW
42%
Striking Defense
Reference value 53%
// TD AVG▼ BELOW
0.00
Takedowns/15 min
Reference value 1.50
// TD ACC▼ BELOW
0%
Takedown Accuracy
Reference value 40%
// TD DEF▼ BELOW
25%
Takedown Defense
Reference value 59%
// SUB AVG▼ BELOW
0.00
Submissions/15 min
Reference value 0.50
// QUALITY_OF_COMPETITION · 02B_

WHO THEY
ACTUALLY FOUGHT

A record says how often a fighter won, not against whom. These ratings weigh every result by the opponent's strength at the time, then compare this fighter with the 99 rated fighters on the UFC welterweight roster (anyone with a UFC bout in the last two years or one booked).

// RATING
#22
against the 99 rated on the UFC welterweight roster · Elo 1625
// STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
44th
percentile · average opponent rated 1553 at fight time (recent fights count most)
// RESULTS VS EXPECTATION
48th
percentile · beat what opponents' ratings predicted (+0.03 per fight)

23 rated fights · opponents rated in 82% of recorded fights · last rated fight AUG 24, 2019

// CAREER_BREAKDOWN · 03_

WIN CONDITION MAP

Where the wins come from, and where the losses came from. Method splits by knockout, submission, and decision.

// WINS (23)
n = 23
KO/TKO · 8
SUB · 7
DEC · 8
8
KO/TKO
35%
7
SUB
30%
8
DEC
35%
// LOSSES (6)
n = 6
KO/TKO · 4
SUB · 1
DEC · 1
4
KO/TKO
67%
1
SUB
17%
1
DEC
17%
// PATH_TO_VICTORY_
65% FINISH
KO/TKOEARLY ROUNDS · 8 fights
35%
SUBANY ROUND · 7 fights
30%
DECFULL FIGHT · 8 fights
35%
Top win condition: ko/tko · early rounds.
// DNA_PROFILE · 04_

ATTRIBUTE FINGERPRINT

Evidence-backed 0-100 scores built only from observed profile stats and disclosed bout-history proxies. This is a fixed Blueprint scoring model, not a division percentile; missing axes remain unknown.

// DNA_PROFILE_
3 OBSERVED7 DERIVED0 UNKNOWN
// BENCHMARK
FIXED SCORE SCALE
// LINKED SAMPLE
31 BOUTS
// PROFILE UPDATED
JUL 3, 2026
// RECORDED SOURCE
ufcstats
Fighter attribute fingerprint10 of 10 attributes have evidence-backed scores on the Blueprint fixed scale. Unknown axes are not plotted and no score represents a division percentile.KO POWER50TD DEFENSE20GRAPPLING60CHIN71STRIKING73CARDIO65AGGRESSION29SUB THREAT20STR DEFENSE27RECOVERY100
// BANDS
90+ELITE
70-89STRONG
45-69AVERAGE
30-44BELOW
<30LOW
N/AUNKNOWN
Highest scored axis: Recovery. Lowest scored axis: Sub Threat.
// EVIDENCE REGISTER
10 SCORED · 0 OPEN
KO Power50
DERIVED PROXY

KO wins divided by total career wins

N=23 wins
TD Defense20
OBSERVED INPUT

Observed takedown defense rate (25%)

Grappling60
DERIVED PROXY

Composite of observed takedown volume, accuracy, and submission rate

Chin71
DERIVED PROXY

KO-loss durability proxy from career record

N=29 bouts
Striking73
DERIVED PROXY

Composite of observed striking volume and accuracy

Cardio65
DERIVED PROXY

Long-fight exposure proxy from bout duration and decision-win share

Aggression29
DERIVED PROXY

Activity proxy from observed strike and takedown volume

Sub Threat20
OBSERVED INPUT

Observed submission rate (0 per 15 min)

Str Defense27
OBSERVED INPUT

Observed striking defense rate (42%)

Recovery100
DERIVED PROXY

Share of recorded losses followed by a win in the next recorded bout.

N=6 losses
Fighter attribute fingerprint accessible data summary
AttributeScoreProvenanceEvidenceSample
KO Power50 out of 100DERIVED PROXYKO wins divided by total career wins23 wins
TD Defense20 out of 100OBSERVED INPUTObserved takedown defense rate (25%)Not recorded
Grappling60 out of 100DERIVED PROXYComposite of observed takedown volume, accuracy, and submission rateNot recorded
Chin71 out of 100DERIVED PROXYKO-loss durability proxy from career record29 bouts
Striking73 out of 100DERIVED PROXYComposite of observed striking volume and accuracyNot recorded
Cardio65 out of 100DERIVED PROXYLong-fight exposure proxy from bout duration and decision-win shareNot recorded
Aggression29 out of 100DERIVED PROXYActivity proxy from observed strike and takedown volumeNot recorded
Sub Threat20 out of 100OBSERVED INPUTObserved submission rate (0 per 15 min)Not recorded
Str Defense27 out of 100OBSERVED INPUTObserved striking defense rate (42%)Not recorded
Recovery100 out of 100DERIVED PROXYShare of recorded losses followed by a win in the next recorded bout.6 losses
// CAREER_MOMENTUM · 05_

THE ARC SO FAR

Rolling momentum score (0-100) recomputed after every bout. Weighted blend of result, opponent context, and method-of-finish, designed to show the shape, not the destination.

// MOMENTUM_TIMELINE_
SCOREWINLOSS
0255075100FEB 2010WFEB 2010WJUN 2010WAUG 2010WOCT 2010WFEB 2011WAPR 2011WMAY 2011WJUL 2011WOCT 2011WMAR 2012LMAY 2012WNOV 2012WJAN 2013WFEB 2013WMAR 2013LJUL 2013WOCT 2013LMAR 2014WOCT 2014JUN 2015LNOV 2015WFEB 2016WFEB 2016JUL 2016WJAN 2017WDEC 2017LMAY 2018WNOV 2018WMAR 2019LAUG 2019WAPR 2023// SCORE

  1. Start, FEB 2010, momentum score 45.
  2. Start, FEB 2010, momentum score 56, KO/TKO R1.
  3. Start, JUN 2010, momentum score 65, SUB R1.
  4. Start, AUG 2010, momentum score 75, SUB R1.
  5. Start, OCT 2010, momentum score 85, SUB R2.
  6. Start, FEB 2011, momentum score 92, DEC R3.
  7. Start, APR 2011, momentum score 100, SUB R1.
  8. Start, MAY 2011, momentum score 100, SUB R2.
  9. Start, JUL 2011, momentum score 100, DEC R3.
  10. Start, OCT 2011, momentum score 100, SUB R2.
  11. Start, MAR 2012, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  12. Start, MAY 2012, momentum score 93, DEC R3.
  13. Start, NOV 2012, momentum score 100, DEC R3.
  14. Start, JAN 2013, momentum score 100, DEC R3.
  15. Start, FEB 2013, momentum score 100, DEC R3.
  16. Start, MAR 2013, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R2.
  17. Start, JUL 2013, momentum score 90, KO/TKO R1.
  18. Start, OCT 2013, momentum score 99, KO/TKO R3.
  19. Start, MAR 2014, momentum score 92, KO/TKO R2.
  20. Start, OCT 2014, momentum score 99, DEC R3.
  21. Start, JUN 2015, momentum score 99.
  22. Start, NOV 2015, momentum score 92, KO/TKO R2.
  23. Start, FEB 2016, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  24. Start, FEB 2016, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  25. Start, JUL 2016, momentum score 100.
  26. Start, JAN 2017, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R3.
  27. Start, DEC 2017, momentum score 100, DEC R3.
  28. Start, MAY 2018, momentum score 93, KO/TKO R2.
  29. Start, NOV 2018, momentum score 100, DEC R3.
  30. Start, MAR 2019, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R2.
  31. Start, AUG 2019, momentum score 93, SUB R2.
  32. Start, APR 2023, momentum score 100, SUB R1.

Peaked at 100 (W vs Smith), bottomed at 45 (Debut). Current reading: 100.

// KILL_SHOT_MATRIX · 06_

WHEN THE FINISHES COME

Cross-tab of fight outcome by method and round. Reads top-down for method, left-right for round. Cyan intensity scales with frequency.

// METHOD × ROUND_
29/31 fights mapped
METHOD ↓ / ROUND →R1R2R3R4R5FREQ
KO/TKO
5
17%
5
17%
2
7%
-
-
12
total
SUB
4
14%
4
14%
-
-
-
8
total
DEC
-
-
9
31%
-
-
9
total
// PRIMARY KILL ZONE
R1-R2 KO/TKO · 10 of 29 mapped
// LATE-FIGHT GAP
No R5 finishes either way
// DECISION RATE
29%, fights rarely go the distance
// FIGHT_HISTORY · 08_

BOUT LOG
31 FIGHTS

Detailed bout records for the indexed tenure. Sorted most recent first.

W
VS Portland Pringle IIIApr 1, 2023
SubmissionR1 · 3:52
EFC - Evolution Fighting Championship 17
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Submission (Guillotine Choke)
L
VS Yaroslav AmosovAug 24, 2019
SubmissionR2 · 4:05
Bellator 225 - Mitrione vs. Kharitonov 2
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Submission (Brabo Choke)
W
VS A.J. MatthewsMar 29, 2019
KO/TKOR2 · 3:24
Bellator 219 - Awad vs. Girtz
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
TKO (Eye Injury)
W
VS Guilherme VasconcelosNov 30, 2018
DecisionR3 · 5:00
Bellator 210 - Njokuani vs. Salter
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Decision (Unanimous)
L
VS Michael PageMay 25, 2018
KO/TKOR2 · 0:43
Bellator 200 - Carvalho vs. Mousasi
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
TKO (Retirement)
W
VS Adam PiccolottiDec 1, 2017
DecisionR3 · 5:00
Bellator 189 - Budd vs. Blencowe 2
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Decision (Unanimous)
W
VS Aaron DerrowJan 27, 2017
KO/TKOR3 · 0:44
Bellator 171 - Guillard vs. Njokuani
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
TKO (Punches)
D
VS Melvin GuillardJul 22, 2016
No ContestR1 · 2:14
Bellator 159 - Caldwell vs. Taimanglo
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
No Contest (Guillard Failed Drug Test)
W
VS Bobby CooperFeb 26, 2016
KO/TKOR1 · 3:49
Bellator 150 - Kongo vs. Spartan
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
TKO (Knees and Punches)
W
VS Bobby CooperFeb 26, 2016
KO/TKOR1 · 3:49
Bellator 150 - Kongo vs. Spartan
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
TKO (Knees and Punches)
L
VS Michael ChandlerNov 6, 2015
KO/TKOR2 · 3:05
Bellator 145 - Vengeance
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
TKO (Punches)
D
VS John AlessioJun 26, 2015
No ContestR1 · 2:24
Bellator 139 - Kongo vs. Volkov
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
No Contest (Illegal Knee)
// FAQ · 09_

CITATION-READY ANSWERS

Quick answers based on the public fighter profile and fight history shown on this page.

Welterweight. Professional record 23-6 (2 NC). Unranked at the time of indexing.

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// FORECAST_AVAILABLE_
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// LAST INDEX SYNC · 2026-10-28