Big things are coming for Wythe County’s Robbie Ring.
The Wytheville-based fighter who goes by the moniker Robbie “Razor” Ring is no longer a well-kept secret in the world of professional mixed-martial arts.
In fact, Ring, thanks in large part to a dominant performance and win over a two-time UFC veteran, has found himself on the radar of the sports biggest organization – the UFC.
Undefeated during his amateur career, Ring has continued the trajectory over his pro career, amassing a 5-0 record so far.
As recently as two months ago, the Wythe native was approached by his management company, Las Vegas, Nevada’s Iridium Sports, for a short-notice fight in the UFC. It was a tough decision, but Ring and his team turned down the opportunity, mostly because it would have meant having to cut 20 pounds in just four days.
“After discussing in depth with my coaches and team, we decided that this type of weight cut would have too much negative effect on my performance, so we decided to wait for a better opportunity,” Ring said.
The 23-year-old fighter and his management team believe that better opportunity is right on the horizon and he’s on the verge of breaking through to the biggest stage in the fight world.
Ring has been fighting regularly since he was 14 and turned professional in January 2021, as COVID-19 restrictions were starting to wane.
“I remember us all having to wear masks to my first pro fight,” Ring said.
Not that it lasted all that long. In his pro debut, Ring won by knockout in 16 seconds. From that, his reputation as a finisher was only enhanced. None of his pro fights have gone the distance and only one – the one against a UFC veteran – made it into the second round. In fact, his first four pro fights lasted a total of one minute and 46 seconds.
Following the debut, Ring knocked out Hawaii-based fighter Dru Henry in 13 seconds.
After that, he stopped Matt McKenney of Alabama in 37 seconds.
In his fourth pro fight, Ring choked out undefeated Tennessee fighter Dusty Little in 40 seconds.
Ring came to his fifth fight, against Clarksville, Tennessee’s Jacob Kilburn, as a 2-to-1 underdog. Kilburn had 13 pro fights under his belt and had been fighting most recently in the UFC. In addition, Kilburn trained at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, one of the biggest and most well known MMA gyms in the country. The moment wasn’t too big for Ring, who controlled the fight with multiple takedowns in the first round before finishing Kilburn in the second by D’arce choke.
Ring puts his 5-0 record on the line on April 22 with a fight in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he will face Ohio-based fighter Cory Dulaney.
To ready for the battle, Ring has been training at Ring-Combat Sports in Wytheville and putting in work with UFC fighter Bryan Battle and his team at Carolina Combat Sports in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“My coaches often bring in other regional pro fighters for me to work with to get some extra training in,” Ring said. “I work regularly with Jeromy Mitchell, Derick Lambert, Antwon Curtis – who are all regional pros – as well as Bryan Battle and Shameek Harvey from Carolina Combat Sports.”
Ring and his team feel that another win would be hard to deny him his shot at fulfilling a lifelong dream of fighting for the UFC.
“God has blessed me with a work ethic toward the sport that has helped me get this far,” Ring said. “My parents are my coaches and have instilled into me all the values that have helped me reach this point and have taught me the core skills to achieve greatness as an MMA fighter. Brian Pisani is one of my coaches and corner men who always has my back and pushes me toward success. I am thankful for my whole team, and I could not have reached this point without them.
“I have many sponsors that have believed in me and I could never do any of this without them. Varney Construction, Chris Fox Berkshire Hathaway realtor, N2U Hemp company, Choice Physical Therapy, Ring-Combat Sports, R & C Towing, Pioneer Collision, R&T Fine art, Advantage driving education and Anytime Fitness. I am working 6 days a week, two times a day, training as hard as I possibly can to make everyone who supports me proud”.
To keep up with his fighting career and for information about attending his fights, tickets, pay-per view links, follow him on facebook.
