Chad Griggs (born May 15, 1978) is an American former mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 2005 to 2013, he competed in the International Fight League, Strikeforce, and Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Background
Griggs is from Tucson, Arizona and attended Sahuaro High School. He was introduced to mixed martial arts when he began training and frequently
sparring with legendary fighter
Don Frye. Griggs attended college, where he received his EMT and
paramedic certification.
Early career
Griggs won his lone amateur fight via knockout in 13 seconds, and then made his professional debut in December 2005, on the first Total Fighting Alliance card.
He fought and quickly defeated Johnathan Tsosie, an 0–3 fighter at the time, only eighteen seconds into round one. In April 2006, Griggs took his second fight against UFC veteran
Homer Moore, on a Rage in the Cage card. Griggs again won via TKO.
Only a month after his second fight, Griggs fought Johnathan Tsosie in a rematch from their December fight. Griggs again came out victorious, winning via submission due to punches. He won another fight before signing with upstart promotion, the International Fight League.
International Fight League
Griggs signed with the IFL in 2007, and was picked to be a part of the
Tucson Scorpions, coached by
Don Frye. He made his promotional debut at that took place on February 2, 2007. His opponent was PRIDE and UFC veteran, John Marsh. Griggs won the fight by TKO in the third round.
At that time undefeated, he then fought at against Shane Ott. Ott defeated Griggs with a kimura submission early in round one. Griggs was released from the promotion, despite the loss being the first of his career.
Regional circuits
Griggs won two fights after being released from the IFL. After his second win, he took a year and a half off from competition. He returned in April 2009, winning against Jon Alexander at Ultimate Style Fighting: Rumble in Wyoming.
Strikeforce
Griggs made his debut for Strikeforce at on August 21, 2010, against former professional wrestling star and standout collegiate wrestler
Bobby Lashley.
Griggs defeated Lashley by TKO when Lashley was unable to return to his corner at the end of the 2nd round after Griggs landed a flurry of strikes.
Griggs next fight for Strikeforce came against promotional newcomer Gian Villante at . Griggs won the fight in the first round via TKO. The fight served as a reserve bout for the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.
Griggs' next fight was against Valentijn Overeem at on June 18, 2011, in Dallas, Texas.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
With the elimination of the Strikeforce Heavyweight division, Griggs moved to the UFC in 2012 and faced
Travis Browne on April 21, 2012, at UFC 145.
He lost the bout in the first round via submission due to an arm-triangle choke.
Griggs was expected to face Phil Davis in his Light Heavyweight debut on August 4, 2012, at UFC on FOX 4.
After moving down to Light Heavyweight, Griggs lost to Cyrille Diabaté via first round rear-naked choke submission on November 17, 2012, at UFC 154.
Personal life
Griggs his two children with his ex-wife, Julie. He has been in a relationship with Stevie Dillon since 2023.
Griggs also works as a full-time firefighter and a paramedic with the Tucson Fire Department.
Mixed martial arts record
|-
|Loss
|align=center| 11–3
| Cyrille Diabaté
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| UFC 154
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:24
|
Montreal,
Quebec, Canada
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 11–2
|
Travis Browne
| Submission (arm-triangle choke)
| UFC 145
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:29
|Atlanta, Georgia, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 11–1
| Valentijn Overeem
| TKO (submission to punches)
|
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:08
|Dallas, Texas, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 10–1
|
Gian Villante
| TKO (punches)
|
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:49
|East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 9–1
|
Bobby Lashley
| TKO (doctor stoppage)
|
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 5:00
|Houston, Texas, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 8–1
| Jon Alexander
| KO (elbows)
| USF: Rumble in Wyoming
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:13
|Casper, Wyoming, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 7–1
| Eric Garcia
| TKO (punches)
| All Power Combat 1
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:02
|
Arizona, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 6–1
| Steve Sayegh
| TKO (punches)
| Rage in the Cage 101
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:28
|Fountain Hills, Arizona, United States
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 5–1
| Shane Ott
| Submission (kimura)
|
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:09
|Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 5–0
| John Marsh
| TKO (punches)
|
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 2:32
|Houston, Texas, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 4–0
| Tony Mendoza
| TKO (punches)
| WFC: Rumble in the Rockies
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:41
|Loveland, Colorado, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 3–0
| Johnathan Tsosie
| TKO (submission to punches)
| Rage in the Cage 82
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 0:43
|Tucson, Arizona, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 2–0
|
Homer Moore
| TKO (punches)
| Rage in the Cage 81
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 0:30
|Mesa, Arizona, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 1–0
| Johnathan Tsosie
| TKO (punches)
| Total Fighting Alliance 1
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 0:18
|Campo, California, United States
|
See also
-
List of Strikeforce alumni
External links
