Kevin_Casey_(fighter)

Kevin Casey (fighter)

Kevin Casey (fighter)

American mixed martial arts fighter


Kevin Berryman Casey Jr.[4] (born June 15, 1981) is an American mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Middleweight division of Bellator MMA. A professional competitor since 2007, he was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen and also competed for Strikeforce, K-1, the RFA, and the UFC.

Quick Facts Born, Other names ...

Biography

Casey was born in Inglewood, California. He began to study Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 1995 when he befriended Rockson Gracie, son of Rickson Gracie.

Casey is a supporter of CHAMP, a non-profit organization founded by his brother Keith Casey that works to build the minds and bodies of inner city youth through mixed martial arts.

Mixed martial arts career

Casey made his professional mixed martial arts debut in September 2007 for the K-1 Hero's promotion in Japan. He lost to Ikuhisa Minowa in the second round.

Following his unsuccessful debut, Casey made his first North American MMA appearance in 2008. He defeated Andrew Flores and Jimmy Mills in July and October, respectively, before taking a year off from the sport.

In November 2009, Casey made his Strikeforce debut on one of their Strikeforce Challengers cards. He defeated Chad Vance by submission. He made his second appearance for the promotion on May 21, 2010. He lost to Matt Lindland via TKO in the third round.

The Ultimate Fighter

In January 2013, it was revealed that Casey was a cast member of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen. He won his preliminary bout over Eldon Sproat via rear naked choke. Casey was selected by coach Sonnen as his sixth pick (eleventh overall). In the next round, Casey was pitted against coach Jones' fifth pick Collin Hart. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Casey was then given a second chance when he was chosen as Team Sonnen's wildcard. He fought against Team Jones' Bubba McDaniel. Despite controlling the first round, Casey lost via TKO at the end of the second round when he was unable to answer the bell for the third round. Many people, including Dana White, were shocked Kevin could just quit like that. Casey attributed this to difficulties relating to acute kidney injury from his drastic weight cut for his bout.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On April 9, 2013, it was announced that Casey would face fellow season 17 alumni Josh Samman at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale.[5] He lost the fight via TKO in the second round. Following the loss Casey was released from the promotion.[6]

Resurrection Fighting Alliance

Following his release from the UFC, Casey signed with Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA).[7] He made his RFA debut on August 16, 2013, at RFA 9 against Casey Ryan.[8] He won the fight by unanimous decision. He fought next on January 24, 2014, against former UFC veteran Eddie Mendez. He won that fight via TKO (Elbows) in the first round.

Metamoris

Casey replaced Vinny Magalhães on 30 minutes notice at Metamoris 3, a submission-only jiu-jitsu competition, in Los Angeles on March 29, 2014. Casey was submitted by Keenan Cornelius via heel hook.[9][10] In 2012, Casey himself had to pull out of a scheduled Metamoris competition, making his 2014 appearance his first participation with the organization.

Casey was scheduled to face Vinny Magalhaes at Metamoris 5, however was forced to withdraw just a week out from the November 22, 2014, competition due to a bloodclot in his calf that required surgery.[11]

Return to UFC

Following his championship win at Resurrection Fighting Alliance 15, Casey was re-signed by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He faced Bubba Bush at UFC 175 on July 5, 2014.[12] He won the fight via TKO early in the first round due to a punch that dropped his opponent and subsequent elbows on the ground. However, Casey later failed a post-fight drug test for drostanolone, a form of anabolic steroid.[13] Later, he was suspended for a year and fined $5,600 by the Nevada Athletic Commission.[14]

Returning from his suspension, Casey faced Ildemar Alcântara on July 15, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 71.[15] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[16]

Casey faced Antônio Carlos Júnior on December 10, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 80.[17] The bout was deemed a No Contest just 11 seconds into the first round when Júnior accidentally poked Casey in both eyes and Casey was unable to continue.[18]

Casey faced Rafael Natal on January 30, 2016, at UFC on Fox 18.[19] He lost the fight via TKO in the third round.[20]

Casey next faced Elvis Mutapčić on June 4, 2016, at UFC 199.[21] The fight ended in a split draw.[22]

Casey faced Sam Alvey on August 27, 2016, at UFC on Fox 21.[23] He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.[24]

On October 21, 2016, the UFC announced that they had cut Casey from the promotion.[25]

Bellator MMA

On November 1, 2016, it was announced that Casey had signed with Bellator. He faced Keith Berry at Bellator 170 on January 21, 2017. The bout ended in a majority draw.

Casey faced Chris Honeycutt at Bellator 182 on August 25, 2017. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.[26]

On February 20, 2018, it was announced that Bellator had released Casey from the promotion.[27]

Personal life

Casey is married to Hana Ali, the daughter of former heavyweight champion boxer Muhammad Ali and sister of WBC, WIBA, IWBF and IBA female super middleweight title and IWBF light heavyweight title holder Laila Ali.[28]

Championships and achievements

  • Resurrection Fighting Alliance
    • RFA Middleweight Championship (One time, first)

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
19 matches 9 wins 6 losses
By knockout 3 6
By submission 3 0
By decision 3 0
Draws 2
No contests 2
More information Res., Record ...

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

More information Res., Record ...

See also


References

  1. "Kevin "King" Casey". sherdog.com.
  2. "Fight Card - UFC Fight Night Mir vs. Duffee". UFC.com. Archived from the original on July 15, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  3. John Morgan (January 23, 2013). "Meet 'The Ultimate Fighter 17' cast: Kevin Casey, a humbled 'King'". MMAjunkie.com.
  4. "Mixed martial arts show results" (PDF). boxing.nv.gov. December 10, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  5. "TUF 17 Finale fight card". mmafighting.com. April 9, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  6. "Phil De Fries, Chris Spang and Five Others Released From The UFC". fighters.com. April 30, 2013. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013.
  7. Pagliuca, Chris (March 29, 2014). "Metamoris 3: Bravo vs. Gracie Results". MMAnuts.com. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  8. bjpenn.com (March 29, 2014). "Kevin Casey In As Last Minute Replacement, Faces Keenan Cornelius". BJPenn.com. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  9. "Kevin Casey vs. Bubba Bush slated for UFC 175". MMAfighting.com. June 17, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  10. Steven Marrocco (July 30, 2014). "Kevin Casey and Robert Drysdale flunk post-fight tests at UFC 175, TUF 19 Finale". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  11. Shaun Al-Shatti (September 23, 2014). "Kevin Casey suspended one year for positive steroid test at UFC 175". mmafighting.com.
  12. Guilherme Cruz (May 22, 2015). "Kevin Casey vs. Ildemar Alcantara agreed for UFC Fight Night 71". mmafighting.com. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  13. Dann Stupp (July 15, 2015). "UFC Fight Night 71 results: Kevin Casey grinds out shutout win over Ildemar Alcantara". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  14. Staff (September 11, 2015). "Good vs. Akhmedov, Casey vs. Carlos Junior set for UFC Fight Night 80 in Las Vegas". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  15. Ben Fowlkes (December 10, 2015). "UFC Fight Night 80 results: Kevin Casey vs. Antonio Carlos Junior ends in quick no-contest". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  16. Staff (December 28, 2015). "Kevin Casey vs. Rafael Natal Added to UFC on Fox 18 in New Jersey". sherdog.com. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  17. Ben Fowlkes (January 30, 2016). "UFC on FOX 18 results: Rafael Natal controls, finishes Kevin Casey in third". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  18. Brian Martin (March 16, 2016). "UFC 199 adds middlweights Kevin Casey vs. Elvis Mutapcic". ladailynews.com. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  19. Staff (July 19, 2016). "UFC on FOX 21 in Vancouver adds three bouts, including Sam Alvey vs. Kevin Casey". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  20. Brent Brookhouse (August 27, 2016). "UFC on FOX 21 results: Sam Alvey finishes Kevin Casey with punches in second round". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  21. Dave Doyle (October 21, 2016). "UFC cuts 13 fighters from roster as cutbacks continue". mmafighting.com. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  22. Guilherme Cruz (February 20, 2018). "Bellator trims roster, parts ways with 13 fighters". mmafighting.com.

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