Ryan Jimmo

Ryan Jimmo (November 27, 1981 – June 26, 2016) was a Canadian mixed martial artist who competed in the light heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

He mostly fought in Canada and competed on the eighth season of The Ultimate Fighter.

Jimmo was the former MFC Light Heavyweight Champion.

Jimmo was from Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada and the youngest of his four siblings.

He has a background in karate, beginning the martial art from a very young age and was taught by his father, a 5th degree black belt.

Jimmo's father competed in Japan twice and was placed 5th in the world in his style.

Jimmo himself began competition when he was 10 years old, winning provincial and regional championships.

He also competed nationally before being shown mixed martial arts.

At St. Malachy's Memorial High School, Jimmo was captain of the football team and president of the chess club.

He began amateur bodybuilding after breaking his leg from karate in 2004.

Jimmo began his career in the Maximum Fighting Championship.

His professional debut came at MFC 11 against former professional football player Adam Braidwood.

The fight ended via TKO (punches) in the first round.

Jimmo then appeared at MFC - Unplugged 3 and defeated Dwayne Lewis via unanimous decision.

After this, Jimmo appeared at MFC 14 and 15, in between three local appearances.

Amassing a 5–0 record over that span with two wins by rear-naked choke and three by TKO.

Ryan previously trained out of Power MMA and Fitness in Gilbert, Arizona.

After compiling a 6–1 record, Jimmo successfully navigated tryouts for The Ultimate Fighter.

Jimmo was selected as one of the sixteen light heavyweights in the eighth season.

Jimmo's first fight, to get entry into the house was against Antwain Britt.

Britt took the victory in a majority decision after two rounds.

Jimmo later expressed disappointment in his performance, but did add that "Dana White said it was probably one of the better fights of the day so that’s good. The UFC already has their eye on me."

After his elimination from TUF 8, Jimmo went back to the local circuit, where he recorded three victories; one of which was over Jesse Forbes via unanimous decision.

Jimmo then re-joined Maximum Fighting Championship and made his promotional debut at MFC 21 against Mychal Clark.

Jimmo was untroubled throughout and took a unanimous decision with all judges scoring the bout 30–27.

Jimmo followed this up with a split decision victory over UFC veteran Marvin Eastman at MFC 22.

The fight largely revolved around exchanges in the clinch.

Sherdog gave the bout to Eastman, but the official result was in favor of Jimmo, with scorecards of (29–28, 28–29, and 29–28).

Jimmo's third fight in MFC was against Emanuel Newton at MFC 23.

Jimmo reportedly controlled most of the bout in the clinch and took a unanimous decision victory (30–27, 29–28, and 29–28).

Jimmo's most notable fight at that point of his career was against Wilson Gouveia at MFC 25.

Prior to the fight, Sherdog discussed Jimmo's position in his division and stated that "Jimmo has all the tools and an affable personality that makes him championship material. Unfortunately, though, Jimmo has failed to capitalize on numerous opportunities to cement himself in the title picture because he hasn’t been a big finisher despite a 12-fight winning streak."

Sherdog also added that they didn't believe that Jimmo could "grind out another win" as Gouveia, who was making his return to the light heavyweight division, would not gas out, as he had done on occasion at middleweight in the UFC.

The fight was later made a catchweight bout of 208 lbs, after Gouveia once again came in overweight; this, despite moving up a weight class originally.

Jimmo used various striking techniques to control his opponent and dropped Gouveia on a few occasions.

Jimmo walked away with a unanimous decision (30–27, 30–26, and 30–26).

Jimmo attributed the victory to Gouveia gassing out after his difficulty with making weight.

Jimmo was then scheduled to fight for the Maximum Fighting Championship's Light Heavyweight title against newcomer Glover Teixeira, but Jimmo questioned why he had been made to work for a title shot, while Teixeira, "a relative unknown" received a shot immediately.

MFC then placed Bobby Southworth into the title bout, though Southworth would later withdraw from the fight due to personal problems.

Jimmo still has no opponent scheduled.