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Tyrell Fortune

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Tyrell Fortune
Born (1990-07-04) July 4, 1990 (age 35)
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight250 lb (113 kg; 17 st 12 lb)
DivisionHeavyweight
Reach75 in (191 cm)
TeamArizona Combat Sports
Years active2016–present (MMA)
Mixed martial arts record
Total23
Wins18
By knockout11
By submission1
By decision5
By disqualification1
Losses3
By knockout1
By submission1
By decision1
No contests2
Other information
UniversityGrand Canyon University
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Tyrell Fortune (born July 4, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist and former wrestler. He currently competes in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Early life and wrestling career

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Fortune was born on July 4, 1990, in Portland, Oregon.[1][2] At age seven, he started wrestling at a local club in Portland.[3] Fortune attended Parkrose High School before later transferring to Lakeridge High School, competing in wrestling and football in high school.[3][4] During his junior season at Parkrose, he won the state Class 5A championship in his division, while, as a senior at Lakeridge, he won the Class 6A title.[4] While in high school, Fortune won six national championships while competing as a member of Portland's Peninsula Wrestling Club.[4] Competing in Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling, he won two national titles in each event at the Cadet National Championships, and then won both titles at the 2008 Junior National Championships.[4] Fortune was an eight-time All-American and ranked the top wrestling recruit nationally coming out of high school.[1]

In 2009, Fortune represented the U.S. at the Junior World Championships.[5] After high school, he enrolled at Clackamas Community College where he was a top wrestler.[1] He competed there for two years and in both years won the Region 18 title and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) title in his weight class.[1] Fortune later entered Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.[6] He was named the NCAA Division II Wrestler of the Year as a junior after posting a record of 37–1 while winning the national title.[7] Fortune left Grand Canyon short of graduating.[2]

Fortune competed at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia, winning a bronze medal in the 120 kg freestyle event while placing fifth in the Greco-Roman event.[8] The following year, he won gold in the 125 kg event at the World University Wrestling Championships.[9] He also competed at the 2014 Wrestling World Cup for the U.S. team.[10] Fortune attempted to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics but narrowly missed out.[6]

Weight-cutting incident

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Fortune came close to death in 2012, during his wrestling career.[11] He told ESPN, "It was just after my junior-college season, and I wasn't a big heavyweight. I averaged around 220, 230 pounds. That's in the middle of two weight categories. International weight classes are 211 and 265 pounds. I'm at 230. I'm like, 'I can either give up this 30 to 40 pounds, or I can cut weight and be bigger than everybody at 211.' So that's what led to the decision to cut weight."[12] A week before an event, Fortune had to lose 26 pounds (12 kg) in order to qualify for the lower weight group.[13] Fortune said, "I just went about it all wrong. I started cutting the week before. Six days to lose 27 pounds. I started barely eating or taking any water. I gave myself a bottle of water, a grain bar and a cup of mandarin oranges. Those were my meals. Three of them per day. And my goal was to lose 5 to 6 pounds in a workout and go to sleep."[12] Shortly before weigh-ins, he was still one pound above the limit.[12] He began running in an effort to lose the last pound but said he felt that "something [was] wrong"; he went to get water but collapsed and had a seizure.[12]

Fortune recalled waking up in an ambulance and being told, "Your organs are failing. You completely dehydrated your body. Your liver and heart are stopping every time you pass out. We've hit you with the defibrillator already to bring you back. Try to stay awake."[12] He then passed out again and was unresponsive despite a defibrillator being used on him four times.[12] Fortune was pronounced dead and "a sheet was draped over his body and face" at the hospital.[11] He said, "I woke up screaming because the sheet was over my head and I was strapped down and couldn't move at all. So I was just screaming for help and this lady comes and takes it all off of me and she tells me 'you're dead, we tried resuscitating you and nothing worked.'"[13] He began to eat and drink after being unstrapped but then had another seizure.[12] Fortune stated, "They finally get me in a room, and my girlfriend, she was sitting on top of me, just slapping my face every time the heart monitor flatlined. I want to say the entire thing lasted about seven or eight hours. I probably left the hospital around 2 in the morning."[12] He managed to completely recover and continued his career.[14]

Mixed martial arts career

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Fortune entered mixed martial arts and signed a contract with Bellator MMA in August 2015.[11] He debuted at Bellator 163 on November 4, 2016.[11] Competing as a heavyweight and aged 26 at the time of his debut, he won by technical knockout (TKO) in the first round of his fight against Cody Miskell.[11][15] In 2017, he fought twice, winning by TKO once and by unanimous decision in the other.[16] Fortune won two fights in 2018 and three in 2019, posting an eight-game winning-streak to begin his career, while six of his wins were finishes.[16] On February 21, 2020, competing at Bellator 239, he was defeated for the first time in his career, being knocked out in the first round by a Timothy Johnson punch.[16] After a Bellator 245 fight against Jack May was ruled no contest due to an accidental kick to the groin, Fortune won three straight fights, including two first-round TKOs, against May at Bellator 255 on April 2, 2021, and against Matt Mitrione at Bellator 262 on July 16, 2021.[16]

Fortune trained at the Arizona Combat Sports club.[6] At Bellator 271, on November 12, 2021, he lost by split decision to Linton Vassell.[17] Following a first-round TKO against Rakim Cleveland on April 15, 2022, at Bellator 277, Fortune was number five in the Bellator heavyweight rankings.[6][16] Fortune faced Daniel James on November 18, 2022, at Bellator 288, and initially was defeated before the match was overturned to no contest after James tested positive for an anabolic substance.[18] On April 21, 2023, Fortune won against Sergey Bilostenniy at Bellator 294 after the latter was disqualified.[16]

Fortune later joined the Professional Fighters League (PFL), making his first appearance at PFL 4 on June 13, 2024, where he won by unanimous decision over Marcelo Golm.[19] On August 2, 2024, he lost at PFL 7 by submission to Sergey Bilostenniy.[16] Fortune later joined the Lights Out Xtreme Fighting (LXF) promotion, winning by TKO against Myron Dennis on May 10, 2025, at LXF 24, before competing under the Ringside United Fighting (RUF) promotion, winning a fight against Tony Lopez on August 16, 2025, by knockout.[16] On September 20, 2025, at LXF 277, Fortune defeated Demoreo Dennis by TKO.[16]

With two weeks notice, Fortune agreed to fight Marcin Tybura at UFC Fight Night 271 on March 28, 2026, after the withdrawal of Tybura's original opponent.[14] He won by unanimous decision, but announcer Bruce Buffer mistakenly announced Tybura as the winner.[14] After Fortune "exited the octagon and headed toward the tunnel," he was told to return and was correctly announced as the victor.[14]

Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
23 matches 18 wins 3 losses
By knockout 11 1
By submission 1 1
By decision 5 1
By disqualification 1 0
No contests 2
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 18–3 (2) Marcin Tybura Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer March 28, 2026 3 5:00 Seattle, Washington, United States
Win 17–3 (2) Demoreo Dennis TKO (doctor stoppage) Lights Out Xtreme Fighting 27 September 20, 2025 3 3:56 Long Beach, California, United States
Win 16–3 (2) Tony Lopez KO (punch) RUF MMA 64 August 16, 2025 1 0:27 Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Win 15–3 (2) Myron Dennis TKO (punches) Lights Out Xtreme Fighting 24 May 10, 2025 2 2:29 Long Beach, California, United States
Loss 14–3 (2) Sergey Bilostenniy Submission (heel hook) PFL 7 (2024) August 2, 2024 1 2:00 Nashville, Tennessee, United States 2024 PFL Heavyweight Tournament Alternate bout.
Win 14–2 (2) Marcelo Golm Decision (unanimous) PFL 4 (2024) June 13, 2024 3 5:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win 13–2 (2) Sergey Bilostenniy DQ (punches to back of head) Bellator 294 April 21, 2023 1 3:26 Chicago, Illinois, United States
NC 12–2 (2) Daniel James NC (overturned) Bellator 288 November 18, 2022 2 0:27 Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Originally a TKO (punches and elbows) win for James; overturned after he tested positive for anabolic substance.
Win 12–2 (1) Rakim Cleveland TKO (punches and knee) Bellator 277 April 15, 2022 1 1:38 San Jose, California, United States
Loss 11–2 (1) Linton Vassell Decision (split) Bellator 271 November 12, 2021 3 5:00 Hollywood, Florida, United States
Win 11–1 (1) Matt Mitrione TKO (submission to punches) Bellator 262 July 16, 2021 1 1:45 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win 10–1 (1) Jack May TKO (punches) Bellator 255 April 2, 2021 1 3:16 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win 9–1 (1) Said Sowma Decision (unanimous) Bellator 251 November 5, 2020 3 5:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
NC 8–1 (1) Jack May NC (accidental knee to groin) Bellator 245 September 11, 2020 1 2:42 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Accidental knee to the groin rendered May unable to continue.
Loss 8–1 Tim Johnson KO (punch) Bellator 239 February 21, 2020 1 2:35 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Win 8–0 Azunna Anyanwu TKO (punches) Bellator 233 November 8, 2019 2 1:56 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Win 7–0 Rudy Schaffroth Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 225 August 24, 2019 2 2:08 Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States
Win 6–0 Ryan Pokryfky TKO (punches) Bellator 216 February 16, 2019 1 2:21 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win 5–0 Giovanni Sarran TKO (punches) Bellator 201 June 29, 2018 2 4:35 Temecula, California, United States
Win 4–0 Joe Hernandez Decision (unanimous) Bellator 193 January 26, 2018 3 5:00 Temecula, California, United States
Win 3–0 Branko Busick Decision (unanimous) Bellator 178 April 21, 2017 3 5:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win 2–0 Will Johnson TKO (punches) Bellator 171 January 27, 2017 2 4:27 Mulvane, Kansas, United States
Win 1–0 Cody Miskell TKO (punches) Bellator 163 November 4, 2016 1 2:22 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Heavyweight debut.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Tyrell Fortune". Grand Canyon Antelopes. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Tyrell Fortune". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Archived from the original on April 28, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  3. ^ a b Smith, Jeff (January 19, 2006). "Fortune no longer an outsider". The Oregonian. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d Ulmer, Jerry (July 29, 2008). "A secure hold on wrestling history". The Oregonian. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Good Fortune for Antelopes". Arizona Republic. December 3, 2011. p. 225 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c d Danzer, Paul (November 12, 2022). "Portland native Tyrell Fortune featured on Bellator 288 MMA event". Portland Tribune.
  7. ^ "College Wrestling". The Oregonian. April 18, 2013. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "College wrestler places fifth at world meet". The Oregonian. July 16, 2013. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Bernard Nelson, Scott (July 9, 2014). "Tyrell Fortune of Portland wins university world championship". OregonLive.com. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  10. ^ "Tyrell Fortune". United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on February 8, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  11. ^ a b c d e Sutelan, Edward (August 23, 2019). "Tyrell Fortune once pronounced dead attempting to cut weight". The Sporting News. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h Fortune, Tyrell (March 28, 2026). "Tyrell Fortune: Living to fight another day after they pronounced me dead". ESPN. Archived from the original on May 12, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  13. ^ a b "MMA: Bellator fighter Tyrell Fortune opens up on near-death experience after weight cut". The New Zealand Herald. 9 November 2019.
  14. ^ a b c d "Tyrell Fortune wins UFC debut after score error reversal, years after being pronounced dead". WFMD. March 29, 2026.
  15. ^ Marocco, Steve (November 4, 2016). "Tyrell Fortune doesn't want to be an average wrestler at Bellator 163". USA Today.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Tyrell Fortune MMA Stats". Sherdog. Archived from the original on February 27, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  17. ^ Segura, Danny; Hannoun, Farah (November 15, 2021). "Linton Vassell calls for title shot following Bellator 271 win over Tyrell Fortune". USA Today.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Cade Morehouse (November 20, 2023). "Tyrell Fortune Says Bellator 288 Fight with Daniel James Ruled No Contest Due to Failed Drug Test". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  19. ^ Albano, Thomas (June 13, 2024). "Tyrell Fortune rocks and wrestles his way to dominant decision win". Professional Fighters League. Archived from the original on December 6, 2025. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
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