Ben Saunders

At 41 years old, Ben Saunders has this physical status:

Benjamin Saunders (born April 13, 1983), is an American mixed martial artist who currently fights in the Welterweight division of the UFC.

He was a featured fighter on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs.

Team Serra, fighting on Team Serra.

A professional competitor since 2004, Saunders has also formerly competed for Bellator.

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Mixed martial arts career

Saunders was voted by majority verdict over Dan Barrera in the first round of the tournament. After the Barrera bout, Saunders reportedly contracted influenza. Despite the illness, Saunders lost in the quarter-finals against Tom Speer, losing by unanimous decision.

Dan Barrera was defeated by Saunders in The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra Finale by unanimous decision.

Saunders won the second round of UFC rookie Ryan Thomas by armbar in his second appearance in UFC history.

He fought Brandon Wolff in his third fight in UFC history, defeating him in the first round via TKO with knees from the Thai clinch, landing 42 knees on his opponent. Wolff's face was a bloody and swollen mess as a result. Several comparisons were made between him and Anderson Silva, who is also known for his Thai clinch prowess.

Saunders' next match was supposed to be UFC 96 against Welterweight standout Dustin Hazelett, but Hazelett was forced to cancel due to injury. Saunders was then scheduled to meet Ryan Madigan of UFC. However, Saunders were forced to leave the game due to an injured foot.

Saunders will meet Mike Swick at UFC 99 on February 28, 2009. In the second round, Saunders was defeated by TKO by Swick by TKO. Saunders ducked into Swick's striking range every time, essentially costing him the fight.

Marcus Davis was eliminated via KO at 3:24 p.m. in the first round at UFC 106, making him the first man to knock out Davis.

In March, Saunders was supposed to face top ten welterweight Martin Kampmann at UFC 111. However, Kampmann was forced to miss the game due to an injury, and Saunders was supposed to face Jake Ellenberger. Thiago Alves' pre-fight CT scan revealed an irregularity in his brain, which was not allowed to fight on March 25, 2010. Saunders asked to face Alves' and former No. 1 contender Jon Fitch, thereby excluding Ellenberger from the match. Saunders lost by unanimous decision to Fitch.

On August 7, 2010, Saunders next met Dennis Hallman at UFC 117. Ben was disqualified by a unanimous vote (29-28, 30-27, 29-28). Saunders was suspended from the UFC following the defeat.

Bellator revealed on February 3 that they had signed Saunders to compete in their Welterweight division. Although he will not be a participant of the Season Four Tournament, the Saunders fights will be broadcast live on the main card.

After brutalizing Lee in the third round with knees and elbows for the bulk of the fight, Bellator 39 Saunders defeated Matt Lee by TKO (doctor stoppage).

Saunders had intended to compete at Bellator 47, but he had to cancel due to an undisclosed injury he sustained in preparation.

Saunders was supposed to meet Rick Hawn at Bellator 49. However, Hawn was forced to postponed the match due to a knee injury. Saunders, on the other hand, fought replacement Chris Cisneros. In the third round, Saunders defeated by TKO.

Saunders defeated Luis Santos at Bellator 53 in the semifinals. Saunders dominated the round after being disqualified in the first round by stifling Santos' offense and going for several submission attempts, transitioning from the reverse triangle to the omoplata. The second round of the second round unfolded in a similar way, with Saunders barely receiving an omoplata and a carni on two separate occasions. Saunders eventually surrendered his armlock to an armlock transitioning from an arm triangle to half guard in the third round.

In the second round, he met Douglas Lima at Bellator 57 and lost via KO.

In Bellator Season Six Welterweight Tournament, Saunders competed. Saunders defeated Raul Amaya in the quarterfinals at Bellator 63 and received unanimous approval.

In the semifinals at Bellator 67, Saunders lost by unanimous decision to Bryan Baker.

Due to Knee Strikes at Bellator 72, Saunders defeated Brian Warren in just 22 seconds of the first round by TKO.

Bellator MMA has announced Saunders as a participant in the Bellator's Season Eight Welterweight Tournament. In the quarterfinals, Saunders defeated Koffi Adzitso by unanimous decision at Bellator 86.

In round one, Saunders defeated Raul Amaya at Bellator 90, winning by KO due to a head kick.

Saunders was supposed to face Douglas Lima in a rematch in the tournament final at Bellator 93. However, Lima's hand was forced to cancel the match, so it was postponed for later this year. At Bellator 100 on September 20, 2013, the Saunders finally met Lima. In the second round, he lost due to a head kick. Saunders was suspended from work following the humiliation of the loss.

Saunders joined Titan Battle Championships in June 2014. Saunders was scheduled to face Matt Riddle of UFC during the vacant TFC Welterweight Championship at Titan FC 29, his first fight with the promotion. Riddle, on the other hand, withdrew from the match and was replaced by MMA veteran Jose Landi-Jons. However, the brawl was called off after Titan FC refused Saunders permission to return to the UFC.

Saunders would return to the UFC on August 7, 2014, according to the magazine. On August 23, 2014, Saunders met promotional newcomer Chris Heatherly at UFC Fight Night 49. He was a success in his return to the sport, winning the first round with the first successful omoplata submission in the UFC. Saunders also received his first Performance of the Night bonus award thanks to his remarkable appearance.

On December 13, 2014, Saunders met Joe Riggs at UFC on Fox 13. Riggs suffered his neck during a takedown and was knocked out, so he won the fight by TKO due to injury.

On March 21, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 62, Saunders was supposed to face Erick Silva. However, he pulled out of the fight in early March due to a traumatic injury.

On July 25, 2015, Saunders took on Kenny Robertson at UFC on Fox 16. He dominated the back-and-forth battle by a split decision.

On January 17, 2016, Saunders met Patrick Côté at UFC Fight Night 81. In the second round, he was disqualified by TKO.

On January 15, 2017, Saunders took on Court McGee at UFC Fight Night 103. He was able to win the fight by unanimous vote.

At UFC Fight Night 109 on May 28, 2017, Saunders defeated Peter Sobotta. In the second round, he was disqualified via TKO.

On February 24, 2018, the Saunders faced Alan Jouban at UFC on Fox 28. He lost the back-and-forth battle via knockout in the second round. The Fight of the Night bonus was given to him after this confrontation.

On June 1, 2018, Saunders defeated Jake Ellenberger at UFC Fight Night 131, resurrecting an injured Bryan Barberena. Due to a knee injury to the liver and punches, Saunders took the fight by TKO. This victory earned him the Award of the Night.

At UFC Fight Night 137, Saunders defeated Sérgio Moraes on September 22, 2018. In round two, he was disqualified due to a submission.

Saunders defeated Lyman Good at UFC 230 on November 3, 2018, bringing an injured Sultan Aliev to his team's match on November 3, 2018. In round one, he was disqualified due to a knockout.

On April 27, 2019, Saunders faced promotional newcomer Takashi Sato at UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson. In the second round, he lost by TKO.

Matt Brown was defeated by Saunders at UFC 245. He lost the fight by falling out in the second round. The contest was the last fight of Saunders' reigning contract, and the UFC decided not to renew it, instead making Saunders a free agent.

On July 30, 2021, Saunders defeated Ramsey Nijem at XMMA 2. He was crowned by unanimous vote in the case.

Saunders has also revealed that he would open a new branch of 10th Planet in Orlando, Florida, where he will act as the head coach.

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