Joe Vedepo

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Joe VeDepo
BornJody David VeDepo
(1983-01-01) January 1, 1983 (age 41)
Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Other namesThe Doctor
ResidenceIowa City, Iowa, United States
NationalityAmerican
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st)
DivisionHeavyweight
Light Heavyweight
Middleweight
Reach74.0 in (188 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofIowa City, Iowa, United States
TeamTeam HardDrive MMA
Alliance MMA
Team Lloyd Irvin
American Top Team
Years active2005-2014, 2016-2017, 2019
Mixed martial arts record
Total30
Wins20
By knockout7
By submission10
By decision2
Unknown1
Losses10
By knockout5
By submission3
By decision2
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Jody David VeDepo is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Middleweight division. A professional competitor since 2005, he has formerly competed for the UFC and Bellator.

Background[edit]

Born and raised in the small town of Columbus Junction, just outside of Iowa City, Iowa, Vedepo was a standout wrestler at Iowa City High School, winning 105 overall matches during four seasons. After high school, Vedepo began training in mixed martial arts (MMA).

Mixed martial arts career[edit]

Early career[edit]

Vedepo made his professional MMA debut in November 2005. He went undefeated at 6–0 in the first two and a half years of his career.

Ultimate Fighting Championship[edit]

Vedepo was invited to compete on The Ultimate Fighter 7 but declined for unknown reasons.[1]

Vedepo made his debut for the UFC on September 17, 2008 against Alessio Sakara at UFC Fight Night 15. He lost the fight via KO in the first round.

For his second fight, Vedepo faced Rob Kimmons at UFC Fight Night 18 on April 1, 2009. He lost the fight via submission in the first round.

Vedepo was expected to face Gerald Harris on August 28, 2010 at UFC 118, replacing an injured Alessio Sakara.[2] On August 18, it was announced that the Vedepo/Harris bout had been scrapped from the card.[3]

Independent promotions[edit]

Following his release from the UFC, Vedepo fought at ZT Fight Night: Heavyweights Collide, where he fought two weight classes higher at Heavyweight and on only a few days notice. He faced Oli Thompson, winning via TKO (punches) in the second round. He was expected to fight Rob Broughton to crown the tournament winner but Vedepo broke his hand in his semifinals bout against Thompson, which forced him out of the finals.

Bellator MMA[edit]

Vedepo is notable for inventing the modified shin choke, also known as the Vedepo Choke, he used this submission to win his debut bout in Bellator, at the event Bellator 80. In his next appearance, Vedepo squared off against fellow veteran Louis Taylor at Bellator 84. Vedepo was knocked out with a short right hook while he had Taylor in half guard.

Vedepo then fought longtime veteran Eddie Larea on August 10, 2013, headlining for a regional promotion in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In an upset, Vedepo was defeated via first-round TKO.

Vedeop then faced fellow UFC veteran Kendall Grove on October 18, 2013 at Bellator 104. In a hard-fought bout, Vedepo lost via unanimous decision.

Vedepo faced Ben Crowder at Bellator 117 on April 18, 2014. He defeated Crowder via a verbal submission, as Crowder sustained a leg injury.[4]

Vedepo then faced Cortez Coleman at Bellator 121 on June 6, 2014 and won via decision in a closely contested battle.[5]

Vedepo faced Davin Clark at Bellator 129 on October 17, 2014.[6] He won via TKO in the third round.

Vedepo will make a quick return to the Bellator cage as he steps in as a replacement for an injured Tom DeBlass against Muhammed Lawal on November 15, 2014 at Bellator 131. He lost the fight via TKO in the third round.

On December 4, 2014 Bellator MMA announced they released Vedepo from the promotion after he allegedly assaulted a police officer in Iowa. The incident came less than two weeks after his loss at Bellator 131, involving a reportedly-intoxicated Vedepo head butting a police officer in the chest and being tasered ineffectively,[7] as it reportedly took several officers to subdue him. The officer Vedepo head butted was hospitalized with a back injury.

Independent promotions[edit]

Vedepo made his return on June 11, 2016, in a rematch with Eddie Larrea. Vedepo avenged his prior loss, winning via rear-naked choke submission in the first round. Vedepo most recently fought on December 29, 2017, losing via technical submission in the first round.

Personal life[edit]

Vedepo has daughters and twin sons.

Mixed martial arts record[edit]

Professional record breakdown
30 matches 20 wins 10 losses
By knockout 7 5
By submission 10 3
By decision 2 2
Unknown 1 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 20–10 Virgil Knight Submission (rear-naked choke) Elite Fight League 7 October 18, 2019 2 0:48 Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States Middleweight bout.
Win 19–10 Darrius Flowers Submission (keylock) Elite Fight League 6 July 13, 2019 1 3:55 Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States Catchweight (195 lb) bout.
Loss 18–10 Daniel Vizcaya Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) RCC 14: Revolution Combat Championships 14 December 29, 2017 1 3:49 Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States For the RCC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Win 18–9 Eddie Larrea Submission (rear-naked choke) RCC: Revolution Cage Combat June 11, 2016 1 3:33 Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Loss 17–9 Muhammed Lawal TKO (punches) Bellator 131 November 15, 2014 3 0:39 San Diego, California, United States Light Heavyweight bout.
Win 17–8 Davin Clark TKO (punches) Bellator 129 October 17, 2014 3 2:27 Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States
Win 16–8 Cortez Coleman Decision (majority) Bellator 121 June 6, 2014 3 5:00 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Win 15–8 Ben Crowder Technical Submission (leg injury) Bellator 117 April 18, 2014 1 0:48 Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States
Loss 14–8 Kendall Grove Decision (unanimous) Bellator 104 October 18, 2013 3 5:00 Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States
Loss 14–7 Eddie Larrea TKO (punches) Triple A MMA 2 August 10, 2013 1 0:45 Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States
Loss 14–6 Louis Taylor KO (punches) Bellator 84 December 14, 2012 1 4:12 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 14–5 Mike Bernhard Submission (shin choke) Bellator 80 November 9, 2012 1 3:26 Hollywood, Florida, United States
Loss 13–5 Jason Buck Submission (rear-naked choke) Pinnacle Combat MMA 10 April 27, 2012 1 0:43 Dubuque, Iowa, United States For the vacant Pinnacle Combat Middleweight Championship.
Win 13–4 Kenneth Allen Submission (rear-naked choke) Extreme Challenge 202 January 28, 2012 1 2:17 Bettendorf, Iowa, United States
Loss 12–4 Dmitry Samoilov Decision (unanimous) League S-70: Russia vs. Brazil August 5, 2011 2 5:00 Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia
Win 12–3 Dennis Reed Submission (armbar) Revolution Combat Championships 11: Cocked and Loaded June 19, 2010 1 1:31 Columbus Junction, Iowa, United States
Win 11–3 Oli Thompson TKO (punches) ZT Fight Night: Heavyweights Collide January 30, 2010 2 1:24 Hove, East Sussex, England ZT Fight Night Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win 10–3 Miguel Bernard Submission (armbar) ZT Fight Night: Heavyweights Collide January 30, 2010 1 0:33 Hove, East Sussex, England ZT Fight Night Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Win 9–3 Webster Farris KO (punch) Adrenaline MMA IV September 18, 2009 1 0:14 Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States
Loss 8–3 Rob Kimmons Technical submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night 18 April 1, 2009 1 1:54 Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Loss 8–2 Alessio Sakara KO (head kick) UFC Fight Night 15 September 17, 2008 1 1:27 Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Win 8–1 Brian Green Submission (verbal) MCC 14: Pride or Fate June 14, 2008 3 4:25 Urbandale, Iowa, United States
Win 7–1 Karl Kelly Submission (keylock) Pinnacle Combat: MMA April 26, 2008 1 1:44 Dubuque, Iowa, United States
Loss 6–1 Mario Miranda TKO (punches) Carnage at the Creek 2 April 5, 2008 3 2:38 Shelton, Washington, United States
Win 6–0 Rob Smith TKO (knees) XFO 22: Xtreme Fighting Organization February 23, 2008 2 1:17 Crystal Lake, Illinois, United States
Win 5–0 Chris Powers Submission (kimura) Mainstream MMA: Vengeance October 20, 2007 1 2:55 Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States
Win 4–0 Todd Carney TKO (strikes) Extreme Challenge 83 September 1, 2007 1 4:34 Riverside, Iowa, United States
Win 3–0 Jeremy Norwood KO (punch) Rwevolution Combat Championships Vol. 1: The Doctor is Out August 17, 2007 1 1:35 West Liberty, Iowa, United States
Win 2–0 Joe Winterfeldt N/A Title Fighting Championships 1 April 21, 2006 1 N/A Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Win 1–0 Jesse Lennox Decision (unanimous) Mainstream MMA 1: Inception November 18, 2005 3 5:00 Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Bellator 84 Recap: Volkov Is New Heavyweight Champion, Lightweight Tournament Postponed. cagepotato.com. December 15, 2012
  2. ^ "Joe Vedepo replaces Alessio Sakara, faces Gerald Harris at UFC 118". mmajunkie.com. August 5, 2010. Archived from the original on August 17, 2010.
  3. ^ "UFC 118 fight card complete with 10 bous; Harris vs. Vedepo off preliminary card". mmajunkie.com. August 18, 2010. Archived from the original on August 20, 2010.
  4. ^ "Joe Vedepo vs. Ben Crowder". tapology.com. April 18, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  5. ^ "Joe Vedepo vs. Cortez Coleman". tapology.com. June 6, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  6. ^ MMAjunkie Staff (September 25, 2014). "Bellator 129 lineup set with eight prelims, including women's bout, in Iowa". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  7. ^ "Bellator fighter Joe Vedepo allegedly head-butts, hospitalizes police officer". December 2014.

External links[edit]

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