Keith Berry (born October 25, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in Bellator's Middleweight division. A professional fighter since 2005, Berry has formerly fought for the WEC, Strikeforce, King of the Cage and Elite XC ShoXC. Berry is the former 2x King of the Cage Middleweight Champion.
Background Berry is from Murrieta, California, and attended Murrieta Valley High School where he competed in wrestling. Despite having a quiet personality, Berry got into wrestling in high school and was introduced to boxing. In 2019 Berry entered the crypto scene and it currently one of the biggest NFT Influencers
Mixed martial arts career Early career: World Extreme Cagefighting and King of the Cage Berry started his career in 2005 for the California-based promotions King of the Cage and World Extreme Cagefighting. On his two bouts for WEC, he won against Donny Rider and lost against Terry Martin. For KOTC, he won five bouts and the middleweight title, remaining undefeated in the organization until his light heavyweight title fight against Tony Lopez, in which he lost via TKO in the third round due to his coach throwing in the towel against his request.King of the Cage: fight results from King of the Cage - Immortal Kingofthecage.com (February 26, 2009)
Gladiator Challenge Between 2009 and 2010, Berry fought four times for Gladiator Challenge, obtaining four consecutive victories and holding two of the fastest KO in MMA history (5 and 6 seconds). Despite having lost against Brett Cooper at Pechanga Casino’s very first MMA event Lords of Chaos, in 2011 Berry signed with Strikeforce.Strikeforce Challengers 16 takes shape with solid four-bout preliminary card by Dann Stupp (MMAjunkie.com) on May 26, 2011
Strikeforce Berry made his debut on June 24, 2011, on Strikeforce Challengers: Fodor vs. Terry against Trevor Smith. He lost via technical submission in the second round.Strikeforce Challengers 16 results: Fodor edges Terry, Ricehouse plays spoiler by Dann Stupp (MMAjunkie.com) on June 25, 2011
Berry faced Gian Villante on August 12, 2011, at Strikeforce Challengers: Gurgel vs. Duarte. He lost via unanimous decision.Strikeforce Challengers 18 results: Duarte decisions Gurgel, Rousey nets verbal tap by John Morgan and Karime Gaytan-Morgan (MMAjunkie.com) on August 13, 2011
Berry was expected to face Andreas Spång on November 18, 2012, at Strikeforce Challengers: Britt vs. Sayers. However, for undisclosed reasons he was forced out of the bout and was replaced by Willie Parks.Parks replaces Berry, meets Spang at Friday's Strikeforce Challengers 20 event MMAjunkie.com (November 17, 2011)
Berry faced Adlan Amagov on April 14, 2012, at Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman. He lost via TKO in the first round. The ruling was controversial as Amagov seemed to throw a linear kick to the knee of Berry an illegal strike under the Unified Rules of MMA. The kick caused Berry to fall down. Berry then began verbally protesting to the referee Herb Dean, who interpreted this as Berry requesting to stop the fight. Many fighters, including 2 time PRIDE FC Champion Dan Henderson posted on social media saying this was Herb Deans “worst stoppage ever”.Strikeforce: Rousey Vs Kaufman results – fan reaction by David King (Yahoo.com) on August 19, 2012
After two victories on Xplode Fight Series, Berry signed with Bellator.Keith Berry claims Bellator offered him a contract by Joseph Lisnow (Fightline.com) on February 6, 2013
Bellator Berry made his debut on March 7, 2013, at Bellator 92 against Richard Rigmaden. He won via submission in the first round.Bellator 92 results: Khasbulaev vs. Richman, Marshall vs. Cooper set for finals MMAjunkie.com (March 8, 2013)
Berry faced Cortez Coleman on June 19, 2013, at Bellator 96. He won via split decision (28-29, 29–28, 29-28).Bellator 96 results: play-by-play & updates Sherdog.com (June 19, 2013)
Berry faced Jeremy Kimball on July 31, 2013, at Bellator 97. He was knocked out in the 2nd round of the bout.
Berry faced Eugene Fadiora on October 25, 2013, at Bellator 105. He lost via TKO in the second round.
Berry then faced Dave Vitkay on April 11, 2014, at Bellator 116. Berry lost the bout via unanimous decision.
Berry was released from the promotion on June 25, 2014.
Despite being released in June 2014, Berry returned to face Joe Pacheco on October 3, 2014, at Bellator 127. He initially won the fight by split decision. However, Berry failed his post-fight drug test (Marijuana metabolites) and the California commission changed the result to a No Contest.
Championships and accomplishments Mixed martial arts King of the Cage KOTC Middleweight Championship (One time)Interview: Keith "KO Kid" Berry talks KOTC title-winning bout MMA Fighting (August 10, 2007) One successful title defense Xplode Fight Series XFS Middleweight Championship (One time)Xplode Fight Series - Anarchy official results Mixedmartialarts.com
Mixed martial arts record
| Win | align=center| | Jayce Bowman | TKO (punches) | Gladiator Challenge: Holiday Beatings | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 0:50 | San Jacinto, California, United States
| Win | align=center| 16–15–1 (1) | Justin Baesman | TKO (punches) | Gladiator Challenge: Berry vs. Baesman | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:31 | San Jacinto, California, United States
| Loss | align=center| 15–15–1 (1) | Joe Schilling | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 219 | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Temecula, California, United States
| Loss | align=center| 15–14–1 (1) | Joseph Henle | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Golden Boy MMA: Liddell vs. Ortiz 3 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:12 | Inglewood, California, United States
| Draw | align=center| 15–13–1 (1) | Kevin Casey | Draw (majority) | Bellator 170 | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Inglewood, California, United States
| NC | align=center| 15–13 (1) | Joe Pacheco | No Contest | Bellator 127 | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Temecula, California, United States | Originally a split decision win for Berry; overturned after failing a drug test. |- | Loss | align=center| 15–13 | Dave Vitkay | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 116 | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Temecula, California, United States
| Loss | align=center| 15–12 | Eugene Fadiora | TKO (punches) | Bellator 105 | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 4:19 | Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States
| Loss | align=center| 15–11 | Jeremy Kimball | KO (punches) | Bellator 97 | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 1:45 | Rio Rancho, New Mexico | Catchweight (190 lbs) bout.Jeremy Kimball vs. Keith Berry Tapology.com |- | Win | align=center| 15–10 | Cortez Coleman | Decision (split) | Bellator 96 | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Thackerville, Oklahoma | Catchweight (186.4 lbs) bout; Berry missed weight.Bellator 96 weigh-in results: two fighters miss marks in Oklahoma (updated) MMAjunkie.com (June 18, 2013) |- | Win | align=center| 14–10 | Richard Rigmaden | Submission (kimura) | Bellator 92 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:31 | Temecula, California
| Win | align=center| 13–10 | Edward Darby | TKO (punches) | Xplode Fight Series: Vengeance | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:02 | Valley Center, California
| Win | align=center| 12–10 | Josh Gibson | TKO (punches) | Xplode Fight Series: Anarchy | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:05 | Valley Center, California | Won the XFS Middleweight Championship. |- | Loss | align=center| 11–10 | Adlan Amagov | TKO (leg kick and punches) | Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:48 | San Diego, California
| Loss | align=center| 11–9 | Tyson Jeffries | Submission (rear-naked choke) | FCOC: Fight Club OC | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 4:10 | Costa Mesa, California
| Win | align=center| 11–8 | Kenny Aires | DQ | Gladiator Challenge: Season's Beatings 3 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| N/A | San Jacinto, California
| Loss | align=center| 10–8 | Gian Villante | Decision (unanimous) | Strikeforce Challengers: Gurgel vs. Duarte | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |Light Heavyweight bout. |- | Loss | align=center| 10–7 | Trevor Smith | Technical submission (north-south choke) | Strikeforce Challengers: Fodor vs. Terry | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 3:02 | Kent, Washington, United States |Light Heavyweight bout. |- | Loss | align=center| 10–6 | Brett Cooper | KO (punches) | LOTC: Lords of the Cage | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:10 | Temecula, California, United States
| Win | align=center| 10–5 | Brendan Ellison | TKO (punches) | Gladiator Challenge: Fahrenheit | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:46 | San Jacinto, California
| Win | align=center| 9–5 | Sam Salas | KO (punch) | Gladiator Challenge: Bad Behavior | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:06 | San Jacinto, California
| Win | align=center| 8–5 | Brian Campbell | TKO (submission to punches) | Gladiator Challenge: Vision Quest | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:14 | San Jacinto, California, United States
| Win | align=center| 7–5 | Jeff Avants | TKO (punches) | Gladiator Challenge: Never Quit | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:25 | San Jacinto, California, United States
| Loss | align=center| 6–5 | Doug Marshall | KO (punches) | PureCombat 10: Fearless | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 4:41 | Tulare, California
| Loss | align=center| 6–4 | Tony Lopez | TKO (punches) | KOTC: Immortal | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 4:29 | San Jacinto, California, United States | For the KOTC Light Heavyweight Championship. |- | Loss | align=center| 6–3 | Ray Lizama | TKO (punches to the body) | ShoXC: Hamman vs. Suganuma 2 | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 2:15 | Friant, California, United States
| Win | align=center| 6–2 | Umar Luv | TKO (submission to strikes) | KOTC: Final Chapter | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 4:50 | San Jacinto, California, United States | Defended the KOTC Middleweight Championship. |- | Win | align=center| 5–2 | Sean Loeffler | Submission (triangle choke) | KOTC: Collision Course | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:05 | San Jacinto, California, United States | Return to Middleweight. Won the vacant KOTC Middleweight Championship. |- | Win | align=center| 4–2 | Adrian Perez | KO (knee) | KOTC: Sinister | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:12 | San Jacinto, California, United States
| Loss | align=center| 3–2 | Kawika Morton | Decision (split) | CCFC: Judgment Day | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Santa Rosa, California, United States
| Loss | align=center| 3–1 | Terry Martin | TKO (punches) | WEC 24: Full Force | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:52 | Lemoore, California, United States
| Win | align=center| 3–0 | Aiki Cavanaugh | KO (punch) | KOTC: Mangler | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:06 | San Jacinto, California, United States |Light Heavyweight debut. |- | Win | align=center| 2–0 | Donny Rider | TKO (punches) | WEC 20: Cinco de Mayhem | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:36 | Lemoore, California, United States
| Win | align=center| 1–0 | Johnny Vasquez | TKO (punches) | KOTC 63: Final Conflict | | align=center| 1 | align=center| N/A | San Jacinto, California, United States
References