Bubba Jenkins


Bubba Jenkins is an American mixed martial artist and former amateur wrestler. He currently competes in the featherweight division of Professional Fighters League. He has also notably competed for Bellator MMA, Absolute Championship Berkut and Brave Combat Federation, where he is a former champion. As an amateur wrestler, he is a freestyle junior World Champion and an NCAA Division I champion.

Wrestling

High School

Jenkins lettered three times at Cox High School before transferring to First Colonial High School as a senior, lettering once again and winning a VHSL championship and an NHSCA National Championship.

College

In 2006, Jenkins committed to the Penn State Nittany Lions.

2006-07

Freshman: Competing at 157 pounds, Jenkins went 23-12 during regular season. Post-season, he placed sixth at the Big Ten Conference with 3 victories and 3 defeats. in which he went 1-2 at the 157-pounds division.

2007-08

Sophomore: Before the season started, Jenkins won a gold medal at the Junior World Championships in freestyle at 66 kilograms. Competed at 149 pounds in college, during the season he downed the accomplished Jordan Burroughs in a close 3-2 ending match. Went 2-2 at the Big Ten's, downing Lance Palmer twice and losing to Brent Metcalf and Josh Churella, placing fifth and going to the NCAA's where he did exceptionally well going 4-1 and becoming the runner-up.

2008-09

Finished the regular season with an undefeated 22-0 record. Went 2-0 prior to the finals at the Big Ten Championship, where he suffered an injury and was forced to forfeit and earn runner-up honors. At the NCAA's, Jenkins was notably affected by the injury and had a tough 0-2 run at thw tournament.

2009-10

Jenkins redshirted this season because of athletic and academic issues.

2010-11

When Cael Sanderson arrived as the new head coach at PSU, Jenkins didn't feel comfortable with the way of teaching of Sanderson and Sanderson felt uncomfortable with the style of Jenkins. This caused him to transfer to Arizona State University. In his first and only year with the Sun Devils, Jenkins captured an NCAA title by pinning previously unbeaten Nittany Lion and future World Champion David Taylor in the finals. Jenkins graduated as an NCAA champion, two-time finalist and two-time All-American.

Mixed martial arts career

Jenkins made his mixed martial arts debut in the Lightweight division on December 2, 2011 at Tachi Palace Fights 11: Redemption. Jenkins defeated Josh Williams by submission TKO in the first round. Jenkins returned for his second fight at Tachi Palace Fights 12: Second Coming on March 9, 2010 He defeated Chris Gomez via rear-naked choke in the first round.
Bubba Jenkins is managed by Daniel A. Martinez of Di-Cypher & Associates.

Resurrection Fighting Alliance

One week before Bubba Jenkins defeated Chris Gomez at Tachi Palace Fights 12 - Second Coming, he signed an exclusive 6-fight deal with Resurrection Fighting Alliance.
On June 30, 2012, Jenkins made his promotional debut for the RFA against highly decorated amateur boxer Jesus Adame at RFA 3 - Stevenson vs. Cochrane. Jenkins quickly slammed Adame to the ground and submitted him via Rear Naked Choke at 1:08 of the first round.

The Ultimate Fighter 17: Coaching staff

On October 31, 2012, it was announced that Jenkins joined Jon Jones' coaching staff on the seventeenth season of the UFC produced reality television show The Ultimate Fighter. The first episode of premiered on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 8 ET/PT on FX Networks.

Bellator MMA

On May 31, 2013, Bellator MMA announced they had signed Jenkins to a long term promotional agreement and he will make his debut in the summer.
Jenkins took on Mike Barreras at. He won the fight via TKO in the second round.
Jenkins returned to the Bellator cage at against LaRue Burley on September 20, 2013. He suffered the first defeat of his professional MMA career as he was stopped by Burley via strikes in the third round.
The following November, Jenkins would defeat Ian Rammel due to strikes in the third round at Bellator 109.
Jenkins then faced Sean Powers at Bellator 114 on March 28, 2014. Jenkins won via unanimous decision.
On July 25, 2014, Jenkins faced Poppies Martinez at Bellator 122. Jenkins defeated Martinez via strikes at 4:10 in the first round.
Jenkins faced Thiago Meller at Bellator 126 on September 26, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
After moving from the Bellator Lightweight division to Featherweight, Jenkins faced former WSOF Featherweight Champion Georgi Karakhanyan on January 16, 2015 at Bellator 132. He lost the fight via technical submission in the first round.
Jenkins faced Joe Wilk on June 26, 2015 at Bellator 139. He won the fight via TKO in the second round.
Jenkins faced Jordan Parsons on November 20, 2015 at Bellator 146. He won the fight via split decision.
Jenkins then faced Georgi Karakhanyan a rematch at Bellator 160 on August 26, 2016 at a catchweight of 150lbs. because Karakhanyan failed to make weight. Jenkins made the weight. He was favored to win the rematch, but Karakhanyan won, this time at 150lbs., via knock out the first minute into the first round.

Absolute Championship Berkut

After signed a contract with the ACB Jenkins faced with Ali Bagov on 11 March, 2017 at ACB 54. He lost the fight by technical submission in the second round.
In the second fight he beat Diego Marlon on 23 September, 2017 at via knockout in the third round.

Brave CF

On July 27, 2018 it was announced that Jenkins had signed a multi-fight contract with Brave Combat Federation. Jenkins made his promotional debut against the reigning featherweight champion Elias Boudegzdame at Brave CF 16 on September 21, 2018. Jenkins won the fight via unanimous decision and became the champion.
On July 25, 2019, Jenkins successfully defended his featherweight title by first round TKO against Lucas Martins at Brave CF 24.

Professional Fighters League

In March 2020, Jenkins signed with Professional Fighters League.

Championships and accomplishments

[Collegiate wrestling]

NCAA record

! colspan="8"| NCAA Championships Matches
! Res.
! Record
! Opponent
! Score
! Date
! Event
! style=background:white colspan=6 |2011 NCAA Championships at 157 lbs
! style=background:white colspan=6 |2009 NCAA Championships at 149 lbs
! style=background:white colspan=6 |2008 NCAA Championships at 149 lbs
! style=background:white colspan=6 |2007 NCAA Championships at 157 lbs