Raphael Butler


Raphael Butler is an American retired Heavyweight boxer and mixed martial artist who competed in Bellator MMA.

Boxing career

Amateur career

Butler had a stellar amateur career, winning the 2004 National Golden Gloves Super Heavyweight Championship. Butler represented the 4th Street Gym in his hometown of Rochester, Minnesota.

Professional career

Butler turned professional in 2004. He was seen as a future star in the sport early on, but suffered two TKO losses against journeyman fighters in 2005. In 2006 he took on ESPN house fighter Jason Gavern, and lost a decision. After the loss, Butler ran off a string of victories against marginal opposition before taking on Art Binkowski in a nationally televised showcase bout on ShoBox. Despite dropping Binkowski three times in the first round, Butler tired as the fight went on, and the referee stopped the fight with just 30 seconds left before the final bell, awarding Binkowski a TKO. After six more wins against lesser competition, Butler was knocked out in 6 rounds by contender "Fast" Eddie Chambers on June 20 in the Cayman Islands.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Butler made his professional MMA debut in 2010 and compiled an undefeated record of 5–0 before being signed by Bellator MMA.

Bellator MMA

Butler made his promotional debut on June 19, 2013, at Bellator 96 against Jeremiah O'Neal and won via first-round knockout.
Butler then won his next two fights under the Bellator banner before fighting Nick Rossborough to a draw at Bellator 119 on May 9, 2014.
Butler then faced Javy Ayala at Bellator 125 on September 19, 2014. Butler was handed his first professional loss via rear-naked choke submission in the first round.
Butler next fought Josh Diekmann at Bellator 134 on February 27, 2015. Butler won via a first-round standing guillotine choke submission.

Mixed martial arts record

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
49Loss35–12 Chris ArreolaTKO3, 0:55Nov 5, 2011 Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico
48Loss35–11 Tye FieldsTKO6, 2:37Oct 7, 2011Shaw Conference Centre, Edmonton, Alberta.png" />
47Loss35–10 David PriceTKO1, 1:47April 27, 2011 Olympia London
46Loss35–9 Neven PajkicUD10Sep 4, 2010 Royal York Hotel, Toronto
4535–8 Joey AbellNC1, 3:00Dec 4, 2009 Target Center, Minneapolis, MinnesotaFor Vacant USA Minnesota State Heavyweight Title
44Win35–8 Marcus RhodeTKO2, 1:30Sep 12, 2009 Mickey's Irish Saloon, Rochester, Minnesota
43Loss34–8 Malik ScottUD8Dec 13, 2008 Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California
42Loss34–7 Homero FonsecaMD6Nov 20, 2008 Crown Plaza Hotel, Houston, Texas
41Win34–6 Marvin HuntKO1, 1:35Nov 1, 2008 West Junior High School, West Memphis, Arkansas
40Win33–6 Travis FultonTKO2, 2:04Oct 4, 2008 Graham Arena, Rochester, Minnesota
39Win32–6 Lyle McDowellTKO1, 0:52Sep 20, 2008 Treasure Island Casino, Red Wing, Minnesota
38Loss31–6 Homero FonsecaSD4Sep 4, 2008 Crown Plaza Hotel, Houston, Texas
37Loss31–5 Eddie ChambersTKO6 June 20, 2008 Royal Watler Cruise Terminal, Georgetown, Cayman IslandsFor USBA Heavyweight Title
36Win31–4 Otis TisdaleTKO4, 1:48April 26, 2008 Graham Arena, Rochester, Minnesota
35Win30–4 Kerry BilesKO1, 0:45Mar 8, 2008 Renaissance Hotel, St Louis, Missouri
34Win29–4 Sam CommingUD418/10/2007 Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, United States39–37, 40–36, 39–37.
33Win28–4 Sedreck FieldsUD420/09/2007 Houston, Texas, United States
32Win27–4 Clarence GoinsKO124/08/2007 Hinckley, Minnesota, United StatesGoins knocked out at 0:39 of the first round.
31Win26–4 Travis FultonTKO229/06/2007 Comstock Park, Michigan, United StatesReferee stopped the fight at 1:25 of the second round.
30Loss25–4 Art BinkowskiTKO8, 2:23April 6, 2007 Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
29Win25–3 Brad BowersTKO124/02/2007 Superior, Wisconsin, United StatesReferee stopped the fight at 0:29 of the second round.
28Win24–3 Louis MonacoDQ612/01/2007 Minneapolis, Minnesota, United Statesalign=left
27Win23–3 Cornelius EllisTKO201/12/2006 Rochester, Minnesota, United StatesReferee stopped the fight at 1:35 of the second round.
26Win22–3 Matt GreenKO304/11/2006 Kinder, Louisiana, United StatesGreen knocked out at 1:35 of the third round.
25Win21–3 Dan WardKO123/09/2006 Fort Smith, Arkansas, United StatesWard knocked out at 1:30 of the first round.
24Win20–3 Eric StarrTKO114/09/2006 Altoona, Iowa, United StatesReferee stopped the fight at 2:04 of the first round.
23Win19–3 Troy BeetsTKO320/07/2006 Lemoore, California, United StatesReferee stopped the fight at 2:19 of the third round.
22Win18–3 Wallace McDanielTKO111/07/2006 Memphis, Tennessee, United StatesReferee stopped the fight at 1:28 of the first round.
21Loss17–3 Jason GavernUD614/04/2006 Rancho Mirage, California, United States55–59, 54–60, 54–60.
20Win17–2 Forrest NealKO117/03/2006 Denver, Colorado, United StatesNeal knocked out at 0:52 of the first round.
19Win16–2 Ronnie SmithKO211/02/2006 Pueblo, Colorado, United StatesSmith knocked out at 1:16 of the second round.
18Loss15–2 John ClarkTKO217/11/2005 San Jose, California, United StatesReferee stopped the fight at 1:41 of the second round after Butler had been down thrice in the fight.
17Win15–1 Andrew JacksonKO121/10/2005 Temecula, California, United Statesalign=left
16Win14–1 Innocent OtukwuTKO316/09/2005 Lemoore, California, United StatesReferee stopped the bout at 0:39 of the third round.
15Win13–1 John DixonTKO127/08/2005 Thief River Falls, Minnesota, United StatesReferee stopped the bout at the end of the first round.
14Win12–1 Kerry BilesUD517/07/2005 Denver, Colorado, United States50–44, 50–44, 50–44.
13Win11–1 Kerry BilesUD409/06/2005 Temecula, California, United States39–36, 39–36, 39–36.
12Loss10–1 Darrell ProvoTKO115/04/2005 Denver, Colorado, United StatesReferee stopped the fight at 1:10 of the first round.
11Win10–0 Brian SargentKO129/01/2005 Black Hawk, Colorado, United StatesSargent knocked out at 0:37 of the first round.
10Win9–0 Marcelo AravenaUD418/12/2004 Fridley, Minnesota, United States40–35, 40–35, 40–35.
9Win8–0 Marcelo AravenaTD419/11/2004 Mandan, North Dakota, United StatesFight went to scorecards due to an accidental headbut.
8Win7–0 David CleageTKO112/11/2004 St Paul, Minnesota, United StatesReferee stopped the bout at 0:35 of the first round.
7Win6–0 Glen MorganKO129/10/2004 Rochester, Minnesota, United StatesMorgan knocked out at 2:40 of the first round.
6Win5–0 Ross BrantleyKO110/10/2004 Black Hawk, Colorado, United StatesBrantley knocked out at 0:30 of the first round.
5Win4–0 Harold JohnsonTKO102/10/2004 Hinckley, Minnesota, United StatesReferee stopped the bout at 0:57 of the first round.
4Win3–0 Arthur BoylesKO111/09/2004 Fridley, Minnesota, United StatesBoyles knocked out at 0:36 of the first round.
32–0 Eric LindseyND1, 1:44Aug 19, 2004 Park Plaza Hotel, Houston, Texas
2Win2–0 Victor OrtizTKO1, 1:51July 18, 2004 Pechanga Entertainment Center, Temecula, California
1Win1–0 Royphy SolieauTKO3, 1:02June 19, 2004 City Center Pavilion, Reno, Nevada