Brennan Ward

Brennan Ward (born June 28, 1988) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in Bellator's Welterweight division. Ward was the Bellator Season Nine Middleweight Tournament Winner.

Ward was born in New London, Connecticut and raised in Waterford, Connecticut. Ward's father, Kent, owns a boxing gym, Whaling City Boxing, where Ward began training from a young age. He competed in wrestling at Waterford High School, graduating in 2006, before continuing his career at Colby Community College. Ward later transferred to Johnson & Wales University, which has a Division III program. At Johnson & Wales, Ward demonstrated his talents, earning All-American honors and was also the runner-up in the nation for his weight class, after winning the New England title.

Early career

Ward started his professional career in 2008, but only became active in 2012. He fought mainly for Rhode Island's promotion Classic Entertainment and Sports (CES MMA).

With a record of 5 and 1, Ward signed with Bellator.

Bellator MMA

Ward was expected to make his debut against Valter Roberto on November 16, 2012 at Bellator 81. However, Roberto was replaced by Sam McCoy due to undisclosed reasons. Ward won via KO in the very first round.

Ward faced Aaron Johnson on February 14, 2013 at Bellator 89. He had his first career's defeat via submission at 15 seconds of round one.

Ward was expected to face Vadiano La Luz on February 28, 2013 at Bellator 91. However, La Luz was replaced by Yair Moguel due to undisclosed reasons. Ward won via submission due to a rear-naked choke in the first round.

Ward was expected to face Dave Vitkay on September 7, 2013 at Bellator 98. However, he was called to replace Andreas Spång against Justin Torrey in the quarterfinal match of Bellator Season Nine Middleweight Tournament at the same event. Ward won via TKO in the second round and advanced to the semifinal.

Ward was expected to face Perry Filkins in the semifinal on October 4, 2013 at Bellator 102. Filkins, however, was injured and replaced by Joe Pacheco. Ward won the fight via submission in the second round.

Ward faced Mikkel Parlo in the finals on November 8, 2013 at Bellator 107. He won the fight via TKO due to punches in the second round.

Ward faced Bellator Middleweight Champion Alexander Shlemenko at Bellator 114 on March 28, 2014. Despite doing well in the first round, Ward lost the bout due to a submission early in the second round.

Ward was expected to face James Irvin at Bellator 123 on September 5, 2014, however, the bout was cancelled for unknown reasons. Ward instead faced Tamdan McCrory on the same card. Ward lost the bout via knockout in the first round.

Ward was expected to make his Welterweight debut against Jesse Juarez on February 27, 2015 at Bellator 134. However, Ward has been moved up to the main card to face Curtis Millender after Millender's opponent, Michael Page, pulled out of the fight due to a cut over his left eye. Ward defeated Millender via submission in the first round.

Ward was expected to face English fighter Gavin Sterritt at Bellator 140 on July 17, 2015. However, a week before the fight, his opponent was changed to Roger Carroll. Ward won the fight via knockout in the first round.

Ward next faced Dennis Olson at Bellator 144 on October 23, 2015. He won the fight via KO in the first round.

Ward made his international MMA debut on December 31, 2015 as a Bellator MMA representative at Rizin Fighting Federation 2. He faced Ken Hasegawa in a 179-pound catchweight bout and won the fight via submission in the second round.

On March 1, 2016, it was announced that Ward would face Strikeforce vet Evangelista Santos on April 22, 2016 at Bellator 153. He lost the fight via heel hook submission in the first round.

Ward next faced Saad Awad at Bellator 163 on November 4, 2016. He won the fight via knockout in the first round.

On October 24, 2016 at approximately 7:00pm, Ward rescued a baby trapped in a stroller abandoned along a busy New London road. The baby was subsequently taken to a nearby fire department – and later hospital – where she was determined to be without injury.

On July 4, 2016 at approximately 12:10pm, Ward was arrested by the Waterford Police Department on the charges of breach of peace, interfering with a police officer, threatening a public safety officer, and assault on a public safety officer. According to the police report, an inebriated Ward got into an altercation with his female companion (who was also arrested for breach of peace) and subsequently resisted arrest by physically and verbally assaulting the officers present. Officers were also unable to process Ward at the time of his arrest due to his continued belligerence as he repeatedly banged his head on the Plexiglas divider of the squad car and “continued extreme aggression” in his jail cell. Ward proceeded to call three of the four policemen by their first names as well as threatened them and their families. Police also noted that Ward urinated all over the floor and door of his jail cell. He was released on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on August 16, 2016.

Ward also has a pending case from a January 3, 2014 incident, where he is charged with disobeying the signal of a police officer, reckless driving, and interfering with a police officer.

Amateur wrestling

• National Collegiate Athletic Association
  • NCAA Division III All-American out of Johnson & Wales University (2010)
  • NCAA Division III 184 lb: Runner-up out of Johnson & Wales University (2010)
• New England Wrestling Association
  • NEWA Championship 184 lb: Champion out of Johnson & Wales University (2011)
• Ithaca College Athletics
  • Ithaca College Invitational 184 lb: Champion out of Johnson & Wales University (2009)
  • Ithaca College Invitational 197 lb: 3rd place out of Johnson & Wales University (2010)

Mixed martial arts

• Bellator MMA
  • Bellator Season Nine Middleweight Tournament Winner

• "JWU's Brennan Ward takes second at NCAA division III championship". Providence.JWUathletics.com. March 6, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2013. 
• "JWU wrestling takes third at Ithaca Bombers Invitational". Providence.JWUathletics.com. November 8, 2009. Retrieved September 23, 2013. 
• "2010 Ithaca invitational results" (PDF). Centenarycollege.edu. Retrieved September 23, 2013.