After making a name for himself as one of the best and brightest prospects on the Illinois circuit, Rory Markham burst onto the national MMA scene in 2006 when he joined the now-defunct IFL promotion. During his time with the IFL, Markham knocked out UFC veterans Mike Pyle and Brad Blackburn, and after the promotion ceased operations in 2007, he was invited to join the UFC. In his UFC debut, Markham earned Knockout of the Night honors when he finished Brodie Farber with a head kick, but he was cut from the promotion in 2010 following back-to-back losses to Dan Hardy and Nate Diaz. Markham has never been to a judges’ decision.

Outside of professional MMA competition, Markham recently took an interest in acting, and earned a small role in the film entitled “The Death and Life of Bobby Z,” which stars Paul Walker and Laurence Fishburne.