Ryan “The Tank Engine” Thomas busted onto the fighting scene in 2006, and hasn’t looked back since. He was born in Danville, Illinois and has lived in the small town of Indianola, Illinois since he was five years old.

Coming from a small town with a population of only 250 people, Ryan grew up living the life of a typical small town kid, playing outside and competing in sports. Thomas excelled in contacts sports like football and wrestling. He started practicing with the high school wrestling team starting in the sixth grade, and credits a lot of his toughness to this early exposure to a sport that would be the key to his future. Ryan would go on to have 100 career wins while wrestling in high school and it didn’t stop there.

After high school, he wrestled at Waubonsee Community College where he was a team captain for two years, as well as a two-time national qualifier. He then transferred to Eastern Illinois University and continued his wrestling career for another year before the wrestling program was cut.

With a burning desire to continue competing, Ryan started mixed martial arts training with his EIU wrestling coach, Clay French (former KOTC 155lb. Champion), EIU wrestling strength and conditioning coach, Derrick Noble (UFC veteran), and EIU wrestling teammates, Chase Beebe (former WEC 135lb. Champion) and Kevin Knabjian (TUF season 9 contestant). In 2006, Ryan also started training under Chad Steinbaugh, an experienced MMA fighter and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt under Master Caique.  The two have been training together ever since. The transition from wrestling to MMA went well for Thomas, as he started off his career by winning his first ten fights. In June 2010, Ryan decided to take his training to the next level when he moved to Coconut Creek, Florida to train at American Top Team. When Ryan is back home visiting his friends and family, he trains at True Believers MMA in Mattoon, Illinois.

Today, Ryan’s record in MMA is 16-7. He holds the Courage Fighting Championship welterweight title and the Colosseum Combat interim welterweight title. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 2009. In Ryan’s spare time, he enjoys teaching martial arts to children at American Top Team as part of their after school enrichment program. Ryan is currently signed with Bellator Fighting Championships.