J.P. Reese

James Patrick Reese (born December 21, 1980) is an American mixed martial artist. He bases his training at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida.

Amateur wrestling career
J.P. Reese began wrestling at Rochester Adams High School in Rochester Hills, Michigan. He was a two-time state place winner (sixth place – 1998 and third place – 1999) along with helping his team to a state championship in 1998 and a runner-up finish in 1999. He finished his senior year with a 57–1 record.

Reese went on to wrestle for the University of Missouri and started all four years. He became a two-time NCAA Wrestling Championships qualifier (2002 and 2003). He obtained All-American honors at the University Nationals in Freestyle Wrestling in 2002. J.P. stands second all-time in career pins for the Mizzou Wrestling team (47) behind Ben Askren. He graduated from Missouri with a B.A. in Business Management in 2004.

J.P. was a 2006 beach wrestling National Champion and a 2007 Beach Wrestling World team member, competing at the World Beach Wrestling Championships in Antalya, Turkey.

Early career
Reese made his MMA debut June 19, 2010 in Miami, Florida. He won the fight by TKO in the second round.

He subsequently fought twice for Bellator Fighting Championships in Florida. He has quickly amassed a record of 5 wins and 1 loss in the first 15 months of his MMA career.

Strikeforce
Reese made his Strikeforce debut on November 18, 2011, at Strikeforce Challengers: Britt vs. Sayers as a late replacement for Isaac Vallie-Flagg against Bobby Green. He lost the fight via submission in the third round.