Ricky Glenn (born April 12, 1989) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division of the UFC. A professional since 2006, he is the former World Series of Fighting Featherweight Champion.

Glenn was born in Marshalltown, Iowa. Growing up he had an interest in BMX biking but the interest in fighting outweighed biking since he was young.^[4] He did a year of wrestling at Marshalltown High School^[11] and started training boxing when he was fourteen. When his local boxing gym closed down, he travelled 90 minutes each trip to another gym to get his boxing practice. He later transitioned to MMA training at a friend's basement and switch to his uncle's garage.^[9]

I came from nothing, like a lot of people, There’s a lot of drugs where I come from, a lot of poverty....It took a while, but here I am^[9].........I wanted to live the American Dream.^[1]

When Glenn was seventeen, still a high school student and with one year wrestling, some boxing experience and self-taught MMA skills,^[4] he was asked to fight on a short notice for a local promotion. Still in his work uniform, Glenn left his work at a local Staples shift early in Marshalltown, rushing out to the venue, in time for a few stretches, and stepped in the cage 5 minutes later, winning his first fight.^[12] This win set of his MMA career where he put it “He was a tough guy, but I cut him up really good. I was shocked, I mean, I was fighting for my life in there. I was fighting grown men when I was in high school, and that first win meant everything.”^[7]

After high school, Glenn moved to Cedar Rapids and attended a community college, majoring in physical therapy. He joined an MMA gym under Duke Roufus' guidance where his training partner was Erik Kock and Ben Askren.^[9]

Glenn fought 17 amateur fights in a short period with record of 15–1–1 and he would go on to fight 21 times professionally, losing only 3 bouts, and 97% of his wins have been by way of knockout, submission, or TKO prior signed by UFC.^[13] He moved to Milwaukee and left his employment at Costco to train full-time.^[1][14][4]

Glenn's moniker "The Gladiator" was given to him by his uncle for his killer instinct demeanour inside the boxing ring.^[9]

Glenn and his wife Jenny have a son.^[50]

• World Series of Fighting
  • WSOF Featherweight Championship (One time; former)
• Midwest Cage Fight
  • Midwest Cage Fight Featherweight Champion (One time; former)

^[51]

• List of current UFC fighters
• List of male mixed martial artists