John Makdessi
John Makdessi | |
---|---|
Born | Halifax, Nova Scotia | May 3, 1985
Other names | The Bull |
Residence | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
Nationality | Canadian |
Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1] |
Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st) |
Division | Lightweight |
Reach | 68.0 in (173 cm)[1] |
Fighting out of | Laval, Quebec, Canada |
Team | Tristar Gym Team Bull |
Rank | Black belt in Shotokan Karate[2] Black belt in Tae Kwon Do[citation needed] |
Years active | 2008–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 18 |
Wins | 13 |
By knockout | 9 |
By decision | 4 |
Losses | 5 |
By knockout | 1 |
By submission | 1 |
By decision | 3 |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
John Makdessi (born May 3, 1985) is a Canadian professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Background
Makdessi was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on May 3, 1985 and is a first-generation Lebanese-Canadian born to Lebanese parents.[3] His martial arts training started with Tae Kwon Do at the age of six.[2] When Makdessi started high school, his dojo closed, and he could no longer continue. Towards the end of high school at the age of 17, he found a karate dojo where he learned Shotokan. Makdessi spent a lot of his time competing in kickboxing tournaments, and in 2006 won a gold medal in the USKBA. After going 22-0 in kickboxing,[2] Makdessi began training in mixed martial arts.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Makdessi made his professional MMA debut in 2008 and compiled an undefeated record of 7-0 before being signed by the UFC.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Makdessi signed with the UFC in 2010. He made his promotional debut on December 11, 2010, at UFC 124 in Montreal, winning a dominant (30-27, 30-27, 30-26) decision over Pat Audinwood.[4]
Makdessi was expected to face TUF 12 winner Jonathan Brookins on April 30, 2011 at UFC 129.[5] Brookins pulled out of the bout and was replaced by another TUF 12 alum in Kyle Watson, who Makdessi knocked out with a spinning backfist in the third round.[6]
Makdessi was expected to face Paul Taylor on August 14, 2011, at UFC on Versus 5, but withdrew due to injury.[7][8]
Makdessi suffered the first loss of his career to Dennis Hallman on December 10, 2011, at UFC 140, via first-round rear naked choke.[9]
Makdessi lost a unanimous decision to fellow striker Anthony Njokuani on April 21, 2012, at UFC 145.[10][11]
Makdessi next defeated Sam Stout by unanimous decision on November 17, 2012, at UFC 154.[12]
Makdessi then fought Daron Cruickshank at UFC 158 on March 16, 2013.[13] He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Makdessi was expected to face Edson Barboza on July 6, 2013, at UFC 162.[14] Makdessi pulled out of the bout citing an injury and was replaced by Rafaello Oliveira.[15]
Makdessi knocked out Renée Forte in the first round on September 21, 2013, at UFC 165.[16]
Makdessi lost a unanimous decision to Alan Patrick at UFC 169 on February 1, 2014.[17][18]
Makdessi was expected to face Abel Trujillo on April 25, 2015, at UFC 186.[19] Trujillo pulled out of the fight citing an injury, and was replaced on April 1 by promotional newcomer Shane Campbell.[20] Makdessi won the fight via TKO in the first round.[21]
Less than a month after his win, Makdessi returned to the octagon as a replacement for injured Khabib Nurmagomedov against Donald Cerrone on May 23, 2015, at UFC 187.[22] Makdessi lost the fight via TKO after his jaw was broken with a head kick in the second round.[23][24]
Makdessi faced Yancy Medeiros on December 12, 2015 at UFC 194.[25] He lost the fight by split decision.[26]
Fear the Fighter sponsorship controversy
Makdessi is listed as the president of the MMA apparel brand Fear the Fighter, which has sponsored several MMA and UFC fighters. Since 2014, a number of fighters have come forward with complaints, alleging that Fear the Fighter had failed to pay their respective sponsorship fees. Akira Corassani, Tim Elliott, John Dodson, Georgi Karakhanyan, and Gegard Mousasi have publicly made such allegations. In April 2015, Mousasi's management team stated that they had filed a lawsuit against Makdessi and Fear the Fighter due to their alleged failure to pay the outstanding debt owed to Mousasi.[27]
Mixed martial arts record
18 matches | 13 wins | 5 losses |
By knockout | 9 | 1 |
By submission | 0 | 1 |
By decision | 4 | 3 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 13–5 | Yancy Medeiros | Decision (split) | UFC 194 | December 12, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Loss | 13–4 | Donald Cerrone | TKO (head kick) | UFC 187 | May 23, 2015 | 2 | 4:44 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 13–3 | Shane Campbell | TKO (punches) | UFC 186 | April 25, 2015 | 1 | 4:53 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | Catchweight (160 lbs) bout. |
Loss | 12–3 | Alan Patrick | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 169 | February 1, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
Win | 12–2 | Renée Forte | KO (punches) | UFC 165 | September 21, 2013 | 1 | 2:01 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
Win | 11–2 | Daron Cruickshank | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 158 | March 16, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
Win | 10–2 | Sam Stout | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 154 | November 17, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
Loss | 9–2 | Anthony Njokuani | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 145 | April 21, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Catchweight (158 lbs) bout; Makdessi missed weight. |
Loss | 9–1 | Dennis Hallman | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 140 | December 10, 2011 | 1 | 2:58 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Catchweight (158.5 lbs) bout; Hallman missed weight. |
Win | 9–0 | Kyle Watson | KO (spinning back fist) | UFC 129 | April 30, 2011 | 3 | 1:27 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
Win | 8–0 | Pat Audinwood | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 124 | December 11, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
Win | 7–0 | Bendy Casimir | Decision (unanimous) | Mixed Fight League 3 | September 25, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
Win | 6–0 | Lindsey Hawkes | TKO (punches) | Canadian Fighting Championship 4 | February 26, 2010 | 2 | 4:59 | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | |
Win | 5–0 | Brandon McArthur | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Ringside MMA: Rivalry | November 14, 2009 | 1 | 5:00 | Drummondville, Quebec, Canada | |
Win | 4–0 | Iraj Hadin | TKO (punches) | Ringside MMA: Rage Fighting | August 22, 2009 | 2 | 4:48 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
Win | 3–0 | Amir Uddin | TKO (punches) | XMMA 7: Inferno | February 27, 2009 | 2 | 3:06 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
Win | 2–0 | Dan Dechaine | TKO (punches) | XMMA 6: House of Pain | November 8, 2008 | 1 | 1:48 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
Win | 1–0 | Todd Westcott | TKO (punches) | XMMA 5: It's Crow Time | September 13, 2008 | 1 | 3:06 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
See also
References
- ^ a b "Fight Card - UFC 187 Johnson vs. Cormier". UFC.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
- ^ a b c Thomas Gerbasi (December 8, 2010). "John Makdessi - Express Yourself". UFC.com.
- ^ Cage Potato Interview: John Makdessi Wants Jaws to Drop When He Fights
- ^ "Undefeated John Makdessi octagon-bound, meets Pat Audinwood at UFC 124". mmajunkie.com. 2010-10-14.
- ^ "MacDonald-Wilks, Brookins-Makdessi added to UFC 129 in Toronto". bloodyelbow.com. January 4, 2010.
- ^ "John Makdessi meets Kyle Watson, not Jonathan Brookins, at UFC 129". mmajunkie.com. January 11, 2011.
- ^ "John Makdessi vs. Paul Taylor In The Works for UFC on Versus 5". mmafrenzy.com. June 3, 2011.
- ^ "John Makdessi injured, forced out of UFC on Versus 5 bout with Paul Taylor". mmajunkie.com. June 25, 2011.
- ^ "Dennis Hallman and John Makdessi agree to UFC 140 matchup in Toronto". MMAJunkie.com. 2011-09-09.
- ^ "UFC 145; seven bouts shift to Atlanta". mmajunkie.com. January 20, 2012.
- ^ Staff (2012-04-21). "UFC UFC 145 results: Anthony Njokuani tops John Makdessi via unanimous decision". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
- ^ Staff (September 7, 2012). "John Makdessi vs. Sam Stout added to UFC 154". mmajunkie.com.
- ^ "Makdessi Set To Face Cruickshank At UFC 158". topmmanews.com. January 5, 2013.
- ^ Staff (April 12, 2013). "UFC 162 adds lightweights Edson Barboza vs. John Makdessi". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ Ariel Helwani (2013-05-30). "Edson Barboza faces Rafaello Oliveira at UFC 162 following John Makdessi injury". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
- ^ Staff (2013-07-23). "John Makdessi vs. Renee Forte added to UFC 165 in Toronto". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-07-23.
- ^ Guilherme Cruz (2013-12-10). "John Makdessi vs. Alan Patrick added to UFC 169". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2013-12-10.
- ^ Ben Fowlkes (2014-02-01). "UFC 169 results, photos: Alan Patrick outguns John Makdessi for decision win". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
- ^ Sean Bio (2015-02-05). "Abel Trujillo meets John Makdessi at UFC 186 in Montreal". cagepages.com. Retrieved 2015-02-05.
- ^ Mike Bohn and John Morgan (2015-04-01). "Shane Campbell replaces injured Abel Trujillo against John Makdessi at UFC 186". mmajunkie.com.
- ^ Ben Fowlkes (2015-04-25). "UFC 186 results: John Makdessi eats some kicks, then brutalizes Shane Campbell". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
- ^ Marc Raimondi (2015-04-30). "Fresh off TKO win, John Makdessi gets call to replace Khabib Nurmagomedov against Donald Cerrone". mmafighting.com.
- ^ Dave Doyle (2015-04-30). "UFC 187 results: Donald Cerrone finishes John Makdessi with head kick". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2015-05-23.
- ^ Ariel Helwani (2015-05-25). "John Makdessi undergoes successful jaw surgery". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
- ^ Marc Raimondi (2015-11-24). "John Makdessi meets Yancy Medeiros at UFC 194". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
- ^ Ben Fowlkes (2015-12-12). "UFC 194 results: Yancy Medeiros edges disappointed John Makdessi with split call". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
- ^ Zane Simon (2015-04-25). "Gegard Mousasi taking John Makdessi and Fear the Fighter to court". bloodyelbow.com.