Christian M'Pumbu (born June 2, 1977) is a French-Congolese professional mixed martial artist. He was the inaugural Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion.

Christian M'Pumbu
Born (1977-06-02) June 2, 1977 (age 47)
Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Other namesTonton
ResidenceChampagne-Ardenne, France
NationalityCongolese
French
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight201+12 lb (91 kg; 14 st 6 lb)
DivisionLight Heavyweight
Reach78 in (198 cm)
StyleSavate, Judo[1]
Fighting out ofParis, France
TeamMMA Factory
Yogaka Fight Team
Jucao Achille Team
Years active2004–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total33
Wins21
By knockout9
By submission8
By decision3
By disqualification1
Losses11
By knockout3
By submission2
By decision6
Draws1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

edit

M'Pumbu was born in Kinshasa, Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo). He currently resides in France.[2]

Mixed martial arts career

edit
 
M'Pumbu with Russian President Vladimir Putin, 23 August 2018

M'Pumbu made his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut in 2004. He has fought primarily in Europe for various promotions including KSW and M-1 Global. He is currently a member of Team France in M-1 Mixfight.

Before his debut in the United States, M'Pumbu amassed a record of 15 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw.[2] A notable win from this period is over Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight contender Stefan Struve.

Bellator Fighting Championships

edit

M'Pumbu made his U.S. MMA debut on March 26, 2011, at Bellator 38.[2] He faced Chris Davis in the opening round of the Light Heavyweight tournament and won the fight via TKO in the third round. In the semi-finals he defeated Tim Carpenter via TKO in the first round. M'Pumbu would go on to defeat Rich Hale via TKO in the third round at the finals of the season 4 tournament, becoming the inaugural Bellator Light Heavyweight champion. He was unofficially dubbed the first African born mixed martial artist to hold a title in a major MMA organization.

On October 22, 2011, at Bellator 55, M'Pumbu lost a non-title fight against Travis Wiuff via unanimous decision. On February 28, 2013, at Bellator 91 M'Pumbu faced Bellator 2012 Summer Series Light Heavyweight tournament winner Attila Vegh in his first title defense and lost via unanimous decision.

On September 13, 2013, at Bellator 99, M'Pumbu was expected to face UFC veteran Vladimir Matyushenko. M'Pumbu pulled out of the fight with a hand injury and was replaced with Houston Alexander.

M'Pumbu faced Quinton Jackson in the opening round of Bellator's Season 10 Light Heavyweight tournament in the main event at Bellator 110 on February 28, 2014. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round, the first knockout loss of his career.

M'Pumbu made his Middleweight debut against Kendall Grove on October 3, 2014, at Bellator 127.[3] He lost the fight via submission in the second round.

Championships and accomplishments

edit

Mixed martial arts record

edit
Professional record breakdown
33 matches 21 wins 11 losses
By knockout 9 3
By submission 8 2
By decision 3 6
By disqualification 1 0
Draws 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 21–11–1 Stanislav Klybik KO (head kick) League S-70 - Plotforma S-70: 2018 August 22, 2018 1 4:45 Sochi, Russia
Loss 21–10–1 Mikhail Ragozin Decision (unanimous) RCC 2: Battles in the Cage February 24, 2018 3 5:00 Chelyabinsk, Russia
Loss 21–9–1 Ivan Shtyrkov Decision (unanimous) RCC 1: Battles in the Cage November 11, 2017 3 5:00 Yekaterinburg, Russia
Win 21–8–1 Sergio Souza DQ (punches after stoppage) Magnum Fighting Championship 1 April 8, 2017 1 0:40 Rome, Italy
Win 20–8–1 Sebastien Huot Marchand TKO (arm injury) ADW: Road to Abu Dhabi 3 August 12, 2016 2 2:12 Bangkok, Thailand
Loss 19–8–1 Denis Stojnic TKO (punches) HIT Fighting Championship 2 May 28, 2016 2 1:36 Zurich, Switzerland For the HIT Heavyweight Championship.
Win 19–7–1 Ramis Teregulov KO (punch) World Warriors Fighting Championship: CE 4 September 19, 2015 2 3:37 Paris, France
Loss 18–7–1 Kendall Grove Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 127 October 3, 2014 2 4:14 Temecula, California, United States Middleweight debut. Bellator Middleweight title eliminator.
Loss 18–6–1 Quinton Jackson KO (punches) Bellator 110 February 28, 2014 1 4:34 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Bellator Season 10 Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Loss 18–5–1 Attila Végh Decision (unanimous) Bellator 91 February 28, 2013 5 5:00 Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States Lost the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship.
Loss 18–4–1 Travis Wiuff Decision (unanimous) Bellator 55 October 22, 2011 3 5:00 Yuma, Arizona, United States Non-title bout
Win 18–3–1 Rich Hale TKO (punches) Bellator 45 May 21, 2011 3 4:17 Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States Bellator Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Final. Won the inaugural Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship.
Win 17–3–1 Tim Carpenter TKO (punches) Bellator 42 April 23, 2011 1 2:08 Concho, Oklahoma, United States Bellator Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win 16–3–1 Chris Davis TKO (punches) Bellator 38 March 26, 2011 3 3:34 Tunica, Mississippi, United States Bellator Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Loss 15–3–1 Yoshiyuki Nakanishi Decision (split) Deep: 47 Impact April 17, 2010 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan DEEP Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win 15–2–1 Yuji Sakuragi TKO (punches) Deep: 46 Impact February 28, 2010 1 2:29 Tokyo, Japan DEEP Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Win 14–2–1 Hideto Tatsumi TKO (punches) M-1 Challenge 18: Netherlands Day One August 15, 2009 2 4:53 Hilversum, Netherlands
Win 13–2–1 Krzysztof Kulak Decision (unanimous) Multi Boxes: 1er Gala International June 26, 2009 2 5:00 Paris, France
Win 12–2–1 Enoc Solves Torres Submission (armbar) M-1 Challenge 14: Japan April 29, 2009 1 4:59 Tokyo, Japan
Draw 11–2–1 Leonardo Nascimento Lucio Draw 100% fight 1 January 10, 2009 3 5:00 Paris, France
Win 11–2 Marcus Vanttinen Submission (rear-naked choke) M-1 Challenge 10: Finland November 26, 2008 1 2:15 Helsinki, Finland
Loss 10–2 Jan Błachowicz Submission (armbar) KSW Extra September 13, 2008 2 3:12 Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland
Win 10–1 Barry Guerin TKO (punches) M-1 Challenge 5: Japan July 17, 2008 1 0:32 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 9–1 Fabio Fernandes Decision (unanimous) Fite Selektor March 13, 2008 2 5:00 Dubai City, United Arab Emirates
Win 9–0 Denis Sobolev Submission (rear-naked choke) Star of Peresvit December 7, 2007 1 1:20 Kyiv, Ukraine Star of Peresvit Openweight Tournament Final
Win 8–0 Stefan Struve Submission (D'arce choke) Star of Peresvit December 7, 2007 1 2:05 Kyiv, Ukraine Star of Peresvit Openweight Tournament Semifinal
Win 7–0 Aleksey Gonchar Decision Star of Peresvit December 7, 2007 2 5:00 Kyiv, Ukraine Star of Peresvit Openweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Win 6–0 Sergey Mukhamedshin Submission (guillotine choke) M-1 MFC: International Mix Fight March 17, 2007 1 1:25 St. Petersburg, Russia
Win 5–0 Vladimir Shemarov Decision Fire of Persevit December 2, 2006 2 5:00 Kyiv, Ukraine Fire of Persevit Openweight Tournament Final.
Win 4–0 Valdas Pocevicius Submission (rear-naked choke) Fire of Persevit December 2, 2006 1 1:48 Kyiv, Ukraine Fire of Persevit Openweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win 3–0 Denis Bublov Submission (rear-naked choke) Fire of Persevit December 2, 2006 1 2:20 Kyiv, Ukraine Fire of Persevit Openweight Tournament Quarterfinal
Win 2–0 Dramane Traore Submission (rear-naked choke) Xtreme Gladiators 2 March 11, 2006 2 2:40 Paris, France
Win 1–0 Kuljit Degun KO (punches) UKMMAC 7: Rage & Fury May 30, 2004 1 0:32 Essex, England

References

edit
  1. ^ "Why does Judo have such a solid foundation in the UFC?". www.judoinside.com. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  2. ^ a b c "M'Pumbu formally added to Bellator tourney". usatoday.com. 2011-02-25.
  3. ^ "Daniel Straus-Justin Wilcox featherweight clash headlines Bellator 127 on Oct. 3". sherdog.com. August 22, 2014.
edit