Aaron Phillips (fighter)

Aaron Phillips
Born	Aaron Ern-Wuei Phillips [1] (1989-08-05) August 5, 1989 (age 34) Houston, Texas, United States
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight	135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb)
Division	Bantamweight
Reach	69 in (175 cm)
Fighting out of	Lafayette, Louisiana
Team	Headkicks MMA Gladiators Academy [2]
Rank	Fourth degree black belt in Taekwondo [3]
Years active	2011–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total	17
Wins	12
By knockout	6
By submission	2
By decision	4
Losses	5
By knockout	1
By submission	1
By decision	3
University	University of Louisiana [2]
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Aaron Ern-Wuei Phillips ^[1] (born August 5, 1989) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division. A professional since 2011, he is most notable for his time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Background

His mom came over from Penang, Malaysia to the US for university and met his father. She was a school teacher, so every summer he would go back to Malaysia from the age of four to eleven. ^[1]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Phillips started fighting MMA professionally in 2011, mainly for regional Louisiana organizations, compiling a 7–0 record, before signing with the UFC in 2014. ^[4]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Philips made his UFC debut as an injury replacement for Doo Ho Choi against Sam Sicilia on May 24, 2014 at UFC 173. ^[5] However, Choi pulled out of the bout citing an injury. ^[6] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Aaron Phillips faced Matt Hobar at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. dos Anjos on August 23, 2014. ^[7] He lost the fight via unanimous decision. ^[8]

After his second loss in a row, Phillips was released from the UFC. ^[9]

World Fighting Championships and Other Organizations

After his release from the UFC, Phillips faced future UFC fighter Chris Gutiérrez for the vacant WFC Bantamweight Championship. Due to the bay doors not being able to be closed, the fight took place in 30 °F (−1 °C) cold. ^[10] Due to an injury picked up during the fight, he was unable to continue, therefore losing the fight. ^[11]

After this fight, due to injuries, he did not fight for 3 years before coming back in 2018 and picking up 4 straight wins in the World Fighting Championships organization. With a one off fight in VFL which he won by TKO, he was signed once again to the UFC. ^[12]

Second stint in the UFC

With Anderson dos Santos testing positive for COVID-19 before his fight with Jack Shore at bantamweight, Phillips was chosen as his replacement for the July 16, 2020 fight at UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige ^[13] He lost the fight in the second round via rear-naked choke. ^[14]

Philips was scheduled to face Adrian Yanez on October 31, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 181. ^[15] However on October 20, Phillips pulled out due to an undisclosed injury. ^[16]

Phillips was scheduled to face Cameron Else on July 17, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 26. ^[17] However in mid-July, Else pulled out to undisclosed reasons. Aaron was expected to face Trevin Jones on July 24, 2021 at UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw. ^[18] On July 18, Phillips pulled out off the bout. ^[19]

Phillips was scheduled to face Kris Moutinho on October 23, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 196. ^[20] However, Moutinho was removed from the event for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Jonathan Martinez. ^[21] In turn, Philips withdrew from the bout due to illness. ^[22]

Phillips faced Gastón Bolaños on April 15, 2023 at UFC on ESPN 44. ^[23] He lost the fight by unanimous decision. ^[24]

On June 8, it was announced that Phillips was not extended a new contract and no longer on the UFC roster. ^[25]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown

17 matches	12 wins	5 losses
By knockout	6	1
By submission	2	1
By decision	4	3

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Loss	12–5	Gastón Bolaños	Decision (unanimous)	UFC on ESPN: Holloway vs. Allen	April 15, 2023	3	5:00	Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Loss	12–4	Jack Shore	Submission (rear-naked choke)	UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige	July 16, 2020	2	2:29	Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win	12–3	Ariston França	TKO	VFL: Cajuns vs. Cowboys	November 7, 2019	1	1:16	Dallas, Texas, United States	Featherweight bout.
Win	11–3	Devante Sewell	Decision (unanimous)	World Fighting Championships 101	March 21, 2019	3	5:00	Charenton, Louisiana, United States
Win	10–3	Anthony Retic	Submission (rear-naked choke)	World Fighting Championships 97	November 10, 2018	1	1:49	Charenton, Louisiana, United States
Win	9–3	Jeremy Rogers	TKO (punches)	World Fighting Championships 86	May 12, 2018	1	2:50	Charenton, Louisiana, United States
Win	8–3	Andy Brossett	TKO	World Fighting Championships 82	January 27, 2018	1	4:43	Charenton, Louisiana, United States
Loss	7–3	Chris Gutiérrez	TKO (retirement)	World Fighting Championships 35	February 28, 2015	3	5:00	Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States	For the vacant WFC Bantamweight Championship.
Loss	7–2	Matt Hobar	Decision (unanimous)	UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. dos Anjos	August 23, 2014	3	5:00	Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States	Return to Bantamweight.
Loss	7–1	Sam Sicilia	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 173	May 24, 2014	3	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	7–0	Tyler Shinn	Decision (split)	C3 Fights: Border Wars 2014	February 8, 2014	3	5:00	Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States
Win	6–0	D.J. Fuentes	Decision (unanimous)	USA MMA 23: The Fight Before Christmas	December 21, 2013	3	5:00	Lafayette, Louisiana, United States
Win	5–0	Joe Yeampierre	Submission (rear-naked choke)	WFC 12: Battle at the Belle	October 11, 2013	1	1:52	Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States	Return to Featherweight.
Win	4–0	Micah Goss	KO	USA MMA 22: Lafayette vs. The World 2	August 17, 2013	1	4:32	Lafayette, Louisiana, United States
Win	3–0	Ryan Hollis	Submission	Night of Champions 4	February 16, 2013	3	0:00	Lafayette, Louisiana, United States	Bantamweight bout.
Win	2–0	John de Jesus	Decision (unanimous)	Global Fighting Alliance 17: Top Shelf Fights	February 11, 2012	3	5:00	Youngsville, Louisiana, United States	Featherweight bout.
Win	1–0	Heriberto Acuna	KO (punches)	Global Fighting Alliance: SugArena Rage	April 2, 2011	1	1:26	Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States

^[4]

See also

• List of male mixed martial artists

References

1. Ishak, Fadhli (16 July 2020). "UFC fighter Phillips proud of Malaysian roots | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
2. John Morgan (August 20, 2014). "UFC's Aaron Phillips: I've been a full-time MMA fighter for only the past nine weeks". MMAjunkie.com .
3. Thomas Gerbasi (August 20, 2014). "Aaron Phillips: There's something about Louisiana". Ultimate Fighting Championship .
4. Sherdog.com. "Aaron Philips". Sherdog. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
5. Matt Erickson (2014-02-21). "Sam Sicilia meets newcomer Doo Ho Choi at UFC 173 in May". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-02-21.
6. B Wylie (2014-04-20). "Doo Ho Choi injured, out of next months Featherweight clash with Sam Sicilia at UFC 173". fightsportasia.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-23. Retrieved 2014-04-24.
7. "Matt Hobar vs. Aaron Phillips added to UFC Fight Night 49 lineup". mmajunkie.com. June 29, 2014.
8. "UFC Fight Night 49 results: Matt Hobar wrestles decision from Aaron Phillips". MMA Junkie. 2014-08-24. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
9. "13 Fighters Released From The UFC". MyMMANews.com. 2015-09-02. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
10. "Chris Gutierrez Doesnt Take Things For Granted". ufc.com. April 29, 2020.
11. Anderson, Jay (2020-07-05). "UFC: Aaron Phillips Steps Up to Fight Jack Shore on Fight Island". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
12. Bissell, Tim (2020-07-05). "UFC re-signs Aaron Phillips for COVID-19 hit Fight Island card". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
13. Nolan King and Simon Head (2020-07-04). "Aaron Phillips set for UFC return, faces Jack Shore on 'Fight Island'". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
14. Evanoff, Josh (2020-07-15). "UFC Fight Island 1 Results: Jack Shore Submits Aaron Phillips". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
15. "Adrian Yanez vs. Aaron Phillips Added To UFC Fight Night: Hall vs. Silva". fightful.com. August 19, 2020.
16. David Tees (2020-10-19). "Report: Aaron Phillips injured, off UFC Vegas 12". fightful.com. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
17. DNA, MMA (2021-04-16). "Cameron Else en Aaron Phillips gaan op zoek naar eerste UFC overwinning op 17 juli". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
18. Farah Hannoun (2021-07-15). "With Cameron Else out, Aaron Phillips targeted to meet Trevin Jones at UFC on ESPN 27". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
19. "With opponents out, Trevin Jones and Ronnie Lawrence meet at UFC on ESPN 28". MMA Junkie. 2021-07-18. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
20. DNA, MMA (2021-08-24). "Aaron Phillips treft Kris Moutinho op 23 oktober". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
21. DNA, MMA (2021-09-18). "Jonathan Martinez vervangt Kris Moutinho tegen Aaron Phillips tijdens UFC evenement op 23 oktober". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
22. Martin, Damon (2021-10-15). "Aaron Phillips out of UFC Vegas 41 due to illness, Jonathan Martinez awaits word on a replacement". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
23. ATSteveDuncan (2023-01-25). "El peruano Gaston Bolaños debutará en el octágono en la cartelera de UFC Fight Night del 15 de abril". MMA.uno, #1 En noticias de Artes Marciales Mixtas (MMA) en Español. (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-01-25.
24. Bitter, Shawn (2023-04-15). "UFC Kansas City: Gaston Bolanos Victorious in Debut Against Aaron Phillips". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
25. "8 more UFC fighters removed, just days after recent roster purge". Bloody Elbow. 2023-06-09. Retrieved 2023-06-10.

External links

• Professional MMA record for Aaron Phillips from Sherdog
• Aaron Phillips at UFC