Carl Seumanutafa

Last updated
Carl Seumanutafa
BornCarl Taulauniu Seumanutafa
(1983-06-15) June 15, 1983 (age 41)
Savaiʻi, Western Samoa
Other namesBadwater
Nationality Samoan
American
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight265 lb (120 kg; 18.9 st)
Division Heavyweight
Reach81 in (206 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of San Francisco, California, United States
TeamSkrap Pack
Empower Gym
El Nino Training Center
Trainer Gilbert Melendez
RankBrown belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
Years active2007–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total30
Wins14
By knockout11
By submission1
By decision2
Losses16
By knockout7
By decision9
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Carl Taulauniu Seumanutafa (born June 15, 1983) is a Samoan mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer who competes in the Heavyweight division. A professional since 2007, he has competed for Bellator, Strikeforce, ShoXC, EliteXC, Tachi Palace Fights, King of the Cage, M-1 Global, and the PFL.

Contents

Background

Born and raised in Samoa, Seumanutafa moved with his family to San Francisco at the age of 12, living in Bayview-Hunters Point. He attended J. Eugene McAteer High School where he competed in wrestling.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Seumanutafa made his professional debut in March 2007, winning his first three bouts all via TKO before being signed by EliteXC.

EliteXC and Strikeforce

Seumanutafa made his promotional debut at EliteXC: Unfinished Business on July 26, 2008, against Mike Cook. Seumanutafa won via first-round knockout with a slam.

He returned two months later for the Elite Challenger series, facing Shane del Rosario. Seumanutafa was handed his first loss via TKO in the second round. In February 2009, Seumanutafa fought at M-1 Challenge 12: USA against Edson Franca. Seumanutafa lost via split decision after two rounds.

After the closing EliteXC and its absorption by Strikeforce, Semanutafa returned to the promotion three months later at the inaugural Strikeforce: Challengers event on May 15, 2009. Seumanutafa faced Lavar Johnson. During a takedown attempt, Seumanutafa was knocked out with an uppercut just 18 seconds into the first round.

Independent promotions

Seumanutafa snapped his three-fight losing streak with three straight TKO wins from 2010 to 2012. In October 2012, Seumanutafa faced Dave Huckaba and was knocked out in the first round.

He then fought Javy Ayala February 2013, winning via first-round TKO.

Bellator MMA

Semanutafa made his Bellator debut at Bellator 148 against Javy Ayala on January 29, 2016. Seumanutafa won again via ground and pound TKO, this time in the second round. Seumanutafa then faced Matt Mitrione at Bellator 157. Despite scoring an early knockdown, he was defeated via KO at 3:22 of the first round.

Seumanutafa returned to the Bellator cage in 2017 at Bellator 181, losing a unanimous decision to Valentin Moldavsky.

Professional Fighters League

After his loss to Moldavsky, Seumanutafa went 2-1 in independent promotions before signing with the Professional Fighters League.

Seumanutafa made his promotional debut on the preliminary card of PFL 3, facing Croatian Ante Delija. Seumanutafa was defeated via unanimous decision.

Seumanutafa then faced Ali Isaev at PFL 6 on August 8, 2019. He lost again via unanimous decision.

Seumanutafa, as a replacement for Stuart Austin, faced Renan Ferreira on June 25, 2021, at PFL 6. [1] He lost the bout via unanimous decision. [2] [3]

Seumanutafa faced Muhammed DeReese on August 19, 2021, at PFL 8. [4] He lost the bout via unanimous decision. [5]

Gamebred FC

Seumanutafa faced Jamahl Tatum at Gamebred FC 4 in a bare-knuckle MMA bout on May 5, 2023, [6] winning the bout via unanimous decision. [7]

Seumanutafa faced Chase Sherman at Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 6 on October 28, 2023. [8] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round. [9]

Personal life

Ayala is married and has two children; an eight-year old son named Tamatoa and seven-year old daughter; Eliza-Andra. [10] Aside from fighting, Seumanutafa has worked as a personal trainer and is an assistant coach to NFL offseason player development for the Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, and his own favorite NFL team, the San Francisco 49ers.

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
30 matches14 wins16 losses
By knockout117
By submission10
By decision29
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss14–16 Alex Nicholson TKO (elbow and punches)XFC: Detroit Grand Prix 2May 31, 202414:09 Detroit, Michigan, United States
Loss14–15 Chase Sherman KO (elbow and punches)Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 6November 10, 202312:34 Biloxi, Mississippi, United StatesBare knuckle MMA.
Win14–14Derrick WilliamsSubmission (guillotine choke)High Desert Brawl 16September 9, 202310:37 Susanville, California, United States
Win13–14Jamahl TatumDecision (unanimous)Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 4May 5, 202335:00 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United StatesBare Knuckle MMA.
Loss12–14Muhammed DeReeseDecision (unanimous) PFL 8 (2021) August 19, 202135:00 Hollywood, Florida, United States
Loss12–13 Renan Ferreira Decision (unanimous) PFL 6 (2021) June 25, 202135:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss12–12Dustin JoynsonDecision (unanimous)Cage Fury FC 87October 30, 202035:00 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Loss12–11 Ali Isaev Decision (unanimous) PFL 6 (2019) August 8, 201935:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss12–10 Ante Delija Decision (unanimous) PFL 3 (2019) June 6, 201935:00 Uniondale, New York, United States
Win12–9Nick RossboroughTKO (injury)Fierce FC: Fitcon FightsApril 12, 201920:47 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Loss11–9Shelton GravesDecision (unanimous)Final Fight Championship 32October 19, 201855:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesFor the vacant FFC Heavyweight Championship.
Win11–8Bill WidlerTKO (punches)KOTC: No EscapeApril 14, 201812:05 Oroville, California, United States
Loss10–8 Valentin Moldavsky Decision (unanimous) Bellator 181 June 14, 201735:00 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Loss10–7 Matt Mitrione KO (punch) Bellator 157 June 24, 201613:22 St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Win10–6 Javy Ayala TKO (punches) Bellator 148 January 29, 201623:46 Fresno, California, United States
Loss9–6DJ LindermanDecision (unanimous)KOTC: Total EliminationOctober 3, 201535:00 Oroville, California, United States
Win9–5 Josh Appelt Decision (unanimous)West Coast FC 12November 15, 201435:00 Sacramento, California, United States
Loss8–5Jack MayTKO (head kick and punches)TPF 18: Martinez vs. CulleyFebruary 6, 201412:57 Lemoore, California, United States
Win8–4 Javy Ayala TKO (punches)Dragon House 13February 2, 201313:00 Oakland, California, United States
Loss7–4Dave HuckabaKO (punch)Cage Combat Fighting ChampionshipsOctober 20, 201214:35 Santa Rosa, California, United States
Win7–3Ruben VillarealTKO (elbows)Gladiator Challenge: World ClassJune 23, 201232:57 Lincoln, California, United States
Win6–3CJ LevequeTKO (punches)Impact MMA 1: RecognitionDecember 10, 201112:20 Pleasanton, California, United States
Win5–3Derrick WilliamsTKO (punches)Global Knockout: Fall BrawlSeptember 18, 201031:05 Jackson, California, United States
Loss4–3 Lavar Johnson KO (punch) Strikforce Challengers: Evangelista vs. Aina May 15, 200910:18 Fresno, California, United States
Loss4–2Edson FrancaDecision (split)M-1 Challenge 12: USAFebruary 21, 200925:00 Tacoma, Washington, United States
Loss4–1 Shane del Rosario TKO (punches) ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series September 26, 200821:07 Santa Ynez, California, United States
Win4–0Mike CookKO (slam) EliteXC: Unfinished Business July 26, 200811:21 Stockton, California, United States
Win3–0Chris BostickTKO (punches)Global Knockout 4November 29, 20071N/A Jackson, California, United States
Win2–0Pete WerveTKO (punches)Global Knockout 2March 22, 200722:52 Jackson, California, United States
Win1–0Chris GarrisonTKO (punches)Global Knockout 2March 22, 200710:32 Jackson, California, United States

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References

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