Clifford Starks

Last updated
Clifford Starks
Born (1981-04-25) April 25, 1981 (age 42)
Sacramento, California, United States
Nationality American
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) [1]
Weight185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st)
Division Light Heavyweight
Middleweight
Reach78.0 in (198 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Tempe, Arizona, United States
TeamArizona Combat Sports
Years active2009-present
Mixed martial arts record
Total19
Wins14
By knockout3
By submission4
By decision7
Losses5
By knockout1
By submission2
By decision2
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Clifford Bernard Starks (born April 25, 1981) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Middleweight division for the World Series of Fighting. A professional competitor since 2009, he has formerly competed for the UFC, Bellator, and Shark Fights.

Contents

Background

Starks was born in Pomona, California and attended Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix, Arizona. At Mountain Pointe, Starks competed in wrestling, football, and track and field. Talented, Starks earned a total of ten varsity letters and won a state championship in wrestling. Starks later attended Mesa Community College where he competed in football and track and field until 2002 when he transferred to Arizona State University. [2] At Arizona State, Starks competed for the school's NCAA Division I wrestling team alongside former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez and had a third-place finish in the PAC 10. [3]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Starks made his professional MMA debut in 2009 and fought primarily for the Rage in the Cage promotion in Arizona. He quickly amassed an undefeated record of 7-0 during the first two years of his career before joining the UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Starks made his UFC debut less than two weeks removed from his last fight as a short-notice replacement for injured Brad Tavares against fellow UFC newcomer Dustin Jacoby at UFC 137. [4] He won the fight via unanimous decision (30-27, 30–27, 30–27).

Starks next faced Ed Herman on February 4, 2012, at UFC 143. [5] He lost the fight via submission in the second round.

Starks next faced Yoel Romero on April 20, 2013, at UFC on Fox 7. [6] He lost the fight via KO in the first round and was subsequently released from the promotion. [7]

Bellator MMA

In September 2013, Starks made his debut for Bellator MMA. He faced Joe Yager at Bellator 100 and won the fight via unanimous decision.

Starks faced Kobe Ortiz on September 26, 2014, at Bellator 126. [8] He won the fight via submission in the second round.

World Series of Fighting

Starks made his debut at WSOF 19. He was originally scheduled to face Eddie Arizmendi on the card. However, a last minute card change the day of the event led to Starks facing Jake Heun on the main card. He won the fight via submission in the second round.

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
19 matches14 wins5 losses
By knockout31
By submission42
By decision72
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss14–5Abdul-Rahman DzhanaevDecision (majority) ACB 74: Aguev vs. Townsend November 25, 201735:00 Vienna, Austria
Win14–4Waylon QuotskuyvaSubmission (americana)Ringside Unified Fighting 22September 23, 201713:35 Maricopa, Arizona, United StatesWon the RUF Light Heavyweight Championship.
Loss13–4Albert DuraevSubmission (rear-naked choke) ACB 67: Cooper vs. Berkhamov August 19, 201722:34 Grozny, Russia
Loss13–3 David Branch Decision (unanimous) WSOF 30 April 2, 201655:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesFor the WSOF Middleweight Championship.
Win13–2Krasimir MladenovDecision (unanimous) WSOF 23 September 18, 201535:00 Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Win12–2 Mike Kyle Decision (unanimous) WSOF 22 August 1, 201535:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Light Heavyweight bout.
Win11–2Jake HeunSubmission (arm-triangle choke) WSOF 19 March 28, 201524:11 Phoenix, Arizona, United States Light Heavyweight bout.
Win10–2Kobe OrtizTechnical submission (guillotine choke) Bellator 126 September 26, 201420:52 Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Win9–2Joe YagerDecision (unanimous) Bellator 100 September 20, 201335:00 Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Loss8–2 Yoel Romero KO (flying knee and punches) UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Melendez April 20, 201311:32 San Jose, California, United States
Loss8–1 Ed Herman Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 143 February 4, 201221:43 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win8–0 Dustin Jacoby Decision (unanimous) UFC 137 October 29, 201135:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win7–0Artenas YoungDecision (unanimous) Shark Fights 20 October 15, 201135:00 Laughlin, Nevada, United States
Win6–0Rudy AguilarTKO (punches)Rage in the Cage 152May 21, 201111:42 Chandler, Arizona, United States
Win5–0Roe HarrisKO (punch)Rage in the Cage 151April 16, 201112:59 Chandler, Arizona, United States
Win4–0Tony JohnsonDecision (unanimous)MEZ Sports: Pandemonium 4February 25, 201135:00 Riverside, California, United States
Win3–0Mike HeidenreichTKO (punches)Rage in the Cage 144September 11, 201011:23 Chandler, Arizona, United States
Win2–0Reyes OrtizDecision (split)Rage in the Cage 139February 13, 201035:00 Tucson, Arizona, United States
Win1–0Chad MennekeSubmission (americana)Rage in the Cage 138December 4, 200921:35 Mesa, Arizona, United States

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Clifford Starks | UFC". 14 September 2018.
  2. ↑ http://athletics.mesacc.edu/all-sports/former-mcc-thrower-and-football-player-clifford-starks-fight-ufc-137-card
  3. ↑ "Clifford Starks | UFC". 14 September 2018.
  4. ↑ "Tavares out of 137; Starks to face Jacoby". UFC.com. October 21, 2011. Archived from the original on October 12, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks Added to UFC 143". mmafighting.com. December 28, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Yoel Romero vs Clifford Starks set for UFC on FOX 7". bloodyelbow.com. January 23, 2013.
  7. ↑ "UFC releases middleweight Clifford Starks". bloody elbow.com. May 5, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Bellator 126 fight card finalized for Sept. 26 in Phoenix on Spike TV". mmamania.com. September 9, 2014.
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