Kurt Holobaugh

Kurt Holobaugh
Born	(1986-09-08) September 8, 1986 (age 37) Denham Springs, Louisiana, U.S.
Other names	The Hurt
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st)
Division	Featherweight Lightweight
Reach	75+1⁄2 in (192 cm)
Stance	Orthodox
Team	Gracie United [1]
Rank	Black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Rafael Ellwanger [1]
Years active	2012–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total	30
Wins	21
By knockout	7
By submission	10
By decision	4
Losses	8
By knockout	1
By submission	1
By decision	6
No contests	1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Kurt Holobaugh (born September 8, 1986) is an American professional mixed martial artist (MMA) who competes in the Lightweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Mixed martial arts

Early career

Holobaugh compiled an amateur record of 3-0 before making his professional MMA debut in March 2011. ^[2] Over the next year-and-a-half, he amassed an undefeated record of 9 wins and no losses, with all but one of his wins coming by stoppage before the final bell.

Strikeforce and Ultimate Fighting Championship

In 2013, Holobaugh joined the Strikeforce organization. He made his debut against Pat Healy at Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine on January 12, 2013. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. ^[3]

Following the Strikeforce event, the organization was folded and merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. ^[4] Holobaugh's contract was honored and he made his UFC debut against Steven Siler at UFC 159 on April 27, 2013. He lost the fight by unanimous decision and was subsequently released by the promotion. ^[5]

Post UFC career

After his UFC release, Holobaugh fought for various independent MMA promotions. He found the most success in Titan Fighting Championships, where he compiled a record of 5-1 within the promotion, and held both the Featherweight Championship and Interim Lightweight Championship. ^{[6] [7]}

Second UFC stint

Holobaugh would then be invited to compete in the main event of the inaugural edition of Dana White's Contender Series, facing Bellator veteran Matt Bessette. ^[8] Holobaugh won the fight via knockout in round one, securing a UFC contract. ^[9]

He faced Raoni Barcelos at UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Ivanov and lost via knockout in the third round. ^[10] Despite the loss, the win earned Holobaugh his first Fight of the Night bonus award. ^[11]

Holobaugh next faced Shane Burgos at UFC 230 on November 3, 2018. He lost the fight via submission in the third round. ^[12]

Holobaugh faced Thiago Moisés on May 11, 2019 UFC 237. ^[13] He lost the fight by unanimous decision. ^[14]

Holobaugh was released by the UFC in December 2019. ^[15]

Post UFC

Holobaugh faced Joziro Boye at XFC 43 on November 11, 2020. ^[16] He won the bout via first round TKO. ^[17]

As the semifinal of XFC Lightweight tournament Holobaugh was initially scheduled to face Scott Hudson at XFC 44 on May 28, 2021. ^[18] However, Hudson withdrew and was replaced by Jose Luis Verdugo. He won the bout via KO at the beginning of the second round and advanced to the final. ^[19]

The Ultimate Fighter 31

In March 2023, it was announced that Holobaugh would be competing in the thirty-first season of The Ultimate Fighter. ^[20]

In the quarterfinal Holobaugh faced team McGregor's number 1 ranked lightweight prospect Lee Hammond, who is also a training partner to McGregor at his gym in Ireland. After being behind for the majority of the fight, Holobaugh managed to win the fight via guillotine choke submission late in the second round. ^[21]

In the semi-final, Holobaugh faced fellow teammate Jason Knight, and won the fight via TKO in the second round. ^[22]

Holobaugh faced former LFA Lightweight Champion and fellow teammate Austin Hubbard in the tournament final on August 19, 2023 at UFC 292. ^[23] He won the fight via a triangle choke submission in the second round to become TUF 31 lightweight winner. ^[24]

Return to UFC

Holobaugh faced Trey Ogden on March 23, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 53. ^[25] He lost the bout by unanimous decision. ^[26]

Holobaugh faced Kaynan Kruschewsky on July 20, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 60. ^[27] He won the fight by unanimous decision. ^[28]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • The Ultimate Fighter 31 Lightweight Tournament Winner
  • Fight of the Night (one time) vs. Raoni Barcelos ^[11]
• Titan Fighting Championship
  • Titan FC Featherweight Championship (One time)
  • Interim Titan FC Lightweight Championship (One time)
• Xtreme Fighting Championships
  • XFC Louisiana Featherweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown

30 matches	21 wins	8 losses
By knockout	7	1
By submission	10	1
By decision	4	6
No contests	1

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Win	21–8 (1)	Kaynan Kruschewsky	Decision (unanimous)	UFC on ESPN: Lemos vs. Jandiroba	July 20, 2024	3	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss	20–8 (1)	Trey Ogden	Decision (unanimous)	UFC on ESPN: Ribas vs. Namajunas	March 23, 2024	3	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	20–7 (1)	Austin Hubbard	Submission (triangle choke)	UFC 292	August 19, 2023	2	2:39	Boston, Massachusetts, United States	Won The Ultimate Fighter 31 Lightweight Tournament.
Win	19–7 (1)	Jose Luis Verdugo	KO (punch)	XFC 44	May 28, 2021	2	0:11	Des Moines, Iowa, United States	XFC Lightweight tournament semifinal.
Win	18–7 (1)	Joziro Boye	TKO (knees and punches)	XFC 43	November 11, 2020	1	0:26	Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Loss	17–7 (1)	Thiago Moisés	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 237	May 11, 2019	3	5:00	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	Return to Lightweight.
Loss	17–6 (1)	Shane Burgos	Submission (armbar)	UFC 230	November 3, 2018	1	2:11	New York City, New York, United States
Loss	17–5 (1)	Raoni Barcelos	KO (punches)	UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Ivanov	July 14, 2018	3	1:29	Boise, Idaho, United States	Fight of the Night.
NC	17–4 (1)	Matt Bessette	NC (overturned)	Dana White's Contender Series 1	July 11, 2017	1	2:59	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Return to Featherweight. Originally a KO (punch) win for Holobaugh; overturned due to his prohibited prefight use of an IV.
Win	17–4	Gesias Cavalcante	TKO (punches)	Titan FC 44	May 19, 2017	4	2:45	Pembroke Pines, Florida, United States	Won the interim Titan FC Lightweight Championship.
Win	16–4	Yosdenis Cedeno	Submission (rear naked choke)	Titan FC 42	December 2, 2016	3	1:22	Coral Gables, Florida, United States
Win	15–4	Luciano dos Santos	TKO (punches)	Titan FC 39	June 10, 2016	2	4:21	Coral Gables, Florida, United States	Return to Lightweight.
Loss	14–4	Magomedrasul Khasbulaev	Decision (unanimous)	WFCA 16: Grand Prix Akhmat 2016	March 12, 2016	3	5:00	Grozny, Russia	Akhmat Featherweight Grand Prix quarterfinal.
Loss	14–3	Andre Harrison	Decision (unanimous)	Titan FC 34	July 18, 2015	5	5:00	Kansas City, Missouri, United States	Lost the Titan FC Featherweight Championship.
Win	14–2	Desmond Green	Decision (split)	Titan FC 33	March 20, 2015	5	5:00	Mobile, Alabama, United States	Won the Titan FC Featherweight Championship.
Win	13–2	Lloyd Woodard	TKO (punches)	Titan FC 29	August 22, 2014	1	0:15	Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States
Win	12–2	Eric Marriott	Decision (unanimous)	Titan FC 27	February 28, 2014	3	5:00	Kansas City, Kansas, United States	Lightweight bout.
Win	11–2	Calvin Miller	Submission (rear naked choke)	XFC: Louisiana	August 24, 2013	1	2:10	Ponchatoula, Louisiana, United States	Won the vacant XFC Louisiana Featherweight Championship.
Win	10–2	John LeBlanc	Submission	In Ya Face: Caged Warrior Championship 1	July 12, 2013	1	1:13	Houma, Louisiana, United States	Lightweight bout.
Loss	9–2	Steven Siler	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 159	April 27, 2013	3	5:00	Newark, New Jersey, United States
Loss	9–1	Pat Healy	Decision (unanimous)	Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine	January 12, 2013	3	5:00	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States	Lightweight bout.
Win	9–0	Wesley Dunlap	KO (punch)	FFI: Blood and Sand 13	October 27, 2012	1	1:21	Biloxi, Mississippi, United States
Win	8–0	Wellington Brito	TKO (punches)	Natural Disaster 3	August 25, 2012	1	3:31	Denham Springs, Louisiana, United States
Win	7–0	Ronnie Rogers	Submission (rear naked choke)	FFI: Blood and Sand 12	June 30, 2012	2	1:15	Biloxi, Mississippi, United States
Win	6–0	Will Cruthirds	Submission (rear naked choke)	FFI: Blood and Sand 11	April 28, 2012	1	1:55	Biloxi, Mississippi, United States
Win	5–0	J.C. Pennington	Submission (triangle choke)	XFC: Chaos at the Castine Center 2	April 7, 2012	3	3:12	Mandeville, Louisiana, United States
Win	4–0	Booker Arthur	Decision (unanimous)	XFC: Nightmare on the Northshore	October 29, 2011	3	5:00	Mandeville, Louisiana, United States
Win	3–0	Paul Soileau	Submission (guillotine choke)	FLABBP - Round 2: Tournament of Champions	July 23, 2011	1	0:32	Gonzales, Louisiana, United States
Win	2–0	Phil Daru	Submission (armbar)	XFC: Chaos at the Castine Center	July 9, 2011	1	1:55	Mandeville, Louisiana, United States
Win	1–0	Derrick Breaux	Submission	In Ya Face: Karnival Karnage	March 12, 2011	1	0:39	Houma, Louisiana, United States

^[29]

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

Exhibition record breakdown
2 matches	2 wins	0 losses
By knockout	1	0
By submission	1	0

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Win	2–0	Jason Knight	TKO (punches)	The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Chandler	Aug 8, 2023 (airdate)	2	2:56	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	The Ultimate Fighter 31 Semi-final round.
Win	1–0	Lee Hammond	Submission (guillotine choke)		Jul 4, 2023 (airdate)	2	3:21		The Ultimate Fighter 31 Quarterfinal round.

References

1. "Gracie United". championfactory.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
2. https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/27877-kurt-holobaugh ^{[ bare URL ]}
3. Kontek, Riley. "Strikeforce Results: What We Learned from Pat Healy vs. Kurt Holobaugh". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
4. "Strikeforce confirms Jan. 12 event is final Showtime broadcast". MMAJunkie.com. 2012-12-20.
5. "UFC 159 results/photos: Steven Siler edges Kurt Holobaugh in prelim thriller". MMA Junkie. 2013-04-27. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
6. "Titan FC 33 results: Kurt Holobaugh beats Desmond Green, wins featherweight title". MMAjunkie. 21 March 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
7. "Titan FC 44 results: Jose Torres becomes promotion's first 2-division champ, asks for UFC shot". MMAjunkie. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
8. Alexander, Mookie (2017-06-14). "Report: Holobaugh-Bessette to headline 'Contender Series' debut". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
9. "'Dana White's Contender Series' Week 1 results: Kurt Holobaugh KOs Matt Bessette in headliner". MMA Junkie. 2017-07-12. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
10. "UFC 230 results: Shane Burgos submits Kurt Holobaugh in opening round" . Retrieved 26 November 2018.
11. Staff (2018-07-15). "UFC Fight Night 133 bonuses: You know Niko Price's hammerfists got him $50,000". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2018-07-15.
12. "UFC 230: Cormier vs. Lewis". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
13. DNA, MMA. "Thiago Moises treft Kurt Holobaugh tijdens UFC 237 in Rio de Janeiro" . Retrieved 2019-03-28.
14. McClory, Mike (2019-05-11). "UFC 237 Results: Thiago Moises Earns First UFC Win Over Kurt Holobaugh". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
15. "UFC roster update: Zak Ottow, Kurt Holobaugh among 10 released; one fighter announces retirement". MMA Junkie. 2019-12-19. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
16. Michael DeSantis (November 2, 2020). "Andre Soukhamthath On XFC Debut: 'It's Gonna be Bloody'". mmasucka.com.
17. Freeman, Nate. "XFC 43 Results - MMA Sucka" . Retrieved 2021-04-26.
18. "Xtreme Fighting Championships Unveils Main Card For XFC 44 On May 28 In Des Moines, LIVE On FOX Deportes And FOX Sports 2". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
19. "XFC 44 Results | Fightful News". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
20. Heck, Mike (2023-03-05). "Full TUF 31 cast revealed, featuring Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler as coaches". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
21. "'The Ultimate Fighter 31: McGregor vs. Chandler' Episode 6 recap: Crushed Conor McGregor gets violent". mmajunkie.usatoday.com.
22. "'Fight of the Season' — TUF 31 results video, full Ep. 11 recap McGregor vs. Chandler". mmamania.com.
23. "TUF 31 Episode 11 takeaways: McGregor wins coaches challenge, Holobaugh punches a ticket to the lightweight finale". espn.com.
24. Anderson, Jay (2023-08-19). "UFC 292: Kurt Holobaugh Wins TUF 31 Crown Against Austin Hubbard". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
25. Martin, Damon (2024-01-11). "TUF 31 winner Kurt Holobaugh vs. Trey Ogden set for March 23 UFC event". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
26. Dewar, Val (2024-03-24). "UFC Vegas 89: Trey Ogden's Wrestling Dominant, Sees Him Defeat Kurt Holobaugh". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
27. "UFC books Kurt Holobaugh vs. Kaynan Kruschewsky for July 20 in Las Vegas". MMA Junkie. 2024-05-01. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
28. Bryson Hester (2024-07-20). "Kurt Holobaugh Goes To War With Kruschewsky, Wins Decision". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
29. "KURT HOLOBAUGH" . Retrieved 10 February 2019.

External links

• Professional MMA record for Kurt Holobaugh from Sherdog