Leandro Higo

Last updated
Leandro Higo
Born (1989-01-19) January 19, 1989 (age 35)
Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
Other namesAlter
Nationality Brazilian
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb)
Division Featherweight
Bantamweight
Reach72 in (183 cm)
Fighting out of Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
TeamPitbull Brothers [1]
Fight Ready [1]
RankBlack belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu [2]
Years active2006–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total29
Wins23
By knockout3
By submission13
By decision7
Losses6
By knockout2
By submission1
By decision3
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Leandro Higo (born January 19, 1989) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight [3] division of Bellator MMA. A professional competitor since 2006, he has also competed for Resurrection Fighting Alliance and Legacy Fighting Alliance. As of December 8, 2023, he is #6 in the Bellator Bantamweight Rankings. [4]

Contents

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Higo made his Resurrection Fighting Alliance debut on August 21, 2015 vs. Terrion Ware at RFA 29, winning by rear-naked choke at the end of round 3. [5] Following a first round victory over Melvin Blumer at RFA 32, [6] he won the RFA Bantamweight title with a first round rear-naked choke victory against Joey Miolla at RFA 37. [7]

Higo made his debut with Legacy Fighting Alliance in the company's debut at LFA 1: Peterson vs. Higo, defeating Steven Peterson via unanimous decision to win the inaugural LFA Bantamweight Championship. [8]

The Ultimate Fighter Brazil

Higo competed in the Bantamweight division on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4. [9] He defeated Maycon Silvan in the elimination round via first round arm-triangle choke, but was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Bruno Rodrigues Mesquita via first round rear-naked choke. [10] After Giovanni Santos was forced to leave the season due to an infection, Higo reluctantly accepted to replace Santos to face Matheus Mattos in another quarterfinal bout. [11] However, his rib injury sustained in the previous week's bout with Mesquita worsened and he was forced to withdraw. [11]

Bellator MMA

Higo made his Bellator debut as a late replacement for Darrion Caldwell against Bantamweight titlist Eduardo Dantas in a non-title bout at Bellator 177, losing via split decision. [12]

Higo faced Joe Taimanglo on October 6, 2017 at Bellator 184, winning via unanimous decision. [13]

Higo earned an opportunity to compete for the Bellator Bantamweight Championship vs. Darrion Caldwell on March 2, 2018 at Bellator 195, losing via first round guillotine choke. [14]

For his next bout, Higo moved up to Featherweight and faced Aaron Pico at Bellator 206 on September 29, 2018. [15] He lost the fight via technical knockout in round one. [16]

After the failed attempt in featherweight division, Higo returned to the bantamweight division to face Shawn Bunch at Bellator 228 on September 28, 2019. He won the fight via submission in the second round. Subsequently he signed a new exclusive, multi-fight contract with Bellator. [17]

Higo was expected to face Johnny Campbell in a bantamweight bout at Bellator 241 on March 13, 2020. [18] However, Campbell withdrew from the bout due to an injury and was replaced by Dominic Mazzotta, the bout continuing as a featherweight bout. [19] [20]

Higo then faced Ricky Bandejas at Bellator 249 on October 15, 2020. Higo missed the contracted weight, but went on to win the bout via second-round submission. [21]

Higo faced Darrion Caldwell at Bellator 259 on May 21, 2021. [22] At the weigh-ins, Higo weighed in at 137.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Higo was fined a percentage of his purse, which went to Caldwell. [23] Higo won the bout via split decision. [24]

Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix

Higo faced Danny Sabatello in the quarter-finals of the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix at Bellator 282 on June 24, 2022. [25] He lost the bout via unanimous decision. [26]

Higo was scheduled to face James Gallagher on March 10, 2023 at Bellator 292. [27] However, in Mid February, Gallagher pulled out of the bout due to unknown reasons. [28]

Higo was scheduled to face Nikita Mikhailov on June 16, 2023 at Bellator 297. [29] However, the bout was scrapped when Mikhailov came down with a sickness. [30] The bout was rescheduled for August 11, 2023 at Bellator 298. [31] Higo won the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the second round. [32]

On short notice, Higo faced James Gallagher on March 22, 2024 at Bellator Champions Series 1. [33] Higo came out victorious via unanimous decision after a strong third round. [34]

Personal life

Higo has a son. [1]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
29 matches23 wins6 losses
By knockout32
By submission131
By decision73
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win23–6James GallagherDecision (unanimous) Bellator Champions Series 1 March 22, 202435:00 Belfast, Northern IrelandReturn to Featherweight.
Win22–6Nikita MikhailovSubmission (guillotine choke) Bellator 298 August 11, 202322:50 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States
Loss21–6 Danny Sabatello Decision (unanimous) Bellator 282 June 24, 202255:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal.
Win21–5 Darrion Caldwell Decision (split) Bellator 259 May 21, 202135:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United StatesCatchweight (137.5 lb) bout; Higo missed weight.
Win20–5Ricky BandejasSubmission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 249 October 15, 202022:32 Uncasville, Connecticut, United StatesCatchweight (139 lbs) bout; Higo missed weight.
Win19–5 Shawn Bunch Submission (guillotine choke) Bellator 228 September 28, 201924:34 Inglewood, California, United States
Loss18–5 Aaron Pico TKO (elbow and punches) Bellator 206 September 29, 201813:19 San Jose, California, United StatesFeatherweight bout.
Loss18–4 Darrion Caldwell Submission (guillotine choke) Bellator 195 March 2, 201812:36 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United StatesFor the Bellator Bantamweight World Championship.
Win18–3 Joe Taimanglo Decision (unanimous) Bellator 184 October 6, 201735:00 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Loss17–3 Eduardo Dantas Decision (split) Bellator 177 April 14, 201735:00 Budapest, Hungary
Win17–2 Steven Peterson Decision (unanimous) LFA 1: Peterson vs. Higo January 13, 201755:00 Dallas, Texas, United StatesWon the inaugural LFA Bantamweight Championship.
Win16–2Joey MiollaTechnical Submission (rear-naked choke)RFA 37April 15, 201612:07 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United StatesWon the vacant RFA Bantamweight Championship.
Win15–2Melvin BlumerTKO (punches)RFA 32November 6, 201512:58 Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States
Win14–2 Terrion Ware Submission (rear-naked choke)RFA 29August 21, 201534:58 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States
Win13–2Eduardo de Souza SilvaSubmission (rear-naked choke)Coliseu Extreme Fight 7September 6, 201322:33 Alagoas, Brazil
Win12–2Francisco Antonio Araujo RodriguesSubmission (rear-naked choke)Arena Fight 5January 18, 201312:42 Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
Win11–2Alex SilvaDecision (unanimous)Conquista Kombat ChampionshipNovember 17, 201235:00 Bahia, Brazil
Win10–2Janailson Kevin Pereira LimaSubmission (rear-naked choke)Fort MMA 2April 12, 201324:04 Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
Loss9–2 Iliarde Santos Decision (unanimous)Jungle Fight 38April 28, 201235:00 Pará, Brazil
Win9–1Erinaldo dos Santos RodriguesDecision (unanimous)WFE 11December 16, 201135:00 Bahia, Brazil
Win8–1Wagner CamposDecision (unanimous)WFE 10September 16, 201135:00 Bahia, Brazil
Loss7–1Marcos Vinicius Costa SilvaTKO (retirement)Recife Fighting Championship 2May 20, 201023:58 Pernambuco, Brazil
Win7–0Dudu DuduKO (punch)Nocaute FightSeptember 16, 201113:05 Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
Win6–0Gleidson Alves MartinsSubmission (triangle armbar)Guamare Fight 1March 10, 200911:45 Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
Win5–0Arivaldo Batista da SilvaKO (punch)Nordeste Fight Vale Tudo 4July 5, 200814:12 Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
Win4–0Diego TubaraoSubmission (armbar)Nordeste Fight Vale Tudo 4July 5, 200812:50 Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
Win3–0Jose Mario TomeSubmission (armbar)Arena Fight - Limoeiro 4January 9, 200810:39 Ceara, Brazil
Win2–0Rodrigo BarbosaSubmission (triangle choke)MZI: Fight 3June 21, 200721:49 Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
Win1–0Gilson GilsonSubmission (armbar)Nordeste Mega Fight Vale Tudo 2May 4, 200621:50 Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil

[35]

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

Professional record breakdown
2 matches1 win1 loss
By knockout00
By submission11
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss1–1Reginaldo VieiraSubmission (rear-naked choke) The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4 May 17, 2015 (airdate)14:04 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4 Quarterfinals round
Win1–0Maycon SilvanSubmission (arm triangle choke) The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4 April 12, 2015 (airdate)13:17 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4 Entry round


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References

  1. 1 2 3 Steve Juon (February 27, 2018). "Bellator 195's Leandro 'Simple Man' Higo aims to script Hollywood ending for his family". mmamania.com.
  2. ↑ Dan Tom (March 2, 2018). "Bellator 195 main-event breakdown: Will Darrion Caldwell's wrestling edge top Leandro Higo?". MMAjunkie.com .
  3. ↑ "Leandro Higo Bellator Bio". Bellator.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  4. ↑ "Bellator Rankings". www.bellator.com. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  5. ↑ "RFA 29 Leandro Higo vs. Terrion Ware". Tapology.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  6. ↑ "RFA 32 Leandro Higo vs. Melvin Blumer". Tapology.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  7. ↑ "Devin Clark, Leandro Higo Crowned Champions at RFA 37". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  8. ↑ "Leandro Higo Outpoints Steven Peterson, Captures Inaugural LFA Bantamweight Title". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  9. ↑ "Cast for The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 4 Revealed". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  10. ↑ "Leandro Higo Sherdog bio". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  11. 1 2 Damon Martin (May 25, 2015). "TUF Brazil 4: Episode 8 Recap". Ultimate Fighting Championship .
  12. ↑ "Eduardo Dantas edges Leandro Higo in Non-Title affair". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  13. ↑ "Caldwell unseats Dantas, takes Bantamweight Belt in Bellator 184 headliner". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  14. ↑ "Caldwell guillotines Higo to retail Bantamweight crown in Bellator 195 headliner". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  15. ↑ "Elite prospect Aaron Pico matched up with Leandro Higo at Bellator 206". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  16. ↑ "Bellator 206 results: Aaron Pico rolls over Leandro Higo". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
  17. ↑ Guilherme Cruz (November 7, 2019). "Leandro Higo, John Teixeira sign new multi-fight deals with Bellator". mmafighting.com.
  18. ↑ Guilherme Cruz (February 14, 2020). "Leandro Higo vs. Johnny Campbell, Killys Mota vs. Nate Andrews added to Bellator 241 in March". mmafighting.com.
  19. ↑ Guilherme Cruz (March 3, 2020). "Leandro Higo needs new opponent for next week's Bellator 241". mmafighting.com.
  20. ↑ Damon Martin (March 6, 2020). "Leandro Higo now faces Dominic Mazzotta in featherweight bout at Bellator 241". mmafighting.com.
  21. ↑ Steve Juon (October 16, 2020). "Bellator 249 'Cyborg vs Blencowe' recap with results, .gifs and interviews". mmamania.com.
  22. ↑ Lee, Alexander K. (2021-04-27). "Darrion Caldwell returns to bantamweight for Leandro Higo rematch at Bellator 259". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  23. ↑ "Bellator 259 weigh-in results: Two fighters come in heavy, including co-headliner". MMA Junkie. 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  24. ↑ "Bellator 259: Leandro Higo edges Darrion Caldwell in rematch". FanSided. 2021-05-21. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
  25. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2022-03-29). "Bellator: Mousasi vs. Eblen, Bantamweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals Announced for June 24". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  26. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2022-06-24). "Bellator 282: Danny Sabatello Grinds Out Leandro Higo, Advances in Bantamweight Grand Prix". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
  27. ↑ Stevenson, Andy (2023-01-18). "James Gallagher vs Leandro Higo set for Bellator 292". SevereMMA.com - UFC, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Irish MMA. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
  28. ↑ "James Gallagher out of Bellator 292 bout vs. Leandro Higo". MMA Junkie. 2023-02-16. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  29. ↑ "Leandro Higo encara Nikita Mikhailov no Bellator 297, em junho". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). 11 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  30. ↑ "Bellator 297 loses two bouts including former title challenger". MMA Junkie. 2023-06-10. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  31. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2023-06-22). "Leandro Higo vs. Nikita Mikhailov, Diana Avsaragova vs. Justine Kish Among Fights Added to Bellator 298". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  32. ↑ Sherdog.com. "Bellator 298 'Storley vs. Ward' Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring". Sherdog. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  33. ↑ "Bellator Belfast: Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire to defend featherweight title against Jeremy Kennedy". BBC Sport. 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  34. ↑ "Bellator Champions Series: Belfast results: Strong third round lifts Leandro Higo past James Gallagher". MMA Junkie. 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  35. ↑ Sherdog.com. "Leandro". Sherdog. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
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