Linton Vassell

Last updated

Linton Vassell
Linton Vassell 2014-04-27 23-12.jpg
Born (1983-06-03) 3 June 1983 (age 41)
Milton Keynes, England
Other namesThe Swarm
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight241 lb (109 kg; 17 st 3 lb)
Division Heavyweight
Light Heavyweight
Reach82 in (208 cm)
Fighting out ofMilton Keynes, England
TeamBST Academy [1]
Hard Knocks 365
Years active2008–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total35
Wins24
By knockout10
By submission8
By decision6
Losses10
By knockout5
By submission1
By decision4
No contests1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Last updated on: 27 February 2012

Linton Vassell (born 3 June 1983) is an English mixed martial artist, who competes in the Heavyweight division of Bellator. [2] A professional since 2008, he has also competed for UCMMA and Cage Warriors. He is the former UCMMA Light Heavyweight Champion.

Contents

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Vassell started training in mixed martial arts at the age of 23 in 2007 in Milton Keynes. After training for six months he won his first amateur fight against opponent Ian Tobell in October 2007, three weeks later he was fighting for the AMMA Championship Title against Danny Hudson, a fight he won by submission. [3]

Vassell fought Stav Economou to a decision loss for the vacant UWC Heavyweight Championship. [4]

After winning his next fight, he went to Cage Warriors where he meet Simon Carlsen, he defeated Carlsen by decision at Cage Warriors 41. [5]

After winning two fights on UCMMA he went on to win the UCMMA Light Heavyweight Championship. [6]

UCMMA Light Heavyweight Championship reign

On 4 February 2012, Vassell defeated Aurelijus Kerpe to become the new UCMMA Light Heavyweight Champion which was made vacant after Jimi Manuwa signed to BAMMA. [7]

He successfully defended his title for the first time when he defeated Nick Chapman by submission early into the second round. [8]

Linton Vassell fought Zelg Galesic for UCMMA Light Heavyweight Championship on 2 February 2013. Zelg opened the fight with impressive striking, but Vassell moved the fight on the ground where he dominated Galesic and won the fight by first-round TKO to retain the UCMMA Light Heavyweight Championship.[ citation needed ]

BAMMA

Vassell was scheduled to face Jason Jones at BAMMA 11, but had to pull out due to injury. [9]

Bellator MMA

On 7 August 2013 Bellator announced that Vassell has signed a contract with the promotion. [10] He made his debut against Matt Jones on 8 November 2013 at Bellator 107. Vassell won the fight via unanimous decision. [11]

Vassell returned to the Bellator cage on 28 March 2014 at Bellator 114, he faced Trevor Carlson. Vassell won via rear-naked choke submission in the second round. [12]

In his next appearance for Bellator, Vassell faced Virgil Zwicker at Bellator 122 on 25 July 2014. Vassell won via submission in the first round. [13]

Vassell challenged Emanuel Newton for his light heavyweight title at Bellator 130 on 24 October 2014. [14] Despite winning the first two rounds of the fight due to a dominant ground game, Vassell lost the fight via submission in the fifth round.

Vassell faced UFC and PRIDE veteran Sokoudjou on 27 February 2015 at Bellator 134. [15] He won the fight by TKO in the second round.

Vassell was next a participant in Bellator's one-night Light Heavyweight tournament at Bellator MMA & Glory: Dynamite 1 on 19 September 2015. [16] He faced Muhammed Lawal in the opening round and lost via unanimous decision.

Vassell had a rematch with Emanuel Newton on 19 February 2016 at Bellator 149. [17] He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Vassell was supposed to fight Francis Carmont at Bellator 158 but a cut over his left eye forced him to withdraw. [18] The bout was re-booked for Bellator 165 on 19 November 2016. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Vassell faced Liam McGeary at Bellator 179 on 19 May 2017. He won the fight via arm-triangle choke submission in the third round and, thus, becoming the first fighter to finish McGeary. [19]

After a three-fight winning streak, Vassell faced newly crowned light heavyweight champion, Ryan Bader, at Bellator 186 on 3 November 2017. [20] He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

Vassell faced Phil Davis on 25 May 2018 at Bellator 200. [21] He lost the fight via knock out due to a head kick in round three. [22]

Vassell faced Valentin Moldavsky on March 22, 2019 at Bellator 218, where he lost by unanimous decision. [23]

Vassell headlined Bellator 234 against Sergei Kharitonov on 14 November 2019. [24] He won the fight via TKO in the second round.

Vassell faced Ronny Markes at Bellator 254 on 10 December 2020. [25] He won the fight via TKO in the second round. [26]

Vassell was expected to face Marcelo Golm on July 16, 2021 at Bellator 262. [27] On July 12, the bout was scratched after Vassell suffered an injury. [28] [29]

Vassell faced Tyrell Fortune on November 12, 2021 at Bellator 271. [30] In a highly competitive affair, Vassell won the bout via split decision. [31] 5 out of 6 media scores gave it to Vassell. [32] \

Vassell faced Timothy Johnson on April 15, 2022 at Bellator 277. [33] After getting rocked early, Vassell completed the comeback and won the bout via TKO at the end of the first. [34]

After the victory, Vassell signed a new 6 bout deal. [35]

Vassell rematched Valentin Moldavsky on March 10, 2023 at Bellator 292. [36] He won the bout in the first round, dropping Moldavsky and knocking him out with elbows from mount. [37]

Vassell was scheduled to face reigning champion Ryan Bader in a rematch for the Bellator Heavyweight Championship on 7 October 2023, at Bellator 300. [38] However, Vassell withdrew a few days before the event due to illness and the bout was cancelled. [39]

PFL

Vassell debuted with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) at PFL 1 on April 4, 2024 and lost the fight to Denis Goltsov by technical knockout. [40]

Vassell faced Valentin Moldavsky in a rematch on June 13, 2024 at PFL 4. [41] He won the fight via split decision. [42]

Vassell, as a replacement for Valentin Moldavsky, faced Oleg Popov in the semifinals of the 2024 Heavyweight tournament at PFL 7 on August 2, 2024, losing the bout via unanimous decision. [43]

Championships and Accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
35 matches24 wins10 losses
By knockout105
By submission81
By decision64
No contests1
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss24–10 (1)Oleg PopovDecision (unanimous) PFL 7 (2024) August 2, 202435:00 Nashville, Tennessee, United States 2024 PFL Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win24–9 (1) Valentin Moldavsky Decision (split) PFL 4 (2024) June 13, 202435:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Loss23–9 (1) Denis Goltsov TKO (punches) PFL 1 (2024) April 4, 202433:11 San Antonio, Texas, United States
Win23–8 (1) Valentin Moldavsky KO (punches and elbows) Bellator 292 March 10, 202313:03 San Jose, California, United States
Win22–8 (1) Timothy Johnson TKO (punches) Bellator 277 April 15, 202214:21 San Jose, California, United States
Win21–8 (1)Tyrell FortuneDecision (split) Bellator 271 November 12, 202135:00 Hollywood, Florida, United States
Win20–8 (1) Ronny Markes TKO (punches) Bellator 254 December 10, 202023:37 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win19–8 (1) Sergei Kharitonov TKO (punches) Bellator 234 November 15, 201923:15 Tel Aviv, Israel
Loss18–8 (1) Valentin Moldavsky Decision (unanimous) Bellator 218 March 22, 201935:00 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United StatesReturn to Heavyweight.
Loss18–7 (1) Phil Davis KO (head kick) Bellator 200 May 25, 201831:05 London, England
Loss18–6 (1) Ryan Bader TKO (punches) Bellator 186 November 3, 201723:58 University Park, Pennsylvania, United StatesFor the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship.
Win18–5 (1) Liam McGeary Submission (arm-triangle choke) Bellator 179 May 19, 201732:28 London, England
Win17–5 (1) Francis Carmont Decision (unanimous) Bellator 165 November 19, 201635:00 San Jose, California, United States
Win16–5 (1) Emanuel Newton Decision (unanimous) Bellator 149 February 19, 201635:00 Houston, Texas, United States
Loss15–5 (1) Muhammed Lawal Decision (unanimous) Bellator 142: Dynamite 1 September 19, 201525:00 San Jose, California, United StatesBellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win15–4 (1) Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou TKO (punches) Bellator 134 February 27, 201523:18 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Loss14–4 (1) Emanuel Newton Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 130 24 October 201450:47 Mulvane, Kansas, United StatesFor the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship.
Win14–3 (1) Virgil Zwicker Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 122 July 25, 201411:07 Temecula, California, United States
Win13–3 (1)Trevor CarlsonSubmission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 114 March 28, 201421:54 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Win12–3 (1)Matt JonesDecision (unanimous) Bellator 107 November 8, 201335:00 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Win11–3 (1) Zelg Galešic TKO (punches)UCMMA 32February 2, 201314:31 London, EnglandDefended the UCMMA Light Heavyweight Championship.
Win10–3 (1)Nick ChapmanSubmission (rear-naked choke)UCMMA 29August 18, 201220:55 London, EnglandDefended the UCMMA Light Heavyweight Championship.
Win9–3 (1)Aurelijus KerpeSubmission (armbar)UCMMA 26: The Real DealFebruary 4, 201213:16 London, EnglandWon the UCMMA Light Heavyweight Championship.
Win8–3 (1)Zsolt BallaTKO (punches)Ultimate Warrior Challenge 17October 8, 201112:09 Essex, England
Win7–3 (1)Simon CarlsenDecision (unanimous) Cage Warriors 41 April 24, 201135:00 London, England
Win6–3 (1)Rolandas CizauskasTKO (punches)UCMMA 18: Face OffFebruary 5, 201114:21 London, England
Loss5–3 (1)Matti MäkeläTKO (punches)Superior Challenge 6October 29, 201034:10 Stockholm, Sweden
NC5–2 (1)Adrian PredaNC (accidental eye poke) UCMMA 16 October 23, 20101N/A London, EnglandAccidental eye poke .
Win5–2Kevin ThompsonSubmission (rear-naked choke)OMMAC 5June 5, 201014:21 Liverpool, EnglandWon the OMMAC British Light Heavyweight Championship.
Win4–2Nick NembherdTKO (punches)Ultimate Warrior Challenge 12March 20, 201012:49 Essex, England
Loss3–2Stav EconomouDecision (unanimous)Ultimate Warrior Challenge 11November 28, 200935:00 Essex, EnglandFor the UWC Heavyweight Championship.
Win3–1Svajunas SiacuilaSubmission (keylock)Ultimate Warrior Challenge 10June 28, 200910:48 Essex, England
Win2–1Reza MahdavianTKO (punches)Ultimate Warrior Challenge 9March 22, 200912:35 Essex, England
Loss1–1Shola AdeniranTKO (punches)Ultimate Warrior Challenge 8November 8, 200833:43 Essex, England
Win1–0Chris GreigSubmission (rear-naked choke)FX3: Fight Night 9September 13, 200813:19 Reading, England

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References

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