Mehdi Baghdad

Mehdi Baghdad
Born	(1985-04-13) 13 April 1985 (age 38) La Seyne-sur-Mer, France
Other names	Sultan [1]
Nationality	Algerian and French
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Division	Welterweight(2016-17) Lightweight (2007–13,2018-present) Featherweight(2013) [2]
Reach	75 in (190 cm)
Style	Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai
Stance	Orthodox
Fighting out of	Los Angeles, California, United States
Team	Black house
Rank	Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Antônio "Nino" Schembri [1]
Years active	2007–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total	19
Wins	12
By knockout	8
By submission	3
By decision	1
Losses	7
By knockout	3
By submission	1
By decision	3
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Last updated on: 25 May 2016

Mehdi Baghdad (born 13 April 1985) is a French mixed martial artist who fights out of Los Angeles, California. He previously fought for the UFC in the lightweight division. He was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs Team Faber.

Mixed martial arts career

Baghdad started training at the age of 16 and had his first fight at the age of 20. He went on to become a world champion in Muay Thai, WKBC also lightweight champion in RFA MMA. Baghdad is inspired by his father who died when he was young, and former world champion boxer Prince Naseem Hamed. Baghdad's first loss was handed to him by UFC competitor Charles Oliveira. Baghdad's nickname is Sultan, which in Arabic means High King / Emperor.

The Ultimate Fighter

Baghdad joined the Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs Team Faber . Baghdad defeated Artem Lobov via majority decision after two rounds. He then joined McGregor's team (European team). Unfortunately Julian Erosa defeated Mehdi Baghdad via majority decision after two rounds in the preliminary fights, this would eliminate him from the tournament. ^[3]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Despite losing TUF 22 Baghdad would still be signed by the promotion and would have his first match against Chris Wade on UFC Fight Night 81 on 17 January 2016. Baghdad would lose 4 minutes and 30 seconds into the first round by tapping out to the rear - naked choke. ^[4]

Baghdad was expected to face John Makdessi on 4 June 2016 at UFC 199 ^[5] but was rescheduled to 7 July 2016 at UFC Fight Night 90. ^[6] Makdessi was awarded a split decision victory. ^[7]

Baghdad was scheduled to face Jon Tuck on 15 October 2016 at UFC Fight Night 97. ^[8] However, Baghdad pulled out of the fight in mid-September citing injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Alex Volkanovski. ^[9] In turn, Baghdad was released from the promotion. ^[10]

The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption

In February 2017, it was revealed that Baghdad would again compete on the UFC's reality show in the 25th season on The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption . ^[11] Baghdad was the second pick overall for Team Garbrandt. He faced Jesse Taylor in the opening round and lost via unanimous decision. ^[12]

Post UFC

Baghdad faced Thibault Gouti for the LTDE Super Lightweight belt on 2 July 2021 at Trophee des Etoiles 15. ^[13] Baghdad lost the bout via TKO in the first round. ^[14]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown

19 matches	12 wins	7 losses
By knockout	8	3
By submission	3	1
By decision	1	3

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Loss	12–7	Thibault Gouti	TKO (punches)	Trophee des Etoiles 15	2 July 2021	1	N/A	Aix-en-Provence, France	For the LTDE Super Lightweight Championship.
Win	12–6	Erivan Pereira	Decision (split)	Brave 25	30 August 2019	3	5:00	Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Loss	11–6	Pawel Kielek	Decision (unanimous)	Brave 12 - KHK Legacy	11 May 2018	3	5:00	Jakarta, Indonesia
Loss	11–5	John Makdessi	Decision (split)	UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Alvarez	7 July 2016	3	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss	11–4	Chris Wade	Submission (rear-naked choke)	UFC Fight Night: Dillashaw vs. Cruz	17 January 2016	1	4:30	Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win	11–3	Zach Juusola	TKO (punches)	RFA 21 - Juusola vs. Baghdad	5 December 2014	4	2:37	Costa Mesa, California, United States	Won the vacant RFA Lightweight Championship.
Win	10–3	Evan Delong	TKO (punches)	RFA 18 - Manzanares vs. Pantoja	12 September 2014	1	1:55	Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States	Return to Lightweight.
Win	9–3	Nicholas Christy	Submission (choke)	West Coast FC 7: Griffin vs. Gonzalez	16 November 2013	2	4:57	Sacramento, California, United States	Featherweight debut.
Win	8–3	Dionisio Ramirez	Submission (choke)	BAMMA USA: Badbeat 11	25 October 2013	2	1:53	Commerce, California, United States	Won the BAMMA USA Lightweight Championship.
Win	7–3	Tom Douglas	TKO (punches)	Gladiator Challenge: Summer Heat	30 June 2013	1	0:42	San Jacinto, California, United States
Win	6–3	Dominic Gutierrez	Submission (anaconda choke)	All Star Boxing	21 September 2012	2	2:31	Oceanside, California, United States
Win	5–3	Mike Sandez	KO (punch)	Marconi Fight Night	9 March 2012	1	2:30	Tustin, California, United States
Loss	4–3	Yves Landu	Decision (unanimous)	100% Fight 5	28 May 2011	2	5:00	Paris, France
Win	4–2	Randall Jimenez	TKO (soccer kicks and punches)	Xtreme Vale Todo 5: Franca vs. Kheder	19 December 2010	1	0:37	Cartago, Costa Rica
Win	3–2	Jeffry Lopez Madrigal	TKO (punches)	Xtreme Vale Todo 4	26 June 2010	1	3:45	Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Loss	2–2	Juan Puig	TKO (punches)	Panama Fight League: Ultimate Combat Challenge 5	22 May 2010	2	3:37	Panama City, Panama
Win	2–1	Rudy Saoudi	TKO (leg kicks)	100% Fight: Contenders 4	10 October 2009	2	1:43	Paris, France
Loss	1–1	Charles Oliveira	TKO (punches)	Kawai Arena 1	13 December 2008	1	1:01	São Paulo, Brazil
Win	1–0	Unknown Fighter	TKO (knees and punches)	Rio Recreio Fighting	14 March 2007	1	2:00	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

Professional record breakdown

3 matches	1 win	2 losses
By decision	1	2

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Loss	1–2	Jesse Taylor	Decision (Unanimous)	The Ultimate Fighter: Team Garbrandt vs Team Dillashaw	3 May 2017	2	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Eliminated from the TUF 25 tournament
Loss	1–1	Julian Erosa	Decision (majority)	The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs Team Faber	21 October 2015	2	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Eliminated from the TUF 22 tournament
Win	1–0	Artem Lobov	Decision (majority)	The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs Team Faber	9 September 2015	2	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Entered in the TUF 22 tournament

See also

• List of current Brave CF fighters

References

1. "Mehdi Baghdad - Official UFC Fighter Profile". UFC.com. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
2. Sherdog.com. "Mehdi". sherdog.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
3. "Episode No. 6 recap: 'The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber'". MMA Junkie. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
4. "UFC Fight Night 81 results: Chris Wade runs through Mehdi Baghdad in first round". mmajunkie.com. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
5. "John Makdessi vs. Mehdi Baghdad joins UFC 199 lineup". mmajunkie.com. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
6. "Mehdi Baghdad vs. John Makdessi Results and News - UFC Fight Night: Dos Anjos vs. Alvarez - MMA Fighting". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
7. Ben Fowlkes (7 July 2016). "UFC Fight Night 90 results: John Makdessi gets past Mehdi Baghdad with narrow split-decision win". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
8. Staff (2 September 2016). "Jon Tuck vs. Mehdi Baghdad added to UFC Fight Night 97 in Philippines". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
9. Chris (15 September 2016). "Alex Volkanovski set to face Jon Tuck at UFC Fight Night 97". fightnewsaustralia.com. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
10. Baldwin, Nick (23 October 2016). "Baghdad had to choose UFC release or fighting hurt: 'It's just the ego of Joe Silva'". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
11. Marc Raimondi (15 February 2017). "Joe Stevenson, James Krause, Jesse Taylor among TUF: Redemption cast members". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
12. Bohn, Mike (3 May 2017). "Episode No. 3 recap: 'The Ultimate Fighter 25: Redemption'". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
13. "Trophee des Etoiles 15: Arena Goliath MMA | MMA Event". Tapology. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
14. "Trophee des Etoiles 15: Arena Goliath MMA | MMA Event". Tapology. Retrieved 1 October 2021.

External links

• Mehdi Baghdad at Brave CF
• Mehdi Baghdad at UFC
• Professional MMA record for Mehdi Baghdad from Sherdog