Willie Gates

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Willie Gates
Born (1987-01-21) January 21, 1987 (age 38)
Fontana, California, United States
Other namesWhoop Ass
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st)
Division Bantamweight
Flyweight
Reach70 in (178 cm) [1]
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Fontana, California, United States
TeamPinnacle MMA
Years active2008–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total25
Wins12
By knockout5
By submission4
By decision3
Losses13
By knockout3
By submission7
By decision3
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Willie Gates (born January 21, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Flyweight division. A professional competitor since 2008, he has competed for the UFC, King of the Cage, Tachi Palace Fights, and Bellator MMA.

Contents

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Born and raised in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, Gates began training in mixed martial arts in 2004. He made his professional debut as a lightweight in October 2008 where he competed in several regional promotions. Gates fought predominantly in his native state of California where he amassed a record of 11–4, competing primarily in the bantamweight division before joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship. [2]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Gates made his promotional debut as a short notice replacement for an injured Jussier Formiga against John Moraga on December 13, 2014, at UFC on Fox 13. [2] He lost the back-and-forth fight via submission in the third round. [3]

Gates faced Darrell Montague on July 12, 2015, at The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale. [4] Gates won the one-sided fight via TKO in the first round. [5]

In a quick turnaround, Gates faced Dustin Ortiz on August 8, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 73, filling in for an injured Ian McCall. [6] He lost the fight via TKO in the third round. [7]

Gates was expected to face Patrick Holohan on May 8, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 87. [8] However, on April 25, Holohan abruptly announced his retirement, citing a rare blood disorder. [9] He was replaced on the card by Ulka Sasaki. [10] Gates lost the fight via submission in the second round. [11]

On June 3 Willie Gates was released from the promotion.

Post UFC

In his first bout post UFC release, Gates faced Andre Ewell in September 2017, losing by a rear-naked choke submission at KOTC: Never Quit. Gates then lost to George Garcia in October 2018 in a bout for the CXF Bantamweight Championship at CXF 15: Rage in the Cage, with Garcia winning by a rear-naked choke submission in the second round. In March 2019, Gates lost to Marvin Garcia at KOTC: Sin Rival, with Garcia winning by unanimous decision. They then suffered a loss to Ryan MacDonald in October 2021 at Art of Scrap 3, with MacDonald winning by TKO punches during a catchweight (140 lb) bout.

In January 2023, they lost to Musa Toliver at LXF 8: The Return, with Toliver winning by split decision. Gates made a return a few months later against Teruto Ishihara at Urijah Faber's A1 Combat 9 in March 2023, with Ishihara winning by rear-naked choke submission in the first round. [12]

Bare-knuckle boxing

Gates is scheduled to make his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship debut against Brandon Meneses on June 21, 2025 at BKFC 76. [13]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
25 matches12 wins13 losses
By knockout53
By submission47
By decision33
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss12–13 Teruto Ishihara Submission (rear-naked choke)Urijah Faber's A1 Combat 9March 18, 202313:12 Long Beach, California, United States
Loss12–12Musa ToliverDecision (split)LXF 8: The ReturnJanuary 14, 202335:00 Commerce, California, United States
Loss12–11Ryan MacDonaldTKO (punches)Art of Scrap 3October 30, 202131:56 Fort Wayne, Indiana, United StatesCatchweight (140 lb) bout.
Loss12–10Marvin GarciaDecision (unanimous)KOTC: Sin RivalMarch 10, 201935:00 Ontario, California, United States
Loss12–9George GarciaSubmission (rear-naked choke)CXF 15: Rage in the CageOctober 20, 201822:33 Burbank, California, United StatesFor CXF Bantamweight Championship. Return to Bantamweight.
Loss12–8 Andre Ewell Submission (rear-naked choke)KOTC: Never QuitSeptember 2, 201732:47 Ontario, California, United States
Loss12–7 Ulka Sasaki Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Arlovski May 8, 201622:30 Rotterdam, Netherlands
Loss12–6 Dustin Ortiz TKO (elbows and punches) UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Saint Preux August 8, 201532:58 Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Win12–5 Darrell Montague TKO (knees to the body and elbows) The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians Finale July 12, 201511:36 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss11–5 John Moraga Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on Fox: dos Santos vs. Miocic December 13, 201434:06 Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Win11–4 Hector Sandoval TKO (punches)TPF 21: All or NothingNovember 6, 201411:23 Lemoore, California, United States Flyweight debut; won vacant Tachi Palace Fights Flyweight Championship.
Win10–4Jimmy MarquezSubmission (rear-naked choke)Gladiator Challenge: Glove UpOctober 4, 201411:36 San Jacinto, California, United States
Win9–4Chris ChavezKO (knee)Gladiator Challenge: Battle ReadyAugust 23, 201411:10 El Cajon, California, United States
Win8–4Eddy GonzalezSubmission (armbar)Gladiator Challenge: Night of the ChampionsJuly 19, 201410:20 Rancho Mirage, California, United States
Win7–4Mario CasaresSubmission (rear-naked choke)Gladiator Challenge: NitroApril 5, 201411:59 San Jacinto, California, United StatesWon vacant Gladiator Challenge Bantamweight Championship.
Loss6–4Anthony PeralesSubmission (armbar)SCMMA 2: Inland Empire Strikes AgainMay 18, 201331:43 Ontario, California, United States
Win6–3Justin SantistevanSubmissionGladiator Challenge: BattlegroundMarch 24, 201310:28 San Jacinto, California, United States
Win5–3Gary FranklinTKO (punches)Gladiator Challenge: Heat ReturnsOctober 28, 201210:15 San Jacinto, California, United States
Loss4–3Federico LopezDecision (unanimous)MEZ Sports: Pandemonium 7August 18, 201235:00 Inglewood, California, United States
Win4–2Jason CarbajalDecision (unanimous)FCOC: Fight Club OCJune 7, 201235:00 Costa Mesa, California, United States
Win3–2Keenan LewisDecision (split)National Fight Alliance: Valley Invasion 2April 6, 201235:00 Los Angeles, California, United States
Win2–2Thomas CasarezDecision (unanimous)LBFN 13: Long Beach Fight Night 13November 20, 201133:00 Long Beach, California, United States
Win1–2Skylar ReiderTKO (punches)LBFN 11: Long Beach Fight Night 11January 2, 201111:14 Long Beach, California, United States
Loss0–2 Jimmie Rivera Submission (triangle choke) Bellator 2 April 10, 200933:17 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Loss0–1 Robbie Peralta TKO (punches)GC 85: Cross FireOctober 25, 200813:50 San Diego, California, United States

See also

References

  1. "Fight Card - The Ultimate Fighter Finale American Top Team vs. Blackzilians". UFC.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Zane Simon (November 26, 2014). "Welcome to the UFC, Willie Gates". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  3. Dave Doyle (December 13, 2014). "UFC on FOX 13 results: John Moraga rallies past Willie Gates in strange fight". mmafighting.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  4. Staff (May 28, 2015). "Willie Gates vs. Darrell Montague set for TUF 21 finale in July in Las Vegas". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  5. Steven Marrocco (July 12, 2015). "TUF 21 Finale results: Willie Gates takes out Darrell Montague in 96 seconds". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  6. Staff (July 23, 2015). "UFC Fight Night 73 fight card lineup finalized following Uriah Hall and Dustin Ortiz receiving new opponents". themmareport.com. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  7. Steven Marrocco (August 8, 2015). "UFC Fight Night 73 results: Dustin Ortiz pounds out Willie Gates in third". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  8. Ariel Helwani (April 6, 2016). "Paddy Holohan vs. Willie Gates in the works for UFC Rotterdam". mmafighting.com. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  9. Staff (April 25, 2016). "Paddy Holohan announces retirement". ufc.com. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  10. Staff (April 26, 2016). "With Paddy Holohan's retirement, Willie Gates gets new UFC Fight Night 87 opponent". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  11. Matt Erickson (May 8, 2016). "UFC Fight Night 87 results: Ulka Sasaki taps out Willie Gates in flyweight debut". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  12. "【海外MMA】石原"夜叉坊"暉仁、元UFC戦士にチョークでプロ初の一本勝ち!「はじめての寝技で」と報告(イーファイト)". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  13. "BKFC 76 TEXAS TENAGLIA vs SOTO ON DAZN EVENT | BKFC". www.bkfc.com. Retrieved May 12, 2025.