| Rani Yahya | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 12, 1984 Brasília, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Weight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st) |
| Division | Bantamweight Featherweight Lightweight |
| Reach | 68 in (170 cm) |
| Style | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Fighting out of | Brasília, Brazil |
| Team | Constrictor Team |
| Rank | 2nd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 23 |
| Wins | 16 |
| By submission | 14 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Losses | 7 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Competitor for Brazil | ||
| Grappling | ||
| ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship | ||
| Silver | 2005 California, USA | -66 kg |
| Gold | 2007 New Jersey, USA | -66 kg |
Rani Ahmad Yahya (born September 12, 1984) is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and mixed martial artist. Yahya won the 66 kg division of the prestigious ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship in April 2007. He currently fights in both the featherweight and bantamweight divisions of the American-based MMA organization Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
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Yahya made his WEC debut against former TKO featherweight champion Mark Hominick at WEC 28 on May 3, 2007. Yahya defeated Hominick in the first round with a rear naked choke submission hold.
He fought Chase Beebe for the WEC bantamweight championship at WEC 30 on September 5, 2007. Yahya lost the fight via unanimous decision. Yahya lost via TKO to Norifumi Yamamoto at K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite!! on December 31, 2007. Yahya defeated former WEC bantamweight champion Eddie Wineland on the undercard of WEC 40 on April 5, 2009.
Yahya was scheduled to fight Kenji Osawa on August 9, 2009 on the undercard at WEC 42, but due to a foot injury suffered by Osawa, he was replaced by John Hosman.[1] Yahya submitted Hosman via North-South Choke in the first round and earned his third consecutive Submission of the Night bonus in the WEC.
Yahya was defeated by Joseph Benavidez via first round TKO at WEC 45.
Yahya faced Takeya Mizugaki on April 24, 2010 at WEC 48.[2] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Yahya was expected to face Chan Sung Jung on January 22, 2011 at UFC Fight Night 23.[3] However, Jung was forced from the card with an injury.[4] and replaced by Mike Brown.[5] Yahya won the fight via unanimous decision.
Yahya was expected to face Dustin Poirier on June 11, 2011 at UFC 131, but had to pull out of the bout due to injury.[6]
Yahya next faced Chad Mendes on August 6, 2011 at UFC 133.[7] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Yahya is expected to face Jonathan Brookins on February 15, 2012 at UFC on Fuel TV 1.[8]
ADCC World Submission Wrestling Championships
ADCC 2007 –65 kg: 1st Place
ADCC 2005 –65 kg: 2nd Place
ADCC 2003 –65 kg: Quarter finals.
Record of opponents:
CBJJ World Championships
2003 Brown Belt Pena: 1st Place
2002 Purple Belt Pluma: 1st Place
1999 Pan-Ams + World
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 23 matches | 16 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 0 | 2 |
| By submission | 14 | 1 |
| By decision | 2 | 4 |
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 16–7 | Chad Mendes | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 133 | 6 August 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | |
| Win | 16–6 | Mike Brown | Decision (unanimous) | UFC: Fight For The Troops 2 | 22 January 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Fort Hood, Texas, United States | Return to Featherweight. |
| Loss | 15–6 | Takeya Mizugaki | Decision (unanimous) | WEC 48 | 24 April 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Sacramento, California, United States | |
| Loss | 15–5 | Joseph Benavidez | TKO (punches) | WEC 45 | 19 December 2009 | 1 | 1:35 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 15–4 | John Hosman | Submission (north south choke) | WEC 42 | 9 August 2009 | 1 | 2:08 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Submission of the Night |
| Win | 14–4 | Eddie Wineland | Submission (rear naked choke) | WEC 40 | 5 April 2009 | 1 | 1:07 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Submission of the Night |
| Win | 13–4 | Yoshiro Maeda | Submission (guillotine choke) | WEC 36 | 5 November 2008 | 1 | 3:30 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | Fought at catchweight of 137lbs, after Yahya missed weight; Submission of the Night |
| Loss | 12–4 | Norifumi Yamamoto | TKO (punches and soccer kicks) | K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite!! | 31 December 2007 | 2 | 3:11 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Loss | 12–3 | Chase Beebe | Decision (unanimous) | WEC 30 | 5 September 2007 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | For WEC Bantamweight Champion |
| Win | 12–2 | Mark Hominick | Submission (rear naked choke) | WEC 28 | 3 June 2007 | 1 | 1:19 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–2 | Louie Moreno | Submission (guillotine choke) | PFC 2: Fast and Furious | 22 March 2007 | 1 | 0:23 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Loss | 10–2 | Gesias Cavalcante | Submission (guillotine choke) | Hero's 7 | 9 October 2006 | 1 | 0:39 | Yokohama, Japan | Hero's 2006 Lightweight Grand Prix semi-final. |
| Win | 10–1 | Kazuya Yasuhiro | Submission (brabo choke) | Hero's 6 | 5 August 2006 | 1 | 1:08 | Tokyo, Japan | Hero's 2006 Lightweight Grand Prix quarter-final. |
| Win | 9–1 | Eben Kaneshiro | Submission (ezekiel choke) | UAGF: Kaos on Kampus | 20 May 2006 | 3 | N/A | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| Win | 8–1 | Ryuki Ueyama | Decision (majority) | Hero's 5 | 3 May 2006 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Hero's 2006 Lightweight Grand Prix opening round. |
| Win | 7–1 | Takumi Yano | Technical Submission (triangle choke) | MARS | 4 February 2006 | 3 | 2:14 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 6–1 | Taiyo Nakahara | Submission (north south choke) | GCM: D.O.G. 4 | 11 December 2005 | 1 | 1:59 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 5–1 | Fabio Alves | Submission (arm triangle choke) | K-1 Brazil: Next Generation | 30 October 2004 | 1 | N/A | Goias, Brazil | |
| Loss | 4–1 | Fredson Paixao | Decision | Jungle Fight 2 | 15 May 2004 | 3 | 5:00 | Manaus, Brazil | |
| Win | 4–0 | Luciano Santos | Submission (americana) | TNT: Vale Tudo 2 | 17 April 2004 | N/A | N/A | Goiania, Brazil | |
| Win | 3–0 | Muzila Muzila | Submission (armbar) | TNT: Vale Tudo 2 | 17 April 2004 | N/A | N/A | Goiania, Brazil | |
| Win | 2–0 | Fabio Alves | Submission (peruvian necktie) | TNT: Vale Tudo 2 | 17 April 2004 | N/A | N/A | Goiania, Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | Junior Peba | Submission (arm triangle choke) | Kallifas Vale Tudo | 14 September 2002 | 1 | 1:30 | Goiania, Brazil |