Daniel Sarafian
| Daniel Sarafian | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Daniel Sarafian Gantman August 21, 1982 Sao Paulo, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian Armenian |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st) |
| Division | Middleweight |
| Reach | 72.4 in (184 cm) |
| Fighting out of | Sao Paulo, Brazil |
| Team |
Demian Maia JJ Needs Academia |
| Rank | Black Belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu |
| Years active | 2006-present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 12 |
| Wins | 8 |
| By submission | 7 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Losses | 4 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Daniel Sarafian Gantman (born August 21, 1982 in Sao Paulo, Brazil) is a Brazilian-Armenian mixed martial artist who competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional MMA competitor since 2006, Sarafian has fought mostly in Brazil and in the United States, including a one-fight stint in Bellator Fighting Championships. He was a competitor on Globo's The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.
Background
Sarafian started training in the martial arts at five years old under his grandfather who was a black belt in judo. Sarafian took solely judo classes until he was ten years old when he began training karate. At sixteen he began taking lessons in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. After entering high school and getting constantly picked on for being overweight, Sarafian began working out and training MMA. Only a couple classes into MMA, Sarafian "fell in love with fighting".
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Sarafian made his professional debut at Predator FC 2 against Jorge Luis Bezerra, winning the fight via submission in round three. In his next bout, he agreed to fight UFC and Strikeforce veteran Mike Whitehead. Sarafian lost the fight via unanimous decision. After his bout with Whitehead Sarafian was asked to take a fight for District Combat Promotions, a small promotion based in the United States. Sarafian took the fight and won via submission (armbar) in the third round.
Sarafian stayed in the United States and fought on the Texas' promotion, Xtreme Fight Championship. He fought Cedric Marks and won the fight via submission in the first round. Sarafian then signed a one-fight deal with Bellator Fighting Championships to compete on their first fight card of their inaugural season. Sarafian fought Gary Padilla, losing in the second round via referee stoppage. Sarafian racked up four straight wins before signing on to take part on The Ultimate Fighter.
The Ultimate Fighter
In March 2012, it was revealed that Sarafian was selected to be a participant on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. Sarafian defeated Richardson Moreira via decision to move into the Ultimate Fighter house, and become an official cast member.
Sarafian was selected as the third pick (sixth overall) by Vitor Belfort to be a part of Team Belfort. In the first Middleweight fight of the season, Sarafian was selected to fight Renee Forte. Sarafian dominated the fight and won via rear naked choke in the second round.[1]
In the semi-finals Sarafian was selected to fight Sergio Moraes. Sarafian won the fight in the first round via KO after hitting Moraes with a flying knee as he dropped for a take down. The win moved Sarafian into the finals of the middleweight tournament, set to take place at the UFC 147.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Sarafian was scheduled to officially make his UFC debut at UFC 147 on June 23, 2012 to determine the middleweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. However, due to an injury, Sarafian was replaced by Sergio Moraes[2] and did not compete at the event.
In his debut, Sarafian faced C.B. Dollaway on January 19, 2013 at UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping.[3] He lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision. Despite the loss, it was awarded the Fight of the Night honors.
Sarafian faced promotional newcomer Eddie Mendez on June 8, 2013 at UFC on Fuel TV 10.[4] He won the fight via arm triangle submission in the first round.
Sarafian faced Cezar Ferreira on November 9, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 32.[5] He lost the fight via split decision.
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 12 matches | 8 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 0 | 1 |
| By submission | 7 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 8–4 | Cezar Ferreira | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson | November 9, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Goiânia, Brazil | Original The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil Middleweight tournament final. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 8–3 | Eddie Mendez | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC on Fuel TV: Nogueira vs. Werdum | June 8, 2013 | 1 | 2:20 | Fortaleza, Brazil | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 7–3 | C.B. Dollaway | Decision (split) | UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping | January 19, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | Fight of the Night |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 7–2 | Ricardo Silva | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Pretorian 1 | July 5, 2011 | 1 | 4:01 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 6–2 | Gilklei Antonio Silva | Submission (punches) | Blaze FC 1 | February 26, 2011 | 1 | 1:44 | Curitiba, Parana, Brazil | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 5–2 | Mauricio Alonso | Decision (unanimous) | First Class Fight 5 | October 23, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 4–2 | Yuri Villas Boas | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Hero Kombat 1 | April 24, 2010 | 1 | 2:14 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 3–2 | Gary Padilla | TKO (punches) | Bellator 1 | April 3, 2009 | 2 | 3:04 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 3–1 | Cedric Marks | Submission (triangle choke) | Xtreme Fight Championship | February 27, 2009 | 1 | 2:06 | Austin, Texas, United States | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 2–1 | Lamont Lister | Submission (armbar) | District Combat Promotions 1 | December 13, 2008 | 3 | 1:32 | Washington, D.C., United States | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 1–1 | Mike Whitehead | Decision (unanimous) | Platinum Fighting Productions 1 | December 9, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Quezon City, Philippines | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 1–0 | Jorge Luis Bezerra | Submission (guillotine choke) | Predador FC 2 | August 11, 2006 | 3 | 0:43 | São Paulo, Brazil |
References
- ↑ "Episode No. 3 recap: 'The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil'". Retrieved 21 April 2012.
- ↑ http://mmajunkie.com/news/29233/with-mutante-vs-sarafian-official-ufc-147s-main-card-complete-with-five-bouts.mma
- ↑ "UFC makes official Jan. 19 card in Brazil". MMAjunkie.com. November 3, 2012.
- ↑ Dana Becker (2013-03-18). "Daniel Sarafian-Eddie Mendez Added To UFC On FUEL TV 10". fightline.com. Retrieved 2013-03-18.
- ↑ Christoffer Esping. "Cezar Mutante möter Daniel Sarafian på UFC Fight Night 32". mmanytt.se. Retrieved 2013-08-26.