Ilir Latifi

Ilir Latifi
Born July 28, 1983
Malmö, Sweden
Other names The Sledgehammer
Nationality Swedish
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st)
Division Light Heavyweight (2009-current)
Heavyweight (2008)
Reach 73.5 in (187 cm)
Fighting out of Malmö, Sweden
Team Allstars Training Center
Pancrase Gym Sweden
Trainer Andreas Michael
Selman Berisha
Years active 2008–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 14
Wins 9
By knockout 3
By submission 4
By decision 2
Losses 4
By knockout 2
By decision 2
No contests 1
Other information
Notable relatives Arben Latifi (brother)
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Ilir Latifi (Albanian pronunciation: [ɪˈlɪɾ lɒˈtcifi]; can be written as Illir Latyiphi; born July 28, 1983) is a Swedish mixed martial artist who competes in the light heavyweight division of the UFC. A professional MMA competitor since 2008, Latifi has spent the bulk of his career fighting in second-tier and regional promotions, such as Shark Fights, but has also had experience in the GLORY and K-1 promotions.[1] Latifi competed at the 2005 ADCC European trials, where his division was won by Alistair Overeem,[2] but he did not earn a spot at the 2005 ADCC championships. Although Latifi did not compete at the 2009 ADCC European Trials but was invited to the 2009 ADCC Championships, where he lost in the first round to Alexandre Ribeiro via points (2-0).[3]

Mixed martial arts career

Background

With a considerable number of wrestlers in his family, Latifi began wrestling at a young age.[4] Latifi continued to wrestle in order to pursue his dream of one day being world champion.[4] In 2005, he began to follow in his older brother's footsteps by training MMA as a result of his dissatisfaction with the constant rule changes in wrestling.[4][5] He trains under Selman Berisha at the Pancrase Gym Sweden in Malmö.

Early career

His first professional MMA fight was in 2008 with the Real Pain Challenge promotion against Blagoi Ivanov. However, the fight was ruled a no contest 55 seconds into the first round, as Latifi drove Ivanov into one of the posts on the ring and destroyed it.[6]

He holds a notable win over Tony Lopez and has also fought against current Bellator Light Heavyweight champion and former MFC Light Heavyweight Champion Emanuel Newton and Tatsuya Mizuno. His early career success has led to Latifi being ranked as one of the top Light Heavyweights in Europe.[7][8]

He became the first Superior Challenge Light Heavyweight Champion after defeating Jorge Oliveira for the vacant belt on October 6, 2012 at Superior Challenge 8.[9]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Latifi made his UFC debut against Gegard Mousasi on April 6, 2013 at UFC on Fuel TV 9, on a very short notice, replacing his injured training partner Alexander Gustafsson.[10] Latifi lost to Mousasi by unanimous decision. After the fight UFC President Dana White said that he was impressed with Latifi for taking a fight against a top 10 fighter like Mousasi on such short notice and that Latifi will get another fight in the promotion.[11]

In his second fight for the promotion, Latifi fought MMA- and kickboxing veteran Cyrille Diabaté on March 8, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 37.[12] He won the fight by submission due to a guillotine choke in the first round.[13]

He was later expected to face Tom Lawlor on July 19, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 46.[14] However, Lawlor later had to withdraw from the bout citing an injury,[15] and was replaced by promotional newcomer Chris Dempsey.[16] Latifi effectively used leg kicks to disable his opponent, before finishing him with punches, ending the fight by a first round knockout.[17][18]

Latifi faced promotional newcomer Jan Błachowicz on October 4, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 53.[19] He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.

Personal life

Latifi grew up in Rosengård in the same neighborhood as famed Swedish soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimović.[5] He has described his brother Arben Latifi as his greatest influence in life.[20]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed Martial Arts

Submission Wrestling

Mixed martial arts record

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 9–4 (1) Jan Błachowicz TKO (body kick and punches) UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Story October 4, 2014 1 1:58 Stockholm, Sweden
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9–3 (1) Chris Dempsey KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Brandao July 19, 2014 1 2:07 Dublin, Ireland
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8–3 (1) Cyrille Diabaté Submission (ninja choke) UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Manuwa March 8, 2014 1 3:02 London, England
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 7–3 (1) Gegard Mousasi Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fuel TV: Mousasi vs. Latifi April 6, 2013 3 5:00 Stockholm, Sweden
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–2 (1) Jorge Oliveira Decision (unanimous) Superior Challenge 8 October 6, 2012 3 5:00 Malmö, Sweden Won Superior Challenge Light Heavyweight Championship
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–2 (1) Tony Lopez Decision (unanimous) Glory 1: Stockholm May 26, 2012 3 5:00 Stockholm, Sweden
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–2 (1) Denis Bogdanov Submission (americana) United Glory 15 March 23, 2012 1 0:51 Moscow, Russia
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 4–2 (1) Emanuel Newton Decision (unanimous) Shark Fights 17 July 15, 2011 3 5:00 Frisco, Texas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–1 (1) Matteo Minonzio TKO (head kick) Strength and Honor Championship 2 April 10, 2010 1 4:29 Geneva, Switzerland
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 3–1 (1) Tatsuya Mizuno TKO (knee and punches) Rumble of the Kings 4 November 20, 2009 3 0:15 Stockholm, Sweden
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–0 (1) Darko Krbanjevic Submission (armbar) Rumble of the Kings 3 May 22, 2009 1 1:43 Malmö, Sweden
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–0 (1) Luis Pinho Submission (punches) Rumble of the Kings 2 February 27, 2009 1 1:20 Norrköping, Sweden Light Heavyweight debut
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 (1) Roman Mihocka KO (punches) Superior Challenge 2 October 25, 2008 2 1:55 Stockholm, Sweden
style="background-color: #c5d2ea; text-align:center" |NC 0–0 (1) Blagoi Ivanov NC (ring broke) Real Pain Challenge 2 May 17, 2008 1 0:55 Sofia, Bulgaria Fight ruled a No Contest due to faulty cage

Amateur mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 Christian Colombo Submission (north-south choke) Adrenaline 3 - Evolution September 6, 2008 1 2:33 Hvidovre, Denmark Originally scheduled as a professional contest, later changed to an amateur bout[23]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ilir "The Sledgehammer" Latifi MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography". Sherdog. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  2. ↑ "2005 ADCC European champions".retrieved 4/8/13
  3. ↑ "ADCC 2009 results".retrieved on 4/8/13
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "FIGHTLIFE OF ILIR LATIFI - EPISODE 1". KatlaStudios. May 24, 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "FIGHTLIFE OF ILIR LATIFI - EPISODE 3". KatlaStudios. January 17, 2013.
  6. ↑ "blagoi ivanov vs ilir latifi". VBOX7. January 8, 2010.
  7. ↑ Latifi "Current MMA Rankings >> Light Heavyweight". FightMatrix.com. March 31, 2013.
  8. ↑ "MMA Viking’s Official Nordic Top 5 Rankings (January Update)". MMAviking.com. January 15, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  9. ↑ "Superior Challenge 8 Fight Card". Sherdog.com. 2012-10-06.
  10. ↑ "UFC on Fuel 9: Gegard Mousasi meets Ilir Latifi, training partner of Gustafsson". Bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  11. ↑ "Despite lopsided loss Ilir Latifi will get another UFC fight". mmajunkie.com. 2013-04-06.
  12. ↑ "Cyrille Diabate vs Ilir Latifi added to the UFC’s return to London I March". sports.yahoo.com. 2013-11-29.
  13. ↑ "UFC Fight Night 37 results: Ilir Latifi scores emotional submission win over Cyrille Diabate". mmajunkie.com. 2014-03-08.
  14. ↑ "UFC Fight Night in Dublin adds McCall-Pickett, Latifi-Lawlor, Harris-Serry, Donovan-Krylov". mmajunkie.com. 2014-04-29.
  15. ↑ "Tom Lawlor out at UFC Fight Night 46, promotion seeking replacement foe for Ilir Latifi". mmajunkie.com. 2014-07-01.
  16. ↑ "Newcomer Chris Dempsey meets Ilir Latifi at UFC Fight Night 46". 2014-07-03.
  17. ↑ "UFC Fight Night 46 results: Ilir Latifi shuts down Chris Dempsey in first round". mmajunkie.com. 2014-07-19.
  18. ↑ "UFC Fight Night 46 results: Ilir Latifi knocks out Chris Dempsey early". fansided.com. 2014-07-19.
  19. ↑ John Barry (2014-07-30). "Latifi meets newcomer Błachowicz at UFC Stockholm". UFC.com. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  20. ↑ "FIGHTLIFE OF ILIR LATIFI - EPISODE 2". KatlaStudios. September 27, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Superior Challenge 8 Results". superiorchallenge.com. 2012-10-06.
  22. ↑ http://mma-fighter.com/forum/threads/6663-European-Qualifiers-to-Abu-Dhabi-Invitations-are-out
  23. ↑ http://www.mmabloggen.se/ilir-latifi-gor-debut/

External links