James Moontasri

James Moontasri
Born April 10, 1988
Frankfurt, Germany
Other names Moonwalker
Nationality American
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st)
Division Lightweight (155 lb)
Reach 73.5 in (187 cm)[1]
Fighting out of Los Angeles, California, United States
Team Blackhouse
UFC Gym Rosemead
Rank      4th dan in taekwondo[2]
     Purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu[2]
Years active 2008; 2011–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 10
Wins 8
By knockout 3
By submission 3
By decision 2
Losses 2
By decision 2
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

James Moontasri (born April 10, 1988) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division. Moontasri has competed in RFA and is currently signed with the UFC.[3][4][5][6] James was also a silver medalist at the 2007 Pan American Games in taekwondo. [7][8]

Mixed martial arts career

Resurrection Fighting Alliance

With a 4–1 mixed martial arts record, Moontasri made his RFA debut on August 16, 2013, facing R.J. Clifford at RFA 9: Munhoz vs. Curran. He won the bout via third round TKO.[9] In his next fight, he faced Rick Reger at RFA 12: Ortega vs. Koch on January 24, 2014, submitting Reger via a rear-naked choke in the second round.[10]

For his third appearance with the promotion, Moontasri faced Jordan Rinaldi at RFA 15: Casey vs. Sanchez on June 6, 2014.[11] He won the bout via second round KO, and just a couple weeks later, it was announced that Moontasri had signed with the UFC.[12]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

After his win over Rinaldi, Moontasri was picked up by the UFC and faced fellow promotional newcomer Joe Ellenberger at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens on June 28, 2014.[13] Despite hurting Ellenberger in the first round, he would rally in the second and third rounds and Moontasri lost via split decision.[14]

He was then scheduled to face Jake Lindsey at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch on February 14, 2015. However, Lindsey pulled out of the bout because of an injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Cody Pfister.[15] Moontasri was dominate in the fight, finishing Pfister with a rear-naked choke in the second round.[16]

Moontasri is expected to face Kevin Lee on July 15, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 71.[17]

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 8–2 Cody Pfister Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch February 14, 2015 2 1:49 Broomfield, Colorado, United States 158 lb Catchweight bout; Moontasri missed weight.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 7–2 Joe Ellenberger Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens June 28, 2014 3 5:00 San Antonio, Texas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–1 Jordan Rinaldi KO (punch) RFA 15: Casey vs. Sanchez June 6, 2014 2 1:14 Culver City, California, United States 160 lb Catchweight bout; Moontasri missed weight.[18]
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–1 Rick Reger Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) RFA 12: Ortega vs. Koch January 24, 2014 2 0:28 Los Angeles, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–1 R.J. Clifford TKO (punches) RFA 9: Munhoz vs. Curran August 16, 2013 3 2:40 Los Angeles, California, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 4–1 Darren Smith Decision (split) FCOC: Fight Club OC June 6, 2013 3 5:00 Costa Mesa, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–0 Joshua Aveles Decision (unanimous) RITC: Respect in the Cage August 25, 2012 3 5:00 Pomona, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–0 Joshua Aveles Decision (unanimous) RITC: Respect in the Cage November 19, 2011 3 5:00 Pomona, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–0 Tim Lindsay KO (punch) Gladiator Challenge: Hostile April 22, 2011 1 0:56 San Jacinto, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 Jade Delong Submission (verbal) GC 83: Savage August 29, 2008 2 0:37 San Bernadino, California, United States

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Official Tapology Profile of James Moontasri". tapology.com. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "James Moontasri". ufc.com. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
  3. ↑ "RFA 15: Alan Jouban, James Moontasri ready to make name for themselves". Daily News. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
  4. ↑ "Being Prepared for Any Outcome". USA Taekwondo. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
  5. ↑ "Mixed martial arts looks to Southern California hotbed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
  6. ↑ "James Moontasri explains why his game “caught on fire” ahead of RFA 15". MMA Corner. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
  7. ↑ "Cuban Angel Matos wins men's over 80kg class taekwondo title at Pan Am Games". People's Daily. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
  8. ↑ "TAEKWONDO: Colorado Springs' Moontasri says he's not afraid of anyone". Gazette. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
  9. ↑ "Resurrection Fighting Alliance 9 Official Results". mixedmartialarts.com. August 16, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Video: Watch the action-packed RFA 12 video highlights". mmajunkie.com. January 25, 2014.
  11. ↑ "RFA 15: Alan Jouban, James Moontasri ready to make name for themselves". dailynews.com. June 5, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Welcome to the UFC Montano, Bush, Moontasri, Howell". bloodyelbow.com. June 24, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Joe Ellenberger loses another opponent, now meets James Moontasri at UFC Fight Night 44". mmajunkie.com. June 18, 2014.
  14. ↑ "UFC Fight Night 44 results: Joe Ellenberger wins debut by split decision over James Moontasri". mmamania.com. June 28, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Newcomer Cody Pfister replaces Jake Lindsey at UFC Fight Night 60". mmajunkie.com. January 26, 2015.
  16. ↑ "UFC Fight Night 60 results, photos: James Moontasri chokes out Cody Pfister". mmajunkie.com. February 14, 2015.
  17. ↑ Tristen Critchfield (2015-04-25). "Kevin Lee vs. James Moontasri added to UFC Fight Night in San Diego". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
  18. ↑ "RFA 15: James Moonwalker vs. Jordan Rinaldi". tapology.com. Retrieved March 21, 2015.