Willie Gates
| Willie Gates | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 21, 1987 Fontana, California, United States |
| Other names | Whoop Ass |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Weight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st) |
| Division | Bantamweight Flyweight |
| Reach | 70 in (178 cm)[1] |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Fontana, California, United States |
| Team | Pinnacle MMA |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 25 |
| Wins | 12 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Losses | 13 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 7 |
| By decision | 3 |
| 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.
Mixed martial arts career[edit]
Early career[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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]
Mixed martial arts record[edit]
| 25 matches | 12 wins | 13 losses |
| By knockout | 5 | 3 |
| By submission | 4 | 7 |
| By decision | 3 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 12–13 | Teruto Ishihara | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Urijah Faber's A1 Combat 9 | March 18, 2023 | 1 | 3:12 | Long Beach, California, United States | |
| Loss | 12–12 | Musa Toliver | Decision (split) | LXF 8: The Return | January 14, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Commerce, California, United States | |
| Loss | 12–11 | Ryan MacDonald | TKO (punches) | Art of Scrap 3 | October 30, 2021 | 3 | 1:56 | Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States | Catchweight (140 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 12–10 | Marvin Garcia | Decision (unanimous) | KOTC: Sin Rival | March 10, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Ontario, California, United States | |
| Loss | 12–9 | George Garcia | Submission (rear-naked choke) | CXF 15: Rage in the Cage | October 20, 2018 | 2 | 2:33 | Burbank, California, United States | For CXF Bantamweight Championship. Return to Bantamweight. |
| Loss | 12–8 | Andre Ewell | Submission (rear-naked choke) | KOTC: Never Quit | September 2, 2017 | 3 | 2:47 | Ontario, California, United States | |
| Loss | 12–7 | Ulka Sasaki | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Arlovski | May 8, 2016 | 2 | 2:30 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| Loss | 12–6 | Dustin Ortiz | TKO (elbows and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Saint Preux | August 8, 2015 | 3 | 2:58 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
| Win | 12–5 | Darrell Montague | TKO (knees to the body and elbows) | The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians Finale | July 12, 2015 | 1 | 1:36 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 11–5 | John Moraga | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on Fox: dos Santos vs. Miocic | December 13, 2014 | 3 | 4:06 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 11–4 | Hector Sandoval | TKO (punches) | TPF 21: All or Nothing | November 6, 2014 | 1 | 1:23 | Lemoore, California, United States | Flyweight debut; won vacant Tachi Palace Fights Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–4 | Jimmy Marquez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Gladiator Challenge: Glove Up | October 4, 2014 | 1 | 1:36 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
| Win | 9–4 | Chris Chavez | KO (knee) | Gladiator Challenge: Battle Ready | August 23, 2014 | 1 | 1:10 | El Cajon, California, United States | |
| Win | 8–4 | Eddy Gonzalez | Submission (armbar) | Gladiator Challenge: Night of the Champions | July 19, 2014 | 1 | 0:20 | Rancho Mirage, California, United States | |
| Win | 7–4 | Mario Casares | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Gladiator Challenge: Nitro | April 5, 2014 | 1 | 1:59 | San Jacinto, California, United States | Won vacant Gladiator Challenge Bantamweight Championship. |
| Loss | 6–4 | Anthony Perales | Submission (armbar) | SCMMA 2: Inland Empire Strikes Again | May 18, 2013 | 3 | 1:43 | Ontario, California, United States | |
| Win | 6–3 | Justin Santistevan | Submission | Gladiator Challenge: Battleground | March 24, 2013 | 1 | 0:28 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
| Win | 5–3 | Gary Franklin | TKO (punches) | Gladiator Challenge: Heat Returns | October 28, 2012 | 1 | 0:15 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
| Loss | 4–3 | Federico Lopez | Decision (unanimous) | MEZ Sports: Pandemonium 7 | August 18, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Inglewood, California, United States | |
| Win | 4–2 | Jason Carbajal | Decision (unanimous) | FCOC: Fight Club OC | June 7, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Costa Mesa, California, United States | |
| Win | 3–2 | Keenan Lewis | Decision (split) | National Fight Alliance: Valley Invasion 2 | April 6, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| Win | 2–2 | Thomas Casarez | Decision (unanimous) | LBFN 13: Long Beach Fight Night 13 | November 20, 2011 | 3 | 3:00 | Long Beach, California, United States | |
| Win | 1–2 | Skylar Reider | TKO (punches) | LBFN 11: Long Beach Fight Night 11 | January 2, 2011 | 1 | 1:14 | Long Beach, California, United States | |
| Loss | 0–2 | Jimmie Rivera | Submission (triangle choke) | Bellator 2 | April 10, 2009 | 3 | 3:17 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Loss | 0–1 | Robbie Peralta | TKO (punches) | GC 85: Cross Fire | October 25, 2008 | 1 | 3:50 | San Diego, California, United States |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Fight Card - The Ultimate Fighter Finale American Top Team vs. Blackzilians". UFC.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ^ a b Zane Simon (November 26, 2014). "Welcome to the UFC, Willie Gates". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Steven Marrocco (July 12, 2015). "TUF 21 Finale results: Willie Gates takes out Darrell Montague in 96 seconds". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Steven Marrocco (August 8, 2015). "UFC Fight Night 73 results: Dustin Ortiz pounds out Willie Gates in third". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
- ^ Ariel Helwani (April 6, 2016). "Paddy Holohan vs. Willie Gates in the works for UFC Rotterdam". mmafighting.com. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
- ^ Staff (April 25, 2016). "Paddy Holohan announces retirement". ufc.com. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
- ^ Staff (April 26, 2016). "With Paddy Holohan's retirement, Willie Gates gets new UFC Fight Night 87 opponent". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "【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.
