Curtis Millender

Curtis Millender (born December 1, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Middleweight division. A professional competitor since 2013, Millender has formerly competed in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Bellator MMA, Professional Fighters League (PFL), and Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA).

Early career
Millender began his professional MMA career in February 2013. During this period of his career, Millender competed exclusively for the California-based promotion, Fight Club OC. He compiled a perfect record of 7–0 in the organization, which included a three-round split decision victory over 10-6 Dominic Waters to become the FCOC welterweight champion.

Bellator MMA
Millender was expected to make his promotional debut against Michael Page at Bellator 134 on February 27, 2015. However, after a cut suffered by Page, Millender instead faced Brennan Ward at the event. Millender lost the fight via rear-naked choke submission in the first round, resulting in the first professional loss of his career.

Millender next faced Fernando Gonzalez at Bellator 137 on May 15, 2015. He lost the fight via guillotine choke submission in the third round. Millender was subsequently released from the promotion following his loss to Gonzalez.

Millender returned to face Steven Ciaccio at Bellator 141 on August 28, 2015. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Millender faced Johnny Cisneros at Bellator 170 on January 21, 2017. He won the fight via TKO in the first round due to strikes.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
On the heel of a six fight win streak, including three straight on the regional scene under the Legacy Fighting Alliance promotion, Millender signed with the UFC in January 2018.

Millender made his promotional debut against Thiago Alves on February 18, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 126. He won the fight via a technical knockout in the second round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus.

Millender faced Max Griffin on July 7, 2018, at UFC 226. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Millender faced Siyar Bahadurzada on December 29, 2018, at UFC 232. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Millender faced Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos on March 9, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 146. He lost the fight via a submission in round one.

Millender faced Belal Muhammad on April 13, 2019, at UFC 236. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

On November 3, 2019, it was announced that Millender had been released from the UFC.

Return to Bellator
In November 2019, Millender announced that he had signed a contract with Bellator MMA.

In his return to the promotion, Millender faced Moses Murrietta at Bellator 238 on January 25, 2020. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

As the last fight of his prevailing contract, Millender faced Sabah Homasi at Bellator 243 on August 7, 2020. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Professional Fighters League
Already an alternative for the season, Millender stepped in on short notice and replaced David Michaud for the whole PFL 2021 season. He faced Rory MacDonald on April 29, 2021, at PFL 2 as the start of the 2021 PFL Welterweight tournament. He lost the bout in the first round via a rear-naked choke submission.

Millender faced Magomed Magomedkerimov at PFL 5 on June 17, 2021. He lost the bout via ezekiel choke submission in the first round.

Millender, as a replacement for Sadibou Sy, was scheduled to face Gleison Tibau on August 13, 2021, at PFL 7. On August 12, Millender was announced to have pulled out of the bout against Tibau.

Post PFL
Millender faced Jared Gooden on April 2, 2022, at XMMA 4. He lost the bout after getting dropped in the second round from a leg kick and getting finished by ground and pound.

Millender faced KB Bhullar on September 23, 2022, at Unified MMA 46. The bout ended in a no contest after an eye poke left Millender unable to continue.

Millender faced Salaiman Ahmadyar for the UNF Middleweight Championship on January 28, 2023, at UNF 4, winning the bout via TKO stoppage at the end of the first round.

Millender rematched KB Bhullar on March 31, 2023, at Unified MMA 50, winning the bout via unanimous decision.

Millender then defended his UNF Middleweight Championship against Sidiah Parker at UNF 11 on September 2, 2023. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Millender faced Joel Bauman at Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 6 on November 10, 2023. He won the fight via split decision.

Millender faced Alexander Shlemenko at Shlemenko FC 10 on June 1, 2024. He lost the fight via first round TKO.

Boxing career
Millender made his professional boxing debut against John Mercurio on February 17, 2022, winning via second-round knockout.

He made his sophomore appearance in the sport against Ke-ali’i Kanekoa at BYB Extreme Trigon Combat on April 27, 2023. He won the bout via second-round knockout.

He then faced Ryan Ford on May 26, 2023. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Personal life
Millender has two sons: Curtis Jr. and Carter. Millender is currently married to his long time girlfriend Ashley Richie now Ashley Millender. The two were married June 23, 2019. July 2020 they welcomed another baby boy Cross.

Mixed martial arts

 * Ultimate Fighting Championship
 * Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Thiago Alves
 * Fight Club OC
 * FCOC Welterweight Championship (Two times)
 * One successful title defense
 * Lights Out Promotion
 * Lights Out Welterweight Championship (One time)
 * Up Next Fighting
 * UNF Middleweight Championship (one time; current)
 * One successful title defense