Santiago Ponzinibbio

Santiago Ponzinibbio (born September 26, 1986) is an Argentine mixed martial artist competing as a Welterweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Santiago Ponzinibbio
Born (1986-09-26) September 26, 1986
La Plata, Argentina
Other namesGente Boa
NationalityArgentinian
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)
DivisionWelterweight
Reach73 in (185 cm)[2]
StyleKickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Fighting out ofCoconut Creek, Florida, U.S.
TeamAmerican Top Team
RankBlack belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[3]
Years active2008–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total31
Wins27
By knockout15
By submission6
By decision6
Losses4
By knockout3
By decision1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Biography and career

He was born in Argentina to parents of Italian heritage, with paternal grandparents from Sicily. Ponzinibbio began training kickboxing when he was 13 years old growing up in Argentina. Ponzinibbio became interested in MMA, but his native country wasn't able to provide gyms to train it. Due to that, Ponzinibbio traveled to Florianópolis, Brazil, where he lived the first five months in a tent on a beach, doing some odd jobs to try make the ends meet. Meanwhile, he trained at several nearby gyms.[4] He turned professional in 2008 competing in regional promotions in South America. He currently resides in South Florida with his girlfriend, Jackie.

The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil

In March 2013, it was revealed that Ponzinibbio was a cast member of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2.[5] He won his elimination fight to get into the TUF house, defeating Thiago Silva by TKO in round 1. He was chosen to be a member of Team Nogueira. Over the course of the show, Ponzinibbio defeated Marcio Santos by TKO and Cleiton Duarte by unanimous decision to reach the semifinals. In the semifinals, he defeated Leonardo Santos by unanimous decision. However, Ponzinibbio broke his hand during this semifinal fight and was replaced by Santos in the finals against William Macário. The semifinal-round fight with Santos, however, was picked as the Fight of the Season, and his finish of Marcio Santos earned Knockout of the Season which earned Ponzinibbio $50,000 bonuses.[6]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Ponzinibbio faced Ryan LaFlare on November 9, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 32.[7] LaFlare won the fight via unanimous decision.[8]

Ponzinibbio was briefly linked to a bout with Jordan Mein on April 19, 2014 at UFC on Fox 11.[9] However, Ponzinibbio was scratched from the bout and replaced by Hernani Perpetuo.[10]

Ponzinibbio was expected to face Ildemar Alcântara on July 5, 2014 at UFC 175. However, Ponzinibbio was forced out of the bout with a knee injury.[11] He was replaced by Kenny Robertson.[12]

Ponzinibbio was expected to face Sérgio Moraes on September 13, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 51.[13] However, Moraes pulled out of the bout citing a lingering knee injury and was replaced by Wendell Oliveira.[14] Ponzinibbio defeated Oliveira by TKO in the first round.[15]

Ponzinibbio faced Sean Strickland on February 22, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 61.[16] Ponzinibbio won the back and forth fight via unanimous decision.[17]

Ponzinibbio next faced Lorenz Larkin on June 27, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 70.[18] He lost the fight via TKO in the second round and earned a Fight of the Night bonus.[19][20]

Ponzinibbio faced Andreas Ståhl on December 10, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 80.[21] He won the bout via TKO in the first round.[22]

Ponzinibbio faced Court McGee on April 16, 2016 at UFC on Fox 19.[23] He won the bout via TKO in the first round.[24]

Ponzinibbio next faced Zak Cummings on August 6, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 92.[25] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[26]

Ponzinibbio faced Nordine Taleb on February 19, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 105.[27] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[28]

Ponzinibbio faced Gunnar Nelson on July 16, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 113.[29] He won the fight by knockout in the first round, becoming the first man to finish Nelson by knockout in MMA competition.[30] The win also earned him his first Performance of the Night bonus award.[31] At the post fight press conference, Nelson claimed that Ponzinibbio poked him in the eye during an earlier exchange and caused him to see double, stating “I really should have said something because I was seeing double for the rest of the fight. He caught me with a shot that I didn’t really see.”[32] Ponzinibbio dismissed Nelson's claim and stated "I went there to knock him out and thank God it went as expected, I won by knockout. If (the eye poke) happened, of course it wasn’t intentional, but I watched the video again and didn’t see it."[33]

Ponzinibbio faced Mike Perry on December 16, 2017 at UFC on Fox: Lawler vs. dos Anjos.[34] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[35]

Ponzinibbio was expected to face Kamaru Usman on May 19, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 129.[36] However, on April 21, 2018 Ponzinibbio announced he was injured and pulled from the card.[37]

Ponzinibbio faced Neil Magny on November 17, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 140.[38] He won the fight via knockout.[39] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[40]

Ponzinibbio was expected to face Robbie Lawler on December 14, 2019 at UFC 245.[41] However, on October 12, 2019, it was revealed that Ponzinibbio had pulled out of the fight due to a staph infection.[42]

Ponzinibbio was scheduled to face Muslim Salikhov on January 16, 2021 at UFC on ABC 1.[43] However, Salikhov pulled out of the bout in mid-December citing health issues after contracting COVID-19.[44] However, Li Jingliang has stepped in as a replacement on short notice and the two are set to fight at UFC on ABC 1.[45] He lost the fight via first round knockout.[46]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
31 matches 27 wins 4 losses
By knockout 15 3
By submission 6 0
By decision 6 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 27–4 Li Jingliang KO (punch) UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar January 16, 2021 1 4:25 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 27–3 Neil Magny KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Ponzinibbio November 17, 2018 4 2:36 Buenos Aires, Argentina Performance of the Night.
Win 26–3 Mike Perry Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Lawler vs. dos Anjos December 16, 2017 3 5:00 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Win 25–3 Gunnar Nelson KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Ponzinibbio July 16, 2017 1 1:22 Glasgow, Scotland Performance of the Night.
Win 24–3 Nordine Taleb Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Browne February 19, 2017 3 5:00 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Win 23–3 Zak Cummings Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Caceres August 6, 2016 3 5:00 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Win 22–3 Court McGee TKO (punches) UFC on Fox: Teixeira vs. Evans April 16, 2016 1 4:15 Tampa, Florida, United States
Win 21–3 Andreas Ståhl TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs. VanZant December 10, 2015 1 4:25 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 20–3 Lorenz Larkin TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Romero June 27, 2015 2 3:07 Hollywood, Florida, United States Fight of the Night.
Win 20–2 Sean Strickland Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Mir February 22, 2015 3 5:00 Porto Alegre, Brazil
Win 19–2 Wendell Oliveira KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Arlovski September 13, 2014 1 1:20 Brasília, Brazil
Loss 18–2 Ryan LaFlare Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson November 9, 2013 3 5:00 Goiânia, Brazil
Win 18–1 Cleiton Duarte Submission (guillotine choke) Sao Jose Super Fight 2 June 9, 2012 1 2:38 São José, Brazil
Win 17–1 Sebastian Vidal TKO (punches) Insano Empalux - Grand Prix March 2, 2012 1 2:12 São José, Brazil
Win 16–1 Diego Vieria Submission (armbar) Insano Empalux - Grand Prix March 2, 2012 1 1:59 São José, Brazil
Win 15–1 William Dias TKO (retirement) Monster Black Combat December 12, 2011 2 5:00 Rio Grande, Brazil
Win 14–1 Sebastian Vidal TKO (punches) Sao Jose Super Fight 2 October 1, 2011 1 2:00 São José, Brazil
Win 13–1 Lucas Nascimento TKO (knee injury) Nitrix Champion Fight 8 September 17, 2011 1 1:30 Joinville, Brazil
Win 12–1 Deivid Santos KO (head kick) Nitrix Champion Fight 8 September 17, 2011 3 0:15 Joinville, Brazil
Loss 11–1 Leonardo Mafra TKO (punches) Centurion Mixed Martial Arts 2 July 9, 2011 1 3:17 Itajai, Brazil
Win 11–0 Geverson Pereira Submission (choke) Brazilian Fight League 9 November 6, 2010 1 N/A Curitiba, Brazil
Win 10–0 Yuri Fraga Decision (unanimous) Amazon Fight 5 October 10, 2010 3 5:00 Belém, Brazil
Win 9–0 Felipe Santos TKO (punches) Expo Fighting Championship August 21, 2010 1 4:25 Sorocaba, Brazil
Win 8–0 Henrique Inseto TKO (punches) Hero Kombat April 24, 2010 2 4:53 São Sebastião, Brazil
Win 7–0 Ezequiel Ricci Decision (unanimous) Real Fights 7 March 27, 2010 3 5:00 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Win 6–0 Andrez Jimenez Submission (rear-naked choke) Argentina Fighting Championships December 27, 2009 1 3:12 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Win 5–0 Diego Lopez Submission (guillotine choke) Explosion Fight Night November 1, 2009 1 2:31 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Win 4–0 Matias Sosa Submission (kimura) Real Fights 6 September 27, 2009 1 N/A Buenos Aires, Argentina
Win 3–0 Emiliano Candau TKO (punches) Cupide del MMA 2 November 7, 2008 2 3:12 Santa Fe, Argentina
Win 2–0 Lucas Funes Submission (rear-naked choke) Cupide del MMA 1 October 5, 2008 1 1:30 Santa Fe, Argentina
Win 1–0 Gaston Micucci KO (head kick) Copa Desafio July 19, 2008 3 3:13 Buenos Aires, Argentina

[50]

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 4–0 Leonardo Santos Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2 N/A(airdate) 3 5:00 São Paulo, Brazil Semi-finals bout.
Win 3–0 Cleiton Duarte Decision (unanimous) N/A (airdate) 2 5:00 Quarter-finals bout.
Win 2–0 Márcio Santos TKO (punches) N/A (airdate) 3 5:00 Preliminary bout.
Win 1–0 Thiago Silva TKO (punches) March 17, 2013 (airdate) 2 N/A TUF: Brazil 2 house entry bout.

See also

References
  1. "Fight Card - UFC Fight Night Machida vs. Romero". UFC.com. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  2. "Fight Card - UFC Fight Night Bigfoot vs. Mir". UFC.com. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  3. "Santiago Ponzinibbio | UFC". UFC.com. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  4. Marc Raimondi (November 17, 2018). "After risking everything for MMA, Santiago Ponzinibbio comes back home at UFC Argentina". mmafighting.com.
  5. "TUF: Brazil 2 debuts on March 17 with Brazil's top 28 welterweights". TUF.tv. March 7, 2013. Archived from the original on April 19, 2013. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  6. Staff (2013-06-09). "'TUF: Brazil 2' show bonuses: Season champ Leonardo Santos earns an extra $25K". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-06-09.
  7. Guilherme Cruz (August 24, 2013). "Santiago Ponzinibbio meets Ryan Laflare at UFC Fight Night 32". mmafighting.com. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  8. Michael Drahota (2013-11-10). "UFC Fight Night 32 results recap: Ryan LaFlare vs Santiago Ponzinibbio fight review and analysis". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  9. Staff (2014-02-07). "Jordan Mein vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio slated for UFC on FOX 11". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  10. Jamie Penick (2014-02-27). "Jordan Mein gets new opponent for UFC on Fox 11 in Hernani Perpetuo". mmatorch.com. Retrieved 2014-02-27.
  11. Guilherme Cruz (2014-06-04). "Santiago Ponzinibbio injured, out of UFC 175 fight against Ildemar Alcantara". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2014-06-04.
  12. Staff (2014-06-09). "Ponzinibbio out, Kenny Robertson now meets Ildemar Alcantara at UFC 175". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  13. Staff (2014-07-22). "September's UFC Fight Night 51 event in Brasilia adds four bouts". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-07-22.
  14. Staff (2014-08-10). "Wendell Oliveira replaces Sergio Moraes, faces Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC Fight Night Brasilia". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  15. Ben Fowlkes (2014-09-13). "UFC Fight Night 51 results: Santiago Ponzinibbio blasts through Wendell Oliveira". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-09-13.
  16. Staff (2014-12-22). "Ponzinibbio-Strickland at UFC Fight Night 61". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-12-22.
  17. Steven Marrocco (2015-02-22). "UFC Fight Night 61 results: Santiago Ponzinibbio tops Sean Strickland in 'FOTN' contender". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-02-22.
  18. Marc Raimondi (2015-04-25). "Lorenz Larkin to meet Santiago Ponzinibbio at Ultimate Fighter Brazil 4 Finale". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
  19. Ben Fowlkes (2015-06-27). "UFC Fight Night 70 results: Lorenz Larkin batters Santiago Ponzinibbio for TKO". mmajunkie. Retrieved 2015-06-27.
  20. Tristen Critchfield (2015-06-27). "UFC Fight Night Bonuses: Romero, Larkin, Ponzinibbio, and Santos pocket $50K Awards". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2015-06-27.
  21. Staff (2015-09-17). "UFC Fight Night 80 gets slew of new bouts". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-09-17.
  22. Ben Fowlkes (2015-12-10). "UFC Fight Night 80 results: Santiago Ponzinibbio lights up Andreas Stahl in first". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
  23. Staff (2016-02-16). "Court McGee vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio slated for UFC on FOX 19 in Florida". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-02-16.
  24. Brent Brookhouse (2016-04-16). "UFC on FOX 19 results: Santiago Ponzinibbio's thudding shots stop Court McGee in first". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  25. Staff (2016-06-15). "UFC Fight Night 92 gets five new fights". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
  26. Ben Fowlkes (2016-08-06). "UFC Fight Night 92 results: Santiago Ponzinibbio outworks Zak Cummings for third straight win". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
  27. Cody Rempel (2016-12-15). "Theodorou, Taleb and Ricci Added to UFC Fight Night 105 in Halifax". topmmanews.com. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  28. Steven Marrocco (2017-02-19). "UFC Fight Night 105 results: Santiago Ponzinibbio scores unanimous win over Nordine Taleb". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  29. Marc Raimondi (2017-05-12). "Gunnar Nelson vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio to headline UFC Fight Night 113". mmafighting. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
  30. Dave Doyle (2017-07-16). "UFC Fight Night 113 results: Santiago Ponzinibbio knocks out Gunnar Nelson". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2017-07-16.
  31. "UFC Fight Night 113 bonuses: Santiago Ponzinibbio leads $50,000 winners with upset KO". MMAjunkie. 2017-07-16. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  32. "Nelson: I Was Seeing Double After Early Eye Poke". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  33. "Ponzinibbio Dismisses Eye-Poke Accusations In Rout Of Nelson". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  34. "Santiago Ponzinibbio enfrenta Mike Perry no UFC On Fox 26". MMA Brasil (in Portuguese). 2017-10-13. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  35. "UFC on FOX 26 results: Santiago Ponzinibbio edges Mike Perry in 3-round thriller". MMAjunkie. 2017-12-17. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
  36. Ariel Helwani (2018-03-23). "Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Kamaru Usman scheduled for UFC Chile main event". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  37. "UFC Chile main, co-main events fall apart with Santiago Ponzinibbio, Volkan Oezdemir out". MMAjunkie. 2018-04-22. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  38. "Santiago Ponzinibbio vs Neil Magny to headline UFC Buenos Aires". | BJPenn.com. 2018-08-22. Retrieved 2018-08-23.
  39. "UFC Argentina results: Santiago Ponzinibbio chops down, lays out Neil Magny". MMAjunkie. 2018-11-18. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  40. "UFC Argentina bonuses: Two Argentine natives cash $50,000 checks". MMAjunkie. 2018-11-18. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  41. Adam Guillen Jr. (2019-09-16). "Robbie Lawler vs Santiago Ponzinibbio set for UFC 245 on Dec. 14 in Las Vegas". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  42. "Santiago Ponzinibbio out of UFC 245 fight vs. Robbie Lawler". BloodyElbow.com. October 12, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  43. DNA, MMA (2020-11-03). "Santiago Ponzinibbio keert na twee jaar terug tegen Muslim Salikhov". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  44. Farah Hannoun (2020-12-15). "Muslim Salikhov says he's out of Jan. 16 fight with Santiago Ponzinibbio due to COVID-related health issues". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  45. Cruz, Guilherme (2020-12-21). "Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Li Jingliang targeted for Jan. 16 UFC card in Abu Dhabi". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  46. McClory, Mike (2021-01-16). "UFC Fight Island 7 Results: Li Jingliang Spoils Return of Santiago Ponzinibbio". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  47. Tristen Critchfield (2015-06-27). "UFC Fight Night Bonuses: Romero, Larkin, Ponzinibbio, and Santos pocket $50K Awards". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2015-06-27.
  48. "UFC Fight Night 113 bonuses: Santiago Ponzinibbio leads $50,000 winners with upset KO". MMAjunkie. 2017-07-16. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  49. "UFC Argentina bonuses: Two Argentine natives cash $50,000 checks". MMAjunkie. 2018-11-18. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
  50. Sherdog.com. "Santiago". Sherdog. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
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