Parker Porter

Parker Porter (born April 22, 1985) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Heavyweight division. A professional since 2007, he competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Bellator MMA.

Parker Porter
Born (1985-04-22) April 22, 1985 (age 39)
Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight264 lb (120 kg; 18 st 12 lb)
DivisionHeavyweight (2007–present)
Light Heavyweight (2008)
Reach75 in (191 cm)[1]
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofNew Britain, Connecticut, United States
TeamThornton's MMA[2]
Heavy Hitters Club (2020–present)[3]
RankBlack belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[4]
Years active2007–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total23
Wins14
By knockout6
By submission3
By decision5
Losses9
By knockout5
By submission3
By disqualification1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

Porter played baseball, lacrosse and football in his youth, the last from third grade until his graduation from Southington High School.[5][6] Although he aspired to continue playing football, his poor grades prevented him from playing at the collegiate level.[6] After high school Porter begun working out to lose weight, eventually dabbling in mixed martial arts at the age of 21.[7]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Porter made his professional MMA debut on October 13, 2007 at a Revere, Massachusetts night club, where he won the fight by KO in the third round. He was paid $300 for the bout and fought in front of an audience of 30 people.[8]

After his debut, he went on to compile a 5–2 record in various regional organizations, with one of his losses coming from future UFC Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. This fight was Porter's only Light Heavyweight bout, and he was knocked out in the first minute after a botched weightcut. During this period, he also captured the Reality Fighting Heavyweight Championship by knocking out Mike Dexter.[9]

Porter would defend the Reality Fighting Heavyweight Championship against Gabriel Gonzaga, who was returning after a layoff and in between UFC stints.[10][11] Porter would lose the bout after he was submitted with an arm-triangle choke in the third round, losing the Reality Fighting Heavyweight Championship.[12][13]

Bellator

Porter would sign with Bellator MMA and was scheduled to face Randy Smith at Bellator 63 on March 30, 2012.[14] However, Smith withdrew due to illness and the bout was scrapped.

Porter eventually made his Bellator debut against Josh Diekmann on September 7, 2013, at Bellator 98, losing via TKO in the first round.[15]

After a layoff of almost a year and half, he made his sophomore bout for Bellator on July 17, 2015, at Bellator 140 against Eric Bedard. He won the bout via second-round keylock submission.[16]

Return to regional circuit

He had a layoff off almost 3 years due to personal issues and having to secure his family financially, he returned January 6, 2018 at Reality Fighting where he won by 3rd-round TKO against J.A. Dudley.[9]

Porter made his CES MMA debut against Keith Bell on November 2, 2018, at CES MMA 53.[17] Parker Porter was seemingly on his way to a first-round victory via ground-and-pound blows. However, referee Kevin MacDonald warned him several times about punching to the back of the head and eventually called for time at the 2:30 mark of the first round. When Bell was deemed unfit to continue, he was awarded the win via disqualification.[18]

Porter was scheduled to face Rakim Cleveland at CES MMA 55 on March 29, 2019.[19] However, the bout was cancelled due to an unknown reason.

Porter faced Kevin Ray Sears on May 31, 2019, at CES MMA 56. In a dominant performance, Porter finished Sears via 2nd round kimura.[20]

Porter faced Dirlei Broenstrup on September 7, 2019, at CES MMA 58. He won via 3rd-round TKO.[21]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Porter made his UFC debut on nine days' notice against Chris Daukaus on August 15, 2020, at UFC 252.[22] He lost the fight via TKO in round one.[23]

Porter faced Josh Parisian on November 28, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Smith vs. Clark.[24] He won the bout by unanimous decision.[25]

Porter was scheduled to face Chase Sherman on April 17, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 22.[26] However, he was removed from the event for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Andrei Arlovski.[27]

Porter faced Chase Sherman on August 21, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 29.[28] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[29]

Porter faced Alan Baudot on February 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Hill.[30] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[31]

Porter faced Jailton Almeida on May 21, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 206.[32] He lost the fight via rear-naked choke in round one.[33]

Porter was scheduled to face Hamdy Abdelwahab on October 22, 2022, at UFC 280.[34] However, Abdelwahab was removed from the event for unknown reasons and he was replaced by Slim Trabelsi.[35] In turn, the pairing was cancelled altogether as Trabelsi pulled out due to contractual issues with ARES FC and Porter opted to pursue a later fight, rather than a replacement barring unforeseen circumstances.[36]

Porter faced Justin Tafa on February 12, 2023, at UFC 284.[37] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[38]

As the last fight of his prevailing contract, Porter faced Braxton Smith on May 6, 2023, at UFC 288.[39][40] He won the fight by TKO in the first round.[41]

Porter faced Junior Tafa on August 26, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 225.[42] He lost the bout via knockout in the first round.[43]

On December 21, 2023, it was announced that Porter was no longer on the UFC roster.[44]

Personal life

Porter has twin boys born in 2013 and third son born in 2020.[9][45]

Championships and achievements

Mixed martial arts

  • Reality Fighting
    • Reality Fighting Heavyweight Championship (Two time)[10]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
23 matches14 wins9 losses
By knockout65
By submission33
By decision50
By disqualification01
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss14–9Junior TafaKO (punch)UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean ZombieAugust 26, 202311:24Kallang, Singapore
Win14–8Braxton SmithTKO (punches)UFC 288May 6, 202312:10Newark, New Jersey, United StatesSmith tested positive for testosterone.
Loss13–8Justin TafaKO (punches)UFC 284February 12, 202311:06Perth, Australia
Loss13–7Jailton AlmeidaSubmission (rear-naked choke)UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. VieiraMay 21, 202214:35Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win13–6Alan BaudotDecision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. HillFebruary 19, 202235:00Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win12–6Chase ShermanDecision (unanimous)UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. GastelumAugust 21, 202135:00Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win11–6Josh ParisianDecision (unanimous)UFC on ESPN: Smith vs. ClarkNovember 28, 202035:00Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss10–6Chris DaukausTKO (punches and knee)UFC 252August 15, 202014:28Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win10–5Dirlei BroenstrupTKO (punches)CES MMA 58: De Jesus vs. LozanoSeptember 7, 201933:17Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win9–5Kevin Ray SearsSubmission (kimura)CES MMA 56: Boyington vs. DubuqueMay 31, 201922:29Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Loss8–5Keith BellDQ (punches to back of head)CES MMA 53: Gravely vs. NordbyNovember 2, 201812:30Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States
Win8–4J.A. DudleyTKO (punches)Reality Fighting: Mohegan SunJanuary 6, 201831:16Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win7–4Eric BedardSubmission (keylock)Bellator 140July 17, 201522:51Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Loss6–4Josh DiekmannTKO (punches)Bellator 98September 7, 201311:12Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Loss6–3Gabriel GonzagaSubmission (arm-triangle choke)Reality Fighting: Gonzaga vs. PorterOctober 8, 201131:50Uncasville, Connecticut, United StatesLost the Reality Fighting Heavyweight Championship.
Win6–2Mike DexterKO (punches)Reality Fighting: Mohegan Sun 2February 26, 201111:36Uncasville, Connecticut, United StatesWon the vacant Reality Fighting Heavyweight Championship.
Loss5–2Gabriel Salinas-JonesSubmission (neck crank)XFC 13: UnstoppableDecember 3, 201014:50Tampa Bay, Florida, United States
Win5–1Gabriel Salinas-JonesDecision (unanimous)XFC 12: MayhemOctober 10, 201035:00Kyrenia, Cyprus
Win4–1Lee BeaneSubmission (rear-naked choke)CES MMA: First BloodSeptember 17, 201012:36Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States
Win3–1Mark HoxieTKO (submission to punches)Reality Fighting: FerocityNovember 7, 200911:09Plymouth, Massachusetts, United StatesReturn to Heavyweight.
Loss2–1Jon JonesKO (punch)World Championship Fighting 3June 20, 200810:36Wilmington, Massachusetts, United StatesLight Heavyweight debut; Porter missed weight.
Win2–0Randy SmithDecision (unanimous)CZ 25: Cage Masters 4January 12, 200834:00Revere, Massachusetts, United States
Win1–0Kiplagott StewartKO (punches)CZ 24: RenaissanceOctober 13, 200730:16Revere, Massachusetts, United StatesHeavyweight debut.

[46]

See also

References