Pedro Carvalho (fighter)

Pedro Carvalho (born 8 June 1995), is a Portuguese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Featherweight division of Bellator MMA.

Pedro Carvalho
BornPedro Carvalho
(1995-06-08) 8 June 1995 (age 29)
Guimarães, Braga District, Portugal
Other namesThe Game
NationalityPortuguese
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb)
DivisionFeatherweight
Lightweight
Reach70 in (178 cm)
StyleKickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
StanceSouthpaw
Fighting out ofDublin, Ireland
TeamSBG Ireland
RankPurple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under John Kavanagh[1]
Years active2012–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total23
Wins13
By knockout2
By submission6
By decision5
Losses10
By knockout4
By submission1
By decision4
By disqualification1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

Carvalho was born in Guimarães, a town in the Braga District of Portugal, with his father abandoning the family one months before his birth. At the age of 12, he decided to become a MMA fighter after seeing UFC ads on TV, even tho there was not an advanced MMA scene in the country at the time. He began training soon after at the gym of Portuguese MMA pioneer, Rafael Silva.[2][3][4][5] Prior to signing with Bellator, Carvalho worked in a factory and also did custodial work for a hospital while fighting on the regional circuit in Portugal, working to save enough money to move to Ireland to train with SBG to help his MMA career take off.[6][7][8][3][9]

Mixed martial arts career

Carvalho made his professional mixed martial arts debut in September 2012 after turning 17, fighting on the regional scene in Portugal. His first fight came against Edi Vicente, a fight Carvalho won via first-round submission. Carvalho went 7–3 in his career before finally signing with Bellator MMA in 2018.[10]

Bellator MMA

After getting signed to Bellator, Carvalho made his promotional debut against Daniel Crawford at Bellator 200 on 25 May 2018. He won the bout via split decision.[11]

Carvalho next faced Luca Vitali on 1 December 2018 at Bellator 211. He won via guillotine submission just 43 seconds into the first round.[12]

Carvalho faced Bellator veteran Derek Campos on 4 May 2019 at Bellator Birmingham. He was victorious via first-round technical knockout.[13]

After going 3–0 in the promotion, Carvalho entered the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix next. In the opening round, Carvalho faced Sam Sicilia at Bellator 226 on 7 September 2019. Carvalho was victorious via first round submission.[14]

In the quarterfinal round of the tournament, Carvalho was expected to face Patrício Freire for the Bellator Featherweight World Championship at Bellator 241 on 13 March 2020. However, the event was cancelled and the bout was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15] The bout will now take place at Bellator 252 on 12 November.[16] Carvalho lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[17]

Carvalho faced Jay Jay Wilson on April 16, 2021, at Bellator 257.[18] At the weigh-ins, Jay Jay Wilson missed weight by .75 pounds and was fined 20% of his purse.[19] He lost the bout a minute into the second round, getting dropped by a spinning backfist and then ground and pound.[20]

Carvalho faced Daniel Weichel at Bellator 270 on November 5, 2021.[21] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[22]

Carvalho was scheduled to face Khasan Askhabov on May 6, 2022, at Bellator 280.[23] However, due to undisclosed reasons, Askhabov was forced to pull out and was replaced by promotional newcomer Piotr Niedzielski.[24] He lost the close bout via split decision.[25]

Carvalho faced Mads Burnell on September 23, 2022, at Bellator 285.[26] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[27]

Carvalho faced Jeremy Kennedy on February 25, 2023, at Bellator 291.[28] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[29]

Carvalho faced Aaron Pico on September 23, 2023 at Bellator 299.[30] He lost the fight via ground and pound TKO in the first round.[31]

PFL

In his PFL debut, Carvalho faced Brendan Loughnane on April 19, 2024 at PFL 3 (2024).[32] He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.[33]

Carvalho next faced Kai Kamaka III at PFL 6 (2024) on June 28, 2024. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[34]

Championships and accomplishments

  • Cage Legacy Fighting Championship
    • CLFC Lightweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
23 matches13 wins10 losses
By knockout24
By submission61
By decision54
By disqualification01
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss13–10Kai Kamaka IIIDecision (unanimous)PFL 6 (2024)June 28, 202435:00Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States
Loss13–9Brendan LoughnaneTKO (punches)PFL 3 (2024)April 19, 202411:26Chicago, Illinois, United States
Loss13–8Aaron PicoTKO (punches)Bellator 299September 23, 202313:05Dublin, Ireland
Loss13–7Jeremy KennedyDecision (unanimous)Bellator 291February 25, 202335:00Dublin, Ireland
Win13–6Mads BurnellDecision (unanimous)Bellator 285September 23, 202235:00Dublin, Ireland
Loss12–6Piotr NiedzielskiDecision (split)Bellator 280May 6, 202235:00Paris, France
Win12–5Daniel WeichelDecision (unanimous)Bellator 270November 5, 202135:00Dublin, Ireland
Loss11–5Jay Jay WilsonTKO (punches)Bellator 257April 16, 202120:53Uncasville, Connecticut, United StatesCatchweight (146.75 lb) bout; Wilson missed weight.
Loss11–4Patrício FreireKO (punches)Bellator 252November 12, 202012:10Uncasville, Connecticut, United StatesBellator Featherweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal. For the Bellator Featherweight World Championship.
Win11–3Sam SiciliaSubmission (face crank)Bellator 2267 September 201921:56San Jose, California, United StatesReturn to Featherweight. Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix Opening Round.
Win10–3Derek CamposTKO (punches)Bellator Birmingham4 May 201912:02Birmingham, England
Win9–3Luca VitaliSubmission (guillotine choke)Bellator 2111 December 201810:43Genoa, ItalyReturn to Lightweight.
Win8–3Daniel CrawfordDecision (split)Bellator 20025 May 201835:00London, EnglandFeatherweight debut.
Win7–3Ibragim KantaevDecision (unanimous)CLFC 710 March 201835:00Drogheda, IrelandWon the CLFC Lightweight Championship.
Win6–3Jeanderson CastroSubmission (armbar)CLFC 4: Halloween Havoc29 October 20171N/ADrogheda, Ireland
Loss5–3Adenir AraujoDecision (unanimous)International Pro Combat 816 November 201535:00Estoril, Portugal
Loss5–2Wisma LimaDQ (knee to downed opponent)Pro MMA League 320 June 2015N/AN/ACentro Region, Portugal
Win5–1Paulo FonsecaSubmissionCage Fighters Challengers 331 January 201511:36Matosinhos, Portugal
Win4–1Patrick FernandesTKO (head kick and punches)MMA Maranus 20148 November 201411:42Amarante, Portugal
Win3–1Bruno BorgesDecision (split)Invictus Pro MMA League 127 July 201435:00Porto, Portugal
Loss2–1Artur LemosSubmission (rear-naked choke)CF Cage Fighters 328 July 201313:25Matosinhos, Portugal
Win2–0Luis VeracruzSubmission (rear-naked choke)Showfight 141 June 201312:59Estoril, Portugal
Win1–0Edi VicenteSubmission (rear-naked choke)WUFC 2012 Second Round15 September 20121N/AViseu, Portugal

[35]

See also

References