Carlos Diego Ferreira

Carlos Diego Ferreira
Born	(1985-01-18) January 18, 1985 Careiro da Várzea, Amazonas, Brazil
Residence	Pharr, Texas, U.S.
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight	155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st)
Division	Lightweight (2012–present) Welterweight (2012) Middleweight (2011)
Reach	74 in (188 cm)
Style	Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Team	Team Ferreira (2010–present) Atos Jiu-Jitsu Fortis MMA (2015–present)
Rank	3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active	2011–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total	24
Wins	19
By knockout	5
By submission	7
By decision	7
Losses	5
By knockout	3
By decision	2
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Carlos Diego Ferreira

Medal record
Representing Brazil
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Nogi World Jiu-Jitsu Championship
	2008 California, USA	-79.5 kg
	2009 California, USA	-79.5 kg
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship
	2009 California, USA	-82 kg

Carlos Diego Ferreira (born January 18, 1985) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, currently competing in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the former Legacy FC lightweight champion, and vacated the championship in May 2014 to sign with UFC.

Background

Born in Careiro da Várzea, Amazonas, Brazil, Ferreira grew up playing soccer, and his first martial art was capoeira. At the age of 10 Ferreira started training Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He moved to the United States in 2008 to make a career out of jiu-jitsu like his idol Ronaldo Souza.

Mixed martial arts career

Despite faring fairly well in jiu-jitsu competition, he never captured gold in big tournaments and was forced to start teaching the sport to make a living. Subsequently Ferreira made his professional mixed martial arts debut on April 15, 2011, when he faced Joseph Daily at STFC 15. He won the fight via a split decision. Following this, Ferreira would compile an undefeated record of 9–0, also capturing the Legacy FC Lightweight Championship from Jorge Patino at Legacy FC 25. Ferreira would vacate the title in May 2014, when he signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In his debut, Ferreira faced Colton Smith at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens on June 28, 2014. He won the fight via submission (rear-naked choke), winning a Performance of the Night bonus for the victory.

For his second fight in the promotion, Ferreira faced Ramsey Nijem at UFC 177 on August 30, 2014. He won the back and forth battle via technical knockout due to punches, winning another bonus (this time as Fight of the Night).

Ferreira next faced Beneil Dariush on October 25, 2014, at UFC 179. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Ferreira faced Dustin Poirier on April 4, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 63. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Ferreira faced Olivier Aubin-Mercier on January 30, 2016, at UFC on Fox 18. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Ferreira was expected to face Abel Trujillo on May 29, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 88. However, Ferreira was removed from the fight on May 13 after it was announced that he had been flagged for a potential anti-doping policy violation. He was replaced by promotional newcomer Jordan Rinaldi.

On December 21, 2016, Ferreira accepted a 17-month sanction by the US Anti-Doping Agency for an anti-doping violation after declaring the use of a product that listed and contained a prohibited substance and testing positive for another prohibited substance.

Ferreira faced Jared Gordon on February 18, 2018, at UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Medeiros. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.

Ferreira was expected to face John Makdessi on December 8, 2018, at UFC 231. However, on November 28, 2018, it was reported that Makdessi was removed from the card and was replaced by Jesse Ronson. However, on December 4, 2018. It was announced that Ronson was pulled out of the fight due to being too heavy to safely make Lightweight and was released from UFC. Ronson was replaced by newcomer Kyle Nelson. Ferreira won the fight via TKO in the second round.

Ferreira faced Rustam Khabilov on February 23, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 145. At the weigh-ins, Ferreira weighted at 157 pounds, 1 pound and over the lightweight non-title fight limit of 156. He was fined 20% of his purse which went to his opponent Khabilov. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Ferreira was scheduled to face Francisco Trinaldo on May 11, 2019, at UFC 237. However, Ferreira was forced out of the bout on weigh-in day as he was deemed medically unfit due to a weight cutting issue. As a result, the bout was cancelled.

Ferreira faced Mairbek Taisumov on September 7, 2019, at UFC 242. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Ferreira faced Anthony Pettis on January 18, 2020, at UFC 246. Ferreira defeated Pettis by submission in the second round. This win earned him a Performance of the Night award.

As the first fight of his new five-fight contract, Ferreira was scheduled to face Drew Dober on May 2, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Weidman. However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed to a future date The bout with Dober was rescheduled and was expected to take place on November 7, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira. In turn, Ferreira pulled out on October 22 due to an illness.

A rematch with Beneil Dariush took place on February 6, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 184. He lost the fight via split decision. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.

Ferreira faced Gregor Gillespie on May 8, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 24. At the weigh-ins, Ferreira weighed in at 160.5 pounds, four and a half pounds over the lightweight non-title fight limit. His bout proceeded at catchweight and he was fined 30% of his purse, which went to Gillespie. He lost the fight via technical knockout in round two. The bout was named Fight of the Night, but Ferreira was not eligible to receive the award after missing weight and the full bonus went to Gillespie.

Ferreira was scheduled to face Grant Dawson on October 2, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 193. However, Ferreira pulled out of the fight in early-September citing an injury.

Ferreira faced Mateusz Gamrot on December 19, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus. He lost the bout in the second round after verbally tapping due to a knee to his ribs.

Ferreira was scheduled to face Drakkar Klose on July 30, 2022, at UFC 277. However, Ferreira was forced out the event due an injury.

Ferreira faced Michael Johnson on May 20, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 223. He won the fight via knockout out in round two. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Ferreira faced Mateusz Rębecki on May 11, 2024, at UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Nascimento. He won the fight by technical knockout from ground punches at the end of the third round. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.

Personal life

Ferreira worked as a salesman in a mattress store before getting signed to the UFC. He is married to Yvonne Ferreira, and has five children, with his youngest daughter being born in September 2023.

Championships and accomplishments

• Legacy Fighting Championship
  • Legacy FC Lightweight Championship (one time)
• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • Fight of the Night (Two times) vs. Ramsey Nijem and Beneil Dariush
  • Performance of the Night (Four times) vs. Colton Smith, Anthony Pettis, Michael Johnson and Mateusz Rębecki
• South Texas Fighting Championship
  • STFC Lightweight Championship (one time; former)
• MMAjunkie.com
  • 2023 May Knockout of the Month vs. Michael Johnson

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
24 matches	19 wins	5 losses
By knockout	5	3
By submission	7	0
By decision	7	2

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Win	19–5	Mateusz Rębecki	TKO (punches)	UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Nascimento	May 11, 2024	3	4:51	St. Louis, Missouri, United States	Performance of the Night.
Win	18–5	Michael Johnson	KO (punch)	UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill	May 20, 2023	2	1:50	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Performance of the Night.
Loss	17–5	Mateusz Gamrot	TKO (submission to knee to the body)	UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus	December 18, 2021	2	3:26	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss	17–4	Gregor Gillespie	TKO (elbows and punches)	UFC on ESPN: Rodriguez vs. Waterson	May 8, 2021	2	4:51	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Catchweight (160.5 lb) bout; Ferreira missed weight. Fight of the Night.
Loss	17–3	Beneil Dariush	Decision (split)	UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov	February 6, 2021	3	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Fight of the Night.
Win	17–2	Anthony Pettis	Submission (rear-naked choke)	UFC 246	January 18, 2020	2	1:46	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Performance of the Night.
Win	16–2	Mairbek Taisumov	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 242	September 7, 2019	3	5:00	Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win	15–2	Rustam Khabilov	Decision (unanimous)	UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Santos	February 23, 2019	3	5:00	Prague, Czech Republic	Catchweight (157 lb) bout; Ferreira missed weight.
Win	14–2	Kyle Nelson	TKO (punches)	UFC 231	December 8, 2018	2	1:23	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Win	13–2	Jared Gordon	TKO (punches)	UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Medeiros	February 18, 2018	1	1:58	Austin, Texas, United States
Win	12–2	Olivier Aubin-Mercier	Decision (unanimous)	UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Bader	January 30, 2016	3	5:00	Newark, New Jersey, United States
Loss	11–2	Dustin Poirier	KO (punches)	UFC Fight Night: Mendes vs. Lamas	April 4, 2015	1	3:45	Fairfax, Virginia, United States
Loss	11–1	Beneil Dariush	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 179	October 25, 2014	3	5:00	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win	11–0	Ramsey Nijem	TKO (punches)	UFC 177	August 30, 2014	2	1:53	Sacramento, California, United States	Fight of the Night.
Win	10–0	Colton Smith	Submission (rear-naked choke)	UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens	June 28, 2014	1	0:38	San Antonio, Texas United States	Performance of the Night.
Win	9–0	Jorge Patino	Decision (unanimous)	Legacy FC 25	November 15, 2013	5	5:00	Houston, Texas, United States	Won the Legacy FC Lightweight Championship.
Win	8–0	Chris Feist	Decision (unanimous)	Legacy FC 24	October 11, 2013	3	5:00	Dallas, Texas, United States
Win	7–0	Carlo Prater	Decision (unanimous)	Legacy FC 20	May 31, 2013	3	5:00	Corpus Christi, Texas, United States
Win	6–0	Danny Salinas	Submission (rear-naked choke)	STFC 24	February 22, 2013	2	1:41	McAllen, Texas, United States	Won the STFC Lightweight Championship.
Win	5–0	Jorge Cortez	Submission (kimura)	STFC 23	December 7, 2012	1	0:43	McAllen, Texas, United States	Welterweight bout.
Win	4–0	Travonne Hobbs	Submission (arm-triangle choke)	UWF: Tournament of Warriors Finale	June 30, 2012	2	1:57	Corpus Christi, Texas, United States	Lightweight debut.
Win	3–0	Hector Muñoz	Submission (armbar)	UWF: Tournament of Warriors Round 1	May 4, 2012	1	3:38	Corpus Christi, Texas, United States	Welterweight debut.
Win	2–0	Clint Roberts	Submission (rear-naked choke)	UWF 1	November 26, 2011	2	0:39	Pharr, Texas, United States
Win	1–0	Joseph Daily	Decision (split)	STFC 15	April 15, 2011	3	3:00	McAllen, Texas, United States	Middleweight debut.

See also

• List of current UFC fighters
• List of male mixed martial artists

External links

• Diego Ferreira on UFC.com
• Professional MMA record for Diego Ferreira from Sherdog

• Zane Simon (March 22, 2014) UFC signs Carlos Diego Ferreira and Alexis Dufresne. bloodyelbow.com
• STFC 15: Nature of the Beast Official Results. mixedmartialarts.com. April 2011
• Legacy FC 25 results: Ferreira wrestles lightweight title from hero Patino. MMAjunkie. November 16, 2013
• Jesse Holland (March 21, 2014) Colton Smith vs Carlos Diego Ferreira on tap for UFC Fight Night event on June 28 in San Antonio. mmamania.com
• Dann Stupp (June 28, 2014) UFC Fight Night 44 results: Carlos Diego Ferreira taps Colton Smith in 38 seconds. mmajunkie.com
• Dana Becker (July 15, 2014) UFC 177: Ramsey Nijem To Face Carlos Diego Ferreira. fightline.com
• Josh Sanchez (August 30, 2014) UFC 177 results: Carlos Diego Ferreira KOs Ramsey Nijem in Round 2. fansided.com