Erik Pérez | |
Other Names: | Goyito |
Birth Name: | Erik Gregorio Pérez Ruvalcaba[1] [2] |
Birth Place: | Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico |
Birth Date: | 19 November 1989 |
Residence: | San Diego, California, U.S |
Weight Lb: | 145 |
Weight Class: | Bantamweight |
Reach: | 68inches[3] |
Stance: | Orthodox |
Fighting Out Of: | San Diego, California, U.S |
Team: | Alliance MMA |
Years Active: | 2008–present |
Mma Kowin: | 5 |
Mma Subwin: | 8 |
Mma Decwin: | 7 |
Mma Koloss: | 1 |
Mma Subloss: | 2 |
Mma Decloss: | 6 |
Relatives: | Iván Pérez (brother) Jair Pérez (brother) Jorge Pérez (brother) |
Sherdog: | 35509 |
Erik Gregorio Pérez Ruvalcaba (born November 19, 1989)[1] [2] is a Mexican mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division. A professional competitor since 2008, he has competed for Bellator MMA, Shark Fights, BAMMA, UFC and Combate Americas.
Erik Pérez was born in México. Pérez grew from a family of sportsmen; his older brother Jorge Pérez is a professional boxer, while his brothers Iván Pérez, and Jair Pérez both are fellow mixed martial artists. Érik, Iván, and Jair all three fought together in Combate Americas.[4] [5]
Upon his permanent move to United States, Erik Pérez established a full-time training camp at Jackson's MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[6]
Pérez faced John Albert on June 1, 2012, at The Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale replacing Byron Bloodworth who was removed from the bout.[7] Pérez won the fight via controversial armbar submission as Albert did not appear to verbally submit or tap out but the fight was stopped by referee Kim Winslow.[8]
Pérez next faced Ken Stone on August 11, 2012, at UFC 150.[9] He won via first-round KO in 17 seconds. With this win, Pérez obtained the fastest Bantamweight knockout in UFC and WEC Bantamweight history, beating Damacio Page's 18-second KO over Marcos Galvao.[10]
Pérez fought Byron Bloodworth on December 29, 2012, at UFC 155.[11] He won the fight via TKO in the first round.[12]
Pérez was expected to face Johnny Bedford on April 27, 2013, at UFC 159.[13] However, Pérez pulled out of the bout just days before the event citing an injury and was replaced by Bryan Caraway.[14]
Pérez faced Takeya Mizugaki on August 28, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 27[15] He lost the fight via split decision.[16]
Pérez next faced Edwin Figueroa at UFC 167.[17] He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Pérez faced Bryan Caraway on June 7, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 42.[18] He lost the fight via rear-naked choke submission in the second round.[19]
Pérez was expected to face Marcus Brimage on November 15, 2014, at UFC 180.[20] However, Pérez pulled out of the bout in mid-October citing a shoulder injury.[21]
Pérez was briefly linked to a fight with Damian Stasiak on November 21, 2015, at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale.[22] However, Stasiak was removed from the bout and replaced by Taylor Lapilus.[23] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[24]
Pérez next faced Francisco Rivera on July 30, 2016, at UFC 201.[25] He won the back-and-forth fight by unanimous decision.[26]
Pérez faced Felipe Arantes on November 5, 2016, at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale.[27] He was awarded a split decision victory.[28] Perez signed with Combate Americas on October 31, 2017, after fighting out his contract with the UFC.[29]
Following his departure from the UFC, Pérez signed a multi-fight contract with Combate Americas.[30] On March 15, 2018, it was announced that Pérez would be fighting against top-ranked fighter in Texas, David "DJ" Fuentes.[31] The fight took place on April 20, and Erik won the fight by knockout.[32]
Pérez was expected to headline Combate Americas Mexico vs. USA against John Castañeda on October 13, 2018, but the bout was postponed to a later date because Castaneda caught staph infection.[33] [34]
Pérez then headlined Combate Americas Combate Monterrey on November 17, 2018, against Andres Ayala.[35] He won the fight via rear-naked choke in the first round.[36]
Following a two-fight stint at Combate Americas, Pérez signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator MMA.[37]
Pérez made his promotional debut against Toby Misech at Bellator 236 on December 20, 2019.[38] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[39]
Pérez faced Josh Hill at Bellator 244 on August 21, 2020.[40] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[41] Pérez was expected to face Brian Moore at Bellator 258 on May 7, 2021.[42] However, Moore tested positive for COVID and pulled out of the bout.[43] He was replaced by Blaine Shutt.[44] Pérez won the bout via unanimous decision.[45]
Pérez was scheduled to face Brett Johns on October 16, 2021, at Bellator 268.[46] However on October 5, it was announced that Perez was injured and the bout was scrapped.[47]
Pérez, replacing Jared Scoggins, was scheduled to face Cee Jay Hamilton on April 22, 2022, at Bellator 278.[48] Pérez in turn pulled out of the bout and Hamilton was not rescheduled, instead being paid his show money, despite not weighing in or fighting.[49]
Pérez faced Enrique Barzola on March 10, 2023, at Bellator 292.[50] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[51]
|-|Loss|align=center|20–9|Enrique Barzola|Decision (unanimous)|Bellator 292||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|San Jose, California, United States||-|Win|align=center| 20–8|Blaine Shutt|Decision (unanimous)|Bellator 258||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Uncasville, Connecticut, United States||-| Loss|align=center|19–8|Josh Hill|Decision (unanimous)|Bellator 244||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Uncasville, Connecticut, United States||-|Loss|align=center|19–7|Toby Misech|KO (punches)|Bellator 235||align=center|1|align=center|0:54|Honolulu, Hawaii, United States| |-|Win|align=center|19–6|Andres Ayala|Submission (rear-naked choke)|Combate Americas - Combate Monterrey||align=center|1|align=center|3:39|Monterrey, Nuevo León| |-|Win|align=center|18–6|David Fuentes|KO (punches)|Combate Americas - Combate Estrellas 2||align=center|3|align=center|1:22|Monterrey, Nuevo León| |-|Win|align=center|17–6|Felipe Arantes|Decision (split)|The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale: dos Anjos vs. Ferguson||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Mexico City, Mexico| |-|Win|align=center|16–6|Francisco Rivera|Decision (unanimous)|UFC 201 ||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Atlanta, Georgia, United States||-| Win| align=center| 15–6| Taylor Lapilus | Decision (unanimous)| The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale: Magny vs. Gastelum| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Monterrey, Mexico| |-| Loss| align=center| 14–6| Bryan Caraway| Submission (rear-naked choke)| | | align=center| 2| align=center| 1:52| Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 14–5| Edwin Figueroa| Decision (unanimous)| UFC 167| | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 13–5| Takeya Mizugaki| Decision (split)| | | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Indianapolis, Indiana, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 13–4| Byron Bloodworth| TKO (punches)| UFC 155| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:50| Las Vegas, Nevada, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 12–4| Ken Stone| KO (punch)| UFC 150| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:17| Denver, Colorado, United States| Fastest knockout in UFC bantamweight history|-| Win| align=center| 11–4| John Albert| Submission (armbar)| The Ultimate Fighter: Live Finale| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:18| Las Vegas, Nevada, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 10–4| Paul McVeigh| Decision (unanimous)| BAMMA 8| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Nottingham, England| |-| Win| align=center| 9–4| James Brum| Submission (rear-naked choke)| BAMMA 7| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:31| Birmingham, England|Catchweight (140 lbs) bout.|-| Win| align=center| 8–4| Douglas Frey| Decision (unanimous)| Shark Fights 17: Horwich vs. Rosholt 2| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Frisco, Texas, United States|Catchweight (150 lbs) bout.|-| Win| align=center| 7–4| Jesse Thorton| Submission (rear-naked choke)| STFC 15: Nature of the Beast| | align=center| 2| align=center| 2:34| McAllen, Texas, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 6–4| France Atala| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Triple A Promotions| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:53| Laredo, Texas, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 5–4| Jason Sampson| Decision (split)| STFC: 9/3/10| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| McAllen, Texas, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 5–3| David Fuentes| Submission (armbar)| STFC 11: Night of Champions| | align=center| 3| align=center| 3:01| McAllen, Texas, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 5–2| Jeremiah Castillo| Submission (armbar)| SCA: Duke City Fall Brawl 2| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:23| Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 4–2| Fabian Jacquez| Submission (rear-naked choke)| DCMMAS: Duke City MMA Series 2| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:55| Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 3–2| Albert Martinez| TKO (punches)| STFC 6: Evolution| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:17| Odessa, Texas, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 2–2| Sabino Becerra| Submission (triangle choke)| STFC 4: Fuentes vs. King| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:29| McAllen, Texas, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 1–2| Josh Scales| TKO (punches)| STFC 3: War Zone| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:09| McAllen, Texas, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 0–2| Alfredo Morales| Decision (split)| Warriors Fighting Championship| | align=center| 3| align=center| 3:00| Mexico City, Mexico| |-| Loss| align=center| 0–1| Tim Snyder| Decision (split)| STFC 2: Aftershock| | align=center| 3| align=center| N/A| Edinburg, Texas, United States|