Fernando Gonzalez (fighter) explained

Fernando Gonzalez
Other Names:The Menifee Maniac
Birth Name:Fernando Esparza Gonzalez
Birth Date:15 September 1983
Birth Place:Escondido, California, United States[1]
Residence:Murrieta, California, United States[2]
Weight:170lb
Weight Class:Light Heavyweight
Middleweight
Welterweight
Reach:68inches
Stance:Southpaw
Fighting Out Of:Menifee, California, United States
Team:Next Generation
Years Active:2003–present
Mma Kowin:10
Mma Subwin:8
Mma Decwin:11
Mma Koloss:2
Mma Subloss:5
Mma Decloss:13
Kickbox Win:1
Kickbox Loss:1
Sherdog:8578

Fernando Esparza Gonzalez (born September 15, 1983)[3] is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor since 2003, Gonzalez has also competed for the WEC, King of the Cage, Bellator MMA, Absolute Championship Akhmat, and Strikeforce. Also a successful competitor in Muay Thai, Gonzalez is the former WBC National Muay Thai Cruiserweight Champion.[4]

Background

Born in Escondido, California, Gonzalez began boxing at the age of five. During high school, Gonzalez competed in football and began training in mixed martial arts after graduating at the age of 19.[5]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career: WEC

Gonzalez made his MMA and WEC debut against Mike Castillo on October 17, 2003, at WEC 8. He was victorious via first-round TKO.[6]

After going 7–3 in his next ten bouts, Gonzalez returned to the promotion when he faced Jimmy Dexter at WEC 20, defeating him via rear-naked choke submission.[7]

He next faced Alex Stiebling at WEC 23 on August 17, 2006. He won the fight via TKO due to a doctor stoppage in the first round.[8]

Gonzalez faced Brendan Seguin at WEC 25 on January 20, 2007. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[9]

In what would be his last fight for the promotion, Gonzalez faced Hiromitsu Miura at WEC 29 on August 5, 2007. He lost the fight via submission due to punches in the second round.[10]

Strikeforce

Gonzalez made his Strikeforce debut at on December 17, 2011. He faced Eddie Mendez and lost via split decision.[11]

Bellator MMA

Gonzalez made his Bellator debut on July 25, 2014, when he faced Bellator season 6 welterweight tournament winner Karl Amoussou at Bellator 122. Despite coming in as an underdog, Gonzalez pulled off the upset, winning via unanimous decision.[12]

In his second appearance for Bellator, Gonzalez was expected to face Justin Baesman at Bellator 127 on October 3, 2014. However, Karo Parisyan's opponent, Marius Žaromskis, was removed from their scheduled bout on the same card, so Gonzalez stepped in as a replacement.[13] He won the fight via TKO in the first round.[14] In his post-fight drug test, Gonzalez tested positive for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).[15] As a result, Gonzalez was suspended for 30 days in the state of California by the CSAC and fined $315.[16]

Gonzalez faced Marius Žaromskis at Bellator 132 on January 16, 2015.[17] He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Gonzalez next faced Curtis Millender at Bellator 137 on May 15, 2015.[18] He won the fight via submission in the third round, bringing his Bellator record to 4–0. After the fight it was revealed by the CSAC that Gonzalez tested positive for marijuana; his second violation while with the promotion.[19]

On March 4, 2016, Gonzalez fought Gilbert Smith at Bellator 151. He won the fight by split decision.[20]

Gonzalez fought Michael Page on November 19, 2016, at Bellator 165.[21] He lost the fight via split decision.

After his first loss in the promotion, Gonzalez was scheduled to face former Bellator Welterweight Champion, Andrey Koreshkov, at Bellator 174 on March 3, 2017. However, an injury forced Koreshkov out of the bout.[22] Instead, Gonzalez faced Brandon Girtz at the event and won via unanimous decision.[23]

Gonzalez faced Brennan Ward at Bellator 182 on August 25, 2017. Originally a catchweight of 178 pounds, Gonzalez missed weight and came in at 180 pounds. He won the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the third round.[24]

Gonzalez faced Lorenz Larkin in a catchweight bout at Bellator 193 on January 26, 2018.[25] Gonzalez missed weight for the third time in a row.[26] After surviving a late flurry of strikes in the third round, Gonzalez lost the fight via unanimous decision and was subsequently released from the promotion.[27] [28]

Post-Bellator

Gonzalez faced Gabriel Checco on March 9, 2019 at California Xtreme Fighting (CXF 17) and won by split decision.[29]

Gonzalez faced Elias Silvério on June 8, 2019 at ACA 96 on and lost by unanimous decision.[30]

Gonzalez faced Abubakar Vagaev on October 4, 2019 at ACA 100 and lost by unanimous decision.[31]

Gonzalez faced Ty Freeman on May 29, 2021 at J Street Fights 1 and won by knockout in the third round.[32]

Gonzalez faced Sidiah Parker on August 28, 2021 at NWFA 1: Retribution and lost by unanimous decision.[33]

Gonzalez faced Maki Pitolo on March 4, 2022 at Tuff-N-Uff 127 and lost by unanimous decision.[34]

Bare-knuckle boxing

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship

Gonzalez made his debut against Vincent Familari in a middleweight bout at BKFC: Knucklemania IV on April 27, 2024.[35] He lost the bout by unanimous decision.[36]

Gonzalez was scheduled to face Kyle McElroy at BKFC Fight Night: Pechanga on July 12, 2024.[37] McElroy was replaced by Rodney Thomas for unknown reasons. Gonzalez won the bout by unanimous decision.[38]

Personal life

Gonzalez and his wife have children.[39]

Mixed martial arts record

|-|Loss|align=center| 29–20|Maki Pitolo|Decision (unanimous)|Tuff-N-Uff 127||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States| |-|Loss|align=center| 29–19| Sidiah Parker| Decision (unanimous)| NWFA 1: Retribution| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00|Bentonville, Arkansas, United States| |-|Win|align=center| 29–18|Ty Freeman|KO|J Street Fights 1||align=center|3|align=center|0:14|Bentonville, Arkansas, United States||-|Loss|align=center| 28–18|Abubakar Vagaev|Decision (unanimous)|ACA 100||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Grozny, Russia||-|Loss|align=center|28–17|Elias Silvério|Decision (unanimous)|ACA 96: Goncharov vs. Johnson||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Łódź, Poland|Return to Welterweight.|-|Win|align=center| 28–16|Gabriel Checco|Decision (split)|CXF 17: March Madness||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Los Angeles, California, United States|Middleweight bout.|-|Loss|align=center| 27–16|Piotr Strus|Decision (split)|ACB 87: Mousah vs Whiteford||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Nottinghamshire, England|Middleweight bout.|-|Loss|align=center| 27–15|Lorenz Larkin|Decision (unanimous)|Bellator 193||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Temecula, California, United States|Catchweight (180 lbs) bout; Gonzalez missed weight.|-|Win|align=center| 27–14|Brennan Ward|Submission (guillotine choke)|Bellator 182||align=center|3|align=center|1:02|Verona, New York, United States|Catchweight (180 lbs) bout; Gonzalez missed weight.[40] |-| Win| align=center| 26–14| Brandon Girtz| Decision (unanimous)| Bellator 174| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States| Catchweight (174 lbs) bout; Gonzalez missed weight.[41] |-| Loss| align=center| 25–14| Michael Page| Decision (split)| Bellator 165| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| San Jose, California, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 25–13| Gilbert Smith| Decision (split)| Bellator 151| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 24–13| Curtis Millender| Submission (guillotine choke)| Bellator 137| | align=center| 3| align=center| 1:14| Temecula, California, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 23–13| Marius Žaromskis| Decision (unanimous)| Bellator 132| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Temecula, California, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 22–13| Karo Parisyan| TKO (punches)| Bellator 127| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:43| Temecula, California, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 21–13| Karl Amoussou| Decision (unanimous)| Bellator 122| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Temecula, California, United States|Welterweight bout.|-| Loss| align=center| 20–13| David Mitchell| TKO (punches)| WFC 8: Avila vs. Berkovic| | align=center| 3| align=center| 1:45| Sacramento, California, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 20–12| Max Griffin| Decision (split)| WFC 7: Griffin vs. Gonzalez| | align=center| 5| align=center| 5:00| Sacramento, California, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 20–11| Kenny Ento| Decision (unanimous)| Gladiator Challenge: Showdown| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Woodlake, California, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 19–11| Lucas Gamaza| Decision (unanimous)| Red Canvas: Art of Submission 3| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Stockton, California, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 18–11| Theodore Whitfield| TKO (punches)| Gladiator Challenge| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:02| San Diego, California, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 17–11| Eddie Mendez| Decision (split)| | | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| San Diego, California, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 17–10| Joe Williams| Decision (split)| Respect in the Cage| | align=center| 5| align=center| 5:00| Pomona, California, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 17–9| Brent Cooper| Decision (unanimous)| Respect in the Cage| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Pomona, California, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 17–8| Nick Zarate| TKO (punches)| Gladiator Challenge: Never Quit| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:47| San Jacinto, California, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 16–8| Frank Avant| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Gladiator Challenge: High Impact| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:21| Pauma Valley, California, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 15–8| Tony Lopez| Submission (rear-naked choke)| KOTC: Storm| | align=center| 5| align=center| 1:48| Lake Elsinore, California, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 15–7| Larry Mays| TKO (elbows)| Gladiator Challenge: Venom| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:53| Pauma Valley, California, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 14–7| Tony Lopez| Submission (rear-naked choke)| KOTC: Misconduct| | align=center| 2| align=center| 1:37| Highland, California, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 14–6| Hector Urbina| Submission (guillotine choke)| KOTC: Fight Nite @ The Shrine| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:10| Los Angeles, California, United States|Welterweight bout.|-| Loss| align=center| 13–6| Jay Martinez| TKO (punches)| MMA Xtreme 15| | align=center| 2| align=center| 3:11| Mexico City, Mexico| |-| Loss| align=center| 13–5| Hiromitsu Miura| Submission (punches)| WEC 29| | align=center| 2| align=center| 3:35| Las Vegas, Nevada, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 13–4| Joe Atoe| TKO (punches)| MMA Xtreme 12| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:31| Mexicali, Mexico| |-| Win| align=center| 12–4| Jay Carter| Decision (unanimous)| X-1: Extreme Fighting 2| | align=center| 3| align=center| 3:00| Honolulu, Hawaii, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 11–4| Brendan Seguin| Decision (unanimous)| WEC 25| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Las Vegas, Nevada, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 11–3| Umar Luv| Submission (injury)| KOTC: Destroyer| | align=center| 2| align=center| 0:28| San Jacinto, California, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 10–3| Alex Stiebling| TKO (doctor stoppage)| WEC 23| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:35| Lemoore, California, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 9–3| Jimmy Dexter| Submission (rear-naked choke)| WEC 20| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:09| Lemoore, California, United States|Return to Middleweight.|-| Loss| align=center| 8–3| Danny Higgins| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Extreme Wars 2: X-1| | align=center| 2| align=center| N/A| Honolulu, Hawaii, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 8–2| Ray Lizama| Decision (unanimous)| KOTC 63: Final Conflict| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| San Jacinto, California, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 7–2| Aaron Torres| Submission (punches)| KOTC 58: Prime Time| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:33| San Jacinto, California, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 6–2| Sidney Silva| Decision (unanimous)| Extreme Wars: X-1| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Honolulu, Hawaii, United States|Return to Welterweight.|-| Loss| align=center| 5–2| Miguel Gutierrez| Submission (armbar)| KOTC: Mortal Sins| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:42| Primm, Nevada, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 5–1| Reggie Orr| Decision (majority)| KOTC 49: Soboba| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| San Jacinto, California, United States|Welterweight bout.|-| Win| align=center| 4–1| Reggie Orr| Submission (injury)| KOTC 44: Revenge| | align=center| 2| align=center| 2:38| San Jacinto, California, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 3–1| Travis Goodman| KO (punch)| KOTC 41: Relentless| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:25| San Jacinto, California, United States|Return to Middleweight.|-| Win| align=center| 2–1| Scott Sepulveda| TKO (punches)| KOTC 39: Hitmaster| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:28| San Jacinto, California, United States|Welterweight debut.|-| Loss| align=center| 1–1| Eric Escobedo| Decision| Pit Fighting Championship| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| California, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 1–0| Mike Castillo| TKO (punches)| WEC 8| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:27| Lemoore, California, United States|

Kickboxing record

|-|- bgcolor= #FFBBBB| 2015-09-19 || Loss ||align=left| Paul Daley || || San Jose, California, US || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 0–1||-|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 2010-07-3 || Win ||align=left| Smith Wellington || Extreme Brawling|| USA || Decision (unanimous)|| 3||||-| colspan=9 | Legend:

Bare knuckle boxing record

|-|Win|align=center|1–1|Rodney Thomas|Decision (unanimous)|BKFC Fight Night: Pechanga||align=center|5|align=center|2:00|Temecula, California, United States||-|Loss|align=center|0–1|Vincent Familari|Decision (unanimous)|BKFC: Knucklemania IV||align=center|5|align=center|2:00|Los Angeles, California, United States|

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fernando Gonzalez: "I'm trying to finish the fight every single time I'm in the cage" - Bellator MMA . 2015-01-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150115061512/http://www.bellator.com/articles/bellator-mma-fernando-gonzalez-pitbull-vs-straus . 2015-01-15 . dead .
  2. Web site: MMA: Patience pays off for Menifee's Gonzalez. 15 January 2015.
  3. http://boxing.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/boxingnvgov/content/results/2005_Results/05-07-05MM%20KOTC.pdf Mixed martial arts show results Date: May 7, 2005
  4. Web site: San Diego Muay Thai LIVE Event | Dave Nielsen vs Fernando Gonzalez . 17 July 2012 .
  5. Web site: MMA: Patience pays off for Menifee's Gonzalez. 15 January 2015.
  6. Web site: WEC 8 – Halloween Fury 2. Sherdog.com.
  7. Web site: WEC 20 – Cinco de Mayhem. Sherdog.com.
  8. Web site: WEC 23 – Hot August Fights. Sherdog.com.
  9. Web site: WEC 25 – Las Vegas. Sherdog.com.
  10. Web site: Carlos Condit, Paulo Filho Win Championship Bouts at WEC 29. MMAJunkie.com. August 6, 2007.
  11. Web site: 'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal' results: Champ Melendez shuts out Masvidal. MMAJunkie.com. December 18, 2011.
  12. Web site: Fernando Gonzalez vs. Karl Amoussou. Sherdog.com. July 25, 2014.
  13. Web site: With Marius Zaromskis out, Karo Parisyan now meets Fernando Gonzalez at Bellator 127. TheMMAReport.com. September 23, 2014.
  14. Web site: Bellator 127 results: Ex-champ Daniel Straus loads up and KOs Justin Wilcox. MMAJunkie.com. October 3, 2014.
  15. Web site: 4 fighters fail post-fight drug screenings following Bellator 127 in California. Sherdog.com. October 30, 2014.
  16. Web site: CSAC issues fines, suspensions to 4 fighters who failed Bellator 127 drug tests. Sherdog.com. November 4, 2014.
  17. Web site: Alexander-Zwicker Rematch, Zaromskis-Gonzalez Round Out Bellator 132 Main Card. Sherdog.com. December 9, 2014.
  18. Web site: Three bouts announced for Bellator 137, including Mike Richman vs. Eduardo Dantas. mmajunkie.com. Brent Brookhouse. March 31, 2015.
  19. Web site: Bellator's Mike Richman suspended two years after failed drug test. mmajunkie.com. Steven Marrocco. 2015-06-09. 2015-06-10.
  20. Web site: Bellator 151 Results: Play-by-Play, Updates & Round-by-Round Scoring. sherdog.com. 4 March 2016.
  21. Web site: Bellator's Michael Page to face Gonzalez in San Jose Nov. 19. bigstory.ap.org. 26 August 2016. 20 November 2016. 8 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161008152241/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a6ff85eea01d4d40b016c1c0c0ccbddf/bellators-michael-page-face-gonzalez-san-jose-nov-18. dead.
  22. Web site: Bellator 174's Fernando Gonzalez says 'MVP' was the one who asked for rematch, now refuses. mmajunkie.com. John Morgan. February 27, 2017.
  23. Web site: Bellator 174 results: Julia Budd wins featherweight title vs. Marloes Coenen, who retires. mmajunkie.com. Staff. March 3, 2017.
  24. Web site: Bellator 182 results: Ex-champ Andrey Koreshkov pounds out Chidi Njokuani in first round. mmajunkie.com. Matt Erickson. August 25, 2017.
  25. Web site: Lorenz Larkin vs. Fernando Gonzalez catchweight fight headlines Bellator 193. mmajunkie.com. Staff. November 14, 2017.
  26. Web site: Before missing, Fernando Gonzalez said weight issue wouldn't happen; looking for star turn at Bellator 193. mmajunkie.com. Matt Erickson and John Morgan. January 25, 2018.
  27. Web site: Bellator 193 results: Lorenz Larkin picks up first Bellator win. mmajunkie.com. John Morgan. January 26, 2018.
  28. Web site: Bellator trims roster, parts ways with 13 fighters. Guilherme Cruz. 2018-02-20. mmafighting.com.
  29. Web site: Bryant . Steve . 2019-03-11 . CXF 17: March Madness - 09 March 2019 - Results . 2024-04-11 . SoCalUNCENSORED.com . en-US.
  30. Web site: medialead.ru . 2019-06-09 . ACA 96: Goncharov vs Johnson - Results . 2024-04-11 . www.aca-mma.com . en.
  31. Web site: ACA 100 Grozny – wyniki walk – FIGHT24.PL – MMA i K-1, UFC . 2024-04-11 . pl-PL.
  32. Web site: Fernando Gonzalez vs. Ty Freeman, J Street Fights 1 MMA Bout . 2024-04-11 . Tapology . en.
  33. Web site: NWFA 1: Retribution MMA Event . 2024-04-11 . Tapology . en.
  34. Web site: Maki Pitolo vs. Fernando Gonzalez, Tuff-N-Uff 127 MMA Bout . 2024-04-11 . Tapology . en.
  35. Web site: BKFC KNUCKLEMANIA IV . 2024-04-11 . Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships.
  36. Web site: 2024-04-28 . BKFC KnuckleMania 4 live and official results, preliminary stream . 2024-04-28 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  37. Web site: BKFC Prospects Pechanga . 2024-05-26 . Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships.
  38. Web site: BKFC Fight Night Pechanga Results BKFC . 2024-07-13 . Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
  39. Web site: Fernando Gonzalez: "I'm trying to finish the fight every single time I'm in the cage". bellator.com. January 11, 2015. January 15, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150115061512/http://www.bellator.com/articles/bellator-mma-fernando-gonzalez-pitbull-vs-straus. January 15, 2015. dead. mdy-all.
  40. Web site: Bellator 182 weigh-in results: Chidi Njokuani heavy, but set for Andrey Koreshkov. mmajunkie.com. Staff. August 24, 2017.
  41. Web site: Bellator 174 weigh in results, live video for 'Coenen vs Budd' in Thackerville. mmamania.com. Steve Juon. March 2, 2017.

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