Josh Sampo Explained

Josh Sampo
Other Names:The Gremlin
Birth Name:Joshua Ashley Sampo
Birth Date:24 July 1984
Birth Place:Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Height:5 ft 4 in[1]
Weight:125 lb
Weight Class:Flyweight
Bantamweight
Reach:64.5 in[2]
Fighting Out Of:St. Charles, Missouri, U.S.
Team:St. Charles MMA
Rodrigo Vaghi Jiu-Jitsu
Rank:Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[3]
Wrestling:NAIA Wrestling[4]
Years Active:2008–present
Mma Subwin:6
Mma Decwin:5
Mma Koloss:1
Mma Subloss:1
Mma Decloss:4
University:Lindenwood University
School:Pahranagat Valley High School
Sherdog:66883

Joshua Ashley Sampo[5] (born July 24, 1984) is an American mixed martial artist who most recently competed in Ultimate Fighting Championship's flyweight division.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Sampo started his professional career in 2009. He fought mainly for Missouri-based promotions as Fight Me MMA, Wright Fights and Rumble Time Promotions. He is now a high school science teacher at Francis Howell High School in St. Charles county, Missouri.

Legacy Fighting Championship

Sampo was expected to face Rafael de Freitas on September 14, 2012, at Legacy FC 14.[6] However, instead he faced Antonio Banuelos. He won via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) .[7]

Championship Fighting Alliance

Sampo faced Olympic medallist and Bellator MMA veteran Alexis Vila on January 19, 2013, at CFA 9: Night of Champions for the inaugural flyweight title. Sampo defeated Vila via submission due to a guillotine choke in the fifth round and became the CFA flyweight champion.[8]

Sampo defended his title once against Sam Thao on October 12, 2013, at CFA 12: Sampo vs. Thao. He won via unanimous decision (49–46, 49–46, 49–46) after five rounds.[9]

In November 2013, it was announced that Sampo had signed with the UFC.[10]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Sampo made his promotional debut against fellow newcomer Ryan Benoit on November 30, 2013, at The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale. Sampo won via submission due to a rear-naked choke and the performance earned both participants Fight of the Night honors, but Sampo was not eligible for the bonus due to missing weight.[11] [12]

Sampo faced Zach Makovsky on February 22, 2014, at UFC 170. Sampo had his first octagon defeat via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28).[13]

Sampo faced promotional newcomer Paddy Holohan on July 19, 2014, at . He lost via submission due to a rear-naked choke in the first round.[14]

Sampo faced Justin Scoggins on May 23, 2015, at UFC 187.[15] Sampo lost the fight via unanimous decision.[16] Subsequently, he was released from the promotion.[17]

Bellator MMA

Sampo faced Dominic Mazzotta at Bellator 197 on April 13, 2018.[18] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Amateur wrestling

Mixed martial arts record

|-|Loss|align=center | 11–6|Dominic Mazzotta |Decision (unanimous)|Bellator 197||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|St. Charles, Missouri, United States||-| Loss| align=center | 11–5| Justin Scoggins| Decision (unanimous)| UFC 187| | align=center | 3| align=center | 5:00| Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-| Loss| align=center | 11–4| Paddy Holohan| Submission (rear-naked choke)| | | align=center | 1| align=center | 3:06| Dublin, Ireland||-| Loss| align=center | 11–3| Zach Makovsky| Decision (unanimous)| UFC 170| | align=center | 3| align=center | 5:00| Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-| Win| align=center | 11–2| Ryan Benoit| Submission (rear-naked choke)| The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale| | align=center | 2| align=center | 4:31| Las Vegas, Nevada, United States| |-| Win| align=center | 10–2| Sam Thao| Decision (unanimous)| CFA 12: Sampo vs. Thao| | align=center | 5| align=center | 5:00| Coral Gables, Florida, United States| |-| Win| align=center | 9–2| Alexis Vila| Submission (guillotine choke)| CFA 9: Night of Champions| | align=center | 5| align=center | 2:26| Coral Gables, Florida, United States| |-| Win| align=center | 8–2| Antonio Banuelos| Decision (unanimous)| Legacy FC 14| | align=center | 3| align=center | 5:00| Houston, Texas, United States||-| Win| align=center | 7–2| Carson Gainey| Submission (kimura)| Rumble Time Promotions: Clash of the Warriors| | align=center | 1| align=center | 1:23| St. Charles, Missouri, United States||-| Loss| align=center | 6–2| Will Campuzano| KO (knee)| Rumble Time Promotions| | align=center | 3| align=center | 1:18| St. Charles, Missouri, United States||-| Win| align=center | 6–1| Czar Sklavos| Decision (unanimous)| Fight Me MMA| | align=center | 3| align=center | 5:00| St. Charles, Missouri, United States||-| Win| align=center | 5–1| Gor Mnatsakanyan| Decision (unanimous)| UFF: X| | align=center | 3| align=center | 5:00| Salina, Kansas, United States||-| Win| align=center | 4–1| Jeremy Freeman| Submission (leg triangle)| Wright Fights 4| | align=center | 1| align=center | 3:12| St. Charles, Missouri, United States||-| Loss| align=center | 3–1| Mike French| Decision (unanimous)| Wright Fights 2| | align=center | 3| align=center | 5:00| St. Charles, Missouri, United States||-| Win| align=center | 3–0| Eric Acuna| Decision (unanimous)| Fight Me MMA 1: The Battle Begins| | align=center | 3| align=center | 5:00| St. Charles, Missouri, United States||-| Win| align=center | 2–0| Jake Rosenbaum| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Hoosier FC 4: Showdown at the Steel Yard| | align=center | 3| align=center | 0:57| Gary, Indiana, United States||-| Win| align=center | 1–0| Josh Phillips| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Friday Night Fight Night| | align=center | 1| align=center | 4:35| Sedalia, Missouri, United States|

Mixed martial arts amateur record

|-| Win| align=center | 4–0| Chris Butler| TKO (strikes)| Xtreme Fight League| | align=center | 1| align=center | 1:17| St. Louis, Missouri, United States||-| Win| align=center | 3–0| Albert Mendoza| Submission (strikes)| Cage Championships 16| | align=center | 2| align=center | 1:29| Sullivan, Missouri, United States| |-| Win| align=center | 2–0| Robert Peralez| N/A| Midwest Fight League: Battle at the Bluenote 6| | align=center | N/A| align=center | N/A| Columbia, Missouri, United States||-| Win| align=center | 1–0| Jon Hollis| TKO| Midwest Fight Fest| | align=center | 1| align=center | N/A| St. Louis, Missouri, United States|

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fight Card – UFC 187 Johnson vs. Cormier . UFC.com . May 31, 2015.
  2. Web site: Josh Sampo's profile . Tapology.com . September 19, 2014.
  3. Web site: Josh Sampo – Official UFC Fighter Profile . UFC.com . September 19, 2014.
  4. Web site: 2006 NAIA Wrestling All-Americans – NAIA – National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics . NAIA.org . March 21, 2006 . May 31, 2015.
  5. Web site: State Of Nevada . Boxing.nv.gov . 2016-08-01.
  6. Web site: Josh Sampo vs. Rafael de Freitas (Legacy FC 14) . Tapology.com . September 19, 2014.
  7. Web site: Modified triangle choke gives Jeff Rexroad interim Legacy FC welterweight crown . Sherdog.com . Brian Knapp . September 14, 2012 . September 19, 2014.
  8. Web site: CFA 9 results: Luiz Buscape, Josh Sampo, Marcelo Alfaya and Sean Soriano win titles at 'Night of Champions' on 1/19/13 . https://archive.today/20140920010221/http://www.mmamadman.com/2013/01/cfa-9-results-night-of-champions-palomino-vs-buscape-miami-january-19-2013.html . dead . September 20, 2014 . MMAmadman.com . Staff . January 21, 2013 . September 19, 2014 .
  9. Web site: Josh Sampo retains flyweight crown, Ashlee Evans-Smith stops Fallon Fox at CFA 12 . Sherdog.com . Jesse Denis . October 12, 2013 . September 19, 2014.
  10. Web site: UFC signs flyweights Ryan Benoit, Josh Sampo for fight at TUF 18 Finale in Las Vegas . MMAjunkie.com . Matt Erickson . November 20, 2013 . September 19, 2014.
  11. Web site: TUF 18 Finale results: Joshua Sampo taps out fellow newcomer Ryan Benoit . MMAjunkie.com . Ben Fowlkes . November 30, 2013 . September 19, 2014.
  12. Web site: TUF 18 Finale fighter bonuses: Ryan Benoit scores $100,000 in odd twist on fight of the night . MMAweekly.com . Staff . December 1, 2013 . September 19, 2014.
  13. Web site: UFC 170 results, photos: Zach Makovsky tops a game Josh Sampo via decision . MMAjunkie.com . Ben Fowlkes . February 22, 2014 . September 19, 2014.
  14. Web site: UFC Fight Night 46 results: Dublin rejoices as Patrick Holohan upsets Josh Sampo . MMAjunkie.com . Steven Marocco . July 19, 2014 . September 19, 2014.
  15. Web site: Justin Scoggins vs. Josh Sampo set for UFC 187 in Las Vegas . cagepages.com . Sean Bio . 2015-02-25 . 2015-02-25.
  16. Web site: UFC 187 results: Justin Scoggins outworks Josh Sampo for unanimous decision . mmajunkie.com . Brent Brookhouse . 2015-05-23 . 2015-05-23.
  17. Web site: Hatsu Hioki and Ryan Jimmo among 14 fighters released by the UFC . bloodyelbow.com . 2015-07-06 . 2015-07-06 . Anton Tabuena.
  18. Web site: Former UFC Talent Josh Sampo to Meet Dominic Mazzotta at Bellator 197. sherdog.com. Tristen Critchfield. March 7, 2018.
  19. Web site: Josh Sampo's profile . Mixedmartialarts.com . September 19, 2014.
  20. Web site: NAIA wrestling championship history . NAIA.org . September 19, 2014.
  21. Web site: Former PVHS wrestler signs contract with UFC . LCcentral.com . Dave Maxwell . December 6, 2013 . September 19, 2014.
  22. Web site: Pahranagat Valley wrestling . Nevadapreps.com . September 19, 2014.