| Aaron Simpson | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1974-07-20)July 20, 1974 (age 50) Gunnison, Colorado, United States |
| Other names | A-Train |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 171 lb (78 kg; 12.2 st) |
| Division | Middleweight Welterweight |
| Reach | 73 in (190 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
| Team | Power MMA Team |
| Rank | Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Paul Nava: Ares AZ BJJ Association |
| Wrestling | NCAA Division IWrestling |
| Years active | 2000; 2007-2013 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 17 |
| Wins | 12 |
| By knockout | 6 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 5 |
| Losses | 5 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Other information | |
| University | Arizona State University |
| Notable school(s) | Antelope Union High School |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
Aaron Michael Simpson (born July 20, 1974) is an Americanmixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 2000 until 2013, he is perhaps best known for his 11-fight stint with theUFC, but also fought for the pre-Zuffa ownedWEC and theWorld Series of Fighting.
Simpson was born inGunnison, Colorado and grew up inWellton, Arizona, where he attendedAntelope Union High School. In high school he was a standoutwrestler, compiling an amazing 142–1 record, and earned four state wrestling championships before going to compete in the sport forArizona State University originally as a walk on before earning his scholarship. He compiled 110 wins and earnedNCAAAll-American status in 1996 and 1998 and then became an assistant coach forASU and spent nine years there in that position. Simpson then worked as an assistant coach atCalifornia Polytechnic State University.[1]
Simpson made hisWEC debut against accomplishedgrapplerDavid Avellan atWEC 36. Simpson won in the first round with a highlight-reelKO.
Simpson was part of the transfer ofLight Heavyweight andMiddleweight fighters in theWEC to theUFC. He made his debut atUFC Fight Night 18 by defeatingTim McKenzie via TKO in the first round.
He was set to have his second fight againstDan Miller on September 16, 2009, atUFC Fight Night 19.[2] Instead the fight was moved toUFC 102 where he foughtEd Herman. Simpson won by technical knockout when Herman went down with a knee injury in the second round.
Simpson facedTom Lawlor on January 11, 2010, atUFC Fight Night 20, defeating him via controversial split decision.[3]
Simpson was expected to faceChris Leben atUFC 114, but the bout took place instead on June 19, 2010, atThe Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz Finale.[4] Simpson lost the fight via TKO at 4:17 of round 2. Simpson started out strong, using his wrestling to bring the heavier hitting Leben down multiple times. In the second round, Simpson came out gassed and ate multiple shots against the cage before turning and running away, falling against the cage, forcing the referee to save him.
Simpson was expected to faceDavid Branch on September 15, 2010, atUFC Fight Night 22, but was forced to pull out of the bout with astaph infection.[5]
Simpson facedMark Muñoz on November 20, 2010, atUFC 123.[6] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Simpson returned to winning by defeating Mario Miranda on March 26, 2011, atUFC Fight Night 24.[7] Simpson dominated the fight by controlling Miranda on the ground en route to a unanimous decision victory. The judges scored the fight (30–27, 30–27, 30–26).
Simpson was expected to face returning UFC veteranJason Miller on July 2, 2011, atUFC 132.[8] However, on May 27, 2011, it was revealed that Miller would be one of the coaches ofThe Ultimate Fighter Season 14, opposite toMichael Bisping and had been pulled from the bout,[9] while Simpson facedBrad Tavares.[10] Simpson won via unanimous decision.
Simpson was expected to faceNick Catone on October 8, 2011, atUFC 136.[11] However, Catone was forced out of the bout after tearing an Achilles tendon,[12] and replaced byEric Schafer, who he defeated by unanimous decision.[13]
Simpson facedRonny Markes on February 15, 2012, atUFC on Fuel TV 1.[14] Markes defeated Simpson via split decision.
Following his split decision loss to Markes, Simpson confirmed he would drop down to theWelterweight division.[15]
Simpson was expected to faceJon Fitch on July 11, 2012, atUFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman.[16] However, Fitch pulled out of the bout citing a knee injury and was replaced by returning veteranKenny Robertson.[17] Simpson won a unanimous decision over Robertson.
Simpson foughtMike Pierce on October 5, 2012, atUFC on FX 5.[18] After nearly finishing Pierce on two occasions in the first round, Simpson was knocked out 29 seconds into the second round. After the loss, the UFC chose not to renew Simpson's contract.[19]
Following his UFC release, Simpson signed with the new MMA company World Series of Fighting. He foughtJosh Burkman atWorld Series of Fighting 2 on March 23, 2013.[19] He lost his debut via TKO in the first round.
Simpson and his wife Kendra Sirignano have twins, a boy named Domenico and a girl named Mia, who were born in June 2008 via asurrogate, Simpson's mother-in-law. The couple also adopted a 16-year-old girl named Claire. Simpson and Sirignano also competed individually on an episode ofAmerican Gladiators Season Two against another married couple.[20]Simpson and his wife are vegetarians. "I read a book called ‘Eating Animals’ that changed my thoughts,” he said. “And I’m an animal lover. I couldn’t justify what I was eating any more by the way meat is factory produced now and full of hormones, the way the animals are killed, it really turns me off."[21]
| 17 matches | 12 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 3 |
| By submission | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 5 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 12–5 | Joshua Burkman | KO (knee and punches) | World Series of Fighting 2 | March 23, 2013 | 1 | 3:04 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 12–4 | Mike Pierce | KO (punch) | UFC on FX: Browne vs. Bigfoot | October 5, 2012 | 2 | 0:29 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 12–3 | Kenny Robertson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman | July 11, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | San Jose, California, United States | Welterweight debut. |
| Loss | 11–3 | Ronny Markes | Decision (split) | UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger | February 15, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Omaha, Nebraska, United States | |
| Win | 11–2 | Eric Schafer | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 136 | October 8, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 10–2 | Brad Tavares | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 132 | July 2, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 9–2 | Mario Miranda | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis | March 26, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Seattle, Washington, United States | |
| Loss | 8–2 | Mark Muñoz | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 123 | November 20, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States | |
| Loss | 8–1 | Chris Leben | TKO (punches) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz Finale | June 19, 2010 | 2 | 4:17 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 8–0 | Tom Lawlor | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Maynard vs. Diaz | January 11, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Fairfax, Virginia, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 7–0 | Ed Herman | TKO (knee injury) | UFC 102 | August 29, 2009 | 2 | 0:17 | Portland, Oregon, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Tim McKenzie | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Kampmann | April 1, 2009 | 1 | 1:40 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | Knockout of the Night. |
| Win | 5–0 | David Avellan | KO (punch) | WEC 36: Faber vs. Brown | November 5, 2008 | 1 | 0:18 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Travis Degraw | TKO (punches) | Full Moon Fighting 2 | May 31, 2008 | 3 | 3:22 | Rocky Point, Mexico | |
| Win | 3–0 | Scott Dingman | TKO (punches) | Tuff-N-Uff: Thompson vs. Troyer | February 8, 2008 | 1 | 2:40 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Tim Coulson | TKO (punches) | Proving Grounds 2 | October 5, 2007 | 1 | 3:44 | Cayman Islands | |
| Win | 1–0 | Billy Onlewski | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Arizona Cage Combat | April 16, 2000 | 1 | 4:02 | Payson, Arizona, United States |
