| Emmanuel Sanchez | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1990-08-11)August 11, 1990 (age 35) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States |
| Other names | El Matador |
| Nationality | Mexican American[1] |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 145.2 lb (65.9 kg; 10.37 st) |
| Division | Welterweight Lightweight Featherweight |
| Reach | 76 in (193 cm) |
| Fighting out of | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States |
| Team | Roufusport (2013–present)[1] |
| Rank | Black belt inKarateunderDuke Roufus[1] Black belt inBrazilian Jiu-Jitsuunder Daniel Wanderley[1] |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 35 |
| Wins | 24 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 10 |
| By decision | 13 |
| Losses | 11 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 9 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
Emmanuel Sanchez (born August 11, 1990) is an Americanmixed martial artist currently in theLightweight division. A professional competitor since 2011, Sanchez has formerly competed forBellator MMA, where he was a contender for theFeatherweight World Championship, andResurrection Fighting Alliance.
Born and raised in a lower-middle-class family ofMexican immigrants, Sanchez wrestled as a kid but did not continue to the high school level in the sport.[1] He became interested inMMA andBrazilian jiu-jitsu while attending high school. After a successful amateur career, Sanchez began his professional career in 2011, starting his professional career at 4–0.
Sanchez began his professional MMA career in November 2011. He compiled a record of 8–1 before signing withBellator MMA.During this time, Sanchez mainly competed in the lightweight division, before moving down to featherweight. He also competed once as a welterweight, in which he suffered his first professional loss against currentUFC competitor Lewis Gonzalez.
Sanchez made his promotional debut against Stephen Banaszak atBellator 128 on October 10, 2014. He won the fight via rear-naked choke submission at 2:18 in the first round.[2]
In his second fight for the promotion, Sanchez faced Alejandro Villalobos atBellator 135 on March 27, 2015. He won the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision.[3]
Stepping in for an injuredGoiti Yamauchi, Sanchez faced formerBellator featherweight championPat Curran atBellator 139 on June 26, 2015.[4] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Sanchez next faced Henry Corrales atBellator 143 on September 25, 2015. He won the fight via split decision.
In his highest profile fight to date, Sanchez faced UFC veteranJustin Lawrence on November 6, 2015 atBellator 145.[5] He won the back-and-forth fight via split decision.
As the last fight of his prevailing contract, Sanchez next facedDaniel Pineda on the main card atBellator 149 on February 19, 2016.[1] He won the fight by split decision.
As the first fight of his new, multi-year contract with Bellator, Sanchez facedDaniel Weichel atBellator 159 on July 22, 2016.[6] He lost via split decision.[7]
Sanchez returned the following January and facedGeorgi Karakhanyan atBellator 170. He won the fight via majority decision. One point was taken from Sanchez in the second round due to two illegal knee strikes.[8]
Sanchez faced formerBellator bantamweight championMarcos Galvao, who moved up to the featherweight division, atBellator 175 on March 31, 2017. He won the fight via unanimous decision.[9]
Sanchez facedDaniel Straus atBellator 184 on October 6, 2017.[10] He won the fight via triangle choke submission in the third round.[11]
Sanchez facedSam Sicilia atBellator 198 on April 28, 2018. He won the fight by submission due to an arm triangle from the back position in the 1st round.
Sanchez faced Bellator Featherweight ChampionPatrício Freire atBellator 209 on November 16, 2018.[12] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[13]
Sanchez facedGeorgi Karakhanyan atBellator 218 on March 22, 2019. He won the bout via unanimous decision.
Sanchez next faced prospectTywan Claxton in the opening round of the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix on September 7, 2019 atBellator 226. He won the fight via submission in the second round.[14]
In the quarterfinals, Sanchez was initially expected to faceDaniel Weichel in a rematch in February 2020.[15] However, the date got pushed back and they were next expected to face atBellator 241 on March 13, 2020.[16] Eventually the whole event was cancelled due to the prevailingCOVID-19 pandemic. The bout was rescheduled and took place atBellator 252 on November 12.[17] Sanchez won the bout via unanimous decision.
In the semifinals, Sanchez facedPatrício Freire for theBellator Featherweight World Championship atBellator 255 on April 2. This was a rematch of their November 2018 bout which saw Freire win by unanimous decision.[18] He lost the fight via technical submission in round one.[19]
Sanchez facedMads Burnell atBellator 263 on July 31, 2021.[20] He lost the very close bout via unanimous decision.[21]
Sanchez facedJeremy Kennedy on December 3, 2021 atBellator 272.[22] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[23]
Moving up to Lightweight, Sanchez facedYancy Medeiros on April 23, 2022 atBellator 279.[24] Sanchez lost the bout via unanimous decision.[25]
Sanchez faced Archie Colgan on June 16, 2023 atBellator 297.[26] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[27]
Sanchez faced Daniel Salas on April 12, 2024 at XFC 50.[28] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[29]
Sanchez faced Peter Petties on May 25, 2024 in the main event of Anthony Pettis 11.[30] He won the fight via second round submission.[31]
| 35 matches | 24 wins | 11 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 1 |
| By submission | 10 | 1 |
| By decision | 13 | 9 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 24–11 | Zach Zane | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Anthony Pettis FC 17 | June 15, 2025 | 2 | 2:40 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | Return to Welterweight. Won the vacant APFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 23–11 | John Simon | Decision (unanimous) | Borroka Promotion 2 | March 28, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 22–11 | Kenneth Cross | Decision (unanimous) | XFC 51 | September 27, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Loss | 22–10 | Yuji Yannick Ephoeviga | KO (punches) | TTF Challenge 10 | August 16, 2024 | 1 | 3:40 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 22–9 | Peter Petties | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | Anthony Pettis FC 11 | May 25, 2024 | 2 | 1:02 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | Catchweight (160 lb) bout. |
| Win | 21–9 | Daniel Salas | Decision (unanimous) | XFC 50 | April 12, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Lakeland, Florida, United States | |
| Loss | 20–9 | Archie Colgan | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 297 | June 16, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 20–8 | Yancy Medeiros | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 279 | April 23, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | Return to Lightweight. |
| Loss | 20–7 | Jeremy Kennedy | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 272 | December 3, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Loss | 20–6 | Mads Burnell | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 263 | July 31, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| Loss | 20–5 | Patrício Pitbull | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 255 | April 2, 2021 | 1 | 3:35 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix Semifinal. For theBellator Featherweight World Championship. |
| Win | 20–4 | Daniel Weichel | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 252 | November 12, 2020 | 5 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 19–4 | Tywan Claxton | Submission (triangle choke) | Bellator 226 | September 7, 2019 | 2 | 4:11 | San Jose, California, United States | Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix Opening Round. |
| Win | 18–4 | Georgi Karakhanyan | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 218 | March 22, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Loss | 17–4 | Patrício Pitbull | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 209 | November 15, 2018 | 5 | 5:00 | Tel Aviv, Israel | For theBellator Featherweight World Championship. |
| Win | 17–3 | Sam Sicilia | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Bellator 198 | April 28, 2018 | 1 | 3:52 | Rosemont, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 16–3 | Daniel Straus | Submission (triangle choke) | Bellator 184 | October 6, 2017 | 3 | 1:56 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Win | 15–3 | Marcos Galvão | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 175 | March 31, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Rosemont, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 14–3 | Georgi Karakhanyan | Decision (majority) | Bellator 170 | January 21, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Inglewood, California, United States | |
| Loss | 13–3 | Daniel Weichel | Decision (split) | Bellator 159 | July 22, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Mulvane, Kansas, United States | |
| Win | 13–2 | Daniel Pineda | Decision (split) | Bellator 149 | February 19, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | Catchweight (150 lb) bout. |
| Win | 12–2 | Justin Lawrence | Decision (split) | Bellator 145 | November 6, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 11–2 | Henry Corrales | Decision (split) | Bellator 143 | September 25, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Hidalgo, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 10–2 | Pat Curran | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 139 | June 26, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Mulvane, Kansas, United States | |
| Win | 10–1 | Alejandro Villalobos | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 135 | March 27, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Win | 9–1 | Stephen Banaszak | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 128 | October 10, 2014 | 1 | 2:18 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Win | 8–1 | Brady Hovermale | Submission (armbar) | North American FC: Summer Slam | July 26, 2014 | 1 | 1:53 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Win | 7–1 | Jose Pacheco | Submission (triangle choke) | North American FC: Mega Brawl MMA | May 31, 2014 | 1 | 2:44 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | Featherweight debut. |
| Win | 6–1 | Gustavo Rodriguez | KO (punch) | North American FC: Super Brawl 2 | January 31, 2014 | 1 | 3:53 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Win | 5–1 | Michael McBride | Decision (unanimous) | RFA 10 | October 25, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Des Moines, Iowa, United States | Return to Lightweight. |
| Loss | 4–1 | Lewis Gonzalez | Decision (unanimous) | West Coast FC 5 | May 3, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Sacramento, California, United States | Welterweight debut. |
| Win | 4–0 | Brandon Dudley | Decision (split) | CageSport 21 | September 29, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Fife, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Travis Johnson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | United Combat Sports: Caged Combat 6 | July 14, 2012 | 2 | 2:51 | Grand Ronde, Oregon, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Juan Carlos Rodriguez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Northwest Fighting: Young Guns 1 | April 28, 2012 | 1 | 3:24 | Usk, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Matt Church | Decision (unanimous) | Fight Night Round 17: Clash at the College | November 19, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Mount Vernon, Washington, United States | Lightweight debut; Sanchez missed weight (158.5 lb). |