| Christopher Gonzalez | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (1991-07-29)July 29, 1991 (age 34) Chicago, Illinois,United States | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st) | ||||||||||||||
| Division | Lightweight | ||||||||||||||
| Reach | 73 in (185 cm) | ||||||||||||||
| Fighting out of | Sacramento, California, United States | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Team Alpha Male (2017–present)[1] NYAC (wrestling) | ||||||||||||||
| Wrestling | Greco-Roman wrestling NJCAAwrestling | ||||||||||||||
| Years active | 2018–present | ||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 11 | ||||||||||||||
| Wins | 8 | ||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| By submission | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| By decision | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| Losses | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| By submission | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| By decision | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Matthew Christopher Gonzalez (born July 29, 1991) is an Americanmixed martial artist and formerGreco–Roman wrestler who currently competes in thelightweight division. He has previously had a 10 bout stint inBellator MMA.[2] As awrestler, Gonzalez won the 2016 senior Greco-Roman World Team Trials and went on to represent theUnited States at the2016 World Championships at71 kilograms and placed second at the 2017 US Open.[3]
Gonzalez was born and raised inChicago, Illinois, where he attendedBloom Trail High School. As ahigh schooler, he was a multi–sport athlete, competing inwrestling,basketball,football andtrack and field. Despite never qualifying for the state championships as he was sidetracked by injuries as ajunior andsenior and being a late starter in the sport, Gonzalez decided to pursuecollege wrestling. After bouncing fromNorthern Illinois University toHarper College, Gonzalez became anNJCAA All–American in 2012.[4] Gonzalez then accepted a scholarship to wrestle at theNorthern Michigan University, which offered aGreco-Roman program.[5] Throughout his international career, Gonzalez, who represented theNew York Athletic Club, went on to make the 2016 US World Team, placing 8th at theWorld Championships, placed multiple times at the US Open and claimed medals from tournaments such as the Dave Schultz and Bill Farrell Memorial Internationals.[3]
After his performance at the 2016 US Olympic Team Trials, Gonzalez considered transitioning over tomixed martial arts, however, it was not until 2018 when he made his professional debut in the sport, winning by submission at the Gladiator Challenge.[3]
In December 2018, it was announced that Gonzalez had signed withBellator MMA.[6] In January 2019 it was announced that he was scheduled to make his promotional debut against Henry Mendez atBellator 214 on January 26, 2019.[7] After Mendez withdrew from the bout, Gonzalez eventually made his promotional debut atBellator 221 on May 11, 2019, defeating Charles Radtke by unanimous decision.[8]
Gonzalez had his third professional fight atBellator 226 when he faced Luis Vargas on September 7, 2019.[9] He dominated the bout, heavily utilizing his wrestling to claim the win by unanimous decision.[10]
To start off 2020, Gonzalez competed atBellator 239 in February 21, defeating Aaron McKenzie by split decision.[11] He then continued his win streak when he defeated Vladimir Tokov by the same method in August 21 atBellator 244.[12]
His first finish in the promotion came when he knocked out formerUFC veteranRoger Huerta on April 2, 2021, atBellator 255.[13]
Gonzalez facedGoiti Yamauchi on July 31, 2021, atBellator 263.[14] He lost the bout via TKO in the first round.[15]
Gonzalez facedSaad Awad on January 29, 2022, atBellator 273.[16] He won the bout via knockout 36 seconds into the first round.[17]
Gonzalez facedUsman Nurmagomedov on July 22, 2022, atBellator 283.[18] He lost the bout via guillotine choke in the first round.[19]
Gonzalez was scheduled to face Shamil Nikaev on December 9, 2022, atBellator 289.[20] However, the bout was scrapped for unknown reasons.
Gonzalez faced Max Rohskopf on February 4, 2023, atBellator 290.[21] He won the bout via TKO in the second round.[22]
Gonzalez faced Tim Wilde on May 12, 2023, atBellator 296. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[23]
On February 2, 2024, Gonzalez announced that he was no longer with the promotion.[24]
Christopher's father, Gaspar Gonzalez, was born and raised inHavana, Cuba and immigrated to the United States in 1961.[citation needed]
| 12 matches | 9 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 1 |
| By submission | 1 | 1 |
| By decision | 5 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 9–3 | Jacob Rosales | Decision (unanimous) | LFA 213 | July 25, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Loss | 8–3 | Tim Wilde | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 296 | May 12, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Paris, France | |
| Win | 8–2 | Max Rohskopf | TKO (punches) | Bellator 290 | February 4, 2023 | 2 | 1:22 | Inglewood, California, United States | |
| Loss | 7–2 | Usman Nurmagomedov | Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 283 | July 22, 2022 | 1 | 2:54 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 7–1 | Saad Awad | KO (head kick and punches) | Bellator 273 | January 29, 2022 | 1 | 0:36 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Loss | 6–1 | Goiti Yamauchi | TKO (punches) | Bellator 263 | July 30, 2021 | 1 | 3:53 | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Roger Huerta | TKO (submission to punches) | Bellator 255 | April 2, 2021 | 2 | 3:01 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Catchweight (160 lb) bout. |
| Win | 5–0 | Vladimir Tokov | Decision (split) | Bellator 244 | August 21, 2020 | 3 | 2:09 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Aaron McKenzie | Decision (split) | Bellator 239 | February 21, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Luis Vargas | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 226 | September 7, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | San Jose, California, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Charlie Radtke | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 221 | May 11, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Rosemont, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Tyrese McCloud | Submission | Gladiator Challenge: Avalanche | October 20, 2018 | 1 | 1:30 | Lincoln, California, United States | Lightweight debut. |
