| Ilir Latifi | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Latifi atUFC 232 in 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1983-07-28)July 28, 1983 (age 42) Malmö,Sweden | ||||||||||||||
| Other names | The Sledgehammer | ||||||||||||||
| Residence | Stockholm, Sweden | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 250 lb (113 kg; 17 st 12 lb) | ||||||||||||||
| Division | Heavyweight (2008, 2020–present) Light Heavyweight (2009–2019) | ||||||||||||||
| Reach | 73+1⁄2 in (187 cm)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| Style | Submission Wrestling | ||||||||||||||
| Fighting out of | Stockholm, Sweden[2] | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Allstars Training Center Pancrase Gym Sweden American Top Team Malmö Tigers (Wrestling) | ||||||||||||||
| Trainer | Selman Berisha | ||||||||||||||
| Wrestling | Swedish national level[3] | ||||||||||||||
| Years active | 2008–present | ||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 26 | ||||||||||||||
| Wins | 16 | ||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 6 | ||||||||||||||
| By submission | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| By decision | 6 | ||||||||||||||
| Losses | 9 | ||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| By decision | 5 | ||||||||||||||
| No contests | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Amateur record | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Wins | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| By submission | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Ilir Latifi (born July 28, 1983) is a Swedishmixed martial artist who fights in theHeavyweight division, most recently in theUltimate Fighting Championship.[4] A two-time national wrestling champion[5] and a professionalMMA competitor since 2008, Latifi has also competed inShark Fights, Rumble of The Kings, andGLORY.[6]
With a considerable number of wrestlers in his family, Latifi began wrestling at a young age.[7] Latifi continued to wrestle in order to pursue his dream of one day being world champion.[7] In 2005, he began to follow in his older brother's footsteps by training MMA as a result of his dissatisfaction with the constant rule changes in wrestling.[7][8] Latifi competed at the 2005 ADCC European trials, where his division was won byAlistair Overeem,[9] but he did not earn a spot at the 2005 ADCC championships. Although Latifi did not compete at the2009 ADCC European Trials, he was invited to the2009 ADCC Championships, where he lost in the first round toAlexandre Ribeiro via points (2–0).[10]
Latifi started his career as a heavyweight. His first professional MMA fight was on May 17, 2008, with the Real Pain Challenge promotion against futureBellator fighter andWSOF Heavyweight championBlagoi Ivanov. However, the fight was ruled ano contest 55 seconds into the first round, as Latifi drove Ivanov into one of the posts on the ring and destroyed it.[11]
Next he fought future UFC heavyweight Christian Colombo on September 6, 2008. The bout was first booked as a professional contest, but would later be changed to an amateur or semi-pro bout which is not listed on the fighters professional records. Latifi won the fight by submission due to a north–south choke in the first round. Back in professional competition Latifi had his last fight as a heavyweight, before dropping down to light heavyweight, on October 25, 2008, at Superior Challenge 2, where he defeated Roman Mihocka by knockout in the second round.
He holds a notable win over MMA- and kickboxing veteran Tony Lopez. Lopez came in to the fight on a 7-fight winning streak. Latifi used his superior wrestling and also his improved striking to shut Lopez down to win a unanimous decision. He has also fought against formerBellator Light Heavyweight champion and formerMFC Light Heavyweight ChampionEmanuel Newton andTatsuya Mizuno. His early career success has led to Latifi being ranked as one of the topLight Heavyweights inEurope.[12][13]
He became the first Superior Challenge Light Heavyweight Champion after defeating Jorge Oliveira for the vacant belt on October 6, 2012, at Superior Challenge 8.[14]
Latifi made his UFC debut against at the time #10 ranked, formerStrikeforce Light Heavyweight ChampionGegard Mousasi on April 6, 2013, atUFC on Fuel TV 9, on four days notice,[15] reportedlycutting weight from 105 kg (231 lbs) to 93.4 kg (206 lbs),[16] replacing his injured training partnerAlexander Gustafsson.[17] Latifi lost the fight via unanimous decision.[15] After the fight UFC PresidentDana White praised Latifi for taking a fight against a top 10 fighter like Mousasi on such short notice and promised that Latifi would get another fight in the promotion.[18]
In his second fight for the promotion, Latifi fought MMA- and kickboxing veteranCyrille Diabaté on March 8, 2014, atUFC Fight Night 37.[19] Latifi won the fight via submission in the first round.[20] His opponent,Diabaté retired fromMMA and the UFC following his loss to Latifi.[21]
Latifi was later expected to faceTom Lawlor on July 19, 2014, atUFC Fight Night 46.[22] However, Lawlor later had to withdraw from the bout citing an injury,[23] and was replaced by promotional newcomerChris Dempsey.[24] Latifi effectively used leg kicks to disable his opponent, before finishing him with punches, ending the fight via first-round knockout.[25][26]
Latifi faced promotional newcomerJan Błachowicz on October 4, 2014, atUFC Fight Night 53.[27] He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.[28][29]
Latifi next facedHans Stringer on July 18, 2015, atUFC Fight Night 72.[30] He won the fight by knockout after dropping Stringer with an overhand right and following up with punches on the ground, stopping the fight 56 seconds into the first round.[31]
Latifi facedSean O'Connell on January 17, 2016, atUFC Fight Night 81.[32] He won the fight by knockout, having landed a vicious overhand right that wobbled O'Connell, followed by a right hook that dropped him to the canvas, 28 seconds into the first round.[33][34] Following the fight, Latifi expressed his desire to fight in a main event in his hometownMalmö.[35]
Latifi facedGian Villante on March 5, 2016, atUFC 196.[36] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[37]
Latifi next facedRyan Bader on September 3, 2016, atUFC Fight Night 93.[38] He lost the fight via knockout in the second round.[39]
Latifi was expected to faceAntônio Rogério Nogueira on June 25, 2017, atUFC Fight Night 112.[40] However, on May 17, it was announced that Nogueira pulled out due to a neck injury. Subsequently, despite having six weeks to secure a replacement opponent, promotion officials elected to remove Latifi from the event entirely.[41]
Latifi faced undefeated prospectTyson Pedro on September 9, 2017, atUFC 215.[42][43] He won the fight via unanimous decision, handing Pedro the first loss of his career.[44]
Latifi was expected to faceOvince Saint Preux on January 27, 2018, atUFC on Fox 27.[45] However, he was injured during a training session and was forced to pull from the event,[46] and the bout was cancelled.[47] The pair was rebooked and took place on February 24, 2018, atUFC on Fox 28.[48] Latifi won the fight via submission in the first round.[49] This win earned him thePerformance of the Night bonus.[50][51]
Latifi was expected to faceGlover Teixeira on July 22, 2018, atUFC Fight Night 134.[52] However, on July 5, 2018, it was announced that he was pulled from the event, citing injury.[53]
Latifi facedCorey Anderson on December 29, 2018, atUFC 232.[54] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[55]
Latifi was expected to faceVolkan Oezdemir on June 1, 2019, atUFC Fight Night 153.[56] On May 30, 2019, it was reported that Latifi was forced to pull out of the event due to back injury and the bout was cancelled.[57] The pair was rebooked atUFC on ESPN 5 on August 3, 2019.[58][59] In turn, due to Oezdemir having visa issues to enter United States, the bout was moved to August 10, 2019, atUFC Fight Night 156.[60] He lost the fight via knockout in the second round.[61]
On October 14, 2019, news surfaced that Latifi will be moving up to heavyweight division.[62]
Latifi facedDerrick Lewis on February 8, 2020, atUFC 247.[63] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[64]
Latifi facedTanner Boser on June 5, 2021, atUFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai.[65] He won the fight via split decision.[66]
Latifi was next expected to faceAlexander Romanov atUFC Fight Night 202 on February 19, 2022.[67] However, the bout was cancelled for undisclosed reasons.[68]
Latifi was scheduled to faceAlexey Oleynik on March 26, 2022, atUFC Fight Night 205.[69] However, the day of the event, Latifi withdrew due to illness and the bout was cancelled.[70] The pair was rescheduled to meet on two weeks later atUFC 273 on April 9, 2022.[70] In turn, Latifi withdrew again for unknown reasons and was replaced byJared Vanderaa.[71] The pair was yet again rescheduled forUFC Fight Night 211 on October 1, 2022.[72] Latifi won the bout via unanimous decision.[73] In the post-fight interview he said that, having reached the age of 40 and the end of his UFC contract, he was unsure of his future in the sport, and that it might have been his last fight.[74] In the same interview he revealed fighting with possiblestaph infection which he didn't disclose to the athletic commission and was later suspended for three months, making him eligible to return on January 1, 2023.[75]
Latifi facedRodrigo Nascimento on May 20, 2023, atUFC Fight Night 223.[76] He lost the fight via split decision.[77]
After the loss, Latifi completed his UFC contract and was not re-signed.[78]
On December 11, 2024, it was announced that Latifi was signed byGlobal Fight League.[79]
OfAlbanian origin, Latifi's parents emigrated fromKosovo in the 1960s.[80][81] Latifi was raised inRosengård, where he befriended football playerZlatan Ibrahimović.[80] His brother Arben, who Ilir has described as his greatest influence in life,[82] is a black belt inBrazilian jiu-jitsu and was one of the pioneers of Swedish MMA in the early days, winning both the championship in European Open BJJ and the Panamerican Championship during his active career.[83]
In 2016, Latifi was awarded role model of the year and received the most votes for the people's choice award in the annual Swedish martial arts awards ceremonyKampsportsgalan.[84]
[91]| 26 matches | 16 wins | 9 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 4 |
| By submission | 4 | 0 |
| By decision | 6 | 5 |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 16–9 (1) | Rodrigo Nascimento | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill | May 20, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 16–8 (1) | Aleksei Oleinik | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Yan | October 1, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 15–8 (1) | Tanner Boser | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai | June 5, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 14–8 (1) | Derrick Lewis | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 247 | February 8, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | Return to Heavyweight. |
| Loss | 14–7 (1) | Volkan Oezdemir | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Shevchenko vs. Carmouche 2 | August 10, 2019 | 2 | 4:31 | Montevideo, Uruguay | |
| Loss | 14–6 (1) | Corey Anderson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 232 | December 29, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Inglewood, California, United States | |
| Win | 14–5 (1) | Ovince Saint Preux | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC on Fox: Emmett vs. Stephens | February 24, 2018 | 1 | 3:48 | Orlando, Florida, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 13–5 (1) | Tyson Pedro | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 215 | September 9, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | |
| Loss | 12–5 (1) | Ryan Bader | KO (knee) | UFC Fight Night: Arlovski vs. Barnett | September 3, 2016 | 2 | 2:06 | Hamburg, Germany | |
| Win | 12–4 (1) | Gian Villante | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 196 | March 5, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–4 (1) | Sean O'Connell | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: Dillashaw vs. Cruz | January 17, 2016 | 1 | 0:30 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Win | 10–4 (1) | Hans Stringer | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Leites | July 18, 2015 | 1 | 0:56 | Glasgow, Scotland | |
| Loss | 9–4 (1) | Jan Błachowicz | TKO (body kick and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Story | October 4, 2014 | 1 | 1:58 | Stockholm, Sweden | |
| Win | 9–3 (1) | Chris Dempsey | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Brandao | July 19, 2014 | 1 | 2:07 | Dublin, Ireland | |
| Win | 8–3 (1) | Cyrille Diabaté | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Manuwa | March 8, 2014 | 1 | 3:02 | London, England | |
| Loss | 7–3 (1) | Gegard Mousasi | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fuel TV: Mousasi vs. Latifi | April 6, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Stockholm, Sweden | |
| Win | 7–2 (1) | Jorge Oliveira | Decision (unanimous) | Superior Challenge 8 | October 6, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Malmö, Sweden | Won the SC Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–2 (1) | Tony Lopez | Decision (unanimous) | Glory 1: Stockholm | May 26, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Stockholm, Sweden | |
| Win | 5–2 (1) | Denis Bogdanov | Submission (americana) | United Glory 15 | March 23, 2012 | 1 | 0:51 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Loss | 4–2 (1) | Emanuel Newton | Decision (unanimous) | Shark Fights 17: Horwich vs. Rosholt 2 | July 15, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Frisco, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 4–1 (1) | Matteo Minonzio | TKO (head kick) | Strength and Honor Championship 2 | April 10, 2010 | 1 | 4:29 | Geneva, Switzerland | |
| Loss | 3–1 (1) | Tatsuya Mizuno | TKO (knee and punches) | Rumble of the Kings 4 | November 20, 2009 | 3 | 0:15 | Norrköping, Sweden | |
| Win | 3–0 (1) | Darko Krbanjevic | Submission (armbar) | Rumble of the Kings 3 | May 22, 2009 | 1 | 1:43 | Malmö, Sweden | |
| Win | 2–0 (1) | Luis Pinho | TKO (submission to punches) | Rumble of the Kings 2 | February 27, 2009 | 1 | 1:20 | Norrköping, Sweden | Light Heavyweight debut. |
| Win | 1–0 (1) | Roman Mihocka | KO (punches) | Superior Challenge 2 | October 25, 2008 | 2 | 1:55 | Stockholm, Sweden | |
| NC | 0–0 (1) | Blagoy Ivanov | NC (ring broke) | Real Pain Challenge 2 | May 17, 2008 | 1 | 0:55 | Sofia, Bulgaria | Heavyweight debut. Fight ruled a no contest due to faulty cage. |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1–0 | Christian Colombo | Submission (north-south choke) | Adrenaline 3 - Evolution | September 6, 2008 | 1 | 2:33 | Hvidovre, Denmark | Heavyweight bout; originally scheduled as a professional contest, later changed to an amateur bout[92] |
