| Diego Nunes | |
|---|---|
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| Born | (1982-11-30)November 30, 1982 (age 42) Caxias do Sul,Rio Grande do Sul,Brazil |
| Other names | The Gun |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Weight | 145.1 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb) |
| Division | Lightweight Featherweight |
| Reach | 67.0 in (170 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Los Angeles, California,United States |
| Team | Evolução Thay Brasil |
| Rank | Purple belt inBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 35 |
| Wins | 25 |
| By knockout | 8 |
| By submission | 10 |
| By decision | 7 |
| Losses | 10 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By decision | 7 |
| By disqualification | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Website | Official UFC Profile |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
Last updated on: February 16, 2011 | |
Diego Torresean Nunes (born November 30, 1982) is a Brazilianmixed martial artist. A professional since 2004, he has fought for theUFC,WEC,Bellator MMA,RXF,Fight Nights Global, and theRizin Fighting Federation.
Diego trains with Team Nogueira Brazil. Nunes' professional career in mixed martial arts began in May 2004, when he defeated Jorge Santos Velho by TKO. He has fought in GP, TFC, Shooto,WEC and theUFC.
Diego won hisWEC debut against Cole Province by unanimous decision atWEC 37. Nunes was scheduled to fightCub Swanson on theundercard atWEC 40, but a hand injury just days before the bout, forced Nunes to cancel the fight. He next fought Rafael Dias atWEC 42 on August 9, 2009. Nunes defeated Dias via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).
Nunes suffered his first professional loss toLC Davis via unanimous decision atWEC 44.[1]
Nunes was expected to faceLeonard Garcia on March 6, 2010 atWEC 47,[2] but Nunes was forced from the card with an injury.[3] Nunes was replaced by formerUFC fighterGeorge Roop.[4]
Nunes then facedRaphael Assunção on June 20, 2010 atWEC 49.[5] He won the fight via split decision.
Nunes facedTyler Toner on September 30, 2010 atWEC 51.[6] He won the fight via unanimous decision.
On October 28, 2010,World Extreme Cagefighting merged with theUltimate Fighting Championship. As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC.[7]
Nunes facedMike Brown on January 1, 2011 atUFC 125.[8] He won the fight via split decision.
Nunes facedKenny Florian on June 11, 2011 atUFC 131.[9] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Nunes was expected to faceManvel Gamburyan on September 24, 2011 atUFC 135, but Gamburyan pulled out of the fight due to a shoulder injury.[10] Then, on August 29, Nunes confirmed his own exit from the card, citing an injury.[11]
Nunes/Gamburyan eventually took place on December 30, 2011 atUFC 141.[12] Nunes won the fight via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Nunes next facedDennis Siver on April 14, 2012 atUFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva.[13] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Nunes facedBart Palaszewski on October 5, 2012 atUFC on FX 5.[14] After three full rounds, Nunes won the fight via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27). The performance also earned both participantsFight of the Night honors.
Nunes then facedNik Lentz on January 19, 2013 atUFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping.[15] He lost the fight via unanimous decision and was subsequently released from the promotion.[16]
In June 2013, it was revealed that Nunes signed withBellator MMA.[17]
In his debut, Nunes faced prior title challengerPatricio Freire atBellator 99 in the Quarterfinals of the season nine featherweight tournament. He lost the fight via knockout at just 1:19 in the first round. This is the first time that Nunes had ever been knocked out, or even finished, in his career.
In February 2014, Nunes entered into theBellator season ten featherweight tournament. He facedMatt Bessette in the quarterfinals atBellator 110 and lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision.
After an unsuccessful run in Bellator, Nunes faced longtime MMA veteran Joachim Hansen at Superior Challenge 11 for the featherweight title. Nunes won the fight by KO in the second round with a hard left hand after breaking his knee in the first round
After recovering from a knee injury for almost two years, Nunes signed withFight Nights Global and his debut was at the Fight Nights Global 51: Dagestan battle 2, on 25 September 2016 againstRasul Mirzaev.[18] He lost the fight by knockout in the first round.
After Fight Nights Global Nunes fought Radu Mihaita in Italy-based promotion Magnum FC in July 2017. Nunes won the fight via knockout.
In the beginning of December 2017, Nunes fought Michel Ersoy in Swedish promotion Superior Challenge. Nunes won the fight via guillotine choke.
Just two weeks after the fight with Ersoy, Nunes fought Corneliu Lascăr in Romania atRXF 29: All Stars and won via guillotine choke.
After amassing a win streak of three in the European circuits, Nunes signed a contract withRizin Fighting Federation. He was slated against Yusuke Yachi atRizin 10 and lost a close fight via split decision.[19]
Diego is of Italian heritage. Diego is married with Karen Nunes. He is a Christian and regularly posts Bible verses on his Facebook page.[20]
| 35 matches | 25 wins | 10 losses |
| By knockout | 8 | 2 |
| By submission | 10 | 0 |
| By decision | 7 | 7 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 25–10 | Kiichi Kunimoto | KO (punches) | Fire Cage FC 1 | February 22, 2025 | 1 | 1:15 | Nilai, Malaysia | Won the inaugural Fire Cage FC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 24–10 | Mauricio Otalora | Submission (guillotine choke) | Cage FS 15 | March 15, 2024 | 1 | 0:46 | Graz, Austria | |
| Loss | 23–10 | Paulo Ricardo Rodrigues | Disqualification (illegal soccer kick) | Falcon MMA 2 | November 4, 2023 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |||
| Loss | 23–9 | Ronys Torres | Decision (unanimous) | Centurion FC: Rex Redemptor | May 26, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Welterweight bout. |
| Win | 23–8 | Simon Sköld | Submission (guillotine choke) | Superior Challenge 19 | May 11, 2019 | 1 | 2:55 | Stockholm, Sweden | Defended the SC Featherweight Championship. |
| Loss | 22–8 | Yusuke Yachi | Decision (split) | Rizin 10 | May 6, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Fukuoka, Japan | |
| Win | 22–7 | Corneliu Lascăr | Submission (guillotine choke) | RXF 29: All Stars | December 18, 2017 | 3 | 4:46 | Brasov,Romania | |
| Win | 21–7 | Michel Ersoy | Submission (guillotine choke) | Superior Challenge 16 | December 2, 2017 | 2 | 0:54 | Stockholm, Sweden | Defended the SC Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 20–7 | Radu Mihatu | KO (punch) | Magnum Fighting Championship 2 | July 22, 2017 | 1 | 0:25 | Rome, Italy | Lightweight debut. |
| Loss | 19–7 | Rasul Mirzaev | TKO (punches) | Fight Nights Global 51: Pavlovich vs. Gelegaev | September 25, 2016 | 1 | 1:45 | Kaspiysk,Dagestan, Russia | |
| Win | 19–6 | Joachim Hansen | KO (punch) | Superior Challenge 11 | November 29, 2014 | 2 | 1:51 | Sodertalje, Sweden | Won the SC Featherweight Championship. |
| Loss | 18–6 | Matt Bessette | Decision (split) | Bellator 110 | February 28, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Bellator Season Ten Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Loss | 18–5 | Patrício Freire | KO (punch) | Bellator 99 | September 13, 2013 | 1 | 1:19 | Temecula, California, United States | Bellator Season Nine Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Loss | 18–4 | Nik Lentz | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping | January 19, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 18–3 | Bart Palaszewski | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on FX: Browne vs. Bigfoot | October 5, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 17–3 | Dennis Siver | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva | April 14, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Stockholm, Sweden | |
| Win | 17–2 | Manvel Gamburyan | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 141 | December 30, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 16–2 | Kenny Florian | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 131 | June 11, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | |
| Win | 16–1 | Mike Brown | Decision (split) | UFC 125 | January 1, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 15–1 | Tyler Toner | Decision (unanimous) | WEC 51 | September 30, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 14–1 | Raphael Assunção | Decision (split) | WEC 49 | June 20, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | |
| Loss | 13–1 | LC Davis | Decision (unanimous) | WEC 44 | November 18, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 13–0 | Rafael Dias | Decision (unanimous) | WEC 42 | August 9, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 12–0 | Cole Province | Decision (unanimous) | WEC 37: Torres vs. Tapia | December 3, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–0 | Marcelo Franca | Submission (guillotine choke) | Shooto: Brazil 8 | August 30, 2008 | 1 | 2:20 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 10–0 | Henrique Mello | KO (head kick) | Top Fighting Championships 3 | May 2, 2007 | 1 | N/A | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 9–0 | Luciano Dos Santos | Submission (guillotine choke) | Sul Fight Championship 1 | September 16, 2006 | 1 | 4:40 | Santa Catarina, Brazil | |
| Win | 8–0 | Jetron Azevedo | Submission (armbar) | Storm Samurai 10 | January 28, 2006 | 1 | N/A | Brazil | |
| Win | 7–0 | Piri Piri | Submission (guillotine choke) | Floripa Fight 1 | November 26, 2005 | 1 | 0:55 | Florianópolis, Brazil | |
| Win | 6–0 | Einstein Santana | Submission (guillotine choke) | Battle Front 1 | May 29, 2005 | 1 | N/A | Brazil | |
| Win | 5–0 | Jorge dos Santos Velho | TKO | GP: Tornado 5 | March 19, 2005 | 1 | N/A | Caxias do Sul, Brazil | |
| Win | 4–0 | Giovani Diniz | KO | Profight Championships 3 | January 31, 2005 | N/A | N/A | Brazil | |
| Win | 3–0 | Lindomar Silva | Submission (guillotine choke) | GP: Tornado 3 | October 28, 2004 | N/A | N/A | Brazil | |
| Win | 2–0 | Michel Michel | KO | GP: Tornado 2 | July 18, 2004 | 1 | 0:30 | Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | Jorge dos Santos Velho | TKO (punches) | Copa Gaucha: Fight Center 2 | May 15, 2004 | 2 | N/A | Caxias do Sul, Brazil |
