Michael McDonald (fighter)
Encyclopedia
Michael McDonald is an American
mixed martial artist
who competes in the bantamweight
division of the UFC. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, McDonald fought mostly in regional promotions in his home state of California
before signing with Zuffa in 2010.
and former WEC Featherweight Champion, Cole Escovedo
. The latter avenging his only professional defeat, which also earned him the Tachi Palace Fights Bantamweight title with a second round KO. In the summer of 2010, he was listed as one of the top rising stars under the age of 25.
via first round submission in his promotional debut on November 11, 2010 at WEC 52
.
merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship
. As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC.
McDonald was expected to face Nick Pace
on March 26, 2011 at UFC Fight Night 24. However, Pace was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Edwin Figueroa
. The fight was highly entertaining with both fighters exchanging strikes and submission attempts throughout the entire fight and earned Fight of the Night honors. McDonald won the fight via unanimous decision.
McDonald faced Chris Cariaso
on May 30, 2011 at UFC 130
, replacing an injured Norifumi Yamamoto
. He won the fight via split decision.
McDonald was expected to face Johnny Eduardo on November 19, 2011 at UFC 139
. However, Eduardo was forced from the card with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Alex Soto
. McDonald defeated Soto via first round KO, earning Knockout of the Night honors. McDonald clipped Soto with a counter right hand and then swarmed Soto with a flurry of punches against the fence.
|Win
|align=center|14-1
| Alex Soto
|KO (punches)
|UFC 139
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:56
| San Jose, California
, United States
| Knockout of the Night
|-
|Win
|align=center|13-1
| Chris Cariaso
|Decision (split)
|UFC 130
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
| Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|12-1
| Edwin Figueroa
|Decision (unanimous)
|UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
| Seattle, Washington
|Fight of the Night
|-
|Win
|align=center|11-1
| Clint Godfrey
|Submission (armbar)
|WEC 52
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:42
| Las Vegas, Nevada
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|10-1
| Cole Escovedo
|KO (punches)
|Tachi Palace Fights 5: Stars and Strikes
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|1:12
| Lemoore, California
, United States
|Won TPF Bantamweight Championship
|-
|Win
|align=center|9-1
| Manny Tapia
|TKO (punches)
|Tachi Palace Fights 3: Champions Collide
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:31
| Lemoore, California
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|8-1
| Carlos Garces
|TKO (punches)
|Tachi Palace Fights 1
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:01
| Lemoore, California
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|7-1
| Cole Escovedo
|TKO (punches)
|PFC 13: Validation
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|2:25
| Lemoore, California
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|7-0
| Jason Georgianna
|TKO (punches)
|PFC 12: High Stakes
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:38
| Lemoore, California
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|6-0
| Randy Rodoni
|KO (punch)
|Gladiator Challenge 86: Day of the Dead
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:47
| Porterville, California
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|5-0
| Fernando Arreola
|Submission
|Gladiator Challenge 84: Bad Blood
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:49
| Porterville, California
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|4-0
| Javier Vargas
|TKO (punches)
|Gladiator Challenge 81: Lights Out
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:38
| Porterville, California
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|3-0
| Steve Frano
|TKO (punches)
|Gladiator Challenge 78: No Limits
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:17
| Porterville, California
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|2-0
| Dominic Pena
|Submission (arm triangle choke)
|Gladiator Challenge 76: Alpha Dog Challenge
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:12
| Porterville, California
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|1-0
| Joe Corona
|Submission (triangle choke)
|Gladiator Challenge 71: Lock-N-Load
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:17
| Porterville, California
|
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
who competes in the bantamweight
Bantamweight (MMA)
The bantamweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*The King of the Cage bantamweight class with upper limit at 145 lb...
division of the UFC. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, McDonald fought mostly in regional promotions in his home state of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
before signing with Zuffa in 2010.
Background
McDonald started training in kickboxing at the age of ten, turned to mixed martial arts at 14, and turned professional at 16 in 2007. He also has two brothers who have careers in mixed martial arts.Early career
He gained notable wins on the regional circuit defeating WEC veteran Manny TapiaManny Tapia
Manny Tapia is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter from Chino, California who trains out of Millennia MMA in Rancho Cucamonga, California...
and former WEC Featherweight Champion, Cole Escovedo
Cole Escovedo
Cole Escovedo is an American mixed martial artist from Fresno, California currently fighting for the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
. The latter avenging his only professional defeat, which also earned him the Tachi Palace Fights Bantamweight title with a second round KO. In the summer of 2010, he was listed as one of the top rising stars under the age of 25.
World Extreme Cagefighting
In September 2010, at 19, MacDonald became the youngest fighter on the Zuffa roster when he signed with the WEC. He defeated Clint GodfreyClint Godfrey
Clint Godfrey is an American mixed martial artist. He currently fights in WEC's bantamweight division.Godfrey was defeated in his WEC debut against former International Fight League featherweight champion Wagnney Fabiano at WEC 46...
via first round submission in his promotional debut on November 11, 2010 at WEC 52
WEC 52
WEC 52: Faber vs. Mizugaki was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on November 11, 2010 at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...
.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
On October 28, 2010, World Extreme CagefightingWorld Extreme Cagefighting
World Extreme Cagefighting was an American mixed martial arts promotion. It was purchased by Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship , in 2006. In its final incarnation, it was made up of 3 weight classes: 135, 145 and 155 lbs. To accommodate the smaller...
merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
. As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC.
McDonald was expected to face Nick Pace
Nick Pace
Nick Pace is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the bantamweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2008, Pace mostly fought in the Ring of Combat promotion where he was the reigning and inaugural Ring of Combat Bantamweight champion until he signed with World...
on March 26, 2011 at UFC Fight Night 24. However, Pace was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Edwin Figueroa
Edwin Figueroa
Edwin Figueroa is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the bantamweight division of the UFC. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, Figueroa fought in regional promotions in his home state of Texas before signing with Zuffa in 2011....
. The fight was highly entertaining with both fighters exchanging strikes and submission attempts throughout the entire fight and earned Fight of the Night honors. McDonald won the fight via unanimous decision.
McDonald faced Chris Cariaso
Chris Cariaso
Chris Cariaso is an American mixed martial artist who currently competes as a bantamweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Mixed martial arts career:...
on May 30, 2011 at UFC 130
UFC 130
UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on May 28, 2011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.-Background:...
, replacing an injured Norifumi Yamamoto
Norifumi Yamamoto
is a Japanese mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is associated with Purebred Tokyo and Krazy Bee. He quickly gained popularity in the Shooto organization due to his aggressive, well-rounded style and controversial persona...
. He won the fight via split decision.
McDonald was expected to face Johnny Eduardo on November 19, 2011 at UFC 139
UFC 139
UFC 139: Shogun vs. Henderson was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on November 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, USA...
. However, Eduardo was forced from the card with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Alex Soto
Alex Soto
Alex Soto is a Mexican-American mixed martial artist who competes in the bantamweight division of the UFC. A professional MMA competitor since 2009, Soto fought mostly in regional promotions in his adopted state of California and in his native Mexico before signing with the UFC in 2011...
. McDonald defeated Soto via first round KO, earning Knockout of the Night honors. McDonald clipped Soto with a counter right hand and then swarmed Soto with a flurry of punches against the fence.
Mixed martial arts record
|-|Win
|align=center|14-1
| Alex Soto
Alex Soto
Alex Soto is a Mexican-American mixed martial artist who competes in the bantamweight division of the UFC. A professional MMA competitor since 2009, Soto fought mostly in regional promotions in his adopted state of California and in his native Mexico before signing with the UFC in 2011...
|KO (punches)
|UFC 139
UFC 139
UFC 139: Shogun vs. Henderson was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on November 19, 2011 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, USA...
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:56
| San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
| Knockout of the Night
|-
|Win
|align=center|13-1
| Chris Cariaso
Chris Cariaso
Chris Cariaso is an American mixed martial artist who currently competes as a bantamweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Mixed martial arts career:...
|Decision (split)
|UFC 130
UFC 130
UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on May 28, 2011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.-Background:...
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
| Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|12-1
| Edwin Figueroa
Edwin Figueroa
Edwin Figueroa is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the bantamweight division of the UFC. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, Figueroa fought in regional promotions in his home state of Texas before signing with Zuffa in 2011....
|Decision (unanimous)
|UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis
UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis
UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 26, 2011 at the KeyArena in Seattle, Washington.-Background:...
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
| Seattle, Washington
|Fight of the Night
|-
|Win
|align=center|11-1
| Clint Godfrey
Clint Godfrey
Clint Godfrey is an American mixed martial artist. He currently fights in WEC's bantamweight division.Godfrey was defeated in his WEC debut against former International Fight League featherweight champion Wagnney Fabiano at WEC 46...
|Submission (armbar)
|WEC 52
WEC 52
WEC 52: Faber vs. Mizugaki was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on November 11, 2010 at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:42
| Las Vegas, Nevada
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|10-1
| Cole Escovedo
Cole Escovedo
Cole Escovedo is an American mixed martial artist from Fresno, California currently fighting for the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
|KO (punches)
|Tachi Palace Fights 5: Stars and Strikes
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|1:12
| Lemoore, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Lemoore is located west-southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 230 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|Won TPF Bantamweight Championship
|-
|Win
|align=center|9-1
| Manny Tapia
Manny Tapia
Manny Tapia is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter from Chino, California who trains out of Millennia MMA in Rancho Cucamonga, California...
|TKO (punches)
|Tachi Palace Fights 3: Champions Collide
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:31
| Lemoore, California
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|8-1
| Carlos Garces
|TKO (punches)
|Tachi Palace Fights 1
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:01
| Lemoore, California
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|7-1
| Cole Escovedo
Cole Escovedo
Cole Escovedo is an American mixed martial artist from Fresno, California currently fighting for the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
|TKO (punches)
|PFC 13: Validation
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|2:25
| Lemoore, California
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|7-0
| Jason Georgianna
|TKO (punches)
|PFC 12: High Stakes
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:38
| Lemoore, California
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|6-0
| Randy Rodoni
|KO (punch)
|Gladiator Challenge 86: Day of the Dead
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:47
| Porterville, California
Porterville, California
Porterville is a city in the San Joaquin Valley, in Tulare County, California, United States. Porterville's population was 54,165 at the 2010 census. The city's population grew dramatically as the city annexed many properties and unincorporated areas in and around Porterville. Not included in the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|5-0
| Fernando Arreola
|Submission
|Gladiator Challenge 84: Bad Blood
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:49
| Porterville, California
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|4-0
| Javier Vargas
|TKO (punches)
|Gladiator Challenge 81: Lights Out
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:38
| Porterville, California
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|3-0
| Steve Frano
|TKO (punches)
|Gladiator Challenge 78: No Limits
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:17
| Porterville, California
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|2-0
| Dominic Pena
|Submission (arm triangle choke)
|Gladiator Challenge 76: Alpha Dog Challenge
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:12
| Porterville, California
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|1-0
| Joe Corona
|Submission (triangle choke)
|Gladiator Challenge 71: Lock-N-Load
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:17
| Porterville, California
|