Phil Cardella
Encyclopedia
Phil Ryan Cardella is an American mixed martial arts
fighter. He currently fights as a lightweight
in the World Extreme Cagefighting
organization. All but one of Cardella’s triumphs have come by first-round submission.
He holds a 2nd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Relson Gracie
, as well as a 3rd degree black belt in Taekwondo
and a 2nd Degree black belt in Hapkido
.
He served as an assault amphibious vehicle crewman in the United States Marine Corps
from 1994 to 1998, during which he also taught primary marksmanship and combat water safety. Today he continues to work with various branches of the U.S. Military to train them in hand to hand combatives using Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Phil was the first American fighter to represent the Relson Gracie Team in MMA competition. Relson Gracie has been in Phil's corner during many of his MMA matches.
Phil is the head instructor of Relson Gracie Austin, a martial arts school specializing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
.
ended a split decision.
He made his WEC return at WEC 42
on August 9, 2009, losing to Ed Ratcliff by unanimous decision.
, Strikeforce top title contender Tim Kennedy, former UFC star Roger Huerta
, and Bellator fighter Chris Spicer.
|Loss
|8-5
|
Ran Weathers
|KO
|Shark Fights 6
|
|1
|0:36
| Amarillo, TX, USA
|-
|Loss
|8-4
| Ed Ratcliff
|Decision (Unanimous)
|WEC 42:Torres vs. Bowles
|
|3
|5:00
| Las Vegas, Nevada
, USA
|-
|Win
|8-3
| Johnny Flores
|Submission (Armbar)
|SF 4|Shark Fights 4
|
|1
|0:48
| Lubbock, Texas
, USA
|-
|Loss
|7-3
| Danny Castillo
|Decision (Split)
|WEC 39: Brown vs. Garcia
|
|3
|5:00
| Corpus Christi, Texas
, USA
|-
|Win
|7-2
|
Rafael Dias
|Decision (Unanimous)
|GFC - Evolution
|
|3
|5:00
| Columbus, Ohio
, USA
|-
|Win
|6-2
| Patrick Horner
|Submission (Armbar)
|GFC - Team Gracie vs Team Hammer House
|
|1
|4:20
| Columbus, Ohio
, USA
|-
|Loss
|5-2
| Steve Kinnison
|KO (Slam)
|FFC 6 - No Love
|
|1
|1:35
| Biloxi, Mississippi
, USA
|-
|Win
|5-1
| Rocky Long
|Submission (Armbar)
|REF - Renegades Extreme Fighting
|
|1
|0:49
| Houston, Texas
, USA
|-
|Win
|4-1
| Jose Santibanez
|Submission (Guillotine Choke)
|REF - Renegades Extreme Fighting
|
|1
|0:27
| Houston, Texas
, USA
|-
|Win
|3-1
| Richard Rosas
|Submission (Strikes)
|WFC 2 - World Fighting Championships 2
|
|1
|N/A
| El Paso, Texas
, USA
|-
|Win
|2-1
| Casey Erwin
|Submission (Triangle Choke)
|WFC 1 - World Fighting Championships 1
|
|1
|N/A
| San Antonio, Texas
, USA
|-
|Loss
|1-1
| Randall Ebarb
|Submission (Armbar)
|REF - Renegades Extreme Fighting
|
|1
|N/A
| Texas
, USA
|-
|Win
|1-0
| Chris Winchester
|Submission (Armbar)
|REF - Renegades Extreme Fighting
|
|1
|0:24
| Texas
, USA
|}
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...
fighter. He currently fights as a lightweight
Lightweight (MMA)
The lightweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:* The UFC & Strikeforce lightweight division with upper limit at 155 lb...
in the World Extreme Cagefighting
World 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...
organization. All but one of Cardella’s triumphs have come by first-round submission.
He holds a 2nd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Relson Gracie
Relson Gracie
Relson "Campeão" Gracie is a retired professional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter and martial arts personality. He is a member of the legendary Gracie family.Relson currently lives in Hawaii where he still teaches Gracie Jiu-Jitsu at his academy in Honolulu. There are many Relson Gracie affiliated...
, as well as a 3rd degree black belt in Taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
and a 2nd Degree black belt in Hapkido
Hapkido
Hapkido is a dynamic and also eclectic Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, techniques of other martial arts, as well as kicks, punches, and other striking attacks...
.
He served as an assault amphibious vehicle crewman in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
from 1994 to 1998, during which he also taught primary marksmanship and combat water safety. Today he continues to work with various branches of the U.S. Military to train them in hand to hand combatives using Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Phil was the first American fighter to represent the Relson Gracie Team in MMA competition. Relson Gracie has been in Phil's corner during many of his MMA matches.
Phil is the head instructor of Relson Gracie Austin, a martial arts school specializing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
.
WEC career
While his record for the WEC reads 0-2, Cardella was a winner in the minds of several fans and critics after his fight against Danny CastilloDanny Castillo
Daniel "Danny" Alfonso Castillo is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight divisions. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, Castillo has made a name for himself fighting in California. He currently fights at lightweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championships, and...
ended a split decision.
He made his WEC return at WEC 42
WEC 42
WEC 42: Torres vs. Bowles was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on August 9, 2009 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NevadaThe event drew an estimated 670,000 viewers on Versus.-Preliminary card:...
on August 9, 2009, losing to Ed Ratcliff by unanimous decision.
Coaching
Cardella has been known to coach a number of professional MMA fighters, including UFC contender Kamal ShalorusKamal Shalorus
Kamal Shalorus is an Iranian-British professional mixed martial artist. He currently fights in UFC's lightweight division.-Early life:Born in the city of Khalkhal in northern Iran, Shalorus began wrestling as a teenager in Iran before beginning training in Turkey and Russia at the age of 17...
, Strikeforce top title contender Tim Kennedy, former UFC star Roger Huerta
Roger Huerta
Roger Huerta , is an American mixed martial artist. He initially gained exposure by competing in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and later Bellator Fighting Championships.-Early life:...
, and Bellator fighter Chris Spicer.
Mixed martial arts record
|-|Loss
|8-5
|
Ran Weathers|KO
|Shark Fights 6
|
|1
|0:36
|
Amarillo, TX, USA|-
|Loss
|8-4
|
Ed RatcliffEd Ratcliff
Edward Norris Ratcliff is an American mixed martial artist. He was recently cut by UFC in January.-World Extreme Cagefighting:Ratcliff debuted at WEC 27, defeating Johnny Sampaio via TKO in the second round....
|Decision (Unanimous)
|WEC 42:Torres vs. Bowles
WEC 42
WEC 42: Torres vs. Bowles was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on August 9, 2009 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NevadaThe event drew an estimated 670,000 viewers on Versus.-Preliminary card:...
|
|3
|5:00
|
Las Vegas, NevadaLas 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...
, USA
|-
|Win
|8-3
|
Johnny Flores|Submission (Armbar)
|SF 4|Shark Fights 4
|
|1
|0:48
|
Lubbock, TexasLubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
, USA
|-
|Loss
|7-3
|
Danny CastilloDanny Castillo
Daniel "Danny" Alfonso Castillo is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight divisions. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, Castillo has made a name for himself fighting in California. He currently fights at lightweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championships, and...
|Decision (Split)
|WEC 39: Brown vs. Garcia
WEC 39
WEC 39: Brown vs. Garcia was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on March 1, 2009 in Corpus Christi, Texas. The event aired live on the Versus Network....
|
|3
|5:00
|
Corpus Christi, TexasCorpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
, USA
|-
|Win
|7-2
|
Rafael Dias|Decision (Unanimous)
|GFC - Evolution
|
|3
|5:00
|
Columbus, OhioColumbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, USA
|-
|Win
|6-2
|
Patrick Horner|Submission (Armbar)
|GFC - Team Gracie vs Team Hammer House
|
|1
|4:20
|
Columbus, OhioColumbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, USA
|-
|Loss
|5-2
|
Steve Kinnison|KO (Slam)
|FFC 6 - No Love
|
|1
|1:35
|
Biloxi, MississippiBiloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....
, USA
|-
|Win
|5-1
|
Rocky Long|Submission (Armbar)
|REF - Renegades Extreme Fighting
|
|1
|0:49
|
Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, USA
|-
|Win
|4-1
|
Jose Santibanez|Submission (Guillotine Choke)
|REF - Renegades Extreme Fighting
|
|1
|0:27
|
Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, USA
|-
|Win
|3-1
|
Richard Rosas|Submission (Strikes)
|WFC 2 - World Fighting Championships 2
|
|1
|N/A
|
El Paso, TexasEl Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
, USA
|-
|Win
|2-1
|
Casey Erwin|Submission (Triangle Choke)
|WFC 1 - World Fighting Championships 1
|
|1
|N/A
|
San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, USA
|-
|Loss
|1-1
|
Randall Ebarb|Submission (Armbar)
|REF - Renegades Extreme Fighting
|
|1
|N/A
|
TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, USA
|-
|Win
|1-0
|
Chris Winchester|Submission (Armbar)
|REF - Renegades Extreme Fighting
|
|1
|0:24
|
TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, USA
|}