Raufeon Stots

American collegiate wrestler and mixed martial arts fighter
The basics

Quick Facts

IntroAmerican collegiate wrestler and mixed martial arts fighter
PlacesUnited States of America
isMartial artist Wrestler Fighter
Gender
Male
Birth16 December 1988, Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA
Age36 years
Star signSagittarius
Education
Klein Oak High SchoolKlein, Texas, USA
University of Nebraska at KearneyKearney, Buffalo County, USA
The details

Biography

Raufeon Stots (born December 16, 1988) is a Nigerian-American professional mixed martial artist and graduated collegiate wrestler. He currently competes in the Bantamweight division of Bellator MMA, where he is a former Interim Bellator Bantamweight Champion. As a wrestler, he is a two-time NCAA Division II champion.

Background

Stots grew up modestly in Houston, Texas, with his mother and two brothers. He started wrestling in his junior year at Klein Oak High School in Klein, Texas, after the passing of his mother. He then earned a scholarship at Labette Community College and became an All-American with a fourth-place finish in the NJCAA level as a freshman. As a sophomore, he once again qualified for the NJCAA tournament, but did not place. He then transferred to the University of Nebraska-Kearney (NCAA Division II), where he was forced to take a medical redshirt instead of a junior season. When he came back as a junior, he won his first DII title with a record of 30 wins and 6 losses, helping the team reach the team title. As a senior, he compiled his second NCAA title and helped the team win the team championship before graduating.

When transferring from collegiate wrestling to mixed martial arts, Stots found that it wasn't only his work ethic but also the body awareness that helped him move over and adapt to the new sport quickly.

During his transition, fellow Nebraska at Kearney wrestler-turned-MMA Kamaru Usman took Stots under his wing as a mentor. Usman was pushed to Stots by his mother due to the Nigerian roots both wrestlers shared.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Stots got into mixed martial arts after being introduced to the sport by Jens Pulver and Pat Miletich. After turning pro in May 2015, he compiled 8 wins and no losses before competing at a regional event featured on the Lookin' for a Fight show, in an attempt of getting signed by the UFC. After losing the bout, he compiled 4 more wins before getting signed by Bellator MMA.

Stots chose to sign with Bellator out of LFA due to where he saw the promotion heading. Stots said the signing of prospects in the sport instead of former UFC fighters was a big reason, giving him the opportunity to fight some of the best in the world. In addition to that, the Grand Prix tournaments put on by the promotion was another deciding factor for Stots.

Bellator MMA

In his promotional debut, Stots faced Cheyden Leialoha on December 21, 2019, at Bellator 236. He won the bout by unanimous decision.

Stots faced Cass Bell on July 24, 2020, at Bellator 242. He won the match via submission in the third round.

Stots faced Keith Lee at Bellator 253 on November 19, 2020. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Stots faced Josh Hill at Bellator 258 on May 7, 2021. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Stots was scheduled to face Magomed Magomedov on July 31, 2021, at Bellator 263. On July 19, it was announced that the bout was scratched from the event. It was rescheduled for Bellator 264 on August 13, 2021. Stots won the bout via unanimous decision.

Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix and Interim Champ

In the first round bout of the $1 million Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Tournament, Stots was scheduled to face Sergio Pettis for the Bellator Bantamweight World Championship on April 23, 2022, at Bellator 279. However, Pettis was forced to pull out of the bout and the Grand Prix after sustaining an injury that required surgery, resulting in Juan Archuleta taking his place and the bout now being held for the Interim Bellator Bantamweight World Championship. Stots won the bout and became the interim champion after knocking down Archuleta with a head kick and then finishing him on the ground with elbows at the beginning of the third round.

In the semi-finals, Stots faced Danny Sabatello on December 9, 2022, in the main event at Bellator 289. He won the fight via controversial split decision. 4 out of 6 media outlets scored it for Stots.

In the finals, Stots faced Patchy Mix on April 22, 2023, at Bellator 295. He lost the bout and the title, getting knocked out in the first round with a step up knee.

Stots rematched Danny Sabatello on November 17, 2023, at Bellator 301. In a thrilling bout, Stots won the bout via unanimous decision.

Stots was scheduled to face Marcos Breno on September 7, 2024, at Bellator Champions Series 4. However, the bout was removed from the event for unknown reasons. The bout was rescheduled to instead take place on October 19, 2024, at PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants. Stots won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round.

Personal life

Stots is married to Michaela whom he met in college. She is an educator and mother. Stots has two sons, Clarence (born 2018) and Ikechukwu.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

  • Bellator MMA
    • Bellator Interim Bantamweight World Championship (One time)
      • One successful title defence

Folkstyle wrestling

  • National Collegiate Athletic Association
    • NCAA Division II Champion (2012, 2013)
    • NCAA Division II All-American (2012, 2013)
  • National Junior College Athletic Association
    • NJCAA All-American (2009)

Mixed martial arts record

23 matches21 wins2 losses
By knockout42
By submission50
By decision120
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win21–2Marcos BrenoSubmission (rear-naked choke)PFL Super Fights: Battle of the GiantsOctober 19, 202433:01Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Win20–2Danny SabatelloDecision (unanimous)Bellator 301November 17, 202335:00Chicago, Illinois, United States
Loss19–2Patchy MixKO (knee)Bellator 295April 22, 202311:20Honolulu, Hawaii, United StatesBellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Final. Lost the interim Bellator Bantamweight World Championship.
Win19–1Danny SabatelloDecision (split)Bellator 289December 9, 202255:00Uncasville, Connecticut, United StatesBellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Semifinal. Defended the interim Bellator Bantamweight World Championship.
Win18–1Juan ArchuletaKO (knee and elbows)Bellator 279April 23, 202230:16Honolulu, Hawaii, United StatesBellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal. Won the interim Bellator Bantamweight World Championship.
Win17–1Magomed MagomedovDecision (unanimous)Bellator 264August 13, 202135:00Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win16–1Josh HillDecision (unanimous)Bellator 258May 7, 202135:00Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win15–1Keith LeeDecision (unanimous)Bellator 253November 19, 202035:00Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win14–1Cass BellSubmission (rear-naked choke)Bellator 242July 24, 202031:24Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win13–1Cheyden LeialohaDecision (unanimous)Bellator 236December 21, 201935:00Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Win12–1Ralph AcostaDecision (unanimous)LFA 68May 31, 201935:00Dallas, Texas, United States
Win11–1Levi MowlesDecision (unanimous)LFA 55November 30, 201835:00Dallas, Texas, United States
Win10–1Ryan LilleyTKO (punches)LFA 48September 7, 201833:00Kearney, Nebraska, United States
Win9–1Arnold BerdonSubmission (rear-naked choke)VFC 59December 16, 201714:36Omaha, Nebraska, United StatesDefended the VFC Bantamweight Championship.
Loss8–1Merab DvalishviliKO (spinning backfist)ROC 59June 2, 201710:15Atlantic City, New Jersey, United StatesFor the Ring of Combat Bantamweight Championship.
Win8–0Rob EmersonDecision (unanimous)VFC 56April 14, 201755:00Omaha, Nebraska, United StatesWon the VFC Bantamweight Championship.
Win7–0Jeff CurranDecision (unanimous)VFC 53November 23, 201635:00Waterloo, Iowa, United States
Win6–0Charlie DuBraySubmission (rear-naked choke)VFC 52July 16, 201624:52Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Win5–0William JoplinKO (punch)VFC 49April 1, 201611:18Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Win4–0Demetrius WilsonSubmission (rear-naked choke)VFC 47January 29, 201634:45Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Win3–0Rob MenigozDecision (unanimous)UCL: Cut ThroathSeptember 19, 201535:00Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win2–0Mitch WhiteDecision (unanimous)LFC 43July 17, 201535:00Hinckley, Minnesota, United States
Win1–0Mike HebdonTKO (punches)EC 232May 30, 201520:35Clinton, Iowa, United States

NCAA record

NCAA Division II Championships Matches
Res.RecordOpponentScoreDateEvent
2013 NCAA (DII) Championships at 149 lbs
Win8–0Jacobd Horn4-3March 8–9, 20132013 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships
Win7-0James MartinezMD 12-4
Win6–0Ryan Maus6-1
Win5–0Nate Herda3-2
2012 NCAA (DII) Championships at 149 lbs
Win4–0John Hagerty5-4March 9–10, 20122012 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships
Win3-0Ky Corley6-1
Win2–0Nate Herda8-5
Win1–0Nathan LinkMD 12-4
The contents of this page are sourced from Wikipedia article on 24 Nov 2024. The contents are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.