Quick Facts
TaurusBiography
Dequan Townsend (born May 11, 1986) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Light Heavyweight division. He has previously fought for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Background
Townsend originally began training cardio kickboxing along with powerlifting before transitioning to mixed martial arts in 2009.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
After an 8–4 amateur career, Townsend compiled a professional mixed martial arts record of 21–8. Townsend later signed with the UFC in June 2019.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Townsend made his UFC debut at light heavyweight on June 29, 2019 as a late-notice opponent against Dalcha Lungiambula at UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. dos Santos. He lost the fight via TKO with punches and elbows in round three.
Townsend tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, and norfentanyl, a metabolite of fentanyl and its derivatives, as the result of an in-competition urine sample he provided on June 28, 2019 at UFC Fight Night Minneapolis. He was suspended 6 months by USADA.
Townsend moved to middleweight and faced Bevon Lewis on January 25, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Townsend returned to light heavyweight and faced Devin Clark on February 15, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Townsend faced Duško Todorović on October 4, 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Holm vs. Aldana. He lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.
On October 7, 2020 it was reported Townsend was released by UFC.
Post UFC
In his first bout since his release from the UFC, Townsend faced Portland Pringle III for the TWC Middleweight Championship at Total Warrior Combat: Unfinished Business on February 5, 2022. He won the bout and title via unanimous decision.
Townsend faced Jason Butcher on April 2, 2022 at B2 Fighting Series 154 for the B2FS Light Heavyweight Championship. He won the bout and title via unanimous decision.
Townsend faced Daniel Spohn on October 8, 2022 at Ohio Combat League 22. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.
Personal life
Townsend had four sons of whom one – Malakye – died of cancer in March 2015. Townsend is also a registered nurse, working in home health care area full-time.
Townsend had two brothers, Steven and Marcus, who both were killed in a strip mall shooting in Lansing, Michigan in August 2020.
Championships and accomplishments
- Warrior Xtreme Cagefighting
- WXC Middleweight Championship (Two-time)
- WXC Welterweight Championship (One time)
- Total Warrior Combat
- TWC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
- TWC Middleweight Championship (Two time)
- TWC Welterweight Championship (Two time)
- Two successful title defenses
- B2 Fighting Series
- B2FS Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
| 40 matches | 27 wins | 13 losses |
| By knockout | 15 | 2 |
| By submission | 5 | 1 |
| By decision | 7 | 10 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 27–13 | Matthew Comer | TKO (punches) | Rebel Combat Sports: Caldwell vs. Lozano | November 9, 2024 | 2 | 1:00 | Lansing, Michigan, United States | |
| Win | 26–13 | Chris Hicks | Decision (unanimous) | Rebel Combat Sports: Townsend vs. Hicks | February 17, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Lansing, Michigan, United States | Return to Light Heavyweight. Won the vacant RCS Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 25–13 | Marcus Maulding | TKO (punches) | Rebel Combat Sports: Townsend vs. Maulding | October 28, 2023 | 1 | 4:33 | Lansing, Michigan, United States | |
| Win | 24–13 | Eric Smith | TKO (punches) | TWC 101.5 | May 26, 2023 | 1 | 3:51 | Lansing, Michigan, United States | Heavyweight debut. |
| Loss | 23–13 | Dan Spohn | Decision (unanimous) | Ohio Combat League 22 | October 8, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Columbus, Ohio, United States | |
| Win | 23–12 | Jason Butcher | Decision (unanimous) | B2 Fighting Series 154 | April 2, 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | Novi, Michigan, United States | Return to Light Heavyweight; Won the B2FS Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 22–12 | Portland Pringle III | Decision (unanimous) | Total Warrior Combat: Unfinished Business | February 5, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Lansing, Michigan, United States | Won the vacant TWC Middleweight Championship. |
| Loss | 21–12 | Duško Todorović | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Holm vs. Aldana | October 4, 2020 | 2 | 3:15 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Loss | 21–11 | Devin Clark | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2 | February 15, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States | Light Heavyweight bout. |
| Loss | 21–10 | Bevon Lewis | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos | January 25, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Raleigh, North Carolina, United States | Return to Middleweight. |
| Loss | 21–9 | Dalcha Lungiambula | TKO (punches and elbows) | UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. dos Santos | June 29, 2019 | 3 | 0:42 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 21–8 | Wayman Carter | Submission (guillotine choke) | TWC: Brooks vs. Robinson | March 9, 2019 | 1 | 1:31 | Lansing, Michigan, United States | Won the TWC Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 20–8 | Portland Pringle III | Decision (split) | TWC: Bennett vs. Shaw | December 1, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Lansing, Michigan, United States | |
| Loss | 19–8 | Jamahal Hill | Decision (unanimous) | KOP 62: KnockOut Promotions 62 | June 30, 2018 | 5 | 5:00 | Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States | Light Heavyweight debut. For the KOP Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 19–7 | Muhammad Abdullah | Submission (guillotine choke) | WXC 71: Night of Champions 10 | February 17, 2018 | 3 | 3:58 | Southgate, Michigan, United States | Won the WXC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 18–7 | Héctor Urbina | KO (head kick) | New League Fights 7: Hallows Eve | October 28, 2017 | 1 | 1:16 | Montpelier, Ohio, United States | |
| Win | 17–7 | Willis Black | TKO (head kick and punches) | WXC 69: Illuminate | July 14, 2017 | 1 | 0:28 | Southgate, Michigan, United States | |
| Win | 16–7 | Timothy Woods | Decision (unanimous) | FSF MMA: New Beginning | May 20, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Birch Run, Michigan, United States | Return to Middleweight. |
| Loss | 15–7 | Luka Strezoski | Submission (heel hook) | RFO: Big Guns 23: Battle for the Belts | March 25, 2017 | 1 | 1:42 | Cleveland, Ohio, United States | |
| Loss | 15–6 | Jason Fischer | Decision (unanimous) | WXC 66: Night of Champions 9 | January 13, 2017 | 5 | 5:00 | Southgate, Michigan, United States | For the WXC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 15–5 | Ted Worthington | TKO (punches) | TWC Pro Series: Anderson vs. Veerella | November 12, 2016 | 1 | 1:24 | Lansing, Michigan, United States | |
| Loss | 14–5 | Dakota Cochrane | Decision (split) | TWC 29: Jaynes vs. Lamson | May 14, 2016 | 5 | 5:00 | Lansing, Michigan, United States | Lost the TWC Welterweight Championship. |
| Loss | 14–4 | Kevin Nowaczyk | Decision (unanimous) | HFC 27: Hoosier Fight Club 27 | February 6, 2016 | 5 | 5:00 | Michigan City, Indiana, United States | For the Hoosier FC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 14–3 | Erick Lozano | Submission (triangle choke) | TWC 28: Townsend vs. Lozano | November 21, 2015 | 2 | 2:51 | Lansing, Michigan, United States | Defended the TWC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 13–3 | Dustin Pape | Submission (triangle choke) | DC 9: Duneland Classic 9 | October 30, 2015 | 2 | 4:22 | Laporte, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 12–3 | Tenyeh Dixon | TKO (punches) | WXC 59: Homeland Pride | August 8, 2015 | 3 | 0:18 | Taylor, Michigan, United States | Won the WXC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 11–3 | Deray Davis | Decision (unanimous) | MFL 38: Michiana Fight League 38 | July 11, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | South Bend, Indiana, United States | Middleweight bout. |
| Win | 10–3 | Josh Taveirne | TKO (doctor stoppage) | TWC 27: Townsend vs. Taveirne | June 20, 2015 | 3 | 3:40 | Lansing, Michigan, United States | Defended the TWC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–3 | Dom O'Grady | TKO (punches) | WXC 55: Fully Loaded | February 7, 2015 | 1 | 4:58 | Southgate, Michigan, United States | |
| Win | 8–3 | Billy Ward | TKO (punches) | TWC 26: Townsend vs. Ward | November 22, 2014 | 1 | 2:19 | Lansing, Michigan, United States | Won the vacant TWC Welterweight Championship. |
| Loss | 7–3 | David Evans | Decision (unanimous) | WXC 52: Evolution | August 15, 2014 | 5 | 5:00 | Southgate, Michigan, United States | For the vacant WXC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–2 | Darryl Madison | Submission (rear-naked choke) | MFL: Michiana Fight League 34 | May 17, 2014 | 2 | 2:30 | South Bend, Indiana, United States | Catchweight (175 lb) bout. |
| Win | 6–2 | Marcus Reynolds | KO (kick to body) | XFC 27: Frozen Fury | December 13, 2013 | 3 | 2:52 | Muskegon, Michigan, United States | Catchweight (180 lb) bout. |
| Win | 5–2 | Erick Lozano | KO | TWC 20: Final Cut | November 16, 2013 | 1 | 2:33 | Lansing, Michigan, United States | Won the TWC Welterweight Championship. |
| Loss | 4–2 | Rocky Johnson | Decision (unanimous) | SCL: Havoc at the Hellespont | September 27, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Loveland, Colorado, United States | Catchweight (175 lb) bout. |
| Win | 4–1 | Anthony Smith | TKO (punches) | TWC 18: Bulletproof | May 18, 2013 | 1 | 3:28 | Lansing, Michigan, United States | Middleweight debut. Won the TWC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 3–1 | Canaan Grigsby | KO (punches) | SCL: Thunderdome | February 9, 2013 | 1 | 0:07 | Denver, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 2–1 | Robby Longwith | TKO (punches) | TWC 14: Up Close and Personal | September 22, 2012 | 1 | 0:27 | Lansing, Michigan, United States | |
| Loss | 1–1 | Jason Cardillo | Decision (unanimous) | NAAFS: Caged Fury 17 | April 27, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Morgantown, West Virginia, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Andy Hahn | Decision (split) | IFL 45: My Bloody Valentine | February 18, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States | Welterweight debut. |