Quick Facts
LibraBiography
Santiago Ponzinibbio (born September 26, 1986) is an Argentine professional mixed martial artist currently competing as a Welterweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Biography and career
Ponzinibbio began training kickboxing when he was 13 years old growing up in Argentina. He began training mixed martial arts and turned professional in 2008 competing in regional promotions in South America.
The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil
In March 2013, it was revealed that Ponzinibbio was a cast member of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2. He won his elimination fight to get into the TUF house, defeating Thiago Silva by TKO in round 1. He was chosen to be a member of Team Nogueira. Over the course of the show, Santos defeated Marcio Santos by TKO and Cleiton Duarte by unanimous decision to reach the semifinals. In the semifinals, he defeated Leonardo Santos by unanimous decision. However, Ponzinibbio broke his hand during this semifinal fight and was replaced by Santos in the finals against William Macário. The semifinal-round fight with Santos, however, was picked as the Fight of the Season, and his finish of Marcio Santos earned Knockout of the Season which earned Ponzinibbio $50,000 bonuses.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ponzinibbio faced Ryan LaFlare on November 9, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 32. LaFlare won the fight via unanimous decision.
Ponzinibbio was briefly linked to a bout with Jordan Mein on April 19, 2014 at UFC on Fox 11. However, Ponzinibbio was scratched from the bout and replaced by Hernani Perpetuo.
Ponzinibbio was expected to face Ildemar Alcântara on July 5, 2014 at UFC 175. However, Ponzinibbio was forced out of the bout with a knee injury. He was replaced by Kenny Robertson.
Ponzinibbio was expected to face Sérgio Moraes on September 13, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 51. However, Moraes pulled out of the bout citing a lingering knee injury and was replaced by Wendell Oliveira. Ponzinibbio defeated Oliveira by TKO in the first round.
Ponzinibbio faced Sean Strickland on February 22, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 61. Ponzinibbio won the back and forth fight via unanimous decision.
Ponzinibbio next faced Lorenz Larkin on June 27, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 70. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round and earned a Fight of the Night bonus.
Ponzinibbio faced Andreas Ståhl on December 10, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 80. He won the bout via TKO in the first round.
Ponzinibbio faced Court McGee on April 16, 2016 at UFC on Fox 19. He won the bout via TKO in the first round.
Ponzinibbio next faced Zak Cummings on August 6, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 92. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Ponzinibbio is expected to face Nordine Taleb on February 19, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 105.
Championships and accomplishments
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Lorenz Larkin
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 26 matches | 23 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 13 | 2 |
| By submission | 6 | 0 |
| By decision | 4 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nordine Taleb | UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Struve | February 19, 2017 | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | ||||||
| Win | 23–3 | Zak Cummings | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Caceres | August 6, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | |
| Win | 22–3 | Court McGee | TKO (punches) | UFC on Fox: Teixeira vs. Evans | April 16, 2016 | 1 | 4:15 | Tampa, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 21–3 | Andreas Ståhl | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs. VanZant | December 10, 2015 | 1 | 4:25 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 20–3 | Lorenz Larkin | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Romero | June 27, 2015 | 2 | 3:07 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 20–2 | Sean Strickland | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Mir | February 22, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Porto Alegre, Brazil | |
| Win | 19–2 | Wendell Oliveira | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Arlovski | September 13, 2014 | 1 | 1:20 | Brasília, Brazil | |
| Loss | 18–2 | Ryan LaFlare | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson | November 9, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Goiânia, Brazil | |
| Win | 18–1 | Cleiton Duarte | Submission (guillotine choke) | Sao Jose Super Fight 2 | June 9, 2012 | 1 | 2:38 | São José, Brazil | |
| Win | 17–1 | Sebastian Vidal | TKO (punches) | Insano Empalux - Grand Prix | March 2, 2012 | 1 | 2:12 | São José, Brazil | |
| Win | 16–1 | Diego Vieria | Submission (armbar) | Insano Empalux - Grand Prix | March 2, 2012 | 1 | 1:59 | São José, Brazil | |
| Win | 15–1 | William Dias | TKO (retirement) | Monster Black Combat | December 12, 2011 | 2 | 5:00 | Rio Grande, Brazil | |
| Win | 14–1 | Sebastian Vidal | TKO (punches) | Sao Jose Super Fight 2 | October 1, 2011 | 1 | 2:00 | São José, Brazil | |
| Win | 13–1 | Lucas Nascimento | TKO (knee injury) | Nitrix Champion Fight 8 | September 17, 2011 | 1 | 1:30 | Joinville, Brazil | |
| Win | 12–1 | Deivid Santos | KO (head kick) | Nitrix Champion Fight 8 | September 17, 2011 | 3 | 0:15 | Joinville, Brazil | |
| Loss | 11–1 | Leonardo Mafra | TKO (punches) | Centurion Mixed Martial Arts 2 | July 9, 2011 | 1 | 3:17 | Itajai, Brazil | |
| Win | 11–0 | Geverson Pereira | Submission (choke) | Brazilian Fight League 9 | November 6, 2010 | 1 | 0:00 | Curitiba, Brazil | |
| Win | 10–0 | Yuri Fraga | Decision (unanimous) | Amazon Fight 5 | October 10, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Belém, Brazil | |
| Win | 9–0 | Felipe Santos | TKO (punches) | Expo Fighting Championship | August 21, 2010 | 1 | 4:25 | Sorocaba, Brazil | |
| Win | 8–0 | Henrique Inseto | TKO (punches) | Hero Kombat | April 24, 2010 | 2 | 4:53 | São Sebastião, Brazil | |
| Win | 7–0 | Ezequiel Ricci | Decision (unanimous) | Real Fights 7 | March 27, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| Win | 6–0 | Andrez Jimenez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Argentina Fighting Championships | December 27, 2009 | 1 | 3:12 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| Win | 5–0 | Diego Lopez | Submission (guillotine choke) | Explotion Fight Night | November 1, 2009 | 1 | 2:31 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| Win | 4–0 | Matias Sosa | Submission (kimura) | Real Fights 6 | September 27, 2009 | 1 | 0:00 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| Win | 3–0 | Emiliano Candau | TKO (punches) | Cupide del MMA 2 | November 7, 2008 | 2 | 3:12 | Santa Fe, Argentina | |
| Win | 2–0 | Lucas Funes | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Cupide del MMA 1 | October 5, 2009 | 1 | 1:30 | Santa Fe, Argentina | |
| Win | 1–0 | Gaston Micucci | KO (head kick) | Copa Desafio | July 19, 2008 | 3 | 3:13 | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
Mixed martial arts exhibition record
| Exhibition record breakdown | ||
| 4 matches | 4 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 0 |
| By decision | 2 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 4–0 | Leonardo Santos | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2 | N/A(airdate) | 3 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | Semi-finals bout. |
| Win | 3–0 | Cleiton Duarte | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2 | N/A (airdate) | 2 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | Quarter-finals bout. |
| Win | 2–0 | Márcio Santos | TKO (punches) | The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2 | N/A (airdate) | 3 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | Preliminary bout. |
| Win | 1–0 | Thiago Silva | TKO (punches) | The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2 | March 17, 2013 (airdate) | 2 | N/A | São Paulo, Brazil | TUF: Brazil 2 house entry bout. |