Christian M'Pumbu is a French

French people

The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...

 professional mixed martial artist of Congolese

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...

 descent. He is the first and current Bellator

Bellator Fighting Championships

Bellator Fighting Championships is a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. "Bellator", which is Latin for "Warrior", is organized into seasons with each event hosting the rounds of championship knockout tournaments for three-five weight divisions.-History:In its first season,...

 Light Heavyweight Champion.

Background

M'Pumbu was born in Kinshasa

Kinshasa

Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....

, Zaire

Zaire

The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...

 (now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...

). He currently resides in France.

Mixed martial arts career

M'Pumbu made his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut in 2004. He has fought primarily in Europe for various promotions including KSW

Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki

Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki, better known by its acronym, KSW, is widely considered to be the premiere mixed martial arts organization in Poland and one of the leading promotions in Europe. To date, most events have been hosted in Warsaw, Poland...

 and M-1 Global

M-1 Global

M-1 Global is the mixed martial arts promotion based in Russia - The Netherlands which organizes between 40 and 50 competitions per year...

. He is currently a member of Team France in M-1 Mixfight.

Before his debut in the United States, M'Pumbu amassed a record of 15 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw. A notable win from this period is over 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...

 heavyweight contender Stefan Struve.

Bellator

M'Pumbu made his U.S.

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 MMA debut on March 26, 2011 at Bellator 38. He faced Chris Davis

Chris Davis (fighter)

Chris Davis is an American mixed martial artist from Gadsden, Alabama. Chris Davis signed with Bellator and took part in the light-heavyweight tournament in season four...

 in the opening round of the Light Heavyweight tournament and won the fight via TKO in the third round. In the semi-finals he defeated Tim Carpenter

Tim Carpenter (fighter)

Tim Carpenter, is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting for Bellator Fighting Championships. He trains out of Philadelphia at Balance Studios.-Mixed martial arts:...

 via TKO in the first round. M'Pumbu would go on to defeat Richard Hale

Richard Hale (fighter)

Richard Hale is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter who competes in the light heavyweight division. He currently fights for Bellator Fighting Championships.-Rage in the Cage:...

 via TKO in the third round at the finals of the season 4 tournament, becoming the inaugural Bellator Light Heavyweight champion. He was unofficially dubbed the first African

African people

African people refers to natives, inhabitants, or citizen of Africa and to people of African descent.-Etymology:Many etymological hypotheses that have been postulated for the ancient name "Africa":...

 born mixed martial artist to hold a title in a major MMA organization.

Championships and accomplishments

• Bellator Fighting Championships
  Bellator Fighting Championships
  Bellator Fighting Championships is a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. "Bellator", which is Latin for "Warrior", is organized into seasons with each event hosting the rounds of championship knockout tournaments for three-five weight divisions.-History:In its first season,...
  
  
  • Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship (One time; First; Current)
  • Bellator Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Winner

• DEEP
  • DEEP Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinalist

• Union of Peresvit
  • Star of Peresvit Openweight Tournament Winner
  • Fire of Persevit Openweight Tournament Winner

Mixed martial arts record

|-
| Loss
|align=center|18-4-1
| Travis Wiuff

Travis Wiuff

Travis Wiuff is a mixed martial arts fighter born in Minnesota, United States. He competes in the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions...

| Decision (unanimous)
| Bellator 55
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Yuma, Arizona

Yuma, Arizona

Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....

, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center|18-3-1
| Richard Hale

Richard Hale (fighter)

Richard Hale is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter who competes in the light heavyweight division. He currently fights for Bellator Fighting Championships.-Rage in the Cage:...

| TKO (punches)
| Bellator 45
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|4:17
|Lake Charles, Louisiana

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...

, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 17–3–1
| Tim Carpenter

Tim Carpenter (fighter)

Tim Carpenter, is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting for Bellator Fighting Championships. He trains out of Philadelphia at Balance Studios.-Mixed martial arts:...

| TKO (punches)
| Bellator 42
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:08
|Concho, Oklahoma

Concho, Oklahoma

Concho is a rural unincorporated community in Canadian County, Oklahoma, north of the Concho Indian School. The post office opened April 20, 1915. The ZIP Code is 73022. The school and post office were named for Indian agent, Charles E. Shell. It is the headquarters of the Cheyenne and Arapaho...

, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 16–3–1
| Chris Davis

Chris Davis (fighter)

Chris Davis is an American mixed martial artist from Gadsden, Alabama. Chris Davis signed with Bellator and took part in the light-heavyweight tournament in season four...

| TKO (punches)
| Bellator 38
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 3:34
|Tunica, Mississippi

Tunica, Mississippi

Tunica is a town in Tunica County, Mississippi, United States, located near the Mississippi River. Until the early 1990s the town was one of the most impoverished places in the United States, semi-famous for the particularly deprived neighbourhood known as "Sugar Ditch Alley", named for the open...

, United States
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 15–3–1
| Yoshiyuki Nakanishi

Yoshiyuki Nakanishi

Yoshiyuki Nakanishi is an Japanese light heavyweight mixed martial artist from Shiga.-Sambo :* 3 July 2005 won All-Japan sambo championship 31 in weight category -100, finally defeated Hasegara Tomohiro....

| Decision (split)
| Deep: 47 Impact
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 5:00
|Tokyo

Tokyo

, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

, Japan
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 15–2–1
| Yuji Sakuragi
| TKO (punches)
| Deep: 46 Impact
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:29
|Tokyo

Tokyo

, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

, Japan
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 14–2–1
| Hideto Tatsumi
| TKO (punches)
| M-1 Challenge 18: Netherlands Day One
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 4:53
|Hilversum

Hilversum

is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Located in the region called "'t Gooi", it is the largest town in that area. It is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes, and smaller villages...

, Netherlands
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 13–2–1
| Krzysztof Kulak

Krzysztof Kulak

Krzysztof Kułak is a Polish mixed martial artist. He competes in the middleweight division, but also competed in the light heavyweight division...

| Decision (unanimous)
| Multi Boxes: 1er Gala International
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 5:00
|Paris

Paris

Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

, France
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 12–2–1
| Enoc Solves Torres
| Submission (armbar)
| M-1 Challenge 14: Japan
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:59
|Tokyo

Tokyo

, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

, Japan
|
|-
| Draw
|align=center| 11–2–1
|Leonardo Lucio Nascimento

Leonardo Lucio Nascimento

Leonardo Lucio Nascimento is an Argentinian professional mixed martial artist who has fought for Brazilian fighting promotion Storm Samurai. Lucio holds notable wins over Ultimate Fighting Championship contender Roan Carneiro and Chute Boxe Academy prospect Hélio Dipp...

| Draw
| 100 Percent Fight 1
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Paris

Paris

Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

, France
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 11–2
| Marcus Vanttinen

Marcus Vänttinen

Marcus Vänttinen is a Finnish professional mixed martial artist who competes in the light heavyweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2004, Vänttinen has mostly competed in Finland, most notably for M-1 Global....

| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| M-1 Challenge 10: Finland
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:15
|Helsinki

Helsinki

Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...

, Finland
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 10–2
| Jan Błachowicz

Jan Błachowicz

Jan Błachowicz is a professional Polish mixed martial artist who competes in the light heavyweight division. He is the current KSW Light Heavyweight Champion...

| Submission (armbar)
| KSW – Extra
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 3:12
|Dabrowa Gornicza

Dabrowa Górnicza

Dąbrowa Górnicza is a city in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie in southern Poland, nearby Katowice. The north-east district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of almost 3 millions...

, Poland
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 10–1
| Barry Guerin
| TKO (punches)
| M-1 Challenge 5: Japan
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 0:32
|Tokyo

Tokyo

, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

, Japan
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 9–1
| Fabio Fernandes
| Decision (unanimous)
| Fite Selektor
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 5:00
|Dubai City, United Arab Emirates
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 9–0
| Denis Sobolev
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| Star of Peresvit
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:20
|Kiev

Kiev

Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....

, Ukraine
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 8–0
| Stefan Struve
| Submission (brabo choke)
| Star of Peresvit
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:05
|Kiev

Kiev

Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....

, Ukraine
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 7–0
| Aleksey Gonchar
| Decision
| Star of Peresvit
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 5:00
|Kiev

Kiev

Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....

, Ukraine
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 6–0
| Sergey Mukhamedshin
| Submission (guillotine choke)
| M-1 MFC: International Mix Fight
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:25
|St. Petersburg, Russia
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 5–0
| Vladimir Shemarov
| Decision
| Fire of Persevit
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 5:00
|Kiev

Kiev

Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....

, Ukraine
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 4–0
| Valdas Pocevičius
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| Fire of Persevit
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:48
|Kiev

Kiev

Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....

, Ukraine
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 3–0
| Denis Bublov
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| Fire of Persevit
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:20
|Kiev

Kiev

Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....

, Ukraine
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 2–0
| Dramane Traore
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| Xtreme Gladiators 2
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 2:40
|Paris

Paris

Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

, France
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 1–0
| Kuljit Degun
| KO (punches)
| UKMMAC 7: Rage & Fury
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 0:32
|Essex

Essex

Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...

, England
|