Daniel Roberts (fighter)
Encyclopedia
Daniel Lamar Roberts is an American
professional mixed martial arts
(MMA) fighter. Currently he is signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championships, fighting in their welterweight
division and training out in San Francisco.
in Muskogee
where he majored in Business Administration. At Bacone College
, Roberts was a standout athlete and an NAIA All-American wrestler. Roberts also has 12 years of jiu-jitsu experience and is proficient in Karate
, Judo
and Boxing
.
He recently moved out to California to train with Gilbert Melendez and his team, the Skrap Pack. He also trains at Fairtex Muay Thai
in San Francisco.
to fight John Howard
at UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones
. After an exciting grappling affair in the first two minutes, Howard delivered a punch that knocked Roberts unconscious.
Roberts was expected to fight Julio Paulino
at UFC 116
, but Paulino was forced from the card with an injury. Roberts instead fought veteran Forrest Petz
. Roberts won the fight via split decision.
Roberts fought and quickly defeated Mike Guymon
on October 23, 2010 at UFC 121
. The fight barely passed the minute mark in the first round before Roberts applied an anaconda choke, and earned the submission win. His submission win also earned him the 'Submission of the Night' honors.
On January 1, 2011 at UFC 125
, Roberts fought Greg Soto
and after some early back-and-forth grappling, Roberts grabbed Soto's arm in a kimura, took top position and forced the tapout with just over a minute left in the opening round.
Roberts then faced fellow up-and-comer, Claude Patrick
, at on April 30, 2011 at UFC 129
. On the judges scorecards, Roberts lost two of the three rounds, ultimately losing the fight via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
When injuries caused shuffling at UFC on Versus 4, taking place June 26, 2011, Roberts stepped in on very short notice to fight Rich Attonito
. Roberts lost the fight via unanimous decision (29–27, 30–27, 29–28).
Roberts was expected to face TJ Waldburger
on September 17, 2011 at UFC Fight Night 25
. However, he had to pull out due to injury.
, Roberts found out he was a father to his daughter named Gabrielle.
| Loss
|align=center| 12-3
| Rich Attonito
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC Live: Kongo vs. Barry
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, United States
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 12–2
| Claude Patrick
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 129
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Toronto, Ontario, Canada
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 12–1
| Greg Soto
| Submission (kimura)
| UFC 125
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:45
|Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 11–1
| Mike Guymon
| Submission (anaconda choke)
| UFC 121
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:13
|Anaheim, California
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 10–1
| Forrest Petz
| Decision (split)
| UFC 116
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 9–1
| John Howard
| KO (punch)
| UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:01
|Broomfield, Colorado
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 9–0
| Anthony Macias
| Submission (punches)
| XFL: New Year's Revolution
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:00
|Tulsa, Oklahoma
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 8–0
| Mike Jackson
| Submission (rear naked choke)
| Bricktown Brawl 2
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:33
|Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 7–0
| Jeff Lindsay
| Submission (punches)
| Bricktown Brawl 1
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:14
|Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 6–0
| Gabriel Vasquez
| Submission (kimura)
| C3 Fights
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:37
|Clinton, Oklahoma
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 5–0
| Levi Avera
| Submission (kimura)
| Freestyle Cage Fighting
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 2:45
|Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 4–0
| Akira Ninjo
| Decision (unanimous)
| Extreme Fighting League
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 4:00
|Tulsa, Oklahoma
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 3–0
| Danny Grass
| Submission (rear naked choke)
| Extreme Fighting League
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 0:56
|Miami, Oklahoma
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 2–0
| Jeremy Michael
| Submission (arm triangle choke)
| Extreme Fighting League
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:20
|Catoosa, Oklahoma
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 1–0
| Brandon Gaines
| Decision (split)
| Extreme Fighting League
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| N/A
|Oklahoma
, United States
|
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional mixed martial arts
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...
(MMA) fighter. Currently he is signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championships, fighting in their welterweight
Welterweight (MMA)
The welterweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*The UFC's & Strikeforce's welterweight division, which groups competitors within 156 to 170 lb...
division and training out in San Francisco.
Mixed martial arts career
Roberts is a graduate of Bacone CollegeBacone College
Bacone College is a private four-year liberal arts college in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Founded in 1880 as the Indian University by Almon C. Bacone, Bacone College is the oldest continuously operated institution of higher education in Oklahoma...
in Muskogee
Muskogee
Muskogee or Muscogee can refer to:*The Muscogee tribe, an American Indian people originally from Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, many of whom later relocated to Oklahoma*Muscogee Nation, a federally recognized Muscogee tribe in Oklahoma...
where he majored in Business Administration. At Bacone College
Bacone College
Bacone College is a private four-year liberal arts college in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Founded in 1880 as the Indian University by Almon C. Bacone, Bacone College is the oldest continuously operated institution of higher education in Oklahoma...
, Roberts was a standout athlete and an NAIA All-American wrestler. Roberts also has 12 years of jiu-jitsu experience and is proficient in Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
, Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
and Boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
.
He recently moved out to California to train with Gilbert Melendez and his team, the Skrap Pack. He also trains at Fairtex Muay Thai
Fairtex Gym
Fairtex Gym is the name given to a number of Muay Thai gyms around the world. The original Fairtex Gym was founded in Bangkok, Thailand in 1975.-History:...
in San Francisco.
UFC career
Roberts signed a four-fight deal with the UFC in March of 2010. He made his debut on short notice, filling in for an injured Anthony JohnsonAnthony Johnson (fighter)
Anthony Kewoa Johnson is an American mixed martial artist, who competes as a welterweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Amateur wrestling:...
to fight John Howard
John Howard (fighter)
John J. Howard is an American mixed martial artist, currently competing welterweight division.-Ultimate Fighting Championship:He made his first UFC debut on January 31, 2009 against Chris Wilson at UFC 94 winning by split decision....
at UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones
UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones
UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 21, 2010 in Broomfield, Colorado, United States at the 1stBank Center. This event was the UFC's debut on Versus...
. After an exciting grappling affair in the first two minutes, Howard delivered a punch that knocked Roberts unconscious.
Roberts was expected to fight Julio Paulino
Julio Paulino
Julio Paulino is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the welterweight division.-Background:Paulino is of Dominican and Italian descent. He resides in Alaska with his newborn son Romeo. He has four other children residing in Nevada....
at UFC 116
UFC 116
UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on July 3, 2010 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States...
, but Paulino was forced from the card with an injury. Roberts instead fought veteran Forrest Petz
Forrest Petz
Forrest Petz is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. Petz is a Ultimate Fighting Championships veteran formerly competing in their welterweight division...
. Roberts won the fight via split decision.
Roberts fought and quickly defeated Mike Guymon
Mike Guymon
Michael Kevin Guymon is an American former mixed martial artist. He fought for the Ultimate Fighting Championship in their welterweight division. He is a former King of the Cage welterweight title holder.-Early life:...
on October 23, 2010 at UFC 121
UFC 121
UFC 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on October 23, 2010 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, United States...
. The fight barely passed the minute mark in the first round before Roberts applied an anaconda choke, and earned the submission win. His submission win also earned him the 'Submission of the Night' honors.
On January 1, 2011 at UFC 125
UFC 125
UFC 125: Resolution was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on January 1, 2011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.-Background:...
, Roberts fought Greg Soto
Greg Soto
Gregory Soto is an American mixed-martial artist. Soto fought in small fight promotions gaining a record of 7-0 before being signed by the UFC.Soto is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu under Kurt Pellegrino.-Biography:...
and after some early back-and-forth grappling, Roberts grabbed Soto's arm in a kimura, took top position and forced the tapout with just over a minute left in the opening round.
Roberts then faced fellow up-and-comer, Claude Patrick
Claude Patrick
Claude Patrick is a Canadian mixed martial arts fighter. Patrick is currently signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, fighting in their welterweight division.-Biography:...
, at on April 30, 2011 at UFC 129
UFC 129
UFC 129: St-Pierre vs. Shields was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario.-Background:...
. On the judges scorecards, Roberts lost two of the three rounds, ultimately losing the fight via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
When injuries caused shuffling at UFC on Versus 4, taking place June 26, 2011, Roberts stepped in on very short notice to fight Rich Attonito
Rich Attonito
Rich Attonito is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight division. Attonito currently fights for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and is best known for his stint on the eleventh season of The Ultimate Fighter. He was a Division 1 wrestler at...
. Roberts lost the fight via unanimous decision (29–27, 30–27, 29–28).
Roberts was expected to face TJ Waldburger
TJ Waldburger
Anthony "TJ" Waldburger is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight divisions. A professional MMA competitor since 2005, Waldburger has made a name for himself fighting in the South...
on September 17, 2011 at UFC Fight Night 25
UFC Fight Night 25
UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 17, 2011 at the Ernest N...
. However, he had to pull out due to injury.
Personal life
A week before his win at UFC 125UFC 125
UFC 125: Resolution was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on January 1, 2011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.-Background:...
, Roberts found out he was a father to his daughter named Gabrielle.
Mixed martial arts record
|-| Loss
|align=center| 12-3
| Rich Attonito
Rich Attonito
Rich Attonito is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight division. Attonito currently fights for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and is best known for his stint on the eleventh season of The Ultimate Fighter. He was a Division 1 wrestler at...
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC Live: Kongo vs. Barry
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 12–2
| Claude Patrick
Claude Patrick
Claude Patrick is a Canadian mixed martial arts fighter. Patrick is currently signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, fighting in their welterweight division.-Biography:...
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 129
UFC 129
UFC 129: St-Pierre vs. Shields was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario.-Background:...
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 12–1
| Greg Soto
Greg Soto
Gregory Soto is an American mixed-martial artist. Soto fought in small fight promotions gaining a record of 7-0 before being signed by the UFC.Soto is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu under Kurt Pellegrino.-Biography:...
| Submission (kimura)
| UFC 125
UFC 125
UFC 125: Resolution was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on January 1, 2011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.-Background:...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:45
|Las Vegas, Nevada
Las 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 11–1
| Mike Guymon
Mike Guymon
Michael Kevin Guymon is an American former mixed martial artist. He fought for the Ultimate Fighting Championship in their welterweight division. He is a former King of the Cage welterweight title holder.-Early life:...
| Submission (anaconda choke)
| UFC 121
UFC 121
UFC 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on October 23, 2010 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, United States...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:13
|Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 10–1
| Forrest Petz
Forrest Petz
Forrest Petz is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. Petz is a Ultimate Fighting Championships veteran formerly competing in their welterweight division...
| Decision (split)
| UFC 116
UFC 116
UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on July 3, 2010 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States...
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada
Las 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 9–1
| John Howard
John Howard (fighter)
John J. Howard is an American mixed martial artist, currently competing welterweight division.-Ultimate Fighting Championship:He made his first UFC debut on January 31, 2009 against Chris Wilson at UFC 94 winning by split decision....
| KO (punch)
| UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones
UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones
UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 21, 2010 in Broomfield, Colorado, United States at the 1stBank Center. This event was the UFC's debut on Versus...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:01
|Broomfield, Colorado
Broomfield, Colorado
The City and County of Broomfield is a prominent suburb and tier of the Denver metropolitan area in the State of Colorado of the United States. Broomfield has a consolidated city and county government which operates under Article XX, Sections 10-13 of the Constitution of the State of Colorado. The...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 9–0
| Anthony Macias
Anthony Macias
Anthony "Mad Dog" Macias is an American mixed martial artist who currently competes in the middleweight division. Anthony was introduced to the world of MMA in a fight against the legend Dan Severn at UFC 4. Anthony would go on to lose to Severn by submission. His most recent victory came against...
| Submission (punches)
| XFL: New Year's Revolution
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:00
|Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 8–0
| Mike Jackson
| Submission (rear naked choke)
| Bricktown Brawl 2
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:33
|Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 7–0
| Jeff Lindsay
| Submission (punches)
| Bricktown Brawl 1
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:14
|Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 6–0
| Gabriel Vasquez
| Submission (kimura)
| C3 Fights
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:37
|Clinton, Oklahoma
Clinton, Oklahoma
Clinton is a city in Custer and Washita counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 9,033 at the 2010 census.-History:The community began in 1899 when two men, J.L. Avant and E.E...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 5–0
| Levi Avera
| Submission (kimura)
| Freestyle Cage Fighting
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 2:45
|Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 4–0
| Akira Ninjo
| Decision (unanimous)
| Extreme Fighting League
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 4:00
|Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 3–0
| Danny Grass
| Submission (rear naked choke)
| Extreme Fighting League
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 0:56
|Miami, Oklahoma
Miami, Oklahoma
Miami is a city in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, United States. As of 2009, the population estimate was 12,910. It is the county seat of Ottawa County. The city is named after the Miami tribe...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 2–0
| Jeremy Michael
| Submission (arm triangle choke)
| Extreme Fighting League
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:20
|Catoosa, Oklahoma
Catoosa, Oklahoma
Catoosa is a river city in Rogers and Wagoner counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 7,159 at the 2010 census compared to 5,449 at the 2000 census. This was a 31.2 percent increase during the decade.Catoosa is an Inland seaport...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 1–0
| Brandon Gaines
| Decision (split)
| Extreme Fighting League
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| N/A
|Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|