Eric Schambari
Encyclopedia
Eric Schambari is an American
professional mixed martial artist
who competes in the middleweight
division. A professional MMA competitor since 2005, Schambari has most notably fought in World Extreme Cagefighting
and was a semi-finalist in the Bellator Season Two: Middleweight Tournament, where he was eliminated by Bryan Baker
.
. Schambari has trained with the likes of Travis Lutter
, Joe Stevenson
and Guy Mezger
.
against Art Santore. In a close fight, Schambari took the unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27 and 29–28), which was suggested to be due to Schambari's superior cardio and slight advantage in damage caused.
He then fought Logan Clark
at WEC 29
. Schambari once again took the unanimous decision (all three judges scoring the bout 29–28). However, this decision was viewed as slightly controversial considering that Clark was able to do more damage from the bottom with up-kicks, in addition to locking in a gogoplata and an omoplata.
Schambari suffered his first career defeat, losing to Bryan Baker
via split decision at WEC 31
in December 2007.
Soon after, Schambari was injured in training and suffered an allergic reaction to medication that nearly cost him his life and career. Later, he returned to training and competition against the advice of his doctors.
This injury, combined with the dissolution of the middleweight division in the WEC, after its purchase by the UFC
, led to his release. Schambari then fought in smaller promotions, defeating four fighters (three via first round submission and one via majority decision). The latter of these victories saw Schambari headline an event, competing against Will Espich in San Juan, Puerto Rico
. This fight saw Schambari win via submission (arm-triangle choke).
.
In the first round of the tournament, Schambari faced The Ultimate Fighter 7 competitor Luke Zachrich. Schambari was far more effective and after 3:34 of the first round, Schambari locked in an arm-triangle choke and forced the tap-out.
This advanced Schambari into the semi-finals of the tournament where he would have a rematch with Bryan Baker. This fight took place at Bellator 20 and Baker was again the winner, this time via triangle choke at 2:29 of the first round.
Schambari was successful with an early takedown, however, Baker worked well from his back and managed to secure the triangle choke. This eliminated Schambari from the tournament.
Returning in Bellator's third season in September 2010 at Bellator 28, Schambari faced the veteran Matt Horwich
. Schambari won the fight via split decision after utilising an effective jab-and-run strategy.
|Loss
|align=center| 15-4
|Andrew Craig
| Decision(unanimous)
| Legacy FC 8
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Houston, Texas
, United States
| For Legacy FC Middleweight Championship
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 15–3
| Anthony Smith
| TKO (punches)
| C3 Fights: MMA Championship Fights
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:46
|Concho, Oklahoma
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 15–2
| Edwin Aguilar
| Submission (heel hook)
| XCage: Predators
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:26
|Concho, Oklahoma
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 14–2
| John Bryant
| Submission (arm-triangle choke)
| C3 Fights: Slammin Jammin Weekend 6
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 1:14
|Newkirk, Oklahoma
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 13–2
| Matt Horwich
| Decision (split)
| Bellator 28
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|New Orleans, Louisiana
, United States
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 12–2
| Bryan Baker
| Submission (triangle choke)
| Bellator 20
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:29
|San Antonio, Texas
, United States
| Middleweight Tournament Semifinal
|-
| Win
|align=center| 12–1
| Luke Zachrich
| Submission (arm-triangle choke)
| Bellator 16
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:34
|Kansas City, Missouri
, United States
| Middleweight Tournament Quarterfinal
|-
| Win
|align=center| 11–1
| Will Espich
| Submission (arm-triangle choke)
| Maximo Fighting Championship
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:44
|San Juan
, Puerto Rico
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 10–1
| Dominic Brown
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| C3: Slammin Jammin Weekend 1
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:04
|Newkirk, Oklahoma
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 9–1
| Nate James
| Decision (majority)
| Slammin Jammin Weekend 3
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 3:00
|Newkirk, Oklahoma
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 8–1
| John Bryant
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| C3 Fights
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:57
|Newkirk, Oklahoma
, United States
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 7–1
| Bryan Baker
| Decision (split)
| WEC 31
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 7–0
| Logan Clark
| Decision (unanimous)
| WEC 29
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 6–0
| Art Santore
| Decision (unanimous)
| WEC 27
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 5–0
| Christian Smith
| Submission (arm triangle choke)
| Art of War 1
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:12
|Dallas, Texas
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 4–0
| Ricardeau Francois
| Submission
| International Freestyle Fighting 1
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:30
|Ft. Worth, Texas
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 3–0
| Corey Salter
| TKO (punches)
| Ultimate Texas Showdown 4
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:19
|Texas
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 2–0
| Sherman Pendergarst
| Decision (unanimous)
| Inferno Promotions: Meltdown
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Dallas, Texas
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 1–0
| Jamey Herbert
| Submission (kimura)
| Inferno Promotions: Meltdown
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| N/A
|Dallas, Texas
, United States
|
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional mixed martial artist
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...
who competes in the middleweight
Middleweight (MMA)
The middleweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*UFC's & Strikeforce's middleweight division, which groups competitors within 171 to 185 lb...
division. A professional MMA competitor since 2005, Schambari has most notably fought in World Extreme Cagefighting
World Extreme Cagefighting
World Extreme Cagefighting was an American mixed martial arts promotion. It was purchased by Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship , in 2006. In its final incarnation, it was made up of 3 weight classes: 135, 145 and 155 lbs. To accommodate the smaller...
and was a semi-finalist in the Bellator Season Two: Middleweight Tournament, where he was eliminated by Bryan Baker
Bryan Baker (fighter)
Bryan Baker is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the middleweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, Baker fought in various promotions, most notably World Extreme Cagefighting and Bellator Fighting Championships...
.
Background
Schambari began his career in 2005 and compiled a record of 5–0 in local promotions before joining the WEC. Schambari trains at Marc Laimon's Cobra Kai gym in Victorville, CaliforniaVictorville, California
Victorville is a city located in the Victor Valley of southwestern San Bernardino County, California. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 census, the city had a population of 115,903, up from 64,030 at the 2000 census.-Geography and climate:...
. Schambari has trained with the likes of Travis Lutter
Travis Lutter
Travis S. Lutter is an American mixed martial artist who won the The Ultimate Fighter 4 reality show. His UFC record, not including his exhibition wins on The Ultimate Fighter 4, is 2–4...
, Joe Stevenson
Joe Stevenson
Joseph Christopher Stevenson is an American mixed martial artist fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Competing as a welterweight, he won The Ultimate Fighter 2 welterweight tournament. Stevenson fought most of his UFC career as a lightweight, and made his featherweight debut at UFC Live: Kongo vs....
and Guy Mezger
Guy Mezger
Guy Mezger is a retired American martial artist who competed in professional combat sports ranging from full contact karate, kickboxing, and boxing, but is most recognized as a mixed martial arts fighter . He is associated with Lion's Den Dallas...
.
World Extreme Cagefighting
Schambari signed for the WEC and made his debut on the undercard of WEC 27WEC 27
WEC 27: Marshall vs. McElfresh was the third mixed martial arts event held by the World Extreme Cagefighting under Zuffa management. The event was held on May 12, 2007....
against Art Santore. In a close fight, Schambari took the unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27 and 29–28), which was suggested to be due to Schambari's superior cardio and slight advantage in damage caused.
He then fought Logan Clark
Logan Clark
Logan Thomas Clark is an American mixed martial artist.-Biography:Born in Southeastern Minnesota, Clark was raised on a farm north of Dover, MN. In 1987, at the age of 2, Clark's father died leaving his mother to raise the family. Clark has 3 siblings: Tyrel Clark, Doron Clark, and Amanda Clark...
at WEC 29
WEC 29
WEC 29: Condit vs. Larson was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting. The event took place on Sunday, August 5, 2007 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event aired live on the Versus Network....
. Schambari once again took the unanimous decision (all three judges scoring the bout 29–28). However, this decision was viewed as slightly controversial considering that Clark was able to do more damage from the bottom with up-kicks, in addition to locking in a gogoplata and an omoplata.
Schambari suffered his first career defeat, losing to Bryan Baker
Bryan Baker (fighter)
Bryan Baker is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the middleweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, Baker fought in various promotions, most notably World Extreme Cagefighting and Bellator Fighting Championships...
via split decision at WEC 31
WEC 31
WEC 31: Faber vs. Curran was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting . The event took place on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and was aired live on the Versus Network....
in December 2007.
Soon after, Schambari was injured in training and suffered an allergic reaction to medication that nearly cost him his life and career. Later, he returned to training and competition against the advice of his doctors.
This injury, combined with the dissolution of the middleweight division in the WEC, after its purchase by the UFC
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...
, led to his release. Schambari then fought in smaller promotions, defeating four fighters (three via first round submission and one via majority decision). The latter of these victories saw Schambari headline an event, competing against Will Espich in San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. This fight saw Schambari win via submission (arm-triangle choke).
Bellator Fighting Championship
Schambari then signed for Bellator and entered into their Middleweight tournament. There, he was joined by the only man to have defeated him at this point in his career, Bryan BakerBryan Baker (fighter)
Bryan Baker is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the middleweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, Baker fought in various promotions, most notably World Extreme Cagefighting and Bellator Fighting Championships...
.
In the first round of the tournament, Schambari faced The Ultimate Fighter 7 competitor Luke Zachrich. Schambari was far more effective and after 3:34 of the first round, Schambari locked in an arm-triangle choke and forced the tap-out.
This advanced Schambari into the semi-finals of the tournament where he would have a rematch with Bryan Baker. This fight took place at Bellator 20 and Baker was again the winner, this time via triangle choke at 2:29 of the first round.
Schambari was successful with an early takedown, however, Baker worked well from his back and managed to secure the triangle choke. This eliminated Schambari from the tournament.
Returning in Bellator's third season in September 2010 at Bellator 28, Schambari faced the veteran Matt Horwich
Matt Horwich
Matthew Peter Horwich is a journeyman American mixed martial artist. Previously fighting for the Portland Wolfpack of the International Fight League where he held the middleweight championship in 2007, BAMMA and in the UFC, he holds notable wins over past and present UFC fighters Jake Rosholt,...
. Schambari won the fight via split decision after utilising an effective jab-and-run strategy.
Mixed martial arts record
|-|Loss
|align=center| 15-4
|Andrew Craig
| Decision(unanimous)
| Legacy FC 8
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, United States
| For Legacy FC Middleweight Championship
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 15–3
| Anthony Smith
| TKO (punches)
| C3 Fights: MMA Championship Fights
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:46
|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| 15–2
| Edwin Aguilar
| Submission (heel hook)
| XCage: Predators
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:26
|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| 14–2
| John Bryant
| Submission (arm-triangle choke)
| C3 Fights: Slammin Jammin Weekend 6
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 1:14
|Newkirk, Oklahoma
Newkirk, Oklahoma
Newkirk is a city in Kay County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,243 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Kay County.-Geography:...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 13–2
| Matt Horwich
Matt Horwich
Matthew Peter Horwich is a journeyman American mixed martial artist. Previously fighting for the Portland Wolfpack of the International Fight League where he held the middleweight championship in 2007, BAMMA and in the UFC, he holds notable wins over past and present UFC fighters Jake Rosholt,...
| Decision (split)
| Bellator 28
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, United States
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 12–2
| Bryan Baker
Bryan Baker (fighter)
Bryan Baker is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the middleweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, Baker fought in various promotions, most notably World Extreme Cagefighting and Bellator Fighting Championships...
| Submission (triangle choke)
| Bellator 20
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:29
|San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, United States
| Middleweight Tournament Semifinal
|-
| Win
|align=center| 12–1
| Luke Zachrich
| Submission (arm-triangle choke)
| Bellator 16
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:34
|Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, United States
| Middleweight Tournament Quarterfinal
|-
| Win
|align=center| 11–1
| Will Espich
| Submission (arm-triangle choke)
| Maximo Fighting Championship
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:44
|San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, Puerto Rico
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 10–1
| Dominic Brown
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| C3: Slammin Jammin Weekend 1
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:04
|Newkirk, Oklahoma
Newkirk, Oklahoma
Newkirk is a city in Kay County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,243 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Kay County.-Geography:...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 9–1
| Nate James
| Decision (majority)
| Slammin Jammin Weekend 3
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 3:00
|Newkirk, Oklahoma
Newkirk, Oklahoma
Newkirk is a city in Kay County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,243 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Kay County.-Geography:...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 8–1
| John Bryant
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| C3 Fights
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:57
|Newkirk, Oklahoma
Newkirk, Oklahoma
Newkirk is a city in Kay County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,243 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Kay County.-Geography:...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 7–1
| Bryan Baker
Bryan Baker (fighter)
Bryan Baker is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the middleweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, Baker fought in various promotions, most notably World Extreme Cagefighting and Bellator Fighting Championships...
| Decision (split)
| WEC 31
WEC 31
WEC 31: Faber vs. Curran was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting . The event took place on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and was aired live on the Versus Network....
|
|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
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 7–0
| Logan Clark
Logan Clark
Logan Thomas Clark is an American mixed martial artist.-Biography:Born in Southeastern Minnesota, Clark was raised on a farm north of Dover, MN. In 1987, at the age of 2, Clark's father died leaving his mother to raise the family. Clark has 3 siblings: Tyrel Clark, Doron Clark, and Amanda Clark...
| Decision (unanimous)
| WEC 29
WEC 29
WEC 29: Condit vs. Larson was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting. The event took place on Sunday, August 5, 2007 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event aired live on the Versus Network....
|
|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
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 6–0
| Art Santore
| Decision (unanimous)
| WEC 27
WEC 27
WEC 27: Marshall vs. McElfresh was the third mixed martial arts event held by the World Extreme Cagefighting under Zuffa management. The event was held on May 12, 2007....
|
|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
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 5–0
| Christian Smith
| Submission (arm triangle choke)
| Art of War 1
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:12
|Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 4–0
| Ricardeau Francois
| Submission
| International Freestyle Fighting 1
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:30
|Ft. Worth, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 3–0
| Corey Salter
| TKO (punches)
| Ultimate Texas Showdown 4
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:19
|Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 2–0
| Sherman Pendergarst
| Decision (unanimous)
| Inferno Promotions: Meltdown
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 1–0
| Jamey Herbert
| Submission (kimura)
| Inferno Promotions: Meltdown
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| N/A
|Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, United States
|