Kurt Pellegrino
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Name | Kurt Pellegrino |
| Nickname | Batman | |
| Association | The Armory | |
| Weight Class | Lightweight (155 lbs.) | |
| Height | 5' 8" (173 cm) | |
| Style | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling | |
| Birth Date | May 7, 1979 | |
| Fighting Out Of | Point Pleasant, New Jersey | |
| Country | USA | |
| Kurt Pellegrino Pictures | Official Website |
Kurt Joseph Pellegrino is an American mixed martial artist, currently competing in the lightweight division of the UFC. Kurt also runs his own MMA Academy in Belmar New Jersey. He lives and trains in New Jersey and also trains with Kenny Florian's camp in Boston, Massachusetts. Kurt trained previously at The Armory in Jupiter, Florida with Justin Haskins, Eduardo Guedes, and Raphael Chaves. Prior to the Armory, he trained with Ricardo Almeida, a world famous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor at a Renzo Gracie affiliate school. He wrestled for Point Pleasant High School and once placed 2nd in the state of NJ. Pellegrino was a two time wrestling state finalist.
Contents |
Professional Record
| Record | 16 - 7 - 0 (Win – Loss – Draw) |
| Wins | 2 (T)KOs 10 Submissions 4 Decisions |
| Losses | 1 (T)KOs 3 Submissions 3 Decisions |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | Patricky Freire | TKO (Punches) | BFC: Bellator Fighting Championships 59 | 11/26/2011 | 1 | 0:50 | |
| Loss | Gleison Tibau | Decision (Split) | UFC 128: Shogun vs. Jones | 3/19/2011 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | George Sotiropoulos | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin | 7/03/2010 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Fabricio Camoes | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | UFC 111: St. Pierre vs. Hardy | 3/27/2010 | 2 | 4:20 | Won Submission of the Night Honors |
| Win | Josh Neer | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 101: Declaration | 8/08/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Robert Emerson | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | UFC Fight Night 17: Lauzon vs. Stephens | 2/07/2009 | 2 | 3:14 | |
| Win | Thiago Tavares | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 88: Breakthrough | 9/06/2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Won Fight of the Night Honors |
| Loss | Nate Diaz | Submission (Triangle Choke) | UFC Fight Night 13: Florian vs. Lauzon | 4/02/2008 | 2 | 3:06 | |
| Win | Alberto Crane | TKO (Punches) | UFC Fight Night 12: Swick vs. Burkman | 1/23/2008 | 2 | 1:55 | Won Fight of the Night Honors |
| Loss | Joe Stevenson | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 74: Respect | 8/25/2007 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Nate Mohr | Submission (Achilles Lock) | UFC Fight Night 9: Stevenson vs. Guillard | 4/05/2007 | 1 | 2:58 | |
| Win | Junior Assuncao | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | UFC 64: Unstoppable | 10/14/2006 | 1 | 2:04 | |
| Win | Jesse Chilton | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | AFC 18: Absolute Fighting Championships 18 | 8/26/2006 | 1 | 3:35 | |
| Loss | Drew Fickett | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | UFC 61: Bitter Rivals | 7/08/2006 | 3 | 1:20 | |
| Win | Vadim Kulchitskiy | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | RF 11: Reality Fighting 11 | 2/11/2006 | 1 | N/A | |
| Win | Kazuki Okubo | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | Euphoria: USA vs. Japan | 11/5/2005 | 1 | 0:38 | |
| Win | Steve Kinnison | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | FCC 20: Freestyle Combat Challenge 20 | 9/24/2005 | N/A | N/A | |
| Win | Sergey Golyaev | Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) | Euphoria: USA vs. Russia | 5/14/2005 | 1 | 3:24 | |
| Win | Jay R. Palmer | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | ROC 7: Ring of Combat 7 | 11/20/2004 | 1 | 3:16 | Won Ring of Combat Super Middleweight Championship |
| Loss | Satoru Kitaoka | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | Pancrase: 2004 Neo-Blood Tournament Semifinals | 7/25/2004 | 2 | 0:34 | |
| Win | Muhsin Corbbrey | Decision | RF 6: Reality Fighting 6 | 4/03/2004 | 3 | 5:00 | Won first-ever Reality Fighting Lighweight Championship |
| Win | Jay Isip | Submission (Armbar) | RF 5: Reality Fighting 5 | 11/01/2003 | 1 | 3:38 | |
| Win | Mac Danzig | Decision (Unanimous) | WEC 4: Rumble Under the Sun | 8/31/2002 | 3 | 5:00 | |
Mixed Martial Arts Career
Kurt fought Alberto Crane at UFC Fight Night 12: Swick vs. Burkman on January 23, 2008, which he won by a TKO. The fight was notable as the only preliminary bout aired on the televised card. He received Fight of the Night award for this fight. Also, Pellegrino had a tooth knocked out early in the fight, which actually ripped a hole in his mouth, under his lip, and still went on to win, impressing fans and commentators alike.
Pellegrino was defeated by TUF 5 winner Nate Diaz via triangle choke at UFC Fight Night 13: Florian vs. Lauzon on April 2, 2008 in Broomfield, Colorado.
He defeated Thiago Tavares, in a preliminary bout at UFC 88: Breakthrough. Kurt bloodied Tavares' face in the first round and went on to win by a unanimous decision. The judges scored the fight 29-28, 29-27, 29-27. The fight was awarded "Fight of the Night" and was voted by UFC as the #2 best fight of 2008.
Kurt's then fought at UFC Fight Night 17: Lauzon vs. Stephens on February 7, 2009. He defeated Rob Emerson by submission due to a rear naked choke in the third round, bringing his UFC record to 5-3 and is MMA record to 13-4.
His next fight was at UFC 101: Declaration, where he fought Josh Neer, winning a unanimous decision. He was next expected to face Frankie Edgar on The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale, but was forced to withdraw from the event due to an injured knee.
Pellegrino returned to action at UFC 111: St. Pierre vs. Hardy, in his home state of New Jersey, where he faced off against Brazilian Fabricio Camoes. Pellegrino found himself in trouble early. After an early scramble, Camoes jumped to the back and waited patiently with both hooks wrapped around a standing Pellegrino. When "Batman" reached down to shake one of the legs, Camoes locked in the rear-naked choke. Pellegrino remained calm, and he slammed Camoes head-first into the mat. The gamble paid off, and the Brazilian released the hold and appeared dazed from the blow. Pellegrino took the advantage in each transition. Pellegrino briefly held mount, but it was the back where he would earn victory, where he sunk in a Rear Naked Choke at the end of the second round. The submission earned him the Submission of the Night Honors.
He returned at UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin against George Sotiropoulos, who has shown dominant performances since dropping down to Lightweight. Sotiropoulos had his way with Pellegrino through the first two rounds, thanks largely to a right-left combo that dropped Pellegrino early in the fight. Pellegrino survived, but the continued blows and smothering top game left him unable to mount much of an offense. Early in the third round, Pellegrino could be seen wincing as he threw punches, though it wasn't clear if it was injury-related. Nevertheless, Pellegrino finally found an opening late in the round and blasted Sotiropoulos with a knee to the head that sent him crashing to the canvas. Unfortunately, just as Pellgrino was about to capitalize, the final horn sounded, and Sotiropoulos walked away from the close call, but it was Sotiropoulos who won the fight by Decision (Unanimous).
Personal Life
Kurt and his wife Melissa have a daughter named Priscilla. Kurt is the cousin of actor Mark Pellegrino.
Ranks and Titles
- Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Champion for Reality Fighting
- High school wrestling: 2-time NJ state finalist
- 3-time Greco and 3-time freestyle champion
- Gold Medal Pan American (Blue belt)
- Brown Belt Absolute Division Grapplers Quest
- Five-time Grapplers Quest Superfight Champion
- US Trials for Abu Dhabi runner up losing to Cameron Earl in OT
- Abu Dhabi qualifier for 2007
- Gracie Arnold Classic Pro division champion (165 lbs to 195lbs weight class)
- Multiple time NAGA and Grapplers Quest winner
- Grappling record of over 100 wins and 3 losses
