Chris Cariaso

Christopher Vincent Cariaso (born May 27, 1981) is an American former mixed martial artist best known for competing in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he contended for the UFC Flyweight Championship once.

Early and personal life Chris Cariaso was born and raised in San Jose, California. He is of Filipino descent.

Mixed martial arts career Since turning professional in 2006, Cariaso has competed in several organizations, obtaining wins in large MMA promotions such as Strikeforce and EliteXC, with all of his fights taking place in his native Northern California. He then moved to Tucson, Arizona to train with Rise Combat Sports.

ISCF - International Sport Combat Federation Cariaso won the ISCF Bantamweight Title on October 24, 2009, when he defeated Rolando Velasco by TKO at 3:17 of round 2 due to strikes.

World Extreme Cagefighting Cariaso made his WEC debut against Rafael Rebello on June 20, 2010, at WEC 49. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Cariaso next faced Renan Barão on December 16, 2010, at WEC 53. He lost via submission in the first round.

Ultimate Fighting Championship On October 28, 2010, World Extreme Cagefighting merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC.

In his first UFC fight, Cariaso faced Will Campuzano on January 22, 2011, at UFC Fight Night 23. He won the fight via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

Cariaso was expected to face Norifumi Yamamoto on May 28, 2011, at UFC 130. However, Yamamoto was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Michael McDonald. Cariaso lost a hard fought split decision to McDonald in a closely contested fight.

Cariaso faced UFC newcomer Vaughan Lee on November 5, 2011, at UFC 138. He won the fight via split decision.

Cariaso faced Takeya Mizugaki on February 26, 2012, at UFC 144. Cariaso defeated Mizugaki via unanimous decision.

Cariaso decided to drop to the flyweight division where he faced Josh Ferguson at UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Cariaso fought John Moraga on December 29, 2012, at UFC 155. He was submitted in the third round with a guillotine choke.

Cariaso faced Jussier Formiga on May 18, 2013, at UFC on FX 8. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Cariaso next faced Iliarde Santos on October 9, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 29. He won the fight via TKO in the second round.

Cariaso was expected to face Kyoji Horiguchi on February 1, 2014, at UFC 169. However, Horoguchi pulled out of the bout citing injury and was replaced by WEC veteran Danny Martinez. Cariaso won the fight via unanimous decision.

Cariaso faced Louis Smolka on May 10, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 40. He won the fight via split decision.

A rescheduled bout with Kyoji Horiguchi was expected to take place on September 20, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 52. However, on July 15, 2014, it was announced that Cariaso would receive a title shot against UFC Flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson in the co-main event of UFC 177. On August 12, the Johnson/Cariaso bout was moved to the main event of UFC 178. Cariaso lost the bout via submission due to a kimura in the second round.

Cariaso faced Henry Cejudo on March 14, 2015, at UFC 185. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Cariaso faced Sergio Pettis on October 3, 2015, at UFC 192. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

On February 2, 2016, Cariaso announced that he was retiring from active competition.

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Sergio Pettis Decision (unanimous) UFC 192

Houston, Texas, United States Loss

Henry Cejudo Decision (unanimous) UFC 185

Dallas, Texas, United States Loss

Demetrious Johnson Submission (kimura) UFC 178

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Louis Smolka Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Brown vs. Silva

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States Win

Danny Martinez Decision (unanimous) UFC 169

Newark, New Jersey, United States Win

Iliarde Santos TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Shields

Barueri, Brazil Loss

Jussier Formiga Decision (unanimous) UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold

Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil Loss

John Moraga Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 155

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Josh Ferguson Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman

San Jose, California, United States Win

Takeya Mizugaki Decision (unanimous) UFC 144

Saitama, Japan Win

Vaughan Lee Decision (split) UFC 138

Birmingham, England Loss

Michael McDonald Decision (split) UFC 130

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Will Campuzano Decision (unanimous) UFC: Fight for the Troops 2

Fort Hood, Texas, United States Loss

Renan Barão Submission (rear-naked choke) WEC 53

Glendale, Arizona, United States Win

Rafael Rebello Decision (unanimous) WEC 49

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Win

Rolando Velasco TKO (punches) LTD: Rumble in Richmond

Richmond, California, United States Win

Alvin Cacdac Submission (rear-naked choke) WCSC: The Awakening

San Francisco, California, United States Win

Anthony Figueroa Submission (rear-naked choke) Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson

San Jose, California, United States Loss

Mark Oshiro TKO (punches) ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series

Friant, California, United States Win

Rick McCorkell Decision (unanimous) ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series

Santa Ynez, California, United States Win

Anthony Figueroa Decision (unanimous) Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Baroni

San Jose, California, United States Win

David Barrios KO (head kick) CCFC: Total Elimination

Santa Rosa, California, United States Win

Andrew Valladerez Decision (unanimous) Strikeforce: Young Guns

San Jose, California, United States Win

Walt Hughes Decision (unanimous) Warrior Cup 1

Stockton, California, United States Win

Ralph Alvarado Decision (unanimous) ICFO 1: Stockton

Stockton, California, United States