Diego Nunes

Diego Torresean Nunes (born November 30, 1982) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. A professional since 2004, he has fought for the UFC, WEC, Bellator MMA, RXF, Fight Nights Global, and the Rizin Fighting Federation.

Mixed martial arts career Nunes trains with Team Nogueira Brazil. Nunes' professional career in mixed martial arts began in May 2004, when he defeated Jorge Santos Velho by TKO. He has fought in GP, TFC, Shooto, WEC and the UFC.

World Extreme Cagefighting Nunes won his WEC debut against Cole Province by unanimous decision at WEC 37. Nunes was scheduled to fight Cub Swanson on the undercard at WEC 40, but a hand injury just days before the bout, forced Nunes to cancel the fight. He next fought Rafael Dias at WEC 42 on August 9, 2009. Nunes defeated Dias via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).

Nunes suffered his first professional loss to LC Davis via unanimous decision at WEC 44.

Nunes was expected to face Leonard Garcia on March 6, 2010 at WEC 47, but Nunes was forced from the card with an injury. Nunes was replaced by former UFC fighter George Roop.

Nunes then faced Raphael Assunção on June 20, 2010 at WEC 49. He won the fight via split decision.

Nunes faced Tyler Toner on September 30, 2010 at WEC 51. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

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.

Nunes faced Mike Brown on January 1, 2011 at UFC 125. He won the fight via split decision.

Nunes faced Kenny Florian on June 11, 2011 at UFC 131. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Nunes was expected to face Manvel Gamburyan on September 24, 2011 at UFC 135, but Gamburyan pulled out of the fight due to a shoulder injury. Then, on August 29, Nunes confirmed his own exit from the card, citing an injury.

Nunes/Gamburyan eventually took place on December 30, 2011 at UFC 141. Nunes won the fight via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

Nunes next faced Dennis Siver on April 14, 2012 at UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Nunes faced Bart Palaszewski on October 5, 2012 at UFC on FX 5. After three full rounds, Nunes won the fight via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27). The performance also earned both participants Fight of the Night honors.

Nunes then faced Nik Lentz on January 19, 2013 at UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping. He lost the fight via unanimous decision and was subsequently released from the promotion.

Bellator MMA In June 2013, it was revealed that Nunes signed with Bellator MMA.

In his debut, Nunes faced prior title challenger Patricio Freire at Bellator 99 in the Quarterfinals of the season nine featherweight tournament. He lost the fight via knockout at just 1:19 in the first round. This is the first time that Nunes had ever been knocked out, or even finished, in his career.

In February 2014, Nunes entered into the Bellator season ten featherweight tournament. He faced Matt Bessette in the quarterfinals at Bellator 110 and lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision.

Post Bellator

After an unsuccessful run in Bellator, Nunes faced longtime MMA veteran Joachim Hansen at Superior Challenge 11 for the featherweight title. Nunes won the fight by KO in the second round with a hard left hand after breaking his knee in the first round

Fight Nights Global (FNG)

After recovering from a knee injury for almost two years, Nunes signed with Fight Nights Global and his debut was at the Fight Nights Global 51: Dagestan battle 2, on 25 September 2016 against Rasul Mirzaev. He lost the fight by knockout in the first round.

Post FNG After Fight Nights Global Nunes fought Radu Mihaita in Italy-based promotion Magnum FC in July 2017. Nunes won the fight via knockout.

In the beginning of December 2017, Nunes fought Michel Ersoy in Swedish promotion Superior Challenge. Nunes won the fight via guillotine choke.

Just two weeks after the fight with Ersoy, Nunes fought Corneliu Lascăr in Romania at RXF 29: All Stars and won via guillotine choke.

Rizin FF After amassing a win streak of three in the European circuits, Nunes signed a contract with Rizin Fighting Federation. He was slated against Yusuke Yachi at Rizin 10 and lost a close fight via split decision.

Personal life Nunes is of Italian descent. He is married to his wife Karen. He is a Christian and regularly posts Bible verses on his Facebook page.

Championships and achievements Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Bart Palaszewski Superior Challenge SC Featherweight Championship (One time, current)

Mixed martial arts record Win

Kiichi Kunimoto KO (punches) Fire Cage FC 1

Nilai, Malaysia Win

Mauricio Otalora Submission (guillotine choke) Cage FS 15

Graz, Austria Loss

Paulo Ricardo Rodrigues Disqualification (illegal soccer kick) Falcon MMA 2

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Loss

Ronys Torres Decision (unanimous) Centurion FC: Rex Redemptor

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Simon Sköld Submission (guillotine choke) Superior Challenge 19

Stockholm, Sweden Loss

Yusuke Yachi Decision (split) Rizin 10

Fukuoka, Japan Win

Corneliu Lascăr Submission (guillotine choke) RXF 29: All Stars

Brasov, Romania Win

Michel Ersoy Submission (guillotine choke) Superior Challenge 16

Stockholm, Sweden Win

Radu Mihatu KO (punch) Magnum Fighting Championship 2

Rome, Italy Loss

Rasul Mirzaev TKO (punches) Fight Nights Global 51: Pavlovich vs. Gelegaev

Kaspiysk, Dagestan, Russia Win

Joachim Hansen KO (punch) Superior Challenge 11

Sodertalje, Sweden Loss

Matt Bessette Decision (split) Bellator 110

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Loss

Patrício Freire KO (punch) Bellator 99

Temecula, California, United States Loss

Nik Lentz Decision (unanimous) UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Bart Palaszewski Decision (unanimous) UFC on FX: Browne vs. Bigfoot

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Loss

Dennis Siver Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva

Stockholm, Sweden Win

Manvel Gamburyan Decision (unanimous) UFC 141

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Kenny Florian Decision (unanimous) UFC 131

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Win

Mike Brown Decision (split) UFC 125

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Tyler Toner Decision (unanimous) WEC 51

Broomfield, Colorado, United States Win

Raphael Assunção Decision (split) WEC 49

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Loss

LC Davis Decision (unanimous) WEC 44

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Rafael Dias Decision (unanimous) WEC 42

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Cole Province Decision (unanimous) WEC 37: Torres vs. Tapia

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Marcelo Franca Submission (guillotine choke) Shooto: Brazil 8

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Henrique Mello KO (head kick) Top Fighting Championships 3

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Luciano Dos Santos Submission (guillotine choke) Sul Fight Championship 1

Santa Catarina, Brazil Win

Jetron Azevedo Submission (armbar) Storm Samurai 10

Brazil Win

Piri Piri Submission (guillotine choke) Floripa Fight 1

Florianópolis, Brazil Win

Einstein Santana Submission (guillotine choke) Battle Front 1

Brazil Win

Jorge dos Santos Velho TKO GP: Tornado 5

Caxias do Sul, Brazil Win

Giovani Diniz KO Profight Championships 3

Brazil Win

Lindomar Silva Submission (guillotine choke) GP: Tornado 3

Brazil Win

Michel Michel KO GP: Tornado 2

Brazil Win

Jorge dos Santos Velho TKO (punches) Copa Gaucha: Fight Center 2

Caxias do Sul, Brazil