Fernando Gonzalez

Fernando Esparza Gonzalez (born September 15, 1983) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor since 2003, Gonzalez has also competed for the WEC, King of the Cage, Bellator MMA, Absolute Championship Akhmat, and Strikeforce. Also a successful competitor in Muay Thai, Gonzalez is the former WBC National Muay Thai Cruiserweight Champion.

Background Born in Escondido, California, Gonzalez began boxing at the age of five. During high school, Gonzalez competed in football and began training in mixed martial arts after graduating at the age of 19.

Mixed martial arts career Early career: WEC Gonzalez made his MMA and WEC debut against Mike Castillo on October 17, 2003, at WEC 8. He was victorious via first-round TKO.

After going 7–3 in his next ten bouts, Gonzalez returned to the promotion when he faced Jimmy Dexter at WEC 20, defeating him via rear-naked choke submission.

He next faced Alex Stiebling at WEC 23 on August 17, 2006. He won the fight via TKO due to a doctor stoppage in the first round.

Gonzalez faced Brendan Seguin at WEC 25 on January 20, 2007. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

In what would be his last fight for the promotion, Gonzalez faced Hiromitsu Miura at WEC 29 on August 5, 2007. He lost the fight via submission due to punches in the second round.

Strikeforce Gonzalez made his Strikeforce debut at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal on December 17, 2011. He faced Eddie Mendez and lost via split decision.

Bellator MMA Gonzalez made his Bellator debut on July 25, 2014, when he faced Bellator season 6 welterweight tournament winner Karl Amoussou at Bellator 122. Despite coming in as an underdog, Gonzalez pulled off the upset, winning via unanimous decision.

In his second appearance for Bellator, Gonzalez was expected to face Justin Baesman at Bellator 127 on October 3, 2014. However, Karo Parisyan's opponent, Marius Žaromskis, was removed from their scheduled bout on the same card, so Gonzalez stepped in as a replacement. He won the fight via TKO in the first round. In his post-fight drug test, Gonzalez tested positive for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). As a result, Gonzalez was suspended for 30 days in the state of California by the CSAC and fined $315.

Gonzalez faced Marius Žaromskis at Bellator 132 on January 16, 2015. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Gonzalez next faced Curtis Millender at Bellator 137 on May 15, 2015. He won the fight via submission in the third round, bringing his Bellator record to 4–0. After the fight it was revealed by the CSAC that Gonzalez tested positive for marijuana; his second violation while with the promotion.

On March 4, 2016, Gonzalez fought Gilbert Smith at Bellator 151. He won the fight by split decision.

Gonzalez fought Michael Page on November 19, 2016, at Bellator 165. He lost the fight via split decision.

After his first loss in the promotion, Gonzalez was scheduled to face former Bellator Welterweight Champion, Andrey Koreshkov, at Bellator 174 on March 3, 2017. However, an injury forced Koreshkov out of the bout. Instead, Gonzalez faced Brandon Girtz at the event and won via unanimous decision.

Gonzalez faced Brennan Ward at Bellator 182 on August 25, 2017. Originally a catchweight of 178 pounds, Gonzalez missed weight and came in at 180 pounds. He won the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the third round.

Gonzalez faced Lorenz Larkin in a catchweight bout at Bellator 193 on January 26, 2018. Gonzalez missed weight for the third time in a row. After surviving a late flurry of strikes in the third round, Gonzalez lost the fight via unanimous decision and was subsequently released from the promotion.

Post-Bellator Gonzalez faced Gabriel Checco on March 9, 2019 at California Xtreme Fighting (CXF 17) and won by split decision.

Gonzalez faced Elias Silvério on June 8, 2019 at ACA 96 on and lost by unanimous decision.

Gonzalez faced Abubakar Vagaev on October 4, 2019 at ACA 100 and lost by unanimous decision.

Gonzalez faced Ty Freeman on May 29, 2021 at J Street Fights 1 and won by knockout in the third round.

Gonzalez faced Sidiah Parker on August 28, 2021 at NWFA 1: Retribution and lost by unanimous decision.

Gonzalez faced Maki Pitolo on March 4, 2022 at Tuff-N-Uff 127 and lost by unanimous decision.

Bare-knuckle boxing

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Gonzalez made his debut against Vincent Familari in a middleweight bout at BKFC: Knucklemania IV on April 27, 2024. He lost the bout by unanimous decision.

Gonzalez was scheduled to face Kyle McElroy at BKFC Fight Night 16 on July 12, 2024. McElroy was replaced by Rodney Thomas for unknown reasons.

Gonzalez was scheduled to face Erick Lozano on January 18, 2025 at BKFC Fight Night: Pechanga. However, the bout was cancelled for unknown reasons.

Personal life Gonzalez and his wife have children.

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Maki Pitolo Decision (unanimous) Tuff-N-Uff 127

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Sidiah Parker Decision (unanimous) NWFA 1: Retribution

Bentonville, Arkansas, United States Win

Ty Freeman KO J Street Fights 1

Bentonville, Arkansas, United States Loss

Abubakar Vagaev Decision (unanimous) ACA 100

Grozny, Russia Loss

Elias Silvério Decision (unanimous) ACA 96: Goncharov vs. Johnson

Łódź, Poland Return to Welterweight. Win

Gabriel Checco Decision (split) CXF 17: March Madness

Los Angeles, California, United States Middleweight bout. Loss

Piotr Strus Decision (split) ACB 87: Mousah vs Whiteford

Nottinghamshire, England Middleweight bout. Loss

Lorenz Larkin Decision (unanimous) Bellator 193

Temecula, California, United States Catchweight (180 lbs) bout; Gonzalez missed weight. Win

Brennan Ward Submission (guillotine choke) Bellator 182

Verona, New York, United States Catchweight (180 lbs) bout; Gonzalez missed weight. Win

Brandon Girtz Decision (unanimous) Bellator 174

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Catchweight (174 lbs) bout; Gonzalez missed weight. Loss

Michael Page Decision (split) Bellator 165

San Jose, California, United States Win

Gilbert Smith Decision (split) Bellator 151

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Win

Curtis Millender Submission (guillotine choke) Bellator 137

Temecula, California, United States Win

Marius Žaromskis Decision (unanimous) Bellator 132

Temecula, California, United States Win

Karo Parisyan TKO (punches) Bellator 127

Temecula, California, United States Win

Karl Amoussou Decision (unanimous) Bellator 122

Temecula, California, United States Welterweight bout. Loss

David Mitchell TKO (punches) WFC 8: Avila vs. Berkovic

Sacramento, California, United States Loss

Max Griffin Decision (split) WFC 7: Griffin vs. Gonzalez

Sacramento, California, United States Win

Kenny Ento Decision (unanimous) Gladiator Challenge: Showdown

Woodlake, California, United States Win

Lucas Gamaza Decision (unanimous) Red Canvas: Art of Submission 3

Stockton, California, United States Win

Theodore Whitfield TKO (punches) Gladiator Challenge

San Diego, California, United States Loss

Eddie Mendez Decision (split) Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

San Diego, California, United States Loss

Joe Williams Decision (split) Respect in the Cage

Pomona, California, United States Loss

Brent Cooper Decision (unanimous) Respect in the Cage

Pomona, California, United States Win

Nick Zarate TKO (punches) Gladiator Challenge: Never Quit

San Jacinto, California, United States Win

Frank Avant Submission (rear-naked choke) Gladiator Challenge: High Impact

Pauma Valley, California, United States Loss

Tony Lopez Submission (rear-naked choke) KOTC: Storm

Lake Elsinore, California, United States Win

Larry Mays TKO (elbows) Gladiator Challenge: Venom

Pauma Valley, California, United States Loss

Tony Lopez Submission (rear-naked choke) KOTC: Misconduct

Highland, California, United States Win

Hector Urbina Submission (guillotine choke) KOTC: Fight Nite @ The Shrine

Los Angeles, California, United States Welterweight bout. Loss

Jay Martinez TKO (punches) MMA Xtreme 15

Mexico City, Mexico Loss

Hiromitsu Miura Submission (punches) WEC 29

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Joe Atoe TKO (punches) MMA Xtreme 12

Mexicali, Mexico Win

Jay Carter Decision (unanimous) X-1: Extreme Fighting 2

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Loss

Brendan Seguin Decision (unanimous) WEC 25

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Umar Luv Submission (injury) KOTC: Destroyer

San Jacinto, California, United States Win

Alex Stiebling TKO (doctor stoppage) WEC 23

Lemoore, California, United States Win

Jimmy Dexter Submission (rear-naked choke) WEC 20

Lemoore, California, United States Return to Middleweight. Loss

Danny Higgins Submission (rear-naked choke) Extreme Wars 2: X-1

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Win

Ray Lizama Decision (unanimous) KOTC 63: Final Conflict

San Jacinto, California, United States Win

Aaron Torres Submission (punches) KOTC 58: Prime Time

San Jacinto, California, United States Win

Sidney Silva Decision (unanimous) Extreme Wars: X-1

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Return to Welterweight. Loss

Miguel Gutierrez Submission (armbar) KOTC: Mortal Sins

Primm, Nevada, United States Win

Reggie Orr Decision (majority) KOTC 49: Soboba

San Jacinto, California, United States Welterweight bout. Win

Reggie Orr Submission (injury) KOTC 44: Revenge

San Jacinto, California, United States Win

Travis Goodman KO (punch) KOTC 41: Relentless

San Jacinto, California, United States Return to Middleweight. Win

Scott Sepulveda TKO (punches) KOTC 39: Hitmaster

San Jacinto, California, United States Welterweight debut. Loss

Eric Escobedo Decision Pit Fighting Championship

California, United States Win

Mike Castillo TKO (punches) WEC 8

Lemoore, California, United States Kickboxing record

Bare knuckle boxing record Win

Rodney Thomas Decision (unanimous) BKFC Fight Night Pechanga: Peralta vs. Warr

Temecula, California, United States Loss

Vincent Familari Decision (unanimous) BKFC Knucklemania IV

Los Angeles, California, United States