Igor Pokrajac

Igor Pokrajac (born 2 January 1979) is a Croatian mixed martial artist, who formerly competed in the Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2003, Pokrajac has also formerly competed for K-1, KSW, It's Showtime, and Jungle Fight promotions.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career Pokrajac started his professional MMA career in 2003, primarily competing in his native Croatia. Over the next six years, he compiled an impressive record of 21–5.

Ultimate Fighting Championship In August 2009, it was announced he had signed with the UFC, with his first fight taking place against Vladimir Matyushenko on September 19, 2009, at UFC 103. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Pokrajac next faced James Te-Huna on February 21, 2010, at UFC 110. Pokrajac lost again, this time via third-round TKO, due to strikes. This loss was somewhat controversial, as Te Huna had Pokrajac in a modified crucifix position on the mat and landed five to six clean shots to Pokrajac's face and although Pokrajac was not able to defend himself from this position, he was signalling to the referee that he was okay, although the ref did not acknowledge this, and stopped the fight after the unanswered shots from Te Huna. Although visibly dazed, Pokrajac disputed the stoppage directly after the fight to no avail.

Pokrajac then faced James Irvin on August 1, 2010, at UFC on Versus 2. Midway through the first round, Pokrajac took Irvin down and immediately got side control on the floor. After taking multiple strikes, Irvin rolled over and was submitted by a rear naked choke, handing Pokrajac his first UFC victory.

Pokrajac fought Stephan Bonnar on December 4, 2010, at The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale. Pokrajac lost a unanimous decision.

Pokrajac defeated Todd Brown on March 3, 2011, at UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann by TKO at the conclusion of the first round. Brown was dropped by a knee in the final minute and hit with several clean follow up shots, being saved by the end of the round. When the fighters went back to their corners, Brown was unable to stand on his own power and the fight was stopped.

Pokrajac was expected to face Krzysztof Soszynski on June 11, 2011, at UFC 131, replacing an injured Anthony Perosh. However, Pokrajac was himself forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by returning UFC veteran Mike Massenzio.

Pokrajac/Soszynski ultimately took place on December 10, 2011, at UFC 140. Pokrajac defeated Soszynski via first-round KO.

Pokrajac was expected to face Thiago Silva on May 15, 2012, at UFC on Fuel TV: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier, replacing an injured Brandon Vera. However, Silva was pulled from the bout to face Alexander Gustafsson on April 14, 2012, at UFC on Fuel TV 2 after Gustafsson's original opponent Antônio Rogério Nogueira pulled out of the bout citing an injury. Pokrajac instead faced Fábio Maldonado at the event. He won the fight via unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, and 29–28).

Pokrajac was defeated by Vinny Magalhães via second round armbar on September 22, 2012, at UFC 152.

Pokrajac next faced Joey Beltran on December 15, 2012, at UFC on FX 6, replacing an injured Anthony Perosh. Pokrajac lost the fight via unanimous decision. However, on January 10, 2013, it was announced that Beltran had failed his post fight drug test, testing positive for nandrolone and the result of the bout was changed to No Contest.

Pokrajac faced Ryan Jimmo at UFC 161 in Winnipeg, Manitoba on June 15, 2013. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Pokrajac faced Rafael Cavalcante on November 9, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 32. He lost via submission due to strikes in the first round.

Pokrajac faced Marcos Rogério de Lima on December 20, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 58. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round, and was subsequently released from the promotion shortly after.

Post UFC After being released from Ultimate Fighting Championship Pokrajac signed for Croatia's Final Fight Championship promotion. His debut was expected to be against Maciej Browarski, but he was replaced and he will now make his debut in heavyweight division against Archontis Taxiarchis at FFC 18 - Ljubljana on 17 April 2015. He weighed 102 kg at official weight ins.

Second UFC stint After recording three first round stoppage victories on the regional circuit across the Balkans, Pokrajac was re-signed for a second stint in the UFC. He faced Jan Błachowicz on April 10, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 86. Pokrajac lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Pokrajac was expected to face Ed Herman on March 4, 2017, at UFC 209. However, Pokrajac pulled out of the fight in early February citing an injury, and was replaced by Gadzhimurad Antigulov.

On May 4, 2019, it was reported that Pokrajac was released by the UFC for a second time.

Accomplishments and championships Serbian Battle Championship SBC Light Heavyweight Championship (one time)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Michał Kita TKO (punches) FEN 28 - Lotos Fight Night

Lublin, Poland Win

Maiquel Falcão TKO (elbows and punches) Serbian Battle Championship 25

Novi Sad, Serbia Loss

Maiquel Falcão TKO (punches) Serbian Battle Championship 21

Odžaci, Serbia Loss

Jan Błachowicz Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Rothwell vs. dos Santos

Zagreb, Croatia Win

Zauri Maisuradze Submission (armbar) FFC 20: Zagreb

Zagreb, Croatia Win

Rudolf Pavlin TKO (elbows) Montenegro Fighting Championship 3

Budva, Montenegro Win

Archontis Taxiarchis TKO (punches) FFC 18: Ljubljana

Ljubljana, Slovenia Loss

Marcos Rogério de Lima TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Dollaway

Barueri, Brazil Loss

Rafael Cavalcante TKO (submission to knees and punches) UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson

Goiânia, Brazil Loss

Ryan Jimmo Decision (unanimous) UFC 161

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada NC

Joey Beltran NC (overturned) UFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson

Gold Coast, Australia Loss

Vinny Magalhães Submission (armbar) UFC 152

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Win

Fábio Maldonado Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fuel TV: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier

Fairfax, Virginia, United States Win

Krzysztof Soszynski KO (punches) UFC 140

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Win

Todd Brown TKO (knee and punches) UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann

Louisville, Kentucky, United States Loss

Stephan Bonnar Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

James Irvin Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko

San Diego, California, United States Loss

James Te Huna TKO (punches) UFC 110

Sydney, Australia Loss

Vladimir Matyushenko Decision (unanimous) UFC 103

Dallas, Texas, United States Win

Kalvis Gebauers TKO (punches) WFC 8: D-Day

Ljubljana, Slovenia Win

Roderik Jambor TKO (punches and elbows) K-1 ColliZion 2009 Croatia

Split, Croatia Win

Mihajlo Fincur TKO (punches) Grand Fight

Varaždin, Croatia Win

Patrik Jevický Submission (rear-naked choke) Ultimate Fight: Challenge 3

Samobor, Croatia Win

Jan Antoska Submission (armbar) Hell Cage 1

Prague, Czech Republic Win

Martin Zawada Submission (rear-naked choke) Balans: It's Showtime 75MAX Trophy Final 2008

's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands Win

Marko Sintic TKO (punches) Ultimate Fight: Challenge 2

Samobor, Croatia Win

Ladislav Zak Decision (unanimous) OB-Gula: Fight Night

Ogulin, Croatia Loss

Mamed Khalidov Submission (kneebar) Boxing Explosion 2

Pag, Croatia Win

Bojan Spalevic TKO (elbows) Osijek Challenge 07

Osijek, Croatia Win

Slaven Planinic TKO (knee and punches) Bilic Fight Night

Zagreb, Croatia Win

Sasa Lazic Submission (armbar) Noc Gladiatora 1

Karlovac, Croatia Loss

Assuério Silva Decision (split) Jungle Fight Europe

Ljubljana, Slovenia Win

Ivan Brguljan Decision (unanimous) International Fight Night

Opatija, Croatia Win

Lukasz Jurkowski Decision (split) Sukosan Fight Night

Sukošan, Croatia Win

Jure Lucic Submission (armbar) Ultimate Nokaut 4

Karlovac, Croatia Win

Ivan Bacic Submission (rear-naked choke) Ultimate Nokaut 3

Rijeka, Croatia Loss

Lukasz Jurkowski TKO (corner stoppage) KSW IV: Konfrontacja

Warsaw, Poland Win

Branislav Zeman Submission (rear-naked choke) Ultimate Nokaut 2

Zadar, Croatia Loss

Miodrag Petkovic TKO (punches) Ultimate Nokaut 1

Karlovac, Croatia Win

Peter Cakic TKO (punches and elbows) Trboulje 2: Croatia vs Slovenia

Trbovlje, Slovenia Loss

Miodrag Petkovic KO (punches) Ultimate Fight Dubravc

Zagreb, Croatia Win

Andre Castro KO (knee) DF: Durata World Grand Prix 1

Zagreb, Croatia Win

Matthias Riccio TKO (doctor stoppage) DF: Durata World Grand Prix 1

Zagreb, Croatia Win

Pavel Botka TKO (punches) DF: Durata World Grand Prix 1

Zagreb, Croatia Win

Nik Peric TKO (knees) Strabag Free Fight

Rijeka, Croatia