Nah-Shon Burrell

Nah-Shon Burrell (born February 5, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Middleweight division. A professional competitor since 2010, Burrell has competed for Bellator MMA, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Strikeforce, Absolute Championship Berkut and the Cage Fury Fighting Championships.

Background Burrell is from the Overbrook neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended Overbrook High School where he competed in football as well as track and field, and was talented. Burrell often got into fights and ultimately did not stick with sports as he admits that he "did not like taking orders". However, after Burrell began watching UFC fights, he became motivated to become a mixed martial arts fighter himself.

Mixed martial arts career Early career After a 3–2 amateur career, Burrell began his professional MMA career in 2010. He fought only for middle Atlantic states organizations. With a MMA record of 5–1, he signed with Strikeforce.

Strikeforce Burrell made his debut on May 20, 2011, at Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum against Joe Ray. He won via unanimous decision.

Burrell faced Lukasz Les on August 12, 2011, at Strikeforce Challengers: Gurgel vs. Duarte. He won via TKO in the second round.

Burrell faced James Terry on January 7, 2012, at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. He won via split decision.

Burrell was expected to face Bobby Voelker on May 19, 2012, at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier, however Voelker had to withdraw due to injury and was replaced by Chris Spang. He lost via TKO in the first round.

Burrell was expected to face Yuri Villefort on September 29, 2012, at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy. However, the event was cancelled due to headliner and lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez getting injured.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Burrell made his promotional debut against fellow Strikeforce import Yuri Villefort on February 23, 2013, at UFC 157. He won the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).

Burrell faced Stephen Thompson on May 25, 2013, at UFC 160. He lost the fight by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28) and was subsequently released from the promotion.

Bellator MMA Burrell was expected to make his promotional debut against Dante Rivera on November 15, 2013, at Bellator 108. However, Rivera was removed from the card due to undisclosed reasons and Burrell instead faced Jesus Martinez. He won the fight via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).

Burrell faced Andrey Koreshkov in the quarterfinal match of Bellator Season Ten Welterweight Tournament on March 14, 2014, at Bellator 112. He was defeated early in the first round via TKO at 0:41.

Burrell faced Michael Page at Bellator 128 on October 10, 2014, and lost the bout via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Absolute Championship Berkut Burrell was scheduled to make his promotional debut at ACB 72. However, the bout was rescheduled to ACB 75 on November 25, 2017, for unknown reasons. In turn, Isaev's entry to Germany was denied and the bout was cancelled. Eventually, Burrell faced Beslan Isaev on December 23, 2017, at ACB 77. He lost the fight by majority decision.

Burrell faced Albert Tumenov on December 23, 2017, at ACB 80. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

In his third fight in ACB, Burrell headlined ACB 84 against Arbi Agujev on April 7, 2018. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Return to regional circuit After the three-fight stint in ACB, Burrell faced Ron Stallings at CES MMA 52 on August 17, 2018. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Burrell was expected to face Gabriel Checco at Final Fight Championship 38 on June 20, 2019. However, the bout was cancelled for unknown reasons.

Burrell was then scheduled to face Danny Davis Jr. at CFFC 85 on September 18, 2020. However, the bout was scrapped for unknown reasons and Burrell faced Ryot Waller at CFFC 84 on September 17, 2020. He won the fight via second-round submission.

Burrell next faced Moses Murrietta at CFFC 90 on December 17, 2020. He won the fight via first-round knockout.

Burrell faced Khetag Pliev at CFFC 99 on August 14, 2021. He won the fight via third-round knockout.

Burrell faced Kyle Stewart at CFFC 102 on October 30, 2021. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Burrell faced Ikram Aliskerov at Eagle FC 46 on March 11, 2022. At weigh ins, Aliskerov missed weight for his bout. Aliskerov weighed in at 186.2 pounds, 0.2 pounds over the middleweight non-title limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and he was fined a percentage of his purse, which went to Burrell. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Justin Sumter Submission (rear-naked choke) CES MMA 78

Ledyard, Connecticut, United States Loss

Ikram Aliskerov Decision (unanimous) Eagle FC 46

Miami, Florida, United States Win

Kyle Stewart Decision (unanimous) Cage Fury FC 102

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Khetag Pliev KO (punch) Cage Fury FC 99

Tunica, Mississippi, United States Win

Moses Murrietta KO (punches) Cage Fury FC 90

Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Ryot Waller Submission (rear-naked choke) Cage Fury FC 84

Tunica, Mississippi, United States Loss

Ron Stallings Decision (unanimous) CES MMA 52

Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States Loss

Arbi Agujev Decision (unanimous) ACB 84

Bratislava, Slovakia Loss

Albert Tumenov Decision (unanimous) ACB 80

Krasnodar, Russia Loss

Beslan Isaev Decision (majority) ACB 77

Moscow, Russia Win

Micah Terrill TKO (punches) Xtreme Caged Combat 28

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Loss

Tim Williams Decision (unanimous) Cage Fury FC 59

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Dustin Long TKO (punches) Global Proving Ground 24

Voorhees, New Jersey, United States Win

Chris Curtis Decision (split) CES MMA 34

Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States Win

Ryan Dickson TKO (punches) Global Proving Ground 22

Voorhees, New Jersey, United States Loss

Lyman Good Submission (rear-naked choke) Cage Fury FC 48

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Ryan Hodge TKO (punches) New England Fights: Fight Night 16

Lewiston, Maine, United States Loss

Michael Page Decision (unanimous) Bellator 128

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Andrey Koreshkov KO (knee and punches) Bellator 112

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Jesus Martinez Decision (unanimous) Bellator 108

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States NC

Mike Wade NC (overturned) Richmond Rumble MMA 1

Richmond, Virginia, United States Loss

Stephen Thompson Decision (unanimous) UFC 160

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Yuri Villefort Decision (unanimous) UFC 157

Anaheim, California, United States Loss

Chris Spang TKO (knees and punches) Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier

San Jose, California, United States Win

James Terry Decision (split) Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Lukasz Les TKO (leg kick and punches) Strikeforce Challengers: Gurgel vs. Duarte

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Joe Ray Decision (unanimous) Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum

Dallas, Texas, United States Win

Daryl Harris KO (knee) Cage Fury FC 8

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Craig Thieme TKO (punches) Cage Fury FC 6

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Robert Corpora TKO (punches) Asylum Fight League 32

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Loss

Chris Curtis Decision (unanimous) Xtreme Caged Combat: Hostile Intent

Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Juan Garcia TKO (punches) Xtreme Caged Combat: Onslaught

Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Brad Pole TKO (punches) Jake the Snake Promotions: Cage Time 2

Ocean City, Maryland, United States