Steve Carl

Steven Joseph "Steve" Carl (born December 20, 1984) is an American mixed martial artist. A professional MMA competitor since 2005, Carl previously competed for Bellator from 2010 to 2011 and last competed in the welterweight division for Absolute Championship Akhmat. He is the former WSOF Welterweight Champion.

Background Carl was a 2003 graduate of Belle Plaine High School in Belle Plaine, Iowa. While there, he enjoyed a successful wrestling career, where he qualified for the Iowa state tournament in 2001. He was also a South Iowa Cedar League and Sectional Champion in 2003. He graduated from Kirkwood Community College in 2009.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career While in the Army Carl started training at the Grapplers Lair, after two months of training and no amateur fights Carl made his professional debut on November 5, 2005, against Andrew Perkins, winning the fight via submission (strikes).

Carl went undefeated at 5-0 before taking his first loss to future UFC fighter, Brian Foster. Carl rattled off seven consecutive wins, six of which were finishes, before being signed by Bellator.

Bellator Carl made his debut for the promotion on April 22, 2010, at Bellator 15 in the Bellator Season 2 Welterweight Tournament. He was matched against Brett Cooper and after three close rounds, Carl won the fight via split decision.

In the semi-final round Carl was matched against Sengoku veteran, Dan Hornbuckle, at Bellator 19. Carl lost the fight midway into the first round via submission, eliminating him from the tournament.

Carl took an off-tournament fight against Tyler Stinson at Bellator 26. Midway into the first round Carl applied a guillotine choke and choked Stinson unconscious. The impressive win earned him entry into the next season Welterweight Tournament. However, Carl injured his foot and was unable to compete in the tournament.

Carl entered into the Bellator Season Five Welterweight Tournament, and was matched against the tournament favorite Douglas Lima. The fight took place at Bellator 49. Carl lost the fight via unanimous decision. Carl was released from the promotion after the loss.

Post-Bellator In December 2011 Carl made his post-Bellator debut fighting for Far Eastern Federation of Modern Pankration in Russia. He defeated Rustam Bogatirev via submission in the first round.

On March 2, 2012, Carl fought Mason Temiquel, taking the fight on only one day's notice, winning via submission and then on July 28, 2012, later defeated Vic Hall via submission, both in the first round. Carl defeated Andrew Trace via first round submission at Madtown Throwdown on August 11, 2012.

World Series of Fighting In late 2012, Carl signed with upstart Las Vegas promotion World Series of Fighting. His debut came at the promotion's first event, World Series of Fighting 1, held on November 3, 2012, against Ramico Blackmon. Steve Carl won the fight via rear naked choke submission in the first round.

Steve Carl defeated Tyson Steele on June 14, 2013, at WSOF 3 via rear-naked choke submission in round one.

Steve Carl fought Josh Burkman and won via triangle choke submission in the fourth round at WSOF 6 to become the first WSOF Welterweight Championship.

Carl made his first title defense at WSOF 9 on March 29, 2014, against UFC vet Rousimar Palhares. He lost the bout due to submission in the first round.

The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians

Steve Carl was confirmed as a cast member for The Ultimate Fighter 21 representing American Top Team.

Championships and accomplishments World Series of Fighting WSOF Welterweight Championship (First, one time)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Beslan Isaev Decision (unanimous) |ACB 49: Rostov Onslaught November 26, 2016

Rostov-on-Don, Russia Loss

Belal Muhammad TKO (punches) Titan FC 38 April 30, 2016

Florida, United States For the inaugural Titan FC Welterweight Championship. Win

Beslan Ushukov Submission (rear-naked choke) Akhmat Fight Show 13: Battle in Grozny December 26, 2015

Grozny, Russia Loss

Rousimar Palhares Submission (inverted heel hook) WSOF 9 March 29, 2014

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Lost the WSOF Welterweight Championship. Win

Joshua Burkman Technical Submission (triangle choke) WSOF 6 October 26, 2013

Coral Gables, Florida, United States Won the inaugural WSOF Welterweight Championship. Win

Tyson Steele Submission (rear-naked choke) WSOF 3

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Ramico Blackmon Submission (rear-naked choke) WSOF 1

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Andrew Trace Submission (rear-naked choke) Madtown Throwdown 28

Madison, Wisconsin, United States Win

Vic Hall Submission (rear-naked choke) Extreme Challenge 216

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States Win

Mason Temiquel Submission (kimura) Midwest Cage Championship 39

Des Moines, Iowa, United States Win

Rustam Bogatirev Submission (triangle choke) FEFoMP: Battle of Empires

Khabarovsk Krai, Russia Loss

Douglas Lima Decision (unanimous) Bellator 49

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Season Five Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinals. Win

Tyler Stinson Technical Submission (guillotine choke) Bellator 26

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Loss

Dan Hornbuckle Submission (kimura) Bellator 19

Grand Prairie, Texas, United States Season Two Welterweight Tournament Semifinals. Win

Brett Cooper Decision (split) Bellator 15

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Season Two Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinals. Win

Mo Spears Submission (punches) Warriors 4 Warriors 2

Iowa City, Iowa, United States Win

Victor Moreno Submission (armbar) MFDM: Maxfights 1

Des Moines, Iowa, United States Win

Ivan Ivanov Submission (rear-naked choke) M-1 Challenge: 2009 Selections 3

Bourgas, Bulgaria Win

Matt Delanoit Submission (triangle choke) Midwest Cage Championships 18

Des Moines, Iowa, United States Win

James Warfield Decision (unanimous) Warriors 4 Warriors 1

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States Win

Brian Green TKO (punches) Conquest Fighting Championship 1

Des Moines, Iowa, United States Win

Conan Cano Submission (guillotine choke) King of Kombat 4

Austin, Texas, United States Loss

Brian Foster TKO (punches) Masters of the Cage 7

Norman, Oklahoma, United States Win

Raheem Williams Submission Renegades Extreme Fighting

Houston, Texas, United States Win

James White Submission Ultimate Texas Showdown 5

Texas, United States Win

Brandon Berkey TKO (punches) Ultimate Texas Showdown 4

Texas, United States Win

Henry Buchanan Decision (unanimous) Renegades Extreme Fighting

Austin, Texas, United States Win

Andrew Perkins Submission (punches) Xtreme Fight Championship 4

Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States Mixed martial arts exhibition record Loss

Kamaru Usman Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter 21 June 17, 2015 (airdate)

Coconut Creek, Florida, United States Loss

Valdir Araújo Submission (guillotine choke) The Ultimate Fighter 21 May 6, 2015 (airdate)

Boca Raton, Florida, United States