Wilson Reis

Wilson Reis (born January 6, 1985) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division. Reis is the former EliteXC Bantamweight Champion and has also competed for UFC, Bellator, ShoXC and Cage Warriors. Reis also appeared as an assistant Jiu-Jitsu coach in Dominick Cruz's team on The Ultimate Fighter: Live.

Background Reis received his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu from instructor Roberto Godoi. As a brown belt he won the 2004 Jiu Jitsu World Championships. Reis was crowned the first and only EliteXC Bantamweight champion on September 26, 2008. He trains at BJJ United in Pennsylvania and at Daddis Fight Camps in New Jersey and Philadelphia. He previously taught Brazilian jiu-jitsu and No-gi at Tri-State Martial Arts Academy in Levittown, Pennsylvania. Reis formerly competed in Bellator Fighting Championships. He competed for the first time in his native Brazil in WFE 11 - Platinum, winning by submission.

Mixed martial arts career

EliteXC Reis debuted for the EliteXC promotion on their ShoXC series in January 2008. He later appeared on their main cards at EliteXC: Primetime and EliteXC: Unfinished Business.

In September 2008, Reis defeated Abel Cullum to win the vacant EliteXC Bantamweight Championship.

Bellator Fighting Championships In January 2009, it was announced that Reis reached an exclusive agreement with Bellator Fighting Championships. Wilson Reis defeated Henry Martinez on April 10, 2009, at Bellator 2 in the first round of the Featherweight Tournament. He experienced his first loss against Joe Soto in the semi-finals at Bellator 6.

Reis was scheduled to make his Japanese debut for World Victory Road at Sengoku 12 on March 7, 2010. However, Reis withdrew from the show in order to compete in season 2 of the Bellator Fighting Championships.

Reis was victorious in the first round of the Bellator featherweight tournament, defeating Shad Lierley via submission in the third round, after dominating the entire fight with this superior ground game. He advanced to the semi-finals to face Patricio Freire who held a 13–0 record. Reis lost via unanimous decision, his second career loss.

Reis faced Deividas Taurosevičius on October 21, 2010, at Bellator 33. He won the fight via split decision.

Reis then competed in the Bellator Season Four Featherweight tournament and won his quarterfinal fight against Zac George at Bellator 37 by submission in the first round.

Reis then had a rematch with Patricio Freire in the semifinals at Bellator 41, but lost via KO in the third round.

Reis dropped down to Bantamweight and competed in the Bellator Season Five Bantamweight tournament. In the quarterfinals, he faced Eduardo Dantas at Bellator 51, losing by second-round KO (flying knee and punches).

Post-Bellator After losing two consecutive fights in a row, Reis has been released from the Bellator promotion along with Dan Hornbuckle.

Reis then competed in Win Fight & Entertainment (WFE), appearing for the first time in his native Brazil in WFE 11 - Platinum in December 2011. He defeated Bruno "Demente" Menezes by rear naked choke.

On December 8, 2012, Reis fought for Europe's top organization Cage Warriors and defeated Owen Roddy by third-round submission in one of the fights of the year in Glasgow, Scotland.

Ultimate Fighting Championship In August 2013, it was announced that Reis had signed with the UFC. Reis was expected to face Hugo Viana at UFC Fight Night 28 on September 4, 2013. However, just days before the event Viana was forced out of the bout with an injury, removing their fight from the card altogether.

A few days after that announcement, Reis was again sought as a replacement. He stepped in to face Ivan Menjivar on September 21, 2013, at UFC 165, replacing Norifumi Yamamoto. Reis was successful in his debut, winning via unanimous decision.

Reis faced Iuri Alcântara on February 15, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 36. He lost the fight via split decision.

Reis was briefly linked to a bout with Pedro Munhoz on May 31, 2014, at The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 Finale. However, the bout never materialized as Reis was replaced by promotional newcomer Matt Hobar.

For his next fight, Reis moved down to the flyweight division. He was expected to face Tim Elliott on August 23, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 49. However, Elliott pulled out of the bout in the days leading up to the event. Reis instead faced promotional newcomer Joby Sanchez. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Reis next faced Scott Jorgensen on October 25, 2014, at UFC 179. He won the fight by submission in the first round. Reis hurt Jorgensen with a body kick and backed up in pain, then immediately after shot in and successfully got the takedown on Jorgensen and passed to mount where he secured to an arm-triangle choke where Jorgensen was forced to tap.

Reis faced Jussier Formiga on May 30, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 67. He lost the back-and-forth fight by unanimous decision.

Reis faced Dustin Ortiz on January 30, 2015, at UFC on Fox 18. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Reis was expected to face current Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson on July 30, 2016, at UFC 201. However, on July 8, it was announced that Johnson pulled out due to an undisclosed injury and the bout was postponed. Reis remained on the card against promotional newcomer Hector Sandoval. He won the fight via submission in the first round.

Reis faced Ulka Sasaki on February 11, 2017, at UFC 208. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

UFC Flyweight Title Challenge

Reis faced Flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson on April 15, 2017 at UFC on Fox 24. After a one-sided affair through the first two rounds, Reis suffered his first loss by submission as Johnson won via armbar in the third round.

Post title shot

Reis faced Henry Cejudo on September 9, 2017 at UFC 215 He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

Reis faced John Moraga on April 14, 2018 at UFC on Fox 29. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Reis faced Ben Nguyen on December 2, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 142. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

As the last fight of his prevailing contract, Reis faced Alexandre Pantoja on April 13, 2019 at UFC 236. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round. Subsequently, UFC opted not to renew Reis' contract.

He made his promotional debut at Ares FC 2 against Taylor Lapilus on December 12, 2021. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Budo Sento Championship Reis signed by Mexican promotion Budo Sento Championship (BSC) and faced Carlos Briseño at BSC 1 on November 14, 2020. He won the fight via second round submission.

Reis was knocked out in 16 seconds in a bout with Donny Matos at the BSC 2 on April 10, 2021.

Cage Warriors Reis signed for Cage Warriors and he was then scheduled to face Johnny Campbell at Cage Warriors 126 on August 1, 2021. However, Reis withdrew from the bout due to an injury.

Reis faced Jeremiah Labiano on March 4, 2022 at Cage Warriors 133. He won the bout via split decision.

Reis faced Tuomas Grönvall on December 31, 2022, at Cage Warriors 148, winning the bout via unanimous decision.

Reis faced Johnny Campbell on March 3, 2023 at Cage Warriors 148, winning the bout via rear-naked choke in the third round.

Reis faced Trevin Jones on September 8, 2023 at Cage Warriors 159, losing the bout via split decision.

Reis faced Toby Misech on February 23. 2024 at Cage Warriors 166, winning via arm-triangle choke in the first round.

Reis faced fellow UFC veteran Brunzo Souza at Cage Warriors 173 on 8 June 2024. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Grappling career Wilson Reis is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Roberto Godoi.

In 2004, Reis won the Brazilian jiu-jitsu World Championships as a Brown Belt.

On August 6, 2023 Reis won gold in the master 1 no gi lightweight division at the IBJJF San Diego Spring Open 2023.

Championships and accomplishments EliteXC EliteXC Bantamweight Championship (One time, First, Last) Win Fight Entertainment WFE Bantamweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Julio Arce KO (punch) Victory Fighting League: Clash of the Champions

New York City, New York, United States Loss

Bruno Souza Decision (unanimous) Cage Warriors 173

San Diego, California, United States Win

Toby Misech Submission (arm-triangle choke) Cage Warriors 166

San Diego, California, United States Loss

Trevin Jones Decision (split) Cage Warriors 159

San Diego, California, United States Win

Johnny Campbell Submission (rear-naked choke) Cage Warriors 149

San Diego, California, United States Win

Tuomas Grönvall Decision (unanimous) Cage Warriors 148

London, England Win

Jeremiah Labiano Decision (split) Cage Warriors 133

San Diego, California, United States Loss

Taylor Lapilus Decision (unanimous) Ares FC 2

Paris, France Loss

Donny Matos KO (punch) Budo Sento Championship 2

Mexico City, Mexico Win

Carlos Briseño Submission (arm-triangle choke) Budo Sento Championship 1

Mexico City, Mexico Loss

Alexandre Pantoja TKO (punches) UFC 236

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Win

Ben Nguyen Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Tuivasa

Adelaide, Australia Loss

John Moraga Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje

Glendale, Arizona, United States Loss

Henry Cejudo TKO (punches) UFC 215

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Loss

Demetrious Johnson Submission (armbar) UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Reis

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Ulka Sasaki Decision (unanimous) UFC 208

Brooklyn, New York, United States Win

Hector Sandoval Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 201

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Win

Dustin Ortiz Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Bader

Newark, New Jersey, United States Loss

Jussier Formiga Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Alves

Goiânia, Brazil Win

Scott Jorgensen Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC 179

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Joby Sanchez Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. dos Anjos

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Iuri Alcântara Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Mousasi

Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil Win

Ivan Menjivar Decision (unanimous) UFC 165

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Win

Owen Roddy Submission (rear-naked choke) Cage Warriors 50

Glasgow, Scotland Win

Billy Vaughan Submission (arm-triangle choke) Matrix Fights 7

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Cody Stevens Decision (unanimous) Matrix Fights 6

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Bruno Menezes Submission (rear-naked choke) Win Fight & Entertainment 11

Salvador, Brazil Loss

Eduardo Dantas KO (flying knee and punches) Bellator 51

Canton, Ohio, United States Loss

Patrício Pitbull KO (punches) Bellator 41

Yuma, Arizona, United States Win

Zac George Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 37

Concho, Oklahoma, United States Win

Deividas Taurosevicius Decision (split) Bellator 33

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Loss

Patrício Pitbull Decision (unanimous) Bellator 18

Monroe, Louisiana, United States Win

Shad Lierley Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 14

Hollywood, Florida, United States Win

Dwayne Shelton Decision (unanimous) Locked in the Cage 1

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Roberto Vargas Decision (split) Bellator 10

Ontario, California, United States Loss

Joe Soto Decision (unanimous) Bellator 6

Robstown, Texas, United States Win

Henry Martinez Decision (unanimous) Bellator 2

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Abel Cullum Decision (unanimous) ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series

Santa Ynez, California, United States Win

Bryan Caraway Decision (unanimous) EliteXC: Unfinished Business

Stockton, California, United States Win

Justin Robbins Submission (rear-naked choke) EliteXC: Primetime

Newark, New Jersey, United States Win

Zach Makovsky Submission (arm-triangle choke) ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Diego Jimenez Submission (rear-naked choke) Combat in the Cage: Fearless Fighters Return

Trenton, New Jersey, United States Win

Baba Shigeyasu Decision (unanimous) Extreme Challenge 81

West Orange, New Jersey, United States