Misplaced Pages

Isaac "Ike" James Villanueva (born April 4, 1984), is an American mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer who competes in the Heavyweight division of BYB Extreme Fighting Series and competed in the Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is a former BYB Heavyweight Champion.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Starting his career in 2008, Villanueva compiled a 17–9 record fighting for various Texas regional promotions. During this time, he would lose to future UFC fighters, Cody Donovan, Justin Ledet, and Trevin Giles, as well lose to accomplished IBJJF World Championship and the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship winner, Robert Drysdale, who he would lose to by first round submission.

He also knocked out UFC vet Roger Narvaez in 28 seconds at Fury FC 36 on August 30, 2019, which won him the Fury FC Light Heavyweight Championship.

He would defend this title against just released from the UFC, Rashad Coulter at Fury FC 40 on December 13, 2019. After knocking down Coulter early in the fight, he eventually finished him by technical knockout later in the round.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Villanueva made his UFC debut against Chase Sherman on May 13, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira. Being outclassed on the feet, Villanueva lost the fight via technical knockout in round two. After the fight Sherman received nine month USADA suspension for testing positive for Anastrozole from a in-competition sample collected on May 13, 2020.

Villanueva was expected to face Jorge Gonzalez on August 15, 2020, at UFC 252. However, due to alleged visa issues for Gonzalez, the pairing was rescheduled for UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar on August 22, 2020. In turn, Gonzalez was removed from the card for undisclosed reasons and replaced by promotional newcomer Jordan Wright. Isaac lost in the first round after being cut badly, leading to a doctor's stoppage.

Villanueva was scheduled to face Vinicius Moreira on January 30, 2021. In late December 2020, the UFC opted against holding an event on a planned January 30 date and decided to reschedule several bouts to January 20, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny.

Villanueva faced Vinicius Moreira on January 20, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny. He won the fight via knockout in the second round.

As the first bout of his new four-fight contract, Villaneuva faced Marcin Prachnio on June 26, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 190. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round after being kicked in the liver.

Villanueva faced Nicolae Negumereanu on October 23, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori. He lost the fight via TKO in round one. Though there was controversy as replays showed Negumereanu landing illegal strikes to the back of Villanueva's head after the knockdown that led to the finish.

Villanueva faced Tyson Pedro on April 23, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 205. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

On May 6, 2022, it was announced that Villanueva was no longer on the UFC roster.

Personal life

Isaac worked a day job as a CNC machinist outside of his fighting career, before he signed with the UFC. He has two sons born in 2014 and a daughter, born in September 2020.

Championships and achievements

Bare-knuckle boxing

• BYB Extreme Fighting Series
  • BYB Heavyweight Champion (One Time)

Mixed martial arts

• Fury Fighting Championship
  • Fury FC Light Heavyweight Championship (One Time)
    • One successful defense

Bare-knuckle boxing record

Mixed martial arts record

See also

• List of male mixed martial artists

References

1. ^ Mixed martial arts show results Date: August 22, 2020
2. "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
3. "LFC 8 Interview Series – "Hurricane" Ike Villaneuva is Back and Ready to Make a Statement Against Larry Crowe". txmma.com. September 2, 2011.
4. WLOX Staff (2024-02-11). "Villanueva, McQueen take home gold in BYB Extreme 24: Super Brawl Saturday at Coast Coliseum". www.wlox.com. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
5. T.P. Grant. "Legacy FC 19 Results and GIFs: Robert Drysdale Remains Undefeated with Quick Submission Win". Bloody Elbow. Archived from the original on 2021-01-10. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
6. ^ Ben Duffy (August 31, 2019). "IKE VILLANUEVA STUNS ROGER NARVAEZ TO WIN LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE AT FURY FC 36". sherdog.com.
7. ^ Ben Duffy (December 14, 2019). "Ike Villanueva Blows Away Rashad Coulter to Retain 205-Pound Title at Fury FC 40". sherdog.com.
8. "Chase Sherman returns to the UFC, faces Fury FC champ Ike Villanueva on May 13". MMA Junkie. 2020-05-02. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
9. Bitter, Shawn (2020-05-13). "UFC Jacksonville Results: Chase Sherman Impresses In Octagon Return". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
10. "UFC heavyweight Chase Sherman accepts nine-month USADA suspension". MMA Junkie. 2020-10-20. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
11. Nolan King (2020-07-29). "UFC debutant Jorge Gonzalez meets Ike Villanueva at UFC 252 in Las Vegas". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
12. Connor Northrup (2020-08-13). "Ike Villanueva vs. Jorge Gonzalez moved to Aug. 22 UFC event". mymmanews.com. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
13. David Tees (2020-08-18). "Jordan Wright replaces Jorge Gonzalez at UFC Fight Night: Munhoz vs. Edgar". fightful.com. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
14. Bitter, Shawn (2020-08-22). "UFC Vegas 7 Results: Jordan Wright Bloodies Ike Villanueva, Picks Up TKO Win". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
15. DNA, MMA (2020-10-19). "Villanueva en Moreira vechten voor eerste UFC overwinning op 30 januari 2021". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
16. ^ Aaron Malone (2020-12-23). "Mike Jackson makes UFC return following CM Punk win, Fight Island card scrapped - Fight announcement roundup". fightful.com. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
17. Jay Anderson (2021-01-20). "UFC Fight Island 8 Results: "Hurricane" Ike Villanueva Lands, Turns Out Lights on Vinicius Moreira". cagesidepress. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
18. Alex Behunin (2021-03-18). "UFC: Ike Villanueva vs. Marcin Prachnio Set For June 26". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2021-03-21.
19. Mick Hammond (June 23, 2021). "Ike Villanueva plans to bring the pressure at UFC on ESPN+ 48". mmaweekly.com.
20. Vreeland, Daniel (2021-06-26). "UFC Vegas 30 Results: Marcin Prachnio Stops Ike Villanueva with Mean Liver Kick". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
21. Behunin, Alex. "Nick Negumereanu vs. Ike Villanueva Set For October 23 UFC Event". Cageside Press. Cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
22. Evanoff, Josh (2021-10-23). "UFC Vegas 41 Results: Nicolae Negumereanu Controversially KO's Ike Villanuenva". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
23. "UFC Fight Night 196 results: Nick Negumereanu scores quick TKO over Ike Villanueva". MMA Junkie. 2021-10-23. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
24. "Tyson Pedro maakt UFC comeback na ruim 3 jaar afwezigheid". Eurosport (in Dutch). 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
25. Anderson, Jay (2022-04-23). "UFC Vegas 52: Tyson Pedro Triumphant in Return, Stops Ike Villanueva". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
26. Staff; Staff (2022-05-06). "18 Fighters Removed from UFC Roster as Promotion Does Some Spring Cleaning". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
27. Thomas Gerbasi (2020-05-12). "Dues Paid, Ike Villanueva Arrives In UFC". ufc.com. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
28. Thomas Gerbasi (June 24, 2021). "Ike Villanueva's Attitude Of Gratitude". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
29. Sherdog.com. "Isaac". Sherdog. Retrieved 2021-01-31.

External links

• Professional MMA record for Ike Villanueva from Sherdog
• Ike Villanueva at UFC

• Living people
• 1984 births
• American bare-knuckle boxers
• American male mixed martial artists
• Light heavyweight mixed martial artists
• Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters
• Boxers from Houston
• Mixed martial artists from Texas