Apostolis "Smealinho" Rama (born April 30, 1992) is a Greek mixed martial artist currently competing in the Light Heavyweight division. He competed in the Professional Fighters League, where he was the promotion's inaugural Heavyweight Champion, and also competed in the MFC.
| Apostolis "Smealinho" Rama | |
|---|---|
| Born | Αποστόλης Ράμα April 30, 1992 Athens, Greece |
| Other names | The Prince |
| Nationality | Greek |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight | 265 lb (120 kg; 18 st 13 lb) |
| Division | Light Heavyweight Heavyweight |
| Reach | 78 in (200 cm) [1] |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Fighting out of | New York, New York |
| Team | Goldenstars Boxing Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu |
| Years active | 2012-present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 17 |
| Wins | 11 |
| By knockout | 7 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Losses | 5 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Mixed martial arts career edit
Maximum Fighting Championship edit
Rama made his MFC debut against Canadian Lee Mein at MFC 34: Total Recall. Rama was superior and won by technical knockout in the first round.[2]
Then Rama made a fight in the BFTB, facing Jordan Tracey, in Battle for the Border 1: Blue Plates Vs. Red Plates, and won with a kimura in the first round.[3]
His return to MFC was against Canadian Ryan Fortin at MFC 35: Explosive Encounter. Rama won the first round finals.[4]
At MFC 36, Rama faced Mike Hackert, and knocked him out in the first round.[5]
With a six-game winning streak in MMA, three in MFC, Rama played MFC's Heavyweight Heavyweight belt against future UFC fighter Anthony Hamilton. Rama was knocked out early in the second round with a kick in the head, losing his unbeaten record.[6]
World Series of Fighting/Professional Fighters League edit
Rama made his debut on WSOF against Steve Mocco on February 21, 2014, at WSOF Canada 1: Ford vs. Powell.[7] Rama dominated the fight and won by unanimous decision.
Rama won a fight in the Unified MMA against UFC veteran Tim Hague and returned to the WSOF to contest the WSOF Heavyweight Championship on October 11, 2014, against Derrick Mehmen. He knocked out the American with 51 seconds of fighting and won the title.[8]
His first defense was against Blagoi Ivanov, on WSOF 21, on June 5, 2015. Rama was submitted with a guillotine in the third round and lost his belt.[9]
After the loss, Rama decided to go down to light heavyweight, and succeeded, as in his next bout he knocked out Jake Heun in the second round on December 31, 2016, at WSOF 34.[10]
Rama faced the Brazilian Ronny Markes on PFL Daytona on June 30, 2017, event that marked the debut of the Professional Fighters League, which was formerly known as World Series of Fighting. Rama lost by unanimous decision.[11]
In June 2018, Rama entered the PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament. He faced Brandon Halsey in the opening round at PFL 2 on June 21, 2018.[12] He lost the fight via TKO in the third round when the fight was stopped by the cage side doctor due to a cut Rama suffered.
In his second fight in the tournament, Rama faced Jamie Abdallah at PFL 7 on August 30, 2018.[13] He won the fight via TKO between the second and third rounds when the doctor deemed Abdallah unable to continue due to swelling under his left eye. The win allowed Rama to advance to the next phase of the tournament.
Rama was set to face Bellator vet Jordan Young on April 29, 2021, at PFL 2 as the start of the 2021 PFL Light Heavyweight tournament.[14] At the beginning of April, Rama was replaced by Vinny Magalhães for the whole season.[15]
Championships and Accomplishments edit
- World Series of Fighting - Professional Fighters League
- WSOF Heavyweight Championship (One time) - Rama breaks all time record for Youngest Heavyweight Champion in the History of MMA in a major organization (WSOF/PFL) (22 years, 5 months, 1 week, 4 days) - Previously held by Frank Mir (UFC) (25 years, 3 weeks, 5 days)
- 2017 Top Light-Heavyweight Prospect
- 2012 Rookie of the Year
- 2012 MFC Submission of the Year
Mixed martial arts record edit
| 17 matches | 11 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 7 | 3 |
| By submission | 3 | 1 |
| By decision | 1 | 1 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 11–5–1 | Sean O'Connell | KO (punches) | PFL 9 (2018) | October 13, 2018 | 1 | 1:45 | Long Beach, California, United States | 2018 PFL Light Heavyweight Semifinal bout. |
| Draw | 11–4–1 | Maxim Grishin | Draw (majority) | 2 | 5:00 | 2018 PFL Light Heavyweight Quarterfinal bout. Advanced via first round tiebreaker. | |||
| Win | 11–4 | Jamie Abdallah | TKO (doctor stoppage) | PFL 7 (2018) | August 30, 2018 | 2 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 10-4 | Brandon Halsey | TKO (doctor stoppage) | PFL 2 (2018) | June 21, 2018 | 3 | 0:01 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 10-3 | Ronny Markes | Decision (unanimous) | PFL: Daytona | June 30, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Daytona Beach, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 10-2 | Jake Heun | TKO (punches) | WSOF 34 | December 31, 2016 | 2 | 3:30 | New York City, New York, United States | Light Heavyweight debut. |
| Loss | 9-2 | Blagoy Ivanov | Submission (guillotine choke) | WSOF 21 | June 5, 2015 | 3 | 1:17 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | Lost the WSOF Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 9-1 | Derrick Mehmen | TKO (punches) | WSOF 14 | October 11, 2014 | 1 | 0:51 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | Won the inaugural WSOF Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 8-1 | Tim Hague | TKO (punches) | Unified - MMA 19 | May 23, 2014 | 1 | 1:41 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | |
| Win | 7-1 | Steve Mocco | Decision (unanimous) | World Series of Fighting Canada 1: Ford vs. Powell | February 21, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | |
| Loss | 6-1 | Anthony Hamilton | KO (head kick) | MFC 38: Behind Enemy Lines | October 4, 2013 | 2 | 0:12 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | For MFC Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | 6-0 | Mike Hackert | KO (punches) | MFC 35: Reality Check | February 15, 2013 | 1 | 2:28 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | |
| Win | 5-0 | Ryan Fortin | Submission (rear-naked choke) | MFC 35: Explosive Encounter | October 26, 2012 | 1 | 2:02 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | |
| Win | 4-0 | Jordan Tracey | Submission (kimura) | Battle for the Border 1 | September 8, 2012 | 1 | 3:24 | Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada | |
| Win | 3-0 | Lee Mein | TKO (punches) | MFC 34: Total Recall | August 10, 2012 | 1 | 2:49 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | |
| Win | 2-0 | Craig Hudson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | AFC 10 - Rise | June 15, 2012 | 1 | 3:50 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | |
| Win | 1-0 | Demetrius Seguin | TKO (punches) | HKFC - School of Hard Knocks 20 | February 24, 2012 | 1 | 0:13 | Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada | Pro Debut. |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Smealinho Rama". www.pflmma.com.
- ^ Lee Mein vs. Smealinho Rama - Cage Rank
- ^ Smealinho Rama vs Jordan Tracey
- ^ Smealinho Rama Vs. Ryan Fortin, MFC 35 | MMA Bout Page | Tapology
- ^ Smealinho Rama (black and white trunks). Mike Hackert
- ^ by-rutten-silva Fight path: hopeful for WSOF title, Smealinho Rama says inspired by Bas Rutten and Anderson Silva
- ^ "WSOF Canada: Ford vs. Powell set for Feb. 2, Rama vs. Mocco Completes Main Card". topnewsmma.com. 2014-02-06.
- ^ "JAKE SHIELDS FINDS RYAN FORD WITH A WOODFIRE ON THE WSOF 14 MAIN FIGHT". Sherdog.com. 2014-10-11.
- ^ "WSOF 21: Blagoi Ivanov vs. Smealinho Rama video highlights". mmajunkie.com. 2015-06-06.
- ^ "Justin Gaethje Remains WSOF Lightweight Champion After New Year's Eve Scare". Sherdog.com. 2016-12-31.
- ^ "PFL: Daytona highlights: Ronny Markes slips and slides past ex-champ Smealinho Rama". mmajunkie.com. 2017-07-01.
- ^ "Fight Card - PFL 2". PFL.
- ^ "Fight Card - PFL 7". PFL.
- ^ Damon Martin (March 2, 2021). "Rory MacDonald faces David Michaud in PFL debut as welterweights, light heavyweights begin season on April 29". MMAFighting.com. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
- ^ @ProFightLeague (April 1, 2021). "Roster Update: @VinnyMMA returns replacing Smealinho Rama for the upcoming 2021 PFL Season!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.