Alessio Di Chirico (born December 12, 1989) is an Italian former mixed martial artist who competed in Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).[3]

Alessio Di Chirico
Born (1989-12-12) December 12, 1989 (age 34)
Rome, Italy[1]
Other namesManzo
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
DivisionLight Heavyweight (2011–2014)
Middleweight (2015–2022)
Reach74 in (188 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofRome, Italy
TeamGLORIA Fight Center (2017–present)[2]
TrainerLorenzo Borgomeo[1]
Years active2011–2022
Mixed martial arts record
Total20
Wins13
By knockout6
By submission4
By decision3
Losses7
By knockout2
By submission1
By decision4
UniversityUniversity of Foro Italico[3]
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

edit

Di Chirico was born in Rome, Italy.[4] He attended University of Foro Italico, majoring in Sport and Science. He started playing American football when he was young and he was the linebacker for Grizzlies Rome from 2008 to 2011.[5] He started MMA training to lose weight and his friend Giovanni Pinelli introduced MMA to him, and decided to transition to MMA from American football after 2011.[6] He joined Roman Gymnasium Hung Mun and started his MMA training there.[7]

Mixed martial arts career

edit

International Mixed Martial Arts Federation

edit

The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation, partnering with Tuff-N-Uff, organised first-ever Amateur MMA World Championships in Las Vegas in 2014[8] and Di Chirico won the 2014 International Mixed Martial arts Federation (IMMAF) Light Heavyweight amateur title on July 1.[9][10] Di Chirico said winning the IMMAF World Championship was the greatest moment of his career saying, "I won the IMMAF world championship in Vegas and raised the flag very high and very proudly for the first time in my life."[11]

Early career

edit

Di Chirico fought in the European-based promotions and amassed a record of 9–0 prior to joining UFC.[2]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

edit

Di Chirico made his promotional debut at UFC Fight Night: Rothwell vs. dos Santos on April 10, 2016.[12] He faced Bojan Veličković and he lost the bout by unanimous decision.[13]

On August 27, 2016, Di Chirico faced Garreth McLellan on UFC on Fox: Maia vs. Condit.[14] He won the fight via split decision.[15]

He next faced Eric Spicely on UFC on Fox: Shevchenko vs. Peña on January 28, 2017.[16] He lost the fight via submission (triangle choke) in the first round.[17]

Di Chirico was expected to face Rafael Natal at UFC on Fox: Weidman vs. Gastelum on July 22, 2017.[18] However, Di Chirico pulled out in the weeks leading up to the event due to a neck injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Eryk Anders.[19]

Di Chirico faced Oluwale Bamgbose on December 16, 2017, at UFC on Fox 26.[20] He won the fight via knockout in the second round.[21] This win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus.[22]

Di Chirico faced Julian Marquez on July 6, 2018, at The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale.[23] At the weigh-ins, Julian Marquez weighed in at 190 lbs, four pounds over the middleweight limit of 186. He was fined 30% of his fight purse to Di Chirico and the bout proceeded at a catchweight.[24] Di Chirico won the fight via split decision.[25]

Di Chirico was expected to face Jared Cannonier on November 17, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 140.[26] However, it was reported on October 19, 2018, that Cannonier would face David Branch at UFC 230 and Di Chirico was pulled from the card.[27]

Di Chirico was expected to face Tom Breese on March 17, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 147.[28] However Di Chirico pulled out of the fight in early January citing an undisclosed injury and subsequent surgery.[29]

Di Chirico faced Kevin Holland on June 22, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 154.[30] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[31]

Di Chirico was expected to face Peter Sobotta on September 28, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 160.[32] However, Sobotta was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Makhmud Muradov.[33] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[34]

Di Chirico was linked to fight promotional newcomer Antônio Arroyo on November 16, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 164.[35] However, it was announced on October 24, 2019, that Arroyo was scheduled to fight André Muniz instead.[36]

Di Chirico was scheduled to face Abu Azaitar on April 11, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Harris.[37] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was eventually cancelled.[38]

Di Chirico faced Zak Cummings on August 29, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 175.[39] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[40]

Di Chirico faced Joaquin Buckley on January 16, 2021, at UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar.[41] He won the fight in the first round via a head kick knockout.[42] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[43]

Di Chirico was scheduled to face Roman Dolidze on June 5, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 189.[44] However, Di Chirico pulled out of the contest in mid-May due to an injury.[45] He was replaced by Laureano Staropoli.[46]

Di Chirico was scheduled to face promotional newcomer Aliaskhab Khizriev on August 28, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 30.[47] However, Khizriev was pulled from the event for due to injury [48] and Di Chirico was scheduled to face Abdul Razak Alhassan instead.[49] Di Chirico lost the fight via knockout seventeen seconds into round one.[50]

Di Chirico was scheduled to face Albert Duraev on October 30, 2021, at UFC 267.[51] However, Di Chirico was removed from the pairing on 22 September for undisclosed reasons and replaced by Roman Kopylov.[52]

Di Chirico faced Roman Kopylov on September 3, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 209.[53] He lost the fight via knockout in round three.[54]

After the loss, Di Chirico announced his retirement from MMA.[55]

Championships and accomplishments

edit

Personal life

edit

Di Chirico and his wife have two sons.[56]

Di Chirico is founder of his current MMA Team, the GLORIA Fight Center based in Rome.[57][58]

Di Chirico considers Italian MMA fighters to be knights instead of gladiators for Italians. MMA fighters are gentlemen, committing to fight for a principle and for an idea, according to his philosophy.[59]

Gladiators are slaves. The motto of my team ‘Not Gladiators, we are Knights.’[59]

He also owns a bar in Rome.[60]

In May 2023, news surfaced that Di Chirico was arrested for allegedly striking a taxi driver, resulting in a fractured cheekbone and an injured eye.[61] Afterwards Di Chirico published a statement in which he explained the situation escalated due to a disagreement during the taxi trip, leading to a physical altercation which he also apologized.[56] It is unclear whether formal charges have been filed against Di Chirico.[61]

Mixed martial arts record

edit
Professional record breakdown
20 matches 13 wins 7 losses
By knockout 6 2
By submission 4 1
By decision 3 4
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 13–7 Roman Kopylov KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa September 3, 2022 3 1:09 Paris, France
Loss 13–6 Abdul Razak Alhassan KO (head kick) UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Chikadze August 28, 2021 1 0:17 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 13–5 Joaquin Buckley KO (head kick) UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar January 16, 2021 1 2:12 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Performance of the Night.
Loss 12–5 Zak Cummings Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Rakić August 29, 2020 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 12–4 Makhmud Muradov Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Cannonier September 28, 2019 3 5:00 Copenhagen, Denmark
Loss 12–3 Kevin Holland Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. The Korean Zombie June 22, 2019 3 5:00 Greenville, South Carolina, United States
Win 12–2 Julian Marquez Decision (split) The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated Finale July 6, 2018 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Catchweight (190 lb) bout; Marquez missed weight.
Win 11–2 Oluwale Bamgbose KO (knee) UFC on Fox: Lawler vs. dos Anjos December 16, 2017 2 2:14 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Performance of the Night.
Loss 10–2 Eric Spicely Submission (triangle choke) UFC on Fox: Shevchenko vs. Peña January 28, 2017 1 2:14 Denver, Colorado, United States
Win 10–1 Garreth McLellan Decision (split) UFC on Fox: Maia vs. Condit August 27, 2016 3 5:00 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Loss 9–1 Bojan Veličković Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Rothwell vs. dos Santos April 10, 2016 3 5:00 Zagreb, Croatia
Win 9–0 Andrzej Grzebyk Decision (unanimous) FEN 9: Go For It November 7, 2015 3 5:00 Wrocław, Poland
Win 8–0 André Reinders TKO (punches) Caveam: Bitva Roku 2015 March 19, 2015 3 5:00 Prague, Czech Republic
Win 7–0 Adam Kowalski TKO (punches) Professional League of MMA 47 January 30, 2015 2 2:40 Warsaw, Poland Middleweight debut.
Win 6–0 Giovanni Luciani Submission (rear-naked choke) Centurion Fighting Championship June 21, 2014 2 0:41 Guidonia, Italy
Win 5–0 Cristian Magro TKO (punches) Storm FC 5 October 12, 2013 1 4:15 Rome, Italy
Win 4–0 Oleg Medvedev Submission (keylock) White Rex: Tana Delle Tigri 1 May 31, 2013 1 3:54 Rome, Italy
Win 3–0 Daniele D'Angelo TKO (punches) Storm FC 3 March 23, 2013 1 1:25 Rome, Italy
Win 2–0 Issa Saidi Submission (rear-naked choke) Ronin FC 2 February 24, 2012 1 2:48 Rome, Italy
Win 1–0 Mohamed Anoir Submission (rear-naked choke) Ronin FC 1 December 9, 2011 1 2:55 Rome, Italy

[2]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Alessio Di Chirico ("Manzo") | MMA Fighter Page | Tapology". Tapology. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  2. ^ a b c "Alessio "Manzo" Di Chirico MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography". Sherdog. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  3. ^ a b "Alessia Di Chirico - Official UFC Profile". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  4. ^ "This Rome-native UFC fighter is no gladiator". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  5. ^ "Di Chirico, gigante goloso "Sogno il titolo mondiale">". archiviostorico.gazzetta.it.
  6. ^ "Intervista al giovane talento Alessio Di Chirico". 13 July 2013.
  7. ^ "MMA: Alessio Di Chirico riporta l'Italia in UFC - Sport.Leonardo.it". 21 January 2016. Archived from the original on January 23, 2016.
  8. ^ "IMMAF and Tuff-N-Uff to Run First-Ever Amateur MMA World Championships Next Week in Vegas | MMAWeekly.com". www.mmaweekly.com. 29 June 2014. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  9. ^ "IMMAF 2014 World Championships: Day 5 - Finals | MMA Event Page | Tapology". Tapology. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  10. ^ "2014 Medallists - IMMAF". IMMAF. Archived from the original on 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  11. ^ Blaine Henry (August 26, 2020). "Alessio Di Chirico: A Cornered Pitbull". Fight-Library.com.
  12. ^ "UFC Fight Night Zagreb Update: Newcomers Velickovic, Di Chirico Paired for Croatia Card". Sherdog. 7 February 2016.
  13. ^ "MMADecisions.com". MMADecisions.com. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  14. ^ Staff (2016-06-15). "Garreth McLellan vs. Alessio Di Chirico added to August's UFC on FOX 21 card in Vancouver". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
  15. ^ Brent Brookhouse (2016-08-27). "UFC on FOX 21 results: Alessio Di Chirico takes bloody split decision over Garreth McLellan". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  16. ^ Staff (2017-01-11). "Spicely-Di Chirico added to UFC Denver". thescoree.com. Retrieved 2017-01-11.
  17. ^ Matt Erickson (2017-01-28). "UFC on FOX 23 results: Eric Spicely chokes out Alessio Di Chirico in first". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2017-01-28.
  18. ^ "Three Fights Added To UFC On Fox 25". Fightful.com. 2017-05-28. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  19. ^ Steven Marrocco (2017-07-13). "Alessio Di Chirico out at UFC on FOX 25; LFA champ Eryk Anders to debut vs. Rafael Natal". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  20. ^ Staff (2017-08-17). "Nogueira-Cannonier, Bamgbose-Di Chirico added to UFC on FOX 26 in Winnipeg". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2017-08-17.
  21. ^ "UFC on FOX 26 results: Alessio Di Chirico starts slow but sleeps Oluwale Bamgbose". MMAjunkie. 2017-12-16. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
  22. ^ a b "UFC on FOX 26 bonuses: Julian Marquez, Darren Stewart awarded for back-and-forth brawl". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
  23. ^ DNA, MMA (20 April 2018). "Zes vechters geboekt voor de TUF 27 Finale tijdens International Fight Week 2018". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
  24. ^ Fancher, Paul S.; Mathew, Arvind (1989-08-01). "Safety Implications of Trucks Designed to Weigh Over 80,000 Pounds". SAE Technical Paper Series. 1. doi:10.4271/891632.
  25. ^ "TUF 27 Finale results: Alessio Di Chirico outpoints Julian Marquez for split-decision win". MMAjunkie. 2018-07-07. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  26. ^ David Tees (2018-09-09). "Jared Cannonier faces Alessio Di Chirico at UFC Fight Night Buenos Aires". fightful.com. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  27. ^ "With 'Jacare' shifted to co-main event, David Branch gets Jared Cannonier at UFC 230". MMAjunkie. 2018-10-20. Retrieved 2018-10-20.
  28. ^ Tudor Leonte (2018-12-17). "Tom Breese set to fight against Alessio Di Chirico at UFC London on March 16". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2018-12-18.
  29. ^ Tudor Leonte (2018-01-02). "Alessio Di Chirico Withdraws from UFC Fight Night London Bout vs. Tom Breese". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
  30. ^ Marcel Dorff (2019-04-24). "Middleweight fight between Alessio Di Chirico and Kevin Holland during UFC Greenville" (in Dutch). mmadnanl.com. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  31. ^ McClory, Mike (2019-06-22). "UFC Greenville Results: Not Even a Dislocated Shoulder Could Stop Kevin Holland". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2019-06-23.
  32. ^ "Peter Sobotta podejmie Alessio di Chirico na gali UFC w Kopenhadze!". NaszeMMA (in Polish). 2019-07-15. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  33. ^ "Makhmud Muradov bude v UFC debutovat už na konci září". MMA Shorties (in Czech). 2019-09-16. Archived from the original on 2019-11-14. Retrieved 2019-09-16.
  34. ^ Anderson, Jay (2019-09-28). "UFC Copenhagen Results: Makhmud Muradov Beats Alessio Di Chirico in Thriller". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  35. ^ Marcel Dorff (2019-10-10). "Alessio Di Chirico tackles short notice fight against Antonio Arroyo during UFC São Paulo". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2019-10-11.(in Dutch)
  36. ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2019-10-24). "Andre Muniz steps in to fight Antonio Arroyo at UFC Sao Paulo". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
  37. ^ Marcel Dorff (26 December 2019). "Azaitar vs. Di Chirico and Avila vs. Rosa added to UFC event on April 11". mmadna.com. Retrieved 2019-12-27.(in Dutch)
  38. ^ Nolan King and John Morgan (2020-03-15). "UFC postpones three events amid growing coronavirus outbreak". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  39. ^ Farah Hannoun and Nolan King (2020-06-24). "UFC adds Zak Cummings vs. Alessio Di Chirico to Aug. 29 event". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  40. ^ Jon Realejo (2020-08-30). "UFC on ESPN+ 33 results: Zak Cummings defeats Alessio Di Chirico via unanimous decision". bloodycanvas.net. Archived from the original on 2021-08-26. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  41. ^ Dorff, Marcel (2020-12-25). "Joaquin Buckley vs. Alessio Di Chirico toegevoegd aan UFC FN 184 in Abu Dhabi". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  42. ^ Anderson, Jay (2021-01-16). "UFC Fight Island 7 Results: Alessio Di Chirico Flips Script With Highlight Reel Finish of Joaquin Buckley". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  43. ^ a b Hiergesell, Dan (2021-01-16). "UFC Fight Island 7 Bonuses! 'Leech' Banks $50K For Stopping Ponzinibbio". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  44. ^ Dorff, Marcel (2021-03-29). "Alessio Di Chirico treft Roman Dolidze tijdens UFC evenement op 5 juni". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  45. ^ Alexander K. Lee and Mike Heck (2021-05-20). "Alessio Di Chirico vs. Roman Dolidze off of June 5 UFC event". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  46. ^ Steve Duncan (2021-05-22). "Di Chirico injured, Laureano Staropoli faces Roman Dolidze at UFC Vegas 28". mma.uno. Archived from the original on 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2021-05-23. (in Spanish)
  47. ^ Guilherme Cruz and Mike Heck (2021-06-29). "Alessio Di Chirico set to welcome undefeated newcomer Aliaskhab Khizriev on Aug. 28". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  48. ^ Mike Heck and Guilherme Cruz (2021-08-17). "Aliaskhab Khizriev out of UFC Vegas 35 fight with Alessio Di Chirico". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
  49. ^ Dorff, Marcel (2021-08-21). "Alessio Di Chirico & Abdul Razak Alhassan treffen elkaar na uitvallen tegenstanders op 28 augustus". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  50. ^ Behunin, Alex (2021-08-28). "UFC Vegas 35 Results: Abdul Razak Alhassan Sleeps Alessio Di Chirico In 17 Seconds". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  51. ^ Dorff, Marcel (2021-09-17). "Voormalig ACB twee divisie kampioen Albert Duraev treft Alessio Di Chirico tijdens UFC 267". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  52. ^ Dorff, Marcel (2021-09-22). "Voormalig ACB twee divisie kampioen Albert Duraev treft Alessio Di Chirico tijdens UFC 267". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-09-22.
  53. ^ "Alessio di Chirico vs. Roman Kopylov added to UFC Paris". mymmanews DNA. June 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  54. ^ Law, Eddie (2022-09-03). "UFC Paris: Roman Kopylov Finishes Di Chirico With Combo In Round 3". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
  55. ^ Eriksen, Matt (2022-09-06). "Alessio Di Chirico announces MMA retirement after UFC Paris loss: 'It's the right time to stop'". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
  56. ^ a b Ryan Harkness (May 25, 2023). "Alessio Di Chirico explains assault charge, claims taxi driver 'came towards me to attack me'". mmamania.com.
  57. ^ "Gloria Fight Center, la nuova sfida di Riccardo Carfagna e Ale Di Chirico". MMA ARENA (in Italian). 2017-09-23. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  58. ^ Italia, Rolling Stone. "Ensi intervista Alessio Di Chirico". Rolling Stone Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  59. ^ a b "This Rome-native UFC fighter is no gladiator". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  60. ^ "Alessio di Chirico combatte meglio nelle difficoltà". 2 March 2021.
  61. ^ a b Jay Anderson (May 23, 2023). "Retired UFC Fighter Alessio Di Chirico Arrested for Alleged Assault of Taxi Driver". cagesidepress.com.
edit