Ante Delija (born August 7, 1990[1]) is a Croatian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Heavyweight division of Professional Fighters League (PFL). He won the 2022 PFL Heavyweight Championship. He fought in several other organizations such as M-1 Global, RIZIN Fighting Federation, KSW.
| Ante Delija | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 August 1990 Dubrovnik, Croatia |
| Nickname | Walking Trouble |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Weight | 244 lb (111 kg; 17 st 6 lb) |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Reach | 79 in (201 cm) |
| Style | Judo |
| Fighting out of | Dubrovnik, Croatia |
| Team | Gladiator Croatia, Cro Cop Team |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 30 |
| Wins | 24 |
| By knockout | 11 |
| By submission | 6 |
| By decision | 7 |
| Losses | 6 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Mixed martial arts career edit
M-1 Global edit
On February 28, 2014, Delija made his M-1 Global debut in the main event of M-1 Challenge 45 against Estonian Denis Smoldarev and lost via submission (keylock).[2]
On September 20, 2015, Delija faced Marcin Tybura at M-1 Challenge 61 for the M-1 Global Heavyweight Championship and lost after he suffered horrible open fracture of tibia.[3] Delija had two surgeries on the leg and after second surgery he got infected by hospital bactery.
RIZIN edit
Three years after injury, Delija made his comeback in the sport on May 6, 2018, in Fukoka, Japan at RIZIN 10 against Ricardo Prasel and won by unanimous decision.[4]
KSW edit
On November 9, 2019, Delija made his debut for Konfrontacji Sztuk Walki, in which he TKOed Englishman – Oli Thompson in the second round.[5]
Ultimate Fighting Championship edit
Delija was supposed to make his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. Korean Zombie on October 17, 2020, in Abu Dhabi against Ciryl Gane.[6] Bout was cancelled due to Delijas active contract with Professional Fighters League.[7]
Professional Fighters League edit
On February 9, 2021, it was announced that Delija will be part of PFL heavyweight roster for 2021 season.[8]
Delija opened PFL 2021 season on May 6 in New Jersey at PFL 3 against Bruno Cappelozza and lost via TKO in first round.[9]
On June 25, Delija defeated Chandler Cole via TKO (Ground & Pound) in first round at PFL 6 and secured place in PFL Play-offs.[10]
On August 19, Delija defeated Denis Goltsov via unanimous decision at PFL 8 and advanced to PFL Play-offs Finals.[11]
On October 27, Delija faced Bruno Cappelozza in PFL Finals at PFL 10 and lost in five round bout via unanimous decision.[12]
Delijas PFL 2022 season campaign started with KO victory over Matheus Scheffel on April 28 at PFL 2.[13]
On June 24, Delija defeated Shelton Graves via unanimous decision and secured his place in 2022 PFL Playoffs.[14]
In PFL Playoffs Semi-finals, Delija faced Renan Ferreira at PFL 8 and won by TKO in first round and advanced to the Finals.[15]
In the Finals, Delija was set to face Scheffel, whom he already defeated in first round of tournament and this time was no different. Ante knocked him out in the first round and became PFL 2022 Heavyweight champion and earned 1 milion dollar prize.[16]
Championships and accomplishments edit
Mixed martial arts edit
Mixed martial arts record edit
| 30 matches | 24 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 11 | 4 |
| By submission | 6 | 1 |
| By decision | 7 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 24–6 | Valentin Moldavsky | TKO (knees and punches) | PFL 1 (2024) | April 4, 2024 | 1 | 2:17 | San Antonio, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 24–5 | Maurice Greene | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 5 (2023) | June 16, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 23–5 | Matheus Scheffel | TKO (punches) | PFL 10 (2022) | November 25, 2022 | 1 | 2:50 | New York City, New York, United States | Won the 2022 PFL Heavyweight Tournament. |
| Win | 22–5 | Renan Ferreira | TKO (punches) | PFL 8 (2022) | August 13, 2022 | 1 | 4:31 | Cardiff, Wales | 2022 PFL Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 21–5 | Shelton Graves | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 5 (2022) | June 24, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Graves was deducted one point in round 2 due to a headbutt. |
| Win | 20–5 | Matheus Scheffel | TKO (punches) | PFL 2 (2022) | April 28, 2022 | 2 | 0:59 | Arlington, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 19–5 | Bruno Cappelozza | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 10 (2021) | October 27, 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | 2021 PFL Heavyweight Tournament Final. |
| Win | 19–4 | Denis Goltsov | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 8 (2021) | August 19, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | 2021 PFL Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 18–4 | Chandler Cole | TKO (punches) | PFL 6 (2021) | June 25, 2021 | 1 | 4:39 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 17–4 | Bruno Cappelozza | KO (punches) | PFL 3 (2021) | May 6, 2021 | 1 | 0:46 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 17–3 | Oli Thompson | TKO (punches) | KSW 51 | November 9, 2019 | 2 | 1:58 | Zagreb, Croatia | |
| Win | 16–3 | Carl Seumanutafa | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 3 (2019) | June 6, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Uniondale, New York, United States | |
| Win | 15–3 | Ricardo Prasel | Decision (unanimous) | Rizin 10 | May 6, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Fukuoka, Japan | |
| Loss | 14–3 | Marcin Tybura | TKO (leg injury) | M-1 Challenge 61 | September 20, 2015 | 1 | 2:21 | Nazran, Russia | For the M-1 Global Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 14–2 | Tibor Soos | TKO (punches) | Obracun Ringu 13 | May 30, 2015 | 1 | 1:30 | Split, Croatia | |
| Win | 13–2 | Konstantin Gluhov | Decision (unanimous) | M-1 Challenge 56 | April 10, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Nazran, Russia | |
| Win | 12–2 | Archontis Taxiarchis | Submission (north-south choke) | Final Fight Championship: Futures 3 | September 27, 2014 | 1 | 2:59 | Zagreb, Croatia | |
| Win | 11–2 | Valentijn Overeem | TKO (punches) | Noc Gladiatora 9 | July 3, 2014 | 1 | 1:24 | Dubrovnik, Croatia | |
| Win | 10–2 | Ruben Wolf | Submission (guillotine choke) | Final Fight Championship: Futures 2 | May 3, 2014 | 5 | 5:00 | Opatija, Croatia | |
| Loss | 9–2 | Denis Smoldarev | Submission (kimura) | M-1 Challenge 45 | January 28, 2014 | 2 | 2:27 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 9–1 | Sergey Sokha | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Noc Gladiatora 8 | December 21, 2013 | 1 | 1:23 | Dubrovnik, Croatia | |
| Loss | 8–1 | Dion Staring | TKO (punches) | Final Fight Championship 8 | October 25, 2013 | 2 | 2:42 | Zagreb, Croatia | |
| Win | 8–0 | Gzim Selmani | TKO (punches) | Final Fight Championship 5 | March 24, 2012 | 1 | 3:09 | Osijek, Croatia | |
| Win | 7–0 | Michail Laprakis | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Final Fight Championship 3 | April 13, 2013 | 1 | 1:27 | Split, Croatia | |
| Win | 6–0 | Ricco Rodriguez | Decision (unanimous) | House of Gladiators 1 | December 21, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Dubrovnik, Croatia | |
| Win | 5–0 | Kristof Nataška | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Fight for Victory 1 | March 8, 2012 | 2 | 1:09 | Bibinje, Croatia | |
| Win | 4–0 | Zeli Zalani | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Opatija Fight Night 4 | February 24, 2012 | 1 | N/A | Opatija, Croatia | |
| Win | 3–0 | Dražen Forgač | KO (punches) | Noc Gladiatora 6 | December 16, 2011 | 1 | 1:02 | Dubrovnik, Croatia | |
| Win | 2–0 | Erni Strmonja | TKO (corner stoppage) | Noc Gladijatora | April 23, 2011 | 1 | 0:38 | Novi Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
| Win | 1–0 | Saša Lazić | TKO (submission to punches) | Herus Fight 1 | January 22, 2011 | 1 | 1:24 | Split, Croatia | Heavyweight debut. |
References edit
- ^ "Ante Delija ("Walking Trouble") | MMA Fighter Page", Tapology
- ^ "Denis Smoldarev vs. Ante Delija", sportowefakty.wp.pl, February 28, 2014
- ^ "MMA borcu pukla noga tokom meča! (UZNEMIRUJUĆI VIDEO)", telegraf.rs (in Serbian), September 21, 2015
- ^ "Ante Delija vs. Ricardo Prasel", Tapology.com, May 6, 2018
- ^ Wirtualna Polska Media (November 9, 2019), "MMA. KSW 51. Ante Delija - Oli Thompson. Brutalny nokaut w drugiej rundzie", sportowefakty.wp.pl (in Polish)
- ^ Kewin Nowacki (September 28, 2020), "Ante Delija podpisał kontrakt z UFC i zadebiutuje już 17 października!", MMAfists.pl (in Polish)
- ^ Bartłomiej Zubkiewicz (October 14, 2020), "Na kilka dni przed UFC Fight Island 6, walka Ciryla Gane z Ante Deliją anulowana | MMA ROCKS", MMA Rocks! (in Polish)
- ^ "PFL reveals heavyweight and women's lightweight rosters for upcoming 2021 season", mmafighting.com, February 9, 2021
- ^ "Bruno Cappelozza def. Ante Delija at 2021 PFL 3: Best photos", mmajunkie.com, May 6, 2021
- ^ "Ante Delija vs. Chandler Cole", Tapology.com, June 25, 2021
- ^ "Denis Goltsov vs. Ante Delija", Tapology.com, August 19, 2021
- ^ "2021 PFL Championship: Bruno Cappelozza out-brawls Ante Delija in wild, back-and-forth affair", mmajunkie.com, October 27, 2021
- ^ "Ante Delija vs. Matheus Scheffel", Tapology.com, April 28, 2021
- ^ "Ante Delija vs. Shelton Graves", Tapology.com, June 24, 2021
- ^ "Ante Delija vs. Renan Ferreira", Tapology.com, August 13, 2021
- ^ "ANTE DELIJA WINS 2022 PFL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION TITLE, 1 MILLION USD", total-croatia.com, May 11, 2023