Name | Steve Cantwell | |
Nickname | The Robot | |
Association | [[One Kick’s Gym]] | |
Weight Class | Light Heavyweight (205 lbs.) | |
Height | 6′ 2″ (188 cm) | |
Style | Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu | |
Birth Date | December 8, 1986 | |
Fighting Out Of | Las Vegas, Nevada | |
Country | USA | |
Steve Cantwell Pictures | Official Website |
”’Steve Francis “The Robot” Cantwell”’ is an American mixed martial artist who competes as a Light Heavyweight. He was the last reigning WEC Light Heavyweight Champion before the WEC dropped their Light Heavyweight division and Cantwell was moved to the UFC.
== Professional Record ==
Record | 7 – 6 – 0 (Win â€Â“ Loss â€Â“ Draw) |
Wins | 3 (T)KOs 4 Submissions 0 Decisions |
Losses | 1 (T)KOs 0 Submissions 5 Decisions |
Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | Riki Fukuda | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 144 Edgar vs Henderson | 2/25/2012 | 3 | 5:00 | |
Loss | Mike Massenzio | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 136 Edgar vs Maynard 3 | 10/08/2011 | 3 | 5:00 | |
Loss | Cyrille Diabate | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC on Versus 3 Sanchez vs Kampmann | 3/03/2011 | 3 | 5:00 | |
Loss | Brian Stann | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC Fight Night 19 Diaz vs Guillard | 9/16/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | |
Loss | Luiz Cane | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 97 Redemption | 4/18/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | |
Win | Razak Al-Hassan | Technical Submission (Armbar) | UFC Fight Night 16 UFC Fight for the Troops | 12/10/2008 | 1 | 4:04 | UFC debut; Won Submission of the Night Honors |
Win | Brian Stann | TKO (Punches) | WEC 35 Condit vs Miura | 8/03/2008 | 2 | 4:01 | Re-match with Stann; Became last WEC Light Heavyweight Champion |
Win | Tim McKenzie | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | WEC 33 Marshall vs Stann | 3/26/2008 | 1 | 2:13 | |
Win | Justin McElfresh | TKO (Punches) | WEC 29 Condit vs Larson | 8/05/2007 | 1 | 0:47 | |
Loss | Brian Stann | TKO (Punches) | WEC 26 Condit vs Alessio | 3/24/2007 | 1 | 0:41 | WEC debut |
Win | Leonardo Pecanha | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | JF 7 Jungle Fight Europe | 12/17/2006 | 3 | 2:32 | |
Win | Mike Ashford | Submission (Armbar) | RITC 78: Back with a Vengance | 1/14/2006 | 1 | 2:01 | |
Win | Richie Hightower | Submission (Armbar) | RITC 68: Hello Glendale! | 4/23/2005 | 1 | 2:45 | |
== Mixed Martial Arts Career ==
=== WEC Career ===
After acquring a 3-0 record in smaller shows Cantwell made his WEC debut at WEC 26 Condit vs Alessio in 2007 against Marine, and future nemesis Brian Stann, where he suffered a quick TKO loss. The loss was his first career loss.
After two subsequent victories over Justin McElfresh and Tim McKenzie, ending both fights in the first round, the first via TKO (Punches), the second via Rear Naked Choke, Cantwell earned a title shot against the then-current Light Heavyweight Champion Brian Stann. The fight took place at WEC 35 Condit vs Miura on August 3, 2008, with Cantwell avenging his first career loss with a TKO in the second round.
Shortly after Cantwell took the title from Stann, the WEC dropped both its Light Heavyweight and Middleweight divisions, making Cantwell the final WEC Light Heavyweight champion.
=== UFC Career ===
Later that year, Cantwell signed with the UFC, which is owned by the WEC’s parent company Zuffa. Cantwell faced fellow UFC newcomer Razak Al-Hassan at UFC Fight Night 16 UFC Fight for the Troops and earned a technical submission victory by dislocating Al-Hassan’s elbow in an armbar, causing Mario Yamasaki to stop the fight. Cantwell’s celebration of the victory and post-fight comments sparked some criticism when he said, “I’ve been waiting so long to do that, you have no idea.” He later apologized for his behavior. He also won the Submission of the Night Honors for the submission.
Cantwell’s next fight took place on April 18, 2009 at UFC 97 Redemption against Brazilian Luiz Arthur Cane. The fight went the distance with Cantwell losing via unanimous decision.
After the loss, the UFC decided that Cantwell’s next opponent would be his WEC nemesis Brian Stann, the man to give him his first career loss and who he defeated to win the WEC’s Light Heavyweight Championship. The fight will took place at UFC Fight Night 19 on September 16, 2009. The two traded punches for most of the three rounds, as many expected, and it ended in Cantwell losing a curious unanimous decision, as many thought Cantwell dictated the pace and controlled much of the fight.
Cantwell was expected to return to action at UFC 108 Evans vs Silva on January 2, 2010 against former IFL Light Heavyweight Champion Vladimir Matyushenko, but on December 29, 2009, it was learned that Cantwell was forced off the card due to an undisclosed reasons. At the pre-fight conference, Dana White said that Cantwell had some medical problems and he could not specify, but he may never fight again.
== Ranks and Titles ==
* Last WEC Light Heavyweight champion
* Black belt in Kickboxing
* Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
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