Leandro Higo

Leandro Higo
Born	(1989-01-19) January 19, 1989 (age 35) Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
Other names	Alter
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight	145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb)
Division	Featherweight Bantamweight
Reach	72 in (183 cm)
Fighting out of	Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
Team	Pitbull Brothers[1] Fight Ready[1]
Rank	Black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu[2]
Years active	2006–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total	29
Wins	23
By knockout	3
By submission	13
By decision	7
Losses	6
By knockout	2
By submission	1
By decision	3
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Leandro Higo (born January 19, 1989) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight[3] division of Bellator MMA. A professional competitor since 2006, he has also competed for Resurrection Fighting Alliance and Legacy Fighting Alliance.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Higo made his Resurrection Fighting Alliance debut on August 21, 2015 vs. Terrion Ware at RFA 29, winning by rear-naked choke at the end of round 3.[4] Following a first round victory over Melvin Blumer at RFA 32,[5] he won the RFA Bantamweight title with a first round rear-naked choke victory against Joey Miolla at RFA 37.[6]

Higo made his debut with Legacy Fighting Alliance in the company's debut at LFA 1: Peterson vs. Higo, defeating Steven Peterson via unanimous decision to win the inaugural LFA Bantamweight Championship.[7]

The Ultimate Fighter Brazil

Higo competed in the Bantamweight division on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4.[8] He defeated Maycon Silvan in the elimination round via first round arm-triangle choke, but was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Bruno Rodrigues Mesquita via first round rear-naked choke.[9] After Giovanni Santos was forced to leave the season due to an infection, Higo reluctantly accepted to replace Santos to face Matheus Mattos in another quarterfinal bout.[10] However, his rib injury sustained in the previous week's bout with Mesquita worsened and he was forced to withdraw.[10]

Bellator MMA

Higo made his Bellator debut as a late replacement for Darrion Caldwell against Bantamweight titlist Eduardo Dantas in a non-title bout at Bellator 177, losing via split decision.[11]

Higo faced Joe Taimanglo on October 6, 2017 at Bellator 184, winning via unanimous decision.[12]

Higo earned an opportunity to compete for the Bellator Bantamweight Championship vs. Darrion Caldwell on March 2, 2018 at Bellator 195, losing via first round guillotine choke.[13]

For his next bout, Higo moved up to Featherweight and faced Aaron Pico at Bellator 206 on September 29, 2018.[14] He lost the fight via technical knockout in round one.[15]

After the failed attempt in featherweight division, Higo returned to the bantamweight division to face Shawn Bunch at Bellator 228 on September 28, 2019. He won the fight via submission in the second round. Subsequently he signed a new exclusive, multi-fight contract with Bellator.[16]

Higo was expected to face Johnny Campbell in a bantamweight bout at Bellator 241 on March 13, 2020.[17] However, Campbell withdrew from the bout due to an injury and was replaced by Dominic Mazzotta, the bout continuing as a featherweight bout.[18][19]

Higo then faced Ricky Bandejas at Bellator 249 on October 15, 2020. Higo missed the contracted weight, but went on to win the bout via second-round submission.[20]

Higo faced Darrion Caldwell at Bellator 259 on May 21, 2021.[21] At the weigh-ins, Higo weighed in at 137.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Higo was fined a percentage of his purse, which went to Caldwell.[22] Higo won the bout via split decision.[23]

Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix

Higo faced Danny Sabatello in the quarter-finals of the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix at Bellator 282 on June 24, 2022.[24] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[25]

Post Grand Prix

Higo was scheduled to face James Gallagher on March 10, 2023 at Bellator 292.[26] However, in Mid February, Gallagher pulled out of the bout due to unknown reasons.[27]

Higo was scheduled to face Nikita Mikhailov on June 16, 2023 at Bellator 297.[28] However, the bout was scrapped when Mikhailov came down with a sickness.[29] The bout was rescheduled for August 11, 2023 at Bellator 298.[30] Higo won the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the second round.[31]

On short notice, Higo faced James Gallagher on March 22, 2024 at Bellator Champions Series 1.[32] Higo came out victorious via unanimous decision after a strong third round.[33]

Higo was scheduled to challenge Patchy Mix for the Bellator Bantamweight Championship on November 16, 2024, at Bellator Champions Series 6.[34] However, this event was later announced to be cancelled due to unspecified reasons. [35]

Personal life

Higo has a son.[1]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown

29 matches	23 wins	6 losses
By knockout	3	2
By submission	13	1
By decision	7	3

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Win	23–6	James Gallagher	Decision (unanimous)	Bellator Champions Series 1	March 22, 2024	3	5:00	Belfast, Northern Ireland	Return to Featherweight.
Win	22–6	Nikita Mikhailov	Submission (guillotine choke)	Bellator 298	August 11, 2023	2	2:50	Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States
Loss	21–6	Danny Sabatello	Decision (unanimous)	Bellator 282	June 24, 2022	5	5:00	Uncasville, Connecticut, United States	Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal.
Win	21–5	Darrion Caldwell	Decision (split)	Bellator 259	May 21, 2021	3	5:00	Uncasville, Connecticut, United States	Catchweight (137.5 lb) bout; Higo missed weight.
Win	20–5	Ricky Bandejas	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Bellator 249	October 15, 2020	2	2:32	Uncasville, Connecticut, United States	Catchweight (139 lbs) bout; Higo missed weight.
Win	19–5	Shawn Bunch	Submission (guillotine choke)	Bellator 228	September 28, 2019	2	4:34	Inglewood, California, United States
Loss	18–5	Aaron Pico	TKO (elbow and punches)	Bellator 206	September 29, 2018	1	3:19	San Jose, California, United States	Featherweight bout.
Loss	18–4	Darrion Caldwell	Submission (guillotine choke)	Bellator 195	March 2, 2018	1	2:36	Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States	For the Bellator Bantamweight World Championship.
Win	18–3	Joe Taimanglo	Decision (unanimous)	Bellator 184	October 6, 2017	3	5:00	Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Loss	17–3	Eduardo Dantas	Decision (split)	Bellator 177	April 14, 2017	3	5:00	Budapest, Hungary
Win	17–2	Steven Peterson	Decision (unanimous)	LFA 1: Peterson vs. Higo	January 13, 2017	5	5:00	Dallas, Texas, United States	Won the inaugural LFA Bantamweight Championship.
Win	16–2	Joey Miolla	Technical Submission (rear-naked choke)	RFA 37	April 15, 2016	1	2:07	Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States	Won the vacant RFA Bantamweight Championship.
Win	15–2	Melvin Blumer	TKO (punches)	RFA 32	November 6, 2015	1	2:58	Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States
Win	14–2	Terrion Ware	Submission (rear-naked choke)	RFA 29	August 21, 2015	3	4:58	Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States
Win	13–2	Eduardo de Souza Silva	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Coliseu Extreme Fight 7	September 6, 2013	2	2:33	Alagoas, Brazil
Win	12–2	Francisco Antonio Araujo Rodrigues	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Arena Fight 5	January 18, 2013	1	2:42	Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
Win	11–2	Alex Silva	Decision (unanimous)	Conquista Kombat Championship	November 17, 2012	3	5:00	Bahia, Brazil
Win	10–2	Janailson Kevin Pereira Lima	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Fort MMA 2	April 12, 2013	2	4:04	Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
Loss	9–2	Iliarde Santos	Decision (unanimous)	Jungle Fight 38	April 28, 2012	3	5:00	Pará, Brazil
Win	9–1	Erinaldo dos Santos Rodrigues	Decision (unanimous)	WFE 11	December 16, 2011	3	5:00	Bahia, Brazil
Win	8–1	Wagner Campos	Decision (unanimous)	WFE 10	September 16, 2011	3	5:00	Bahia, Brazil
Loss	7–1	Marcos Vinicius Costa Silva	TKO (retirement)	Recife Fighting Championship 2	May 20, 2010	2	3:58	Pernambuco, Brazil
Win	7–0	Dudu Dudu	KO (punch)	Nocaute Fight	September 16, 2011	1	3:05	Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
Win	6–0	Gleidson Alves Martins	Submission (triangle armbar)	Guamare Fight 1	March 10, 2009	1	1:45	Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
Win	5–0	Arivaldo Batista da Silva	KO (punch)	Nordeste Fight Vale Tudo 4	July 5, 2008	1	4:12	Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
Win	4–0	Diego Tubarao	Submission (armbar)	Nordeste Fight Vale Tudo 4	July 5, 2008	1	2:50	Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
Win	3–0	Jose Mario Tome	Submission (armbar)	Arena Fight - Limoeiro 4	January 9, 2008	1	0:39	Ceara, Brazil
Win	2–0	Rodrigo Barbosa	Submission (triangle choke)	MZI: Fight 3	June 21, 2007	2	1:49	Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
Win	1–0	Gilson Gilson	Submission (armbar)	Nordeste Mega Fight Vale Tudo 2	May 4, 2006	2	1:50	Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil

[36]

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

Professional record breakdown

2 matches	1 win	1 loss
By knockout	0	0
By submission	1	1

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Loss	1–1	Reginaldo Vieira	Submission (rear-naked choke)	The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4	May 17, 2015 (airdate)	1	4:04	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4 Quarterfinals round
Win	1–0	Maycon Silvan	Submission (arm triangle choke)	The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4	April 12, 2015 (airdate)	1	3:17	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4 Entry round

See also

• List of current Bellator fighters
• List of male mixed martial artists

References

1. Steve Juon (February 27, 2018). "Bellator 195's Leandro 'Simple Man' Higo aims to script Hollywood ending for his family". mmamania.com.
2. Dan Tom (March 2, 2018). "Bellator 195 main-event breakdown: Will Darrion Caldwell's wrestling edge top Leandro Higo?". MMAjunkie.com.
3. "Leandro Higo Bellator Bio". Bellator.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
4. "RFA 29 Leandro Higo vs. Terrion Ware". Tapology.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
5. "RFA 32 Leandro Higo vs. Melvin Blumer". Tapology.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
6. "Devin Clark, Leandro Higo Crowned Champions at RFA 37". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
7. "Leandro Higo Outpoints Steven Peterson, Captures Inaugural LFA Bantamweight Title". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
8. "Cast for The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 4 Revealed". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
9. "Leandro Higo Sherdog bio". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
10. Damon Martin (May 25, 2015). "TUF Brazil 4: Episode 8 Recap". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
11. "Eduardo Dantas edges Leandro Higo in Non-Title affair". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
12. "Caldwell unseats Dantas, takes Bantamweight Belt in Bellator 184 headliner". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
13. "Caldwell guillotines Higo to retail Bantamweight crown in Bellator 195 headliner". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
14. "Elite prospect Aaron Pico matched up with Leandro Higo at Bellator 206". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
15. "Bellator 206 results: Aaron Pico rolls over Leandro Higo". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
16. Guilherme Cruz (November 7, 2019). "Leandro Higo, John Teixeira sign new multi-fight deals with Bellator". mmafighting.com.
17. Guilherme Cruz (February 14, 2020). "Leandro Higo vs. Johnny Campbell, Killys Mota vs. Nate Andrews added to Bellator 241 in March". mmafighting.com.
18. Guilherme Cruz (March 3, 2020). "Leandro Higo needs new opponent for next week's Bellator 241". mmafighting.com.
19. Damon Martin (March 6, 2020). "Leandro Higo now faces Dominic Mazzotta in featherweight bout at Bellator 241". mmafighting.com.
20. Steve Juon (October 16, 2020). "Bellator 249 'Cyborg vs Blencowe' recap with results, .gifs and interviews". mmamania.com.
21. Lee, Alexander K. (2021-04-27). "Darrion Caldwell returns to bantamweight for Leandro Higo rematch at Bellator 259". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
22. "Bellator 259 weigh-in results: Two fighters come in heavy, including co-headliner". MMA Junkie. 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
23. "Bellator 259: Leandro Higo edges Darrion Caldwell in rematch". FanSided. 2021-05-21. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
24. Anderson, Jay (2022-03-29). "Bellator: Mousasi vs. Eblen, Bantamweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals Announced for June 24". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
25. Anderson, Jay (2022-06-24). "Bellator 282: Danny Sabatello Grinds Out Leandro Higo, Advances in Bantamweight Grand Prix". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
26. Stevenson, Andy (2023-01-18). "James Gallagher vs Leandro Higo set for Bellator 292". SevereMMA.com - UFC, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Irish MMA. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
27. "James Gallagher out of Bellator 292 bout vs. Leandro Higo". MMA Junkie. 2023-02-16. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
28. "Leandro Higo encara Nikita Mikhailov no Bellator 297, em junho". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). 11 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
29. "Bellator 297 loses two bouts including former title challenger". MMA Junkie. 2023-06-10. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
30. Anderson, Jay (2023-06-22). "Leandro Higo vs. Nikita Mikhailov, Diana Avsaragova vs. Justine Kish Among Fights Added to Bellator 298". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
31. Sherdog.com. "Bellator 298 'Storley vs. Ward' Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring". Sherdog. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
32. "Bellator Belfast: Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire to defend featherweight title against Jeremy Kennedy". BBC Sport. 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
33. "Bellator Champions Series: Belfast results: Strong third round lifts Leandro Higo past James Gallagher". MMA Junkie. 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
34. Iskenderov, Parviz (23 July 2024). "Patchy Mix vs Leandro Higo tops Bellator Champions Series Paris in November". FIGHTMAG.
35. https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/10/bellator-championship-series-paris-event-nov-16-canceled-refunds-bouts-rescheduled
36. Sherdog.com. "Leandro". Sherdog. Retrieved 2018-09-30.

External links

• Leandro Higo at Bellator
• Professional MMA record for Leandro Higo from Sherdog