Ulysses Gomez

Ulysses Gomez (Los Angeles, May 25, 1983) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the flyweight and bantamweight divisions. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, Gomez has mostly fought in PFC and Tachi Palace Fights and is also known for his grappling career.

Ulysses Gomez
Born (1983-05-25) May 25, 1983
Los Angeles, California, United States
Other namesUseless
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st)
DivisionFlyweight (2008-present)
Bantamweight (2010-12)
Reach66 in (168 cm)
Fighting out ofLas Vegas, Nevada
TeamSimpson Go's Cobra Kai
TrainerSimpson Go (jiu-jitsu) Gil Martinez (striking)
Rank  Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active2008–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total14
Wins9
By submission7
By decision2
Losses5
By knockout1
By submission1
By decision3
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Early life

Gomez was born in Los Angeles, California to two Mexican-Americans.[1] He is the brother of soccer player and U.S. national team representative Herculez Gomez. Before his fights, Ulysses has worn the shirt of the club that his brother plays for. This has included the Kansas City Wizards and Club Puebla.[2]

Mixed martial arts career

Background

Gomez has been training with Marc Laimon since he was in high school. Gomez' high school wrestling coach was UFC veteran and Nova União black belt Tony DeSouza. In 2004, Gomez helped Laimon found the Cobra Kai Academy in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he trained and taught the children's class. Since Marc Laimons move to Texas in 2010, Gomez is now training under Laimon's 1st Blackbelt and now owner of Cobra Kai, Simpson Go.[3]

Early career

Gomez began his career in PFC, in Lemoore, California. Gomez quickly amassed a record of 2–0, both via submission. Gomez then fought Thai Rambaa Somdet and lost via unanimous decision.

In his final fight for the Palace Fights Championship, Gomez defeated David Suarez.[4]

Gomez then joined Tachi Palace Fights and competed in their first event, against Martin Sandoval.[5]

In his second appearance for Tachi Palace Fights, Gomez defeated Chino Nicholas via technical submission (standing guillotine choke), when Nicholas refused to tap and passed out.[6]

Gomez fought Luis Gonzalez for the inaugural Tachi Palace Fights Flyweight Championship at TPF 4: Cinco de Mayhem. Gomez defeated Gonzalez to take the title, but then immediately announced his signing with Bellator, in addition to his move in weight class.[7] The fight was closely fought and Gomez' decision victory over Gonzalez was heavily booed by the crowd.[8]

Bellator Fighting Championships

In May 2010, Gomez signed with Bellator Fighting Championships and moved up a weight class, to compete in their upcoming bantamweight tournament in their third season.[9]

In his opening round fight, at Bellator 27, Gomez faced Travis Reddinger, which Gomez won via split decision. Gomez would have faced Zach Makovsky in the semi-final; however, Gomez had to withdraw with a staph infection.[10]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Gomez made his promotional debut against John Moraga on August 4, 2012 at UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera.[11] He lost the fight via KO in the first round.

Gomez next faced Phil Harris on February 16, 2013 at UFC on Fuel TV: Barão vs. McDonald.[12] Gomez lost the fight by unanimous decision and was subsequently released from the promotion.[13]

Post-UFC career

Gomez faced Abel Cullum at RFA 18: Manzanares vs. Pantoja on September 12, 2014, in his first fight post-UFC release.[14] He lost the fight by a first-round submission.[15]

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
14 matches 9 wins 5 losses
By knockout 0 1
By submission 7 1
By decision 2 3
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 9–5 Abel Cullum Submission (guillotine choke) RFA 18: Manzanares vs. Pantoja September 12, 2014 1 1:29 Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
Loss 9–4 Phil Harris Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fuel TV: Barão vs. McDonald February 16, 2013 3 5:00 London, England
Loss 9–3 John Moraga KO (elbows and punches) UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera August 4, 2012 1 3:46 Los Angeles, California, United States
Win 9–2 Cody Gibson Submission (guillotine choke) TPF 11: Redemption December 2, 2011 3 2:36 Lemoore, California, United States Won TPF Bantamweight Championship
Win 8–2 Drew Bittner Submission (rear-naked choke) TPF 10: Let The Chips Fall August 5, 2011 2 1:21 Lemoore, California, United States Fought at Bantamweight
Loss 7–2 Darrell Montague Decision (unanimous) TPF 8: All or Nothing February 18, 2011 5 5:00 Lemoore, California, United States Lost TPF Flyweight Championship
Win 7–1 Travis Reddinger Decision (split) Bellator 27 September 2, 2010 3 5:00 San Antonio, Texas, United States BW Quarterfinal Tournament Bout
Win 6–1 Luis Gonzalez Decision (unanimous) TPF 4: Cinco de Mayhem May 5, 2010 5 5:00 Lemoore, California, United States Won first-ever TPF Flyweight Championship
Win 5–1 Chino Nicolas Submission (guillotine choke) TPF 2: Brawl in the Hall December 3, 2009 1 4:31 Lemoore, California, United States
Win 4–1 Martin Sandoval Submission (rear-naked choke) TPF 1: Tachi Palace Fights 1 October 8, 2009 2 0:36 Lemoore, California, United States
Win 3–1 David Suarez Submission (rear-naked choke) PFC: Best of Both Worlds February 6, 2009 1 1:45 Lemoore, California, United States
Loss 2–1 Rambaa Somdet Decision (unanimous) PFC 11: All In November 20, 2008 3 3:00 Lemoore, California, United States
Win 2–0 Hector Sandoval Submission (armbar) PFC 9: The Return July 18, 2008 1 0:51 Lemoore, California, United States
Win 1–0 Greg McDowell Submission (choke) PFC 7: Palace Fighting Championship 7 May 20, 2008 1 0:41 Lemoore, California, United States

Grappling career

Gomez is a highly accomplished grappler, having won multiple awards and competitions. These include being ranked top of his weight class in Grapplers Quest.[16] Gomez also competed in Pancrase. Gomez began as a beginner, entering himself into pro divisions and "began submitting black belts shortly after receiving his blue belt"[3]

Gomez then main evented the opening day of the inaugural UFC Fan Expo in a Grapplers Quest exhibition match against Shooto tournament winner and 40-fight MMA veteran Rumina Sato;[17] a natural featherweight.[18] Gomez was defeated by submission (armbar).[19]

References
  1. "Ulysses Gomez | Home of MMA fighter Ulysses Gomez – "Mexicans either play soccer or do construction.. I suck at both"".
  2. "Submission artist Ulysses Gomez added to Bellator's season 3 bantamweight tournament". cageradio.com. May 6, 2010.
  3. "Ulysses "Useless" Gomez debuts tonight at PFC 7". onthemat.com. March 20, 2008.
  4. "PFC announces hybrid event for April 23". mmajunkie.com. February 13, 2009.
  5. "Chad Mendes, War Machine, Joe Soto head MMAs return to Tachi Palace Hotel Casino". mmajunkie.com. September 22, 2009.
  6. "Ruiz outpoints Foupa-Pokam at Tachi Palace Fights". sherdog.com. December 4, 2009.
  7. "The Weekly Wrap: May 1 - May 7 - Odds and Ends". sherdog.com. May 8, 2010.
  8. "Gomez, Mitchell take titles; Olympian Abas debut successful at TPF 4". sherdog.com. May 6, 2010.
  9. "Bellator adds submission ace Ulysses Gomez to season-three 135-pound tourney". sherdog.com. May 6, 2010.
  10. "Ed West vs. Jose Vega tourney semi-final set for Bellator 30 in Louisville". mmajunkie.com. September 16, 2010.
  11. "Ulysses Gomez slotted to face John Moraga at UFC on FOX 4". mmajunkie.com. July 23, 2012. Archived from the original on July 25, 2012.
  12. "Gomez-Harris added to UFC on FUEL TV 7". MMAjunkie.com. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  13. MMAjunkie.com Staff (February 20, 2013). "UFC releases Jon Fitch, Vladimir Matyushenko, 14 others". mmajunkie.com.
  14. Marrocco, Steven (11 September 2014). "After long layoff, RFA 18's Ulysses Gomez hasn't forgotten feeling of a fight". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  15. Grammer, Geoff (13 September 2014). "Ex-cop wins quickly in return". abqjournal.com. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  16. "Our kids Jiu-Jitsu instructor Ulysses". March 20, 2008.
  17. "UFC announces four grappling superfights for Fan Expo 2009 in Las Vegas". mmajunkie.com. July 1, 2009.
  18. "In depth preview of UFC Fan Expo grappling superfights". prommanow.com. July 7, 2009.
  19. "Ulysses Gomez wins TPF belt enters Bellator bantamweight tournament". mmafighting.com. May 6, 2010.
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