# Cole Escovedo

Coleman Ruben Escovedo (born August 30, 1981) is an American former mixed martial artist from Fresno, California. He was the inaugural WEC Featherweight Champion.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Health issues

Escovedo was forced into a well documented semi-retirement in 2007 from a serious staph infection that left him partially paralyzed and in need of spinal surgery. Then, after a nearly three years hiatus from mixed martial arts action, he returned on May 8, 2009, at a Palace Fighting Championship event at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, California. Escovedo's comeback to MMA was his first fight in the 135 lb Bantamweight division.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Escodevo made his UFC debut against Renan Barão on May 25, 2011, at UFC 130. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Escovedo faced Takeya Mizugaki at UFC 135. He was knocked out by Mizugaki at 4:30 in the second round, giving him two consecutive losses in the UFC.
Escovedo faced Alex Caceres on November 12, 2011, at UFC on Fox 1. Escovedo lost via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) after losing the standing exchanges to Caceres for all three rounds.
On December 16, 2011, Escovedo announced via the UG forums that he had been released by the UFC. Author Zac Robinson has written a book titled "Through The Cage Door" about Escovedo's life and career and its expected release date was August 2014.

## Championships and accomplishments

* Tachi Palace Fights
** TPF Bantamweight Championship (One time)
* World Extreme Cagefighting
** WEC Featherweight Championship (One time; First)
*** One successful title defense
IFC Champion 145
Tachi Palace Fights Native American Champion

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 26 matches | 17 wins | 9 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 4 |
| By submission | 10 | 1 |
| By decision | 1 | 4 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 17–9 | Alex Caceres | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos | November 12, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Anaheim, California, United States | |
| Loss | 17–8 | Takeya Mizugaki | TKO (punches) | UFC 135 | September 24, 2011 | 2 | 4:30 | Denver, Colorado, United States | |
| Loss | 17–7 | Renan Barão | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 130 | May 28, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Bantamweight bout |
| Win | 17–6 | Steven Siler | Technical Submission (triangle choke) | Showdown Fights: New Blood | January 28, 2011 | 1 | 2:30 | Orem, Utah, United States | |
| Loss | 16–6 | Michihiro Omigawa | Submission (straight armbar) | Dream 16 | September 25, 2010 | 1 | 2:30 | Nagoya, Japan | Return to Featherweight |
| Loss | 16–5 | Michael McDonald | KO (punches) | TPF 5: Stars and Strikes | July 9, 2010 | 2 | 1:12 | Lemoore, California, United States | Lost the TPF Bantamweight Championship |
| Win | 16–4 | Yoshiro Maeda | KO (head kick) | Dream 13 | March 22, 2010 | 1 | 2:29 | Yokohama, Japan | Featherweight bout |
| Win | 15–4 | Jeff Bedard | Submission (triangle choke) | TPF 3: Champions Collide | February 4, 2010 | 1 | 2:31 | Lemoore, California, United States | Won the TPF Bantamweight Championship |
| Win | 14–4 | Maurice Eazel | TKO (head kick and punches) | Strikeforce Challengers: Gurgel vs. Evangelista | November 6, 2009 | 1 | 1:47 | Fresno, California, United States | |
| Win | 13–4 | Tyler Weathers | Decision (split) | Disturbing the Peace | June 27, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Fresno, California, United States | |
| Win | 12–4 | Michael McDonald | TKO (punches) | PFC 13: Validation | May 8, 2009 | 2 | 2:25 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Loss | 11–4 | Antonio Banuelos | Decision (unanimous) | WEC 23: Hot August Fights | August 17, 2006 | 3 | 5:00 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Loss | 11–3 | Jens Pulver | KO (punch) | International Fight League: Legends Championship 2006 | April 29, 2006 | 1 | 0:56 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Lightweight bout |
| Loss | 11–2 | Urijah Faber | TKO (corner stoppage) | WEC 19 | March 17, 2006 | 2 | 5:00 | Lemoore, California, United States | Lost the WEC Featherweight Championship |
| Win | 11–1 | Joe Martin | Submission (flying triangle choke) | WEC 17 | October 14, 2005 | 1 | 1:05 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 10–1 | Poppies Martinez | TKO (leg injury) | WEC 15 | May 19, 2005 | 2 | 1:05 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 9–1 | Randy Spence | Submission (triangle choke) | International Fighting Championships: Eve Of Destruction | March 5, 2005 | 1 | 2:06 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | Won the IFC Featherweight Championship |
| Win | 8–1 | Anthony Hamlett | TKO (punches) | WEC 8 | October 17, 2003 | 2 | 1:30 | Lemoore, California, United States | Defended the WEC Featherweight Championship |
| Loss | 7–1 | Bao Quach | Decision (unanimous) | Gladiator Challenge 15 | April 13, 2003 | 2 | 5:00 | Porterville, California, United States | |
| Win | 7–0 | Noah Shinable | Submission (triangle choke) | Gladiator Challenge 14 | February 16, 2003 | 1 | 1:38 | Porterville, California, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Philip Perez | Submission (triangle choke) | WEC 5: Halloween Havoc | October 18, 2002 | 1 | 3:07 | Lemoore, California, United States | Won the inaugural WEC Featherweight Champion |
| Win | 5–0 | Christian Allen | TKO (punches) | Ultimate Athlete 3: Vengeance | August 10, 2002 | 2 | 3:16 | Denver, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Paul Morris | Submission (triangle choke) | WEC 3 | June 7, 2002 | 1 | 0:29 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Jay Valencia | Submission (triangle choke) | Ultimate Athlete 2: The Gathering | March 16, 2002 | 1 | 0:45 | Cabazon, California, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Bart Palaszewski | Submission (punches) | Ultimate Athlete 1: The Genesis | January 27, 2002 | 1 | 2:10 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Terry Dull | Submission (triangle choke) | WEC 2 | October 4, 2001 | 1 | 1:54 | Lemoore, California, United States | |