# Eric Shelton (fighter)

Eric Maurice Shelton (born February 2, 1991) is an American mixed martial arts fighter competed in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2013, he has also competed for the RFA and was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

Shelton began his professional MMA career in July 2013, upon compiling an impressive 11–2 record during his amateur career. Over the next three-and-a-half years he fought mainly in the mid-west, amassing a record of 10–2.

### The Ultimate Fighter

In July 2016, it was announced that Shelton would be a cast member of The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions. He was ranked #15 and selected by Team Benavidez.
In the first round, Shelton defeated Yoni Sherbatov via technical submission (rear-naked choke) in the second round. In the quarterfinals, he defeated Ronaldo Candido by unanimous decision. In the semifinals, Shelton lost to eventual winner Tim Elliott via unanimous decision after two rounds.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

After The Ultimate Fighter, Shelton was signed to a UFC contract. He faced Alexandre Pantoja in his debut on January 28, 2017, at UFC on Fox: Shevchenko vs. Peña. He lost the fight via split decision.
In his second fight for the promotion, Shelton faced Jarred Brooks on July 29, 2017, at UFC 214. He again lost the fight via split decision.
In his third fight for the promotion, Shelton faced Jenel Lausa on November 19, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura. He won the fight via unanimous decision to earn his first UFC victory.
Shelton faced Alex Perez on February 24, 2018, at UFC on Fox: Emmett vs. Stephens. At the weigh-ins, Perez weighed in at 126.5 pounds, half a pound over the lightweight non title fight upper limit of 126 pounds. As a result, the bout proceeded at catchweight and Perez was fined 20% of his purse, which went to Shelton. Shelton lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Shelton faced Joseph Morales on November 10, 2018, at UFC Fight Night: Korean Zombie vs. Rodríguez. He won the fight via split decision.
Shelton faced Jordan Espinosa on March 23, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Pettis. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
On May 26, 2019, it was reported that Shelton was released by UFC.

### Post-UFC career

After being released from the UFC, Shelton signed with the WXC. He made his promotional debut against Jesse Bazzi at WXC 83 on October 30, 2019. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
With the win, Shelton earned a title shot against Juancamilo Ronderos at WXC 85 on December 18, 2019. He lost the fight via split decision.
On June 6, 2020, news surfaced that Shelton had signed with ARES FC.
Shelton faced Rilley Dutro for the vacant Caged Aggression Flyweight Championship on May 8, 2021. He claimed the championship after Dutro suffered an elbow injury in the fourth round.
Shelton faced Jacob Silva on December 19, 2021, at Fury FC 55. He won the bout via unanimous decision.
Shelton faced Peter Caballero at Fury FC 67 on August 14, 2022. He would lose the fight via unanimous decision marking his second loss since leaving the UFC.
Shelton next faced Dwight Joseph in the main event of Caged Aggression 35 for the vacant Caged Aggression Bantamweight championship on 25 March 2023. He would win fight via unanimous decision.
Shelton would then main event Unified MMA 51 against Teshay Gouthro for the Unified MMA Interim Bantamweight championship on 23 June 2023. He would win the fight via split decision.
Shelton faced highly touted MMA Lab prospect Abdul Kamara at Fury FC 92 on June 16, 2024. He would win the fight via second round knockout.
Shelton would next face off against Bellator veteran Jerrell Hodge in the main event of Caged Aggression 38: Retaliation on October 12, 2024 in a defence of his Caged Aggression Bantamweight championship. He would win the fight via first round knockout.

## Championships and accomplishments

* Caged Aggression
** Flyweight Champion (Two times; current)
** Bantamweight Champion
* Unified MMA
** Interim Bantamweight Champion

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 28 matches | 20 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 5 | 0 |
| By submission | 6 | 0 |
| By decision | 9 | 8 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 20–8 | Alan Olivas | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Synergy FC 17 | January 4, 2025 | 1 | 4:11 | Springfield, Missouri, United States | Won the inaugural Synergy FC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 19–8 | Jerrell Hodge | KO (punch) | Caged Aggression 38: Retaliation 2 | October 12, 2024 | 1 | 4:21 | Davenport, Iowa, United States | Defended the CAMMA Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 18–8 | Abdul Kamara | KO (punches) | Fury FC 92 | June 16, 2024 | 2 | 2:51 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 17–8 | Teshay Gouthro | Decision (split) | Unified MMA 51 | June 23, 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada | Won the interim Unified MMA Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 16–8 | Dwight Joseph | Decision (unanimous) | Caged Aggression 35: The Trilogy Night 3 | March 25, 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Davenport, Iowa, United States | Won the vacant CAMMA Bantamweight Championship. |
| Loss | 15–8 | Peter Caballero | Decision (unanimous) | Fury FC 67 | August 14, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | Return to Bantamweight. |
| Win | 15–7 | Jacob Silva | Decision (unanimous) | Fury FC 55 | December 19, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 14–7 | Rilley Dutro | TKO (corner stoppage) | Caged Aggression 31 | May 7, 2021 | 4 | 4:10 | Davenport, Iowa, United States | Won the Caged Aggression Flyweight Championship. |
| Loss | 13–7 | Juancamilo Ronderos | Decision (split) | WXC 85: Warrior Wednesday 10 | December 18, 2019 | 5 | 5:00 | Southgate, Michigan, United States | For the WXC Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 13–6 | Jesse Bazzi | Decision (unanimous) | WXC 83: Warrior Wednesday 8 | October 30, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Southgate, Michigan, United States | |
| Loss | 12–6 | Jordan Espinosa | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Pettis | March 23, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
| Win | 12–5 | Joseph Morales | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Korean Zombie vs. Rodríguez | November 10, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Denver, Colorado, United States | |
| Loss | 11–5 | Alex Perez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Emmett vs. Stephens | February 24, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Orlando, Florida, United States | Catchweight (126.5 lbs) bout; Perez missed weight. |
| Win | 11–4 | Jenel Lausa | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura | November 19, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Sydney, Australia | |
| Loss | 10–4 | Jarred Brooks | Decision (split) | UFC 214 | July 29, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Anaheim, California, United States | |
| Loss | 10–3 | Alexandre Pantoja | Decision (split) | UFC on Fox: Shevchenko vs. Peña | January 28, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Denver, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 10–2 | Mark Sainci | Submission (triangle choke) | Caged Aggression 17 | April 2, 2016 | 1 | 1:08 | Davenport, Iowa, United States | Won the Caged Aggression Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–2 | Ryan Hollis | Decision (unanimous) | Cowboys Extreme Cagefighting | January 30, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | San Antonio, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 8–2 | Gino Escamilla | Decision (unanimous) | Rocks Xtreme MMA 19 | October 23, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | San Antonio, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 7–2 | Brian Hall | TKO (punches) | V3 Fights | September 26, 2015 | 2 | 3:38 | Memphis, Tennessee, United States | |
| Loss | 6–2 | Kevin Gray | Decision (split) | Caged Aggression 15 | March 28, 2015 | 5 | 5:00 | Davenport, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 6–1 | Erik Vo | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Pinnacle Combat 18 | January 24, 2015 | 2 | 1:09 | Dubuque, Iowa, United States | Bantamweight bout. |
| Win | 5–1 | Jose Vega | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | Caged Aggression 14 | October 10, 2014 | 1 | 0:00 | Davenport, Iowa, United States | |
| Loss | 4–1 | Sid Bice | Decision (unanimous) | RFA 16: Copeland vs. Jorgensen | July 25, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Chris Haney | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Xplode Fight Series: Anger | May 2, 2014 | 1 | 4:34 | Davenport, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Zachary Harvey | TKO (punches) | Caged Aggression 12 | March 15, 2014 | 1 | 2:50 | Davenport, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Marcel Tong Van | Submission (armbar) | Caged Aggression 11 | October 12, 2013 | 1 | 1:18 | Davenport, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Stephen Gladhill | Decision (unanimous) | Caged Aggression 10 | July 20, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Davenport, Iowa, United States | |

### Mixed martial arts exhibition record

| Exhibition record breakdown | Exhibition record breakdown | |
| 3 matches | 2 wins | 1 loss |
| By submission | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 2–1 | Tim Elliott | Decision (majority) | The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions | November 23, 2016 | 2 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | TUF 24 Semi-final round |
| Win | 2–0 | Ronaldo Candido | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions | November 16, 2016 | 2 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | TUF 24 Quarter-final round |
| Win | 1–0 | Yoni Sherbatov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions | September 21, 2016 | 2 | 3:40 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | TUF 24 Round of 16 |
*Date given is the air date of the episode. The actual dates of the fight are not released by the UFC.

## Professional boxing record

| 1 fight | 1 win | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Anthony Crowder | TKO | 2 (4) | 28 November 2020 | Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, Davenport, Iowa, US | |