# Walel Watson

Walel Watson (born July 16, 1984) is an American mixed martial artist and bare knuckle boxer. A professional since 2008, he has fought in the UFC, Titan FC, and Tachi Palace Fights.

## MMA career

Watson made his professional debut in 2008 for MMA Xtreme in Mexico at the age of 24. He lost his debut via submission, but went undefeated in his next 7 bouts and never going to the third round. Prior to joining the UFC, he amassed a record of 8 wins and 2 losses.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

In August 2011, it was announced that Watson signed with the UFC.
Watson's UFC debut took place against Joseph Sandoval on October 1, 2011, at UFC on Versus 6. He was successful in his debut, winning the fight early via TKO in the first round.
In his second fight, Watson faced Yves Jabouin on December 10, 2011, at UFC 140. After three close rounds Watson lost a controversial split decision.
Watson returned quickly to face T.J. Dillashaw on February 15, 2012, at UFC on Fuel TV 1. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Watson was defeated by Mitch Gagnon on September 22, 2012, at UFC 152 via first round rear naked choke.
After posting a 1–3 record inside the promotion, Watson was released from the UFC.

### Post-UFC career

A short two months after his UFC release, Watson signed on to face Anthony Moore at Xplode Fight Series: Damage on November 17, 2012. He won the fight via first-round TKO. Watson then made a quick turnaround and faced Joey Apodaca at XFS: Vengeance on January 19, 2013. He won the fight via guillotine choke submission, just under twenty-seconds into the first round.
Watson faced Tom Niinimäki at Cage 23 on September 21, 2013. He lost the fight via kimura submission.
He then faced Rodrigo Almeida at CZ 46: Throwdown at The Rock on November 22, 2013. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. In his latest fight, Watson submitted William Joplin at Titan FC 28: Brilz vs. Davis on May 16, 2014.
Watson is expected to face Anthony Gutierrez at Titan FC 30 on September 26, 2014. Watson defeated Gutierrez by Submission in the first round.
On March 20, 2015, he faced Brett Johns for the inaugural Titan FC Bantamweight Championship at Titan FC 33. He lost the fight via submission in the second round.
Watson faced Ricardo Palacios at Golden Boy Promotions' inaugural MMA event on November 24, 2018. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.
After a long layoff, Watson returned against Marvin Garcia on January 14, 2023 at LXF 8, winning the bout via first round guillotine. Less than two month later, Watson faced Serhiy Sidey for the BTC Bantamweight Championship at BTC 19 on March 18, 2023, losing the bout via TKO stoppage in the first round.

## Bare knuckle boxing

Watson made his bare knuckle debut on July 16, 2021 against Alberto Martinez Jr. Watson was defeated from a series of left hooks in the first round.
Watson returned on August 27, 2022 against Brandon Birr. He was defeated via second-round knockout.

## Championships and accomplishments

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** UFC.com Awards
*** 2011: Ranked #9 Newcomer of the Year

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 30 matches | 15 wins | 15 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 5 |
| By submission | 12 | 7 |
| By decision | 0 | 3 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown | 0 | 0 |
| Draws | 0 | 0 |
| No contests | 0 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 15–15 | Tariq Ismail | TKO (punches) | Durham Fight Series 1 | June 3, 2023 | 2 | 1:44 | Oshawa, Canada | |
| Loss | 15–14 | Serhiy Sidey | TKO (punches) | BTC 19 | March 18, 2023 | 1 | 3:05 | Kingston, Canada | Return to Bantamweight. For the vacant BTC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 15–13 | Marvin Garcia | Submission (guillotine choke) | LXF 8: The Return | January 14, 2023 | 1 | 0:53 | Commerce, California, United States | |
| Loss | 14–13 | Kyle Reyes | Submission (d'arce choke) | Final Fight Championship 35 | April 19, 2019 | 1 | 2:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Featherweight. |
| Loss | 14–12 | Ricardo Palacios | TKO (punch and head kick) | Golden Boy Promotions: Liddell vs. Ortiz 3 | November 24, 2018 | 1 | 3:56 | Inglewood, California, United States | Catchweight (140 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 14–11 | Fard Muhammad | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Smash Global 6 | September 28, 2017 | 2 | 3:30 | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| Win | 14–10 | Miguelito Marti | Submission (choke) | Gladiator Challenge: Fight Fest | June 17, 2017 | 1 | 0:39 | El Cajon, California, United States | |
| Loss | 13–10 | Felipe Efrain | KO (punch to the body) | Brave Combat Federation - Brave 3: Battle in Brazil | March 18, 2017 | 2 | 2:10 | São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, Brazil | |
| Loss | 13–9 | Elias Boudegzdame | Submission (kimura) | Brave Combat Federation - Brave 2: Dynasty | December 2, 2016 | 1 | 1:47 | Isa Town, Bahrain | Featherweight bout. |
| Loss | 13–8 | Brett Johns | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Titan FC 33 | March 20, 2015 | 2 | 3:06 | Mobile, Alabama, United States | For Titan FC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 13–7 | Anthony Gutierrez | Submission (triangle choke) | Titan FC 30: Brilz vs. Magalhaes | September 26, 2014 | 1 | 3:02 | Cedar Park, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 12–7 | William Joplin | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Titan FC 28: Brilz vs. Davis | May 16, 2014 | 3 | 2:29 | Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States | Return to Bantamweight. |
| Loss | 11–7 | Rodrigo Almeida | Decision (unanimous) | CZ 46: Throwdown at The Rock | November 22, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Salem, New Hampshire, United States | Catchweight (140 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 11–6 | Tom Niinimäki | Submission (kimura) | Cage 23 | September 21, 2013 | 2 | 2:52 | Vantaa, Finland | For the Cage Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 11–5 | Joey Apodaca | Submission (guillotine choke) | Xplode Fight Series: Vengeance | January 19, 2013 | 1 | 0:17 | Valley Center, California, United States | |
| Win | 10–5 | Anthony Moore | TKO (punches) | Xplode Fight Series: Damage | November 17, 2012 | 1 | 1:22 | Valley Center, California, United States | |
| Loss | 9–5 | Mitch Gagnon | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 152 | September 22, 2012 | 1 | 1:09 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| Loss | 9–4 | T.J. Dillashaw | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger | February 15, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Omaha, Nebraska, United States | |
| Loss | 9–3 | Yves Jabouin | Decision (split) | UFC 140 | December 10, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| Win | 9–2 | Joseph Sandoval | TKO (punches) | UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson | October 1, 2011 | 1 | 1:17 | Washington, D.C., United States | |
| Win | 8–2 | Ismael Leon | Submission (anaconda choke) | Ultimate Warrior Challenge: To The Edge | June 25, 2011 | 1 | 4:58 | Tijuana, Mexico | For the UWC Bantamweight Championship; won the UWC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Loss | 7–2 | Cody Gibson | TKO (punches & elbows) | TPF 9: The Contenders | May 6, 2011 | 2 | 4:09 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 7–1 | Cristian Jimenez | Submission (triangle choke) | Baja Cage Fighting 2: Bloody X-Mas | December 4, 2010 | 1 | 4:08 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | 6–1 | Manuel Gallareta | Submission (guillotine choke) | Ultimate Warrior Challenge 8: Mexican Championships | October 16, 2010 | 1 | 0:43 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | 5–1 | Joe Gustina | Submission (anaconda choke) | Baja Cage Fighting 1: Return of the Champ | July 17, 2010 | 1 | 3:04 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | 4–1 | Cristian Jimenez | Submission (triangle armbar) | Ultimate Warrior Challenge 7: Evolution | June 26, 2010 | 2 | 2:26 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | 3–1 | Gabriel Godinez | KO (punches) | Native Fighting Championship 4 | March 27, 2010 | 1 | 2:15 | Campo, California, United States | |
| Win | 2–1 | Kisack Monroy | Submission (guillotine choke) | Ultimate Warrior Challenge 4: Rebirth | November 28, 2009 | 2 | 1:33 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | 1–1 | Peter Martinez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Gladiator Challenge: Never Quit | November 8, 2009 | 2 | 1:33 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
| Loss | 0–1 | Enrique Cuellar | Submission (anaconda choke) | MMA Xtreme 22: Revolution | August 16, 2008 | 1 | N/A | Mexico | |