# Yorgan De Castro

Yorgan De Castro (born December 19, 1987) is a Cape Verdean professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Heavyweight division. He is most notable for fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and of Professional Fighters League (PFL).

## Background

Castro was born and raised in the island of St. Vincent, Cape Verde. At 18 years old he moved to Portugal and started kickboxing training, making his official fighting debut only 6 months after. He dreamed of one day fighting in the big kickboxing promotions K-1 and Glory but never believed it would be possible in Portugal.
Later moving to the US to be with his family, his uncle convinced him to train at Lauzon MMA, owned by the current UFC Fighter Joe Lauzon, where he discovered MMA and started training.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

Starting his career in 2017, Castro compiled a 4–0 record fighting mainly for CES MMA. He was invited on Dana White's Contender Series 17 in order to compete for a UFC contract, which successfully gained through a TKO victory against Sanford Alton Meeks

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Castro made his UFC debut at UFC 243 on October 6, 2019, against Justin Tafa. He won the fight in the first round via knockout. This win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus as well.
Castro was initially scheduled to face Greg Hardy on March 28, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Rozenstruik. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was eventually postponed . However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed and the bout eventually took place on May 9, 2020. Castro lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Castro was briefly linked to a heavyweight bout on October 4, 2020, with Ben Sosoli at UFC on ESPN: Holm vs. Aldana. However, Sosoli pulled out of the fight in late July citing an eye surgery and was replaced by Carlos Felipe. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Castro faced Jarjis Danho on April 10, 2021, at UFC on ABC 2. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.
On April 30, 2021, it was revealed that Castro was no longer with the UFC.

### Post UFC

Castro was scheduled to make his first appearance after his UFC release against Rakim Cleveland on August 6, 2021, at CES 63. However, Castro announced that he had withdrawn from the bout due to family issues.
Castro faced Danyelle Williams on November 7, 2021, at CES 65. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

### Eagle Fighting Championship

Castro signed a multi-fight contract with Eagle Fighting Championship and debuted against Shaun Asher on January 28, 2022, at Eagle FC 44. He won the fight via guillotine choke in the first round.
Castro headlined against Junior dos Santos on May 20, 2022, at Eagle FC 47. Castro won the fight via TKO in the third round due to a doctor stoppage after dos Santos suffered a shoulder injury and was unable to continue.

### Professional Fighters League

Castro signed with PFL for the 2023 season and was to face off against Ante Delija on April 7, 2023, at PFL 2. However, Delija pulled out due to injury and was replaced by Denis Goltsov. In turn, Goltsov withdrew from the bout and was replaced by Danilo Marques. Castro lost the bout by unanimous decision.
Castro faced Denis Goltsov on June 16, 2023, at PFL 5. Castro lost the bout by knockout just 18 seconds into the first round.

### Post PFL

After winning two title bouts on the regional US scene, Castro faced Miran Fabjan in the main event of FNC 19 on September 7, 2024, losing the bout in the first round via ground and pound TKO.
Castro next fought Jahsua March in the main event of Cage Titans 68 on November 9, 2024 for the promotions Heavyweight title. He would win the fight via first round technical knockout thus becoming the Cage Titans Heavyweight champion, claiming his third Pro Heavyweight Belt in the New England region.

## Bare-knuckle boxing

Castro made his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship debut against Bobby Brents on February 1, 2025 at BKFC on DAZN: Mohegan Sun. He won the fight by technical knockout due to Brents receiving a hematoma at the end of the second round.

## Personal life

Yorgan de Castro has stated that if he had to pick a hero, it would be Daniel Cormier due to his figure (short range and size) for the heavyweight division and unbelievable talent and determination. Yorgan is married and has a daughter born in 2014.

## Championships and accomplishments
### Mixed martial arts

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Justin Tafa
* Classic Entertainment & Sports MMA
** CES MMA Heavyweight Championship (One time)
* New England Fights
** NEF Heavyweight Championship (One time)
* Cage Titans
** Cage Titans Heavyweight Championship (One time)

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 18 matches | 12 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 9 | 3 |
| By submission | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 2 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 12–6 | Jahsua Marsh | TKO (punches) | Cage Titans 68 | November 9, 2024 | 1 | 4:58 | Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States | Won the Cage Titans Heavyweight Championship. |
| Loss | 11–6 | Miran Fabjan | TKO (punches) | FNC 19 | September 7, 2024 | 1 | 3:08 | Pula, Croatia | For the FNC Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 11–5 | Alex Davidson | TKO (punches) | New England Fights 58 | June 29, 2024 | 2 | 4:18 | Lewiston, Maine, United States | Won the vacant NEF MMA Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–5 | Kevin Ray Sears | TKO (punches) | CES MMA 77 | May 3, 2024 | 1 | 2:42 | Ledyard, Connecticut, United States | Won the vacant CES MMA Heavyweight Championship. |
| Loss | 9–5 | Denis Goltsov | KO (punch) | PFL 5 (2023) | June 16, 2023 | 1 | 0:18 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |
| Loss | 9–4 | Danilo Marques | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 2 (2023) | April 7, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 9–3 | Junior dos Santos | TKO (shoulder injury) | Eagle FC 47 | May 20, 2022 | 3 | 0:33 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 8–3 | Shaun Asher | Submission (guillotine choke) | Eagle FC 44 | January 28, 2022 | 1 | 1:04 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 7–3 | Danyelle Williams | Decision (unanimous) | CES MMA 65 | November 7, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Providence, Rhode Island, United States | |
| Loss | 6–3 | Jarjis Danho | KO (punch) | UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland | April 10, 2021 | 1 | 3:02 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 6–2 | Carlos Felipe | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Holm vs. Aldana | October 4, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Loss | 6–1 | Greg Hardy | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 249 | May 9, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Justin Tafa | KO (punch) | UFC 243 | October 6, 2019 | 1 | 2:10 | Melbourne, Australia | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 5–0 | Sanford Alton Meeks | TKO (leg kick and punches) | Dana White's Contender Series 17 | June 18, 2019 | 1 | 4:45 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Carlton Little Sr. | Decision (unanimous) | CES MMA 54 | January 19, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | Heavyweight debut. |
| Win | 3–0 | Ras Hylton | KO (punch) | New England Fights 36 | November 17, 2018 | 1 | 2:36 | Portland, Maine, United States | Won the vacant NEF MMA Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 2–0 | David White | TKO (punches) | CES MMA 50 | June 15, 2018 | 3 | 2:20 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | James Dysard | TKO (punches) | CES MMA 47 | November 17, 2017 | 1 | 0:39 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | Light Heavyweight debut; Castro missed weight (208 lb). |

## Bareknuckle boxing record

Professional record breakdown :
| 1 match | 1 win | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 1–0 | Bobby Brents | TKO (hematoma) | BKFC on DAZN: Mohegan Sun | February 1, 2025 | 2 | 2:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States |