# Christian M'Pumbu

Christian M'Pumbu (born June 2, 1977) is a French-Congolese professional mixed martial artist. He was the inaugural Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion.

## Background

M'Pumbu was born in Kinshasa, Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo). He currently resides in France.

## Mixed martial arts career

M'Pumbu made his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut in 2004. He has fought primarily in Europe for various promotions including KSW and M-1 Global. He is currently a member of Team France in M-1 Mixfight.
Before his debut in the United States, M'Pumbu amassed a record of 15 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw. A notable win from this period is over Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight contender Stefan Struve.

### Bellator Fighting Championships

M'Pumbu made his U.S. MMA debut on March 26, 2011, at Bellator 38. He faced Chris Davis in the opening round of the Light Heavyweight tournament and won the fight via TKO in the third round. In the semi-finals he defeated Tim Carpenter via TKO in the first round. M'Pumbu would go on to defeat Rich Hale via TKO in the third round at the finals of the season 4 tournament, becoming the inaugural Bellator Light Heavyweight champion. He was unofficially dubbed the first African born mixed martial artist to hold a title in a major MMA organization.
On October 22, 2011, at Bellator 55, M'Pumbu lost a non-title fight against Travis Wiuff via unanimous decision. On February 28, 2013, at Bellator 91 M'Pumbu faced Bellator 2012 Summer Series Light Heavyweight tournament winner Attila Vegh in his first title defense and lost via unanimous decision.
On September 13, 2013, at Bellator 99, M'Pumbu was expected to face UFC veteran Vladimir Matyushenko. M'Pumbu pulled out of the fight with a hand injury and was replaced with Houston Alexander.
M'Pumbu faced Quinton Jackson in the opening round of Bellator's Season 10 Light Heavyweight tournament in the main event at Bellator 110 on February 28, 2014. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round, the first knockout loss of his career.
M'Pumbu made his Middleweight debut against Kendall Grove on October 3, 2014, at Bellator 127. He lost the fight via submission in the second round.

## Championships and accomplishments

* Bellator Fighting Championships
** Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship (One time; First)
** Bellator Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Winner
* Union of Peresvit
** Star of Peresvit Openweight Tournament Winner
** Fire of Persevit Openweight Tournament Winner

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 33 matches | 21 wins | 11 losses |
| By knockout | 9 | 3 |
| By submission | 8 | 2 |
| By decision | 3 | 6 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 21–11–1 | Stanislav Klybik | KO (head kick) | League S-70 - Plotforma S-70: 2018 | August 22, 2018 | 1 | 4:45 | Sochi, Russia | |
| Loss | 21–10–1 | Mikhail Ragozin | Decision (unanimous) | RCC 2: Battles in the Cage | February 24, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Chelyabinsk, Russia | |
| Loss | 21–9–1 | Ivan Shtyrkov | Decision (unanimous) | RCC 1: Battles in the Cage | November 11, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Yekaterinburg, Russia | |
| Win | 21–8–1 | Sergio Souza | DQ (punches after stoppage) | Magnum Fighting Championship 1 | April 8, 2017 | 1 | 0:40 | Rome, Italy | |
| Win | 20–8–1 | Sebastien Huot Marchand | TKO (arm injury) | ADW: Road to Abu Dhabi 3 | August 12, 2016 | 2 | 2:12 | Bangkok, Thailand | |
| Loss | 19–8–1 | Denis Stojnic | TKO (punches) | HIT Fighting Championship 2 | May 28, 2016 | 2 | 1:36 | Zurich, Switzerland | For the HIT Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 19–7–1 | Ramis Teregulov | KO (punch) | World Warriors Fighting Championship: CE 4 | September 19, 2015 | 2 | 3:37 | Paris, France | |
| Loss | 18–7–1 | Kendall Grove | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 127 | October 3, 2014 | 2 | 4:14 | Temecula, California, United States | Middleweight debut. Bellator Middleweight title eliminator. |
| Loss | 18–6–1 | Quinton Jackson | KO (punches) | Bellator 110 | February 28, 2014 | 1 | 4:34 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Bellator Season 10 Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Loss | 18–5–1 | Attila Végh | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 91 | February 28, 2013 | 5 | 5:00 | Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States | Lost the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship. |
| Loss | 18–4–1 | Travis Wiuff | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 55 | October 22, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Yuma, Arizona, United States | Non-title bout |
| Win | 18–3–1 | Rich Hale | TKO (punches) | Bellator 45 | May 21, 2011 | 3 | 4:17 | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States | Bellator Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Final. Won the inaugural Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship. |
| Win | 17–3–1 | Tim Carpenter | TKO (punches) | Bellator 42 | April 23, 2011 | 1 | 2:08 | Concho, Oklahoma, United States | Bellator Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 16–3–1 | Chris Davis | TKO (punches) | Bellator 38 | March 26, 2011 | 3 | 3:34 | Tunica, Mississippi, United States | Bellator Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Loss | 15–3–1 | Yoshiyuki Nakanishi | Decision (split) | Deep: 47 Impact | April 17, 2010 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | DEEP Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 15–2–1 | Yuji Sakuragi | TKO (punches) | Deep: 46 Impact | February 28, 2010 | 1 | 2:29 | Tokyo, Japan | DEEP Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 14–2–1 | Hideto Tatsumi | TKO (punches) | M-1 Challenge 18: Netherlands Day One | August 15, 2009 | 2 | 4:53 | Hilversum, Netherlands | |
| Win | 13–2–1 | Krzysztof Kulak | Decision (unanimous) | Multi Boxes: 1er Gala International | June 26, 2009 | 2 | 5:00 | Paris, France | |
| Win | 12–2–1 | Enoc Solves Torres | Submission (armbar) | M-1 Challenge 14: Japan | April 29, 2009 | 1 | 4:59 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 11–2–1 | Leonardo Nascimento Lucio | Draw | 100% fight 1 | January 10, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Paris, France | |
| Win | 11–2 | Marcus Vanttinen | Submission (rear-naked choke) | M-1 Challenge 10: Finland | November 26, 2008 | 1 | 2:15 | Helsinki, Finland | |
| Loss | 10–2 | Jan Błachowicz | Submission (armbar) | KSW Extra | September 13, 2008 | 2 | 3:12 | Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland | |
| Win | 10–1 | Barry Guerin | TKO (punches) | M-1 Challenge 5: Japan | July 17, 2008 | 1 | 0:32 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 9–1 | Fabio Fernandes | Decision (unanimous) | Fite Selektor | March 13, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | Dubai City, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 9–0 | Denis Sobolev | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Star of Peresvit | December 7, 2007 | 1 | 1:20 | Kyiv, Ukraine | Star of Peresvit Openweight Tournament Final |
| Win | 8–0 | Stefan Struve | Submission (D'arce choke) | Star of Peresvit | December 7, 2007 | 1 | 2:05 | Kyiv, Ukraine | Star of Peresvit Openweight Tournament Semifinal |
| Win | 7–0 | Aleksey Gonchar | Decision | Star of Peresvit | December 7, 2007 | 2 | 5:00 | Kyiv, Ukraine | Star of Peresvit Openweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 6–0 | Sergey Mukhamedshin | Submission (guillotine choke) | M-1 MFC: International Mix Fight | March 17, 2007 | 1 | 1:25 | St. Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 5–0 | Vladimir Shemarov | Decision | Fire of Persevit | December 2, 2006 | 2 | 5:00 | Kyiv, Ukraine | Fire of Persevit Openweight Tournament Final. |
| Win | 4–0 | Valdas Pocevicius | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Fire of Persevit | December 2, 2006 | 1 | 1:48 | Kyiv, Ukraine | Fire of Persevit Openweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 3–0 | Denis Bublov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Fire of Persevit | December 2, 2006 | 1 | 2:20 | Kyiv, Ukraine | Fire of Persevit Openweight Tournament Quarterfinal |
| Win | 2–0 | Dramane Traore | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Xtreme Gladiators 2 | March 11, 2006 | 2 | 2:40 | Paris, France | |
| Win | 1–0 | Kuljit Degun | KO (punches) | UKMMAC 7: Rage & Fury | May 30, 2004 | 1 | 0:32 | Essex, England | |