# Carlston Harris

Carlston Lindsay Harris (born July 9, 1987) is a Guyanese mixed martial artist who competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

## Background

Having left Guyana in 2007 in search of better job prospects, Harris moved to Manaus, Brazil, working as a mechanic. Treating boxing and luta livre as a hobby, he decided to make martial arts his full time job after buying a pirated DVD of the first B.J. Penn and Diego Sanchez bout. Soon after, his coach, Junior Lopes, suggested that Harris move to Rio de Janeiro and continue his training at Renovação Fight Team (RFT) under Marcio "Cromado" Ramos Barbosa.
He is the first Guyanese fighter in the UFC.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

Making his MMA debut in 2011, Harris started his MMA career losing a split decision to Christiano Marques. Two months later, Harris scored his first MMA victory submitting Bruno Renascer in the first round, followed by another decision loss in March 2012. Turning his career around, he put on a winning streak after his 1–2 start and defeated the likes of Michel Pereira, Joilton Lutterbach, and Wellington Turman to get noticed by Brave Combat Federation.

### Brave Combat Federation

Making his debut on the Brave CF 3 card on March 18, 2017, against Thiago Vieira, Harris won the bout via TKO stoppage in the second round.
In his sophomore performance, Harris would go on to defeat Carl Booth via unanimous decision at Brave CF 8 on August 12, 2017, to win the BRAVE CF Welterweight Championship.
In his first defence off the title, Harris faced Jarrah Hussein Al-Silawi at Brave CF 16 on September 21, 2018. He lost the bout and the title via TKO in the first round.

### Return to regional scene

Winning his first bout back in Brazil with the promotion Shooto Brazil against Claudio Rocha via stoppage in the first round. Harris faced Alex Santos at Shooto Brazil 101 on September 27, 2020, Harris winning the bout after knocking out his opponent in the second round.
After his victory against Saygid Izagakhmaev at UAE Warriors 15 with Dana White in attendance, he was signed by the UFC.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Harris made his UFC debut against Christian Aguilera on May 8, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Rodriguez vs. Waterson. He won the bout via technical submission due to an anaconda choke as he choked Aguilera in the first round. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Harris faced Impa Kasanganay on September 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 192. He won the fight via technical knockout in round one.
In this third fight with the promotion, Harris faced Shavkat Rakhmonov on February 5, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland. He lost the fight via knockout in round one.
Harris was scheduled to face Ramiz Brahimaj on February 18, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 219. However, Brahimaj was pulled from the event citing neck injury.
Harris was scheduled to face Abubakar Nurmagomedov on March 11, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 221. However, Nurmagomedov withdrew from the bout due to an undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Jared Gooden. At the weigh-ins, Gooden weighed in at 177 pounds, six pounds over the welterweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Gooden was fined 30% of his purse, which went to Harris. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Harris faced Jeremiah Wells on August 5, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 50. He won the bout in the third round, choking out Wells via anaconda choke. This win earned Harris his second Performance of the Night bonus.
Harris faced Khaos Williams on May 18, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 241. He lost the fight by knockout in the first round.
Harris faced Santiago Ponzinibbio on January 11, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 249. He lost lost the fight by technical knockout in the third round.

## Championships and accomplishments

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Christian Aguilera and Jeremiah Wells
* Brave Combat Federation
** Brave CF Welterweight Championship (One time)

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 26 matches | 19 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 5 | 4 |
| By submission | 6 | 0 |
| By decision | 8 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 19–7 | Santiago Ponzinibbio | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Ribas 2 | January 11, 2025 | 3 | 3:13 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 19–6 | Khaos Williams | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy | May 18, 2024 | 1 | 1:30 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 19–5 | Jeremiah Wells | Technical Submission (anaconda choke) | UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font | August 5, 2023 | 3 | 1:50 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 18–5 | Jared Gooden | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili | March 11, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (177 lb) bout; Gooden missed weight. |
| Loss | 17–5 | Shavkat Rakhmonov | KO (spinning hook kick and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland | February 5, 2022 | 1 | 4:10 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–4 | Impa Kasanganay | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann | September 18, 2021 | 1 | 2:38 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 16–4 | Christian Aguilera | Technical Submission (anaconda choke) | UFC on ESPN: Rodriguez vs. Waterson | May 8, 2021 | 1 | 2:52 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 15–4 | Saygid Izagakhmaev | Technical Submission (anaconda choke) | UAE Warriors 15 | January 15, 2021 | 2 | 2:36 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 14–4 | Alex Santos | KO (punch) | Shooto Brazil 101 | September 27, 2020 | 2 | 1:12 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 13–4 | Claudio Rocha | TKO (punches) | Shooto Brazil 99 | December 20, 2019 | 1 | N/A | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Loss | 12–4 | Jarrah Al-Silawi | TKO (punches) | Brave CF 16 | September 21, 2018 | 1 | 3:51 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Lost the Brave CF Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 12–3 | Carl Booth | Decision (unanimous) | Brave CF 8 | August 12, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Curitiba, Brazil | Won the inaugural Brave CF Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 11–3 | Thiago Vieira | TKO (punches) | Brave CF 3 | March 18, 2017 | 2 | 1:04 | Curitiba, Brazil | |
| Win | 10–3 | Wellington Turman | Decision (unanimous) | Imortal FC 6 | December 10, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Curitiba, Brazil | |
| Win | 9–3 | Wellington Vicente | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Skull FC 1 | August 20, 2016 | 1 | 1:31 | Duque de Caxias, Brazil | |
| Loss | 8–3 | Julio Cesar Andrade | Decision (split) | Watch Out Combat Show 43 | June 25, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | For the WOCS Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–2 | Michel Pereira | Decision (unanimous) | XFC International 12 | November 28, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 7–2 | Paulo César | Submission (brabo choke) | XFC International 9 | March 14, 2015 | 1 | 4:03 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 6–2 | Ariel Jaeger | Decision (unanimous) | XFC International 7 | November 1, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 5–2 | Claudio Rocha | Decision (unanimous) | Cage Combat: Pro MMA 7 | June 21, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Bonito, Brazil | |
| Win | 4–2 | Cleiton Prisco | Decision (unanimous) | Bitetti Combat 15 | May 11, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 3–2 | Joilton Lutterbach | Decision (unanimous) | Bitetti Combat 14 | March 9, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 2–2 | Aldo Ocampos | TKO (punches) | Cage Combat: International Cage Combat 2 | August 25, 2012 | 3 | 2:21 | Campo Grande, Brazil | |
| Loss | 1–2 | Fernando Bruno | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto Brazil 28 | March 10, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 1–1 | Bruno Renascer | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Beija-Flor Fight Combat | December 3, 2011 | 1 | 2:16 | Nilópolis, Brazil | |
| Loss | 0–1 | Christiano Marques | Decision (split) | Apocalypse FC 1 | October 8, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Passo Fundo, Brazil | Welterweight debut. |