Olaf Alfonso

Olaf Alfonso
Born Ensenada, Mexico
Nationality Mexican-American
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
Weight 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st)
Division Lightweight
Welterweight
Fighting out of Ensenada, Baja California
Team Odo Fight Club, Carlson Gracie
Rank Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Black belt in Judo
Years active 2002-2010; 2014-present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 20
Wins 8
By knockout 5
By submission 2
By decision 1
Losses 12
By knockout 8
By submission 1
By decision 3

Olaf Alfonso is a Mexican-American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division. A professional competitor since 2002, Alfonso has formerly competed for the WEC, the PRIDE Fighting Championships, Tachi Palace Fights, and the Palace Fighting Championship.

Background

Alfonso was born in Ensenada, Baja California to a Guatemalan mother and a Norwegian father, who was a famous television and motion picture animator/director. Alfonso wrestled and helped coach during part of his time while enlisted with the U.S. Airforce, and also competed in boxing and kickboxing during his time overseas. He was also a former high school wrestling coach in Oregon.

Mixed martial arts

Alfonso made his professional debut in 2002, fighting for a small organization called DesertBrawl, against Ryan Healy, a future Strikeforce and WEC veteran. The fight was a highly-entertaining striking battle and the kind of fight that Alfonso would become known for later in his career. Both fighters exchanged punches, with Alfonso landing powerful left hooks from the southpaw stance, before switching stances. However, Alfonso could not come out for the third round and his corner threw in their towel, therefore losing by TKO.

Alfonso then made his debut in the Zuffa-owned organization, the WEC, in a Lightweight bout. The fight was against Randy Spence, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist who was a member of Cesar Gracie's training camp. Alfonso immediately came out as the aggressor, grappling with Spence, where he landed many knees from the Muay Thai clinch. Alfonso was then knocked down with a right hand from Spence, but was able to recover, reversing Spence's mount before eventually winning by using the ground and pound technique to get his first professional win by TKO.

Alfonso would then win his next two fights in the WEC, despite, in one of these fights getting his nose broken with the first punch that his opponent threw. At this time, he was simply known as "Olaf," and quickly became a fan favorite due to his eccentric personality, fighting style, as well as his appearance, often sporting shoulder-length hair with a full beard. At WEC 10, his hair braided, he fought for the WEC Lightweight Championship, facing future Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez, another Cesar Gracie student who was at that time undefeated. The two traded punches from the start but ultimately Melendez won by utilizing his wrestling, before the referee stopped the fight after Melendez landed many unanswered strikes with the ground and pound technique.

Two fights later, Alfonso fought again at WEC 12 for the now-vacant WEC Lightweight Championship against future UFC veteran, Gabe "Godzilla" Ruediger. Olaf put on another entertaining fight, landing big punches, but lost again, this time by rear-naked choke. Alfonso then lost two of his next three fights, one of which was handed to him by future WEC Lightweight Champion Rob McCullough, before being given a fight against Japanese superstar and striking specialist Hayato Sakurai despite only owning a record of 5-5. The fight was for the PRIDE organization in Japan, which at the time was arguably the best organization in the world. However, Alfonso would end up on the receiving end of a highlight reel knockout, running into a huge right overhand punch that knocked him completely unconscious, falling down face first into the mat.

Alfonso returned to the WEC losing two more bouts against future UFC veteran Alex Karalexis before making his debut in the California-based Palace Fighting Championship, but lost again this time against former King of the Cage Welterweight Champion, Thomas Denny. Alfonso then won his next two fights, snapping a six-fight losing streak, before losing to UFC and PRIDE veteran Phil Baroni. In his next bout, Alfonso fought for the PFC Welterweight Championship, winning the bout by submission from an armbar, becoming the new PFC Welterweight Champion. Alfonso would then lose the belt in his next fight, via TKO.

Alfonso officially retired in 2010 due to injuries (Alfonso had already broken his nose a shocking nine times heading into the fight with Sakurai). Alfonso also retired to focus on his gym and work for MMA Mexico events as a color commentator.

Olaf later decided to come out of retirement in mid-2014 to return full-time to compete in mixed martial arts competition.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 8–12 Adrian Diaz TKO (punches) TPF 19: Throwback Thursday June 19, 2014 3 2:35 Lemoore, California, United States
Loss 8–11 Kyle Pimentel TKO (doctor stoppage) PFC 13: Validation May 8, 2009 3 2:48 Lemoore, California, United States Lost PFC Welterweight Championship.
Win 8–10 Jeremiah Metcalf Submission (armbar) PFC 12: High Stakes January 22, 2009 1 1:38 Lemoore, California, United States Won PFC Welterweight Championship.
Loss 7–10 Phil Baroni Decision (unanimous) PFC 10: Explosive September 26, 2008 3 3:00 Lemoore, California, United States
Win 7–9 Chris Solomon KO (punch) PFC 8: A Night of Champions May 8, 2008 1 0:28 Lemoore, California, United States
Win 6–9 Casey Olson KO (punch) PFC: Olson vs. Alfonso February 29, 2008 2 1:50 Lemoore, California, United States
Loss 5–9 Thomas Denny Decision (unanimous) PFC 4: Project Complete October 18, 2007 3 3:00 Fresno, California, United States
Loss 5–8 Alex Karalexis TKO (doctor stoppage) WEC 25 January 20, 2007 2 3:53 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 5–7 John Polakowski Decision (split) WEC 24 October 12, 2006 3 5:00 Lemoore, California, United States
Loss 5–6 Hayato Sakurai KO (punch) PRIDE: Bushido 11 June 4, 2006 1 1:54 Saitama, Japan
Loss 5–5 Rob McCullough KO (punch) WEC 19 March 17, 2006 2 0:12 Lemoore, California, United States
Loss 5–4 John Polakowski TKO (corner stoppage) WEC 14 March 17, 2005 1 5:00 Lemoore, California, United States
Win 5–3 Chin Seng TKO (punches) WEC 13 January 22, 2005 1 1:13 Lemoore, California, United States
Loss 4–3 Gabe Ruediger Submission (rear naked choke) WEC 12 October 21, 2004 1 3:05 Lemoore, California, United States For vacant WEC Lightweight Championship.
Win 4–2 Philip Perez TKO (elbows) WEC 11 August 20, 2004 1 2:57 Lemoore, California, United States
Loss 3–2 Gilbert Melendez TKO (punches) WEC 10 May 21, 2004 3 4:54 Lemoore, California, United States For WEC Lightweight Championship.
Win 3–1 John Polakowski Decision (split) WEC 9 January 16, 2004 3 5:00 Lemoore, California, United States
Win 2–1 Randy Bowers Submission (armbar) WEC 8 October 17, 2003 1 3:05 Lemoore, California, United States
Win 1–1 Randy Spence TKO (punches) WEC 7 August 9, 2003 2 4:34 Lemoore, California, United States Lightweight debut.
Loss 0–1 Ryan Healy TKO (corner stoppage) DesertBrawl 5 August 17, 2002 1 5:00 Bend, Oregon, United States

[1]

References

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