Brian Kelleher
Introduction
Brian Kelleher (born August 19, 1986) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2011, he has also competed for Bellator and CES MMA.
Background
Born and raised on Long Island, New York, Kelleher competed in a variety of sports from a young age including ice hockey and soccer. He later began training in 2007.
Mixed martial arts career
Kelleher compiled an amateur record of 4-3 while competing as a Lightweight before making his professional debut, a loss, in 2011. Kelleher later captured the Ring of Combat Bantamweight Championship and held a record of 16-7 before being signed by the UFC.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Kelleher made his promotional debut against Iuri Alcantara on short notice at UFC 212 on June 3, 2017. He won the fight via submission due to a guillotine choke in the first round and was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.
He next faced Marlon Vera on July 22, 2017 at UFC on Fox 25. He lost via armbar submission in the first round. He won the fight via submission in the first round.
Kelleher is expected to face Damian Stasiak on October 21, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 118.
Championships and accomplishments
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Iuri Alacantra
- 'Ring of Combat
- Bantamweight Championship (One time, one defense)
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 25 matches | 17 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 0 |
| By submission | 8 | 5 |
| By decision | 3 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 17-8 | Marlon Vera | Submission (armbar) | UFC on Fox: Weidman vs. Gastelum | 000000002017-07-22-0000July 22, 2017 | 1 | 2:18 | Uniondale, New York, United States | |
| Win | 17-7 | Iuri Alcantara | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC 212 | 000000002017-06-03-0000June 3, 2017 | 1 | 1:48 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 16-7 | Julio Arce | Submission (guillotine choke) | Ring of Combat 54 | 000000002016-03-04-0000March 4, 2016 | 3 | 0:18 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Defended Ring of Combat Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 15-7 | Josh Robinson | KO (spinning back fist) | Ring of Combat 53 | 000000002015-11-20-0000November 20, 2015 | 3 | 0:24 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 14-7 | Julio Arce | Decision (majority) | Ring of Combat 52 | 000000002015-09-25-0000September 25, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Won Ring of Combat Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 13-7 | Jay Haas | Submission (guillotine choke) | CCFC 49 | 000000002015-06-06-0000June 6, 2015 | 1 | 4:49 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States | Catchweight bout of 140 lbs. |
| Win | 12-7 | Andre Soukhamthath | Decision (unanimous) | CES MMA 28 | 000000002015-03-13-0000March 13, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | Bantamweight bout. |
| Win | 11-7 | Mark Cherico | Submission (guillotine choke) | Pinnacle FC 9 | 000000002014-11-26-0000November 26, 2014 | 1 | 0:37 | Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, United States | Catchweight bout of 138 lbs. |
| Loss | 10-7 | Andy Main | Submission (triangle choke) | CCFC 34 | 000000002014-04-19-0000April 19, 2014 | 1 | 1:26 | Morristown, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 10-6 | Lester Caslow | Submission (rear-naked choke) | CCFC 31 | 000000002014-02-08-0000February 8, 2014 | 2 | 1:34 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Featherweight bout. |
| Loss | 9-6 | Jeff Smith | Submission (armbar) | CCFC 29 | 000000002013-11-01-0000November 1, 2013 | 2 | 4:39 | King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, United States | Catchweight bout of 155 lbs. |
| Loss | 9-5 | Scott Heckman | Decision (unanimous) | CCFC 27 | 000000002013-09-21-0000September 21, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, United States | |
| Loss | 9-4 | Jimmie Rivera | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 95 | 000000002013-04-04-0000April 4, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Catchweight bout of 140 lbs. |
| Win | 9-3 | Tyler Kahihikolo | Decision (unanimous) | Coalition of Combat | 000000002012-12-01-0000December 1, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 8-3 | Bill Jones | KO (punch) | WCMMA 1: Portugal vs. USA | 000000002012-09-15-0000September 15, 2012 | 1 | 0:10 | Ledyard, Connecticut, United States | Won vacant WCMMA Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 7-3 | Ryan Vaccaro | TKO (flying knee) | Rock Out Knock Out | 000000002012-06-02-0000June 2, 2012 | 2 | 0:56 | Asbury Park, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 6-3 | Raphael Chavez | TKO (punches) | CCFC 14 | 000000002012-04-14-0000April 14, 2012 | 2 | 3:41 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 5-3 | Josh Parker | Submission (rear-naked choke) | NEF: Fight Night 1 | 000000002012-02-11-0000February 11, 2012 | 1 | 4:31 | Lewiston, Maine, United States | |
| Loss | 4-3 | Artur Rofi | Submission (armbar) | CCFC 12 | 000000002011-12-10-0000December 10, 2011 | 1 | 4:57 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Return to Featherweight. |
| Loss | 4-2 | Claudio Ledesma | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 54 | 000000002011-10-15-0000October 15, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Catchweight bout of 140 lbs. |
| Win | 4-1 | Michael LaDuke | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Ring of Combat 37 | 000000002011-09-09-0000September 9, 2011 | 3 | 3:14 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 3-1 | Manny Millan | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Xtreme Fight Events: Cage Wars 9 | 000000002011-07-29-0000July 29, 2011 | 1 | 3:34 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 2-1 | Siyam Yousefi | Submission (guillotine choke) | CCFC 8 | 000000002011-05-20-0000May 20, 2011 | 1 | 2:41 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Bantamweight debut. |
| Win | 1-1 | Nate Ainsworth | KO (punch) | CZ 37 | 000000002011-04-29-0000April 29, 2011 | 1 | 0:23 | Salem, New Hampshire, United States | |
| Loss | 0-1 | Dan Cion | Submission (guillotine choke) | Xtreme Fight Events: Cage Wars 5 | 000000002011-03-11-0000March 11, 2011 | 1 | 4:42 | Chester, Pennsylvania, United States |