Introduction
Christopher Wade (born September 30, 1987) is an American professional mixed martial artist and currently competing in the Lightweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). A professional competitor since 2011, he has also competed in the UFC.
Background
Wade was born on September 30, 1987, in Rockville Centre, New York. A talented wrestler, Wade attended Islip High School, where he was a state champion (140 lbs.) as well as a two-time Suffolk County finalist and a Suffolk County Champion. Wade continued his career at the collegiate level where he was a NJCAA National finalist for Nassau Community College and had an NCAA Division III fifth-place finish for SUNY Oneonta. Wade also competed in amateur kickboxing, where was undefeated and held a title.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Wade had an amateur MMA record of 2-0 before turning professional in 2011. Wade then compiled a professional record of 5-0 and won the Ring of Combat Lightweight Championship before being signed by the World Series of Fighting.
World Series of Fighting
Wade made his WSOF debut at WSOF 2 on March 23, 2013 against Russian prospect Azamat Dugulubgov. Wade lost via unanimous decision.
Independent promotions
Wade returned to the local circuit and won both of his next two fights before being signed by the UFC.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Wade made his promotional debut against Cain Carrizosa on August 30, 2014 at UFC 177. Wade won via technical submission from a guillotine choke in the first round.
Wade faced Zhang Lipeng on January 18, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 59. Wade won via unanimous decision.
Wade faced Christos Giagos on June 6, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 68. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Wade was expected to face Olivier Aubin-Mercier on August 23, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 74. However, Wade pulled out of the bout in late July after sustaining an injury and was replaced by Tony Sims.
Wade was expected to face Mairbek Taisumov on January 17, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 81. Subsequently, Taisumov was pulled from the fight during the week leading to the event due to alleged visa issues and was replaced by promotional newcomer Mehdi Baghdad. Wade won the fight via submission in the first round.
Wade was expected to face Rashid Magomedov on May 8, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 87. However, Magomedov pulled out of the fight in early March and was replaced by Rustam Khabilov. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Wade next faced Islam Makhachev on September 17, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 94. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Wade faced Frankie Perez in a rematch on July 22, 2017 at UFC on Fox 25. He won the fight by unanimous decision with the score board of (29-28, 29-28, 30-27).
Wade subsequently parted ways with UFC following the bout and signed a contract with PFL
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 23 matches | 17 wins | 6 losses |
| By submission | 5 | 0 |
| By decision | 12 | 6 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 17–6 | Loik Radzhabov | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 8 | October 17, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | 2019 PFL Lightweight Semifinal bout. |
| Win | 17–5 | Nate Andrews | Decision (majority) | 2 | 5:00 | 2019 PFL Lightweight Quarterfinal bout. | |||
| Win | 16–5 | Akhmet Aliev | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 5 | July 25, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | 2019 PFL Lightweight Second Round. |
| Win | 15–5 | Nate Andrews | Decision (unanimous | PFL 2 | May 23, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Uniondale, New York, United States | 2019 PFL Lightweight Opening Round. |
| Loss | 14–5 | Natan Schulte | Decision (split) | PFL 9 | October 13, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Long Beach, California, United States | 2018 PFL Lightweight Semifinal bout. |
| Win | 14–4 | Robert Watley | Decision (majority) | 2 | 5:00 | 2018 PFL Lightweight Quarterfinal bout. | |||
| Win | 13–4 | Yuki Kawana | Submission (guillotine choke) | PFL 5 | August 2, 2018 | 1 | 4:24 | Uniondale, New York, United States | |
| Loss | 12–4 | Natan Schulte | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 2 | June 21, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 12–3 | Frankie Perez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Weidman vs. Gastelum | July 22, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Uniondale, New York, United States | |
| Loss | 11–3 | Islam Makhachev | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Johnson | September 17, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Hidalgo, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 11–2 | Rustam Khabilov | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Arlovski | May 8, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| Win | 11–1 | Mehdi Baghdad | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Dillashaw vs. Cruz | January 17, 2016 | 1 | 4:30 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Win | 10–1 | Christos Giagos | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Boetsch vs. Henderson | June 6, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | |
| Win | 9–1 | Zhang Lipeng | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver | January 18, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Win | 8–1 | Cain Carrizosa | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC 177 | August 30, 2014 | 1 | 1:12 | Sacramento, California, United States | |
| Win | 7–1 | Frankie Perez | Decision (split) | Ring of Combat 48 | May 16, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Defended the Ring of Combat Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–1 | Pat DeFranco | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Ring of Combat 47 | January 24, 2014 | 2 | 2:31 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Won the Ring of Combat Lightweight Championship. |
| Loss | 5–1 | Azamat Dugulugbov | Decision (unanimous) | WSOF 2 | March 23, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Catchweight (160 lbs) bout. |
| Win | 5–0 | Mike Medrano | Decision (unanimous) | Ring of Combat 43 | January 24, 2013 | 3 | 4:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Alfred Walker | Submission (guillotine choke) | Ring of Combat 42 | September 14, 2012 | 1 | 0:59 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Villi Bello | Decision (unanimous) | Ring of Combat 41 | June 15, 2012 | 3 | 4:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Maykon Santos | Decision (unanimous) | Ring of Combat 40 | April 27, 2012 | 2 | 4:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Lightweight debut. |
| Win | 1–0 | Vinicius Agudo | Decision (unanimous) | Ring of Combat 38 | November 18, 2011 | 2 | 4:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |