Introduction
Curtis Millender (born December 1, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist. A professional competitor since 2013 who competed in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Bellator and Legacy Fighting Alliance.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Millender began his professional MMA career in February 2013. During this period of his career, Millender competed exclusively for the California-based promotion, Fight Club OC. He compiled a perfect record of 7–0 in the organization, which included a three-round split decision victory over 10-6 Dominic Waters to become the FCOC welterweight champion.
Bellator MMA
Millender was expected to make his promotional debut against Michael Page at Bellator 134 on February 27, 2015. However, after a cut suffered by Page, Millender instead faced Brennan Ward at the event. Millender lost the fight via rear-naked choke submission in the first round, resulting in the first professional loss of his career.
Millender next faced Fernando Gonzalez at Bellator 137 on May 15, 2015. He lost the fight via guillotine choke submission in the third round. Millender was subsequently released from the promotion following his loss to Gonzalez.
Millender returned to face Steven Ciaccio at Bellator 141 on August 28, 2015. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Millender faced Johnny Cisneros at Bellator 170 on January 21, 2017. He won the fight via TKO in the first round due to strikes.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
On the heel of a six fight win streak, including three straight on the regional scene under the Legacy Fighting Alliance promotion, Millender signed with the UFC in January 2018.
Millender made his promotional debut against Thiago Alves on February 18, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 126. He won the fight via a technical knockout in the second round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus.
Millender faced Max Griffin on July 7, 2018 at UFC 226. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Millender faced Siyar Bahadurzada on December 29, 2018 at UFC 232. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Millender faced Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos on March 9, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 146. He lost the fight via a submission in round one.
Millender faced Belal Muhammad on April 13, 2019 at UFC 236. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
On November 3, 2019 it was announced that Millender had been released from the UFC.
Return to Bellator
In November 2019, Millender announced that he had signed a contract with Bellator MMA.
In his return to the promotion, Millender faced Moses Murrietta at Bellator 238 on January 25, 2020. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Personal life
Millender has two sons: Curtis Jr. and Carter ages eight and four. Millender is currently married to his long time Girlfriend Ashley Richie. The two were married June 23, 2019.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (One time)
- Fight Club OC
- FCOC Welterweight Championship (Two times)
- One successful title defense
- Lights Out Promotion
- Lights Out Welterweight Championship (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 23 matches | 18 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 0 |
| By submission | 0 | 3 |
| By decision | 12 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 18–5 | Moses Murrietta | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 238 | January 25, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Inglewood, California, United States | Catchweight bout (180 lbs). |
| Loss | 17–5 | Belal Muhammad | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 236 | April 13, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |
| Loss | 17–4 | Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. dos Santos | March 9, 2019 | 1 | 2:35 | Wichita, Kansas, United States | |
| Win | 17–3 | Siyar Bahadurzada | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 232 | December 29, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Inglewood, California, United States | |
| Win | 16–3 | Max Griffin | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 226 | July 6, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 15–3 | Thiago Alves | KO (knee) | UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Medeiros | February 18, 2018 | 2 | 4:17 | Austin, Texas, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 14–3 | Nick Barnes | KO (head kick) | LFA 30 | January 12, 2018 | 2 | 2:51 | Costa Mesa, California, United States | |
| Win | 13–3 | Matthew Frincu | KO (head kick) | LFA 24 | October 13, 2017 | 1 | 0:38 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 12–3 | Kevin Holland | Decision (unanimous) | LFA 13 | June 2, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Burbank, California, United States | |
| Win | 11–3 | Johnny Cisneros | TKO (punches) | Bellator 170 | January 21, 2017 | 2 | 3:48 | Inglewood, California, United States | |
| Win | 10–3 | Ozzie Alvarez | Decision (unanimous) | Fight Club OC | August 25, 2016 | 5 | 5:00 | Costa Mesa, California, United States | Won the vacant Fight Club OC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–3 | Casey Greene | Decision (unanimous) | Lights Out @ Sportsmen's Lodge: Fight Night 7 | June 25, 2016 | 5 | 5:00 | Studio City, Los Angeles, California, United States | Won the Lights Out Welterweight Championship. |
| Loss | 8–3 | Eddie Mendez | Decision (unanimous) | Lights Out @ Sportsmen's Lodge: Fight Night 4 | October 23, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Studio City, Los Angeles, California, United States | Catchweight (175 lbs) bout. |
| Win | 8–2 | Steven Ciaccio | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 141 | August 28, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Temecula, California, United States | |
| Loss | 7–2 | Fernando Gonzalez | Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 137 | May 15, 2015 | 3 | 1:14 | Temecula, California, United States | |
| Loss | 7–1 | Brennan Ward | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 134 | February 27, 2015 | 1 | 1:37 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 7–0 | James Chaney | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Fight Club OC | October 16, 2014 | 1 | 0:48 | Costa Mesa, California, United States | Defended the Fight Club OC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–0 | Dominic Waters | Decision (split) | Fight Club OC | June 19, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Costa Mesa, California, United States | Won the vacant Fight Club OC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 5–0 | John Mercurio | Decision (unanimous) | Fight Club OC | April 17, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Costa Mesa, California, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Alex Suhonosov | Decision (unanimous) | Fight Club OC | December 5, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Costa Mesa, California, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | J.C. Llamas | Decision (unanimous) | Fight Club OC | August 15, 2013 | 3 | 3:00 | Costa Mesa, California, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Blake Belshe | KO (punch) | Fight Club OC | April 11, 2013 | 1 | 0:34 | Costa Mesa, California, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Paul Gemmati | Decision (unanimous) | Fight Club OC | February 28, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Costa Mesa, California, United States |