Introduction
Geraldo Augusto de Freitas Jr. (born September 30, 1991) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competed in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Background
De Freitas was born and grew up in Conselheiro Lafaiete, Brazil. He began training Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 11, picking up muay thai and boxing later on. At the age of 18, de Freitas moved to Belo Horizonte to study a degree in physical education and find better mixed martial arts training. However, he ended up dropping out of the college and subsequently moving to Rio de Janeiro in pursuit of professional mixed martial arts career.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Starting his career in 2012, Geraldo compiled a 11–4 record fighting for regional Brazilian promotions, most notably for Shooto Brazil, where he won the Bantamweight title by beating Luciano Benicio by decision.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Geraldo made his UFC debut at lightweight against Felipe Colares on February 2, 2019 at UFC Fight Night: Assunção vs. Moraes 2. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Geraldo faced Chris Gutiérrez on August 10, 2019 at UFC Fight Night: Shevchenko vs. Carmouche 2. He lost the fight via a split decision. 7 out of 11 media scores gave it to Geraldo.
He was then expected to face Jack Shore at UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Edwards on March 21, 2020. However, the whole event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Geraldo faced Tony Gravely on November 14, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. 15 out of 16 media scores gave it to Gravely.
On March 4, 2021, it was announced that Geraldo was released from UFC.
Post UFC
Geraldo made his return for the first time after getting released on July 24, 2021 at Shooto Brazil 107 against Marcos Cordeiro. He won the bout via armbar in the first round.
On October 13, 2021 USADA announced that an independent arbitrator has rendered a two-year period of ineligibility for an anti-doping policy violation that he committed while he was in the UFC program. Freitas tested positive for exogenous administration of testosterone and/or its precursors as the result of an out-of-competition drug test collected on October 14, 2020. The two-year period of ineligibility began on January 11, 2021.
Geraldo faced Rogerio Ferreira on November 19, 2022 at MAC 3, winning the bout via first-round rear-naked submission.
Personal life
The nickname "Spartan" is in honor of his friend who died, Igor Silva. Igor was very supportive of Geraldo's dream of becoming a professional MMA fighter. When he was starting out, they used to watch the “300” movie, and Igor would encourage Geraldo by saying they were Spartan warriors.
Championships and achievements
- Shooto Brazil
- Shooto Brazil Bantamweight Championship (One Time)
Mixed martial arts record
| 21 matches | 14 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 1 |
| By submission | 7 | 0 |
| By decision | 3 | 6 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 14–7 | Daguir Imavov | KO (punches) | Ares FC 16 | June 23, 2023 | 1 | 2:33 | Paris, France | Return to Featherweight. |
| Win | 14–6 | Luiz Carlos Caetano | Submission (rear-naked choke) | MAC 3 | November 19, 2022 | 1 | 1:29 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 13–6 | Marcos Cordeiro | Submission (armlock) | Shooto Brazil 107 | July 24, 2021 | 1 | 3:12 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Catchweight (140 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 12–6 | Tony Gravely | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos | November 15, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 12–5 | Chris Gutiérrez | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Shevchenko vs. Carmouche 2 | August 10, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Montevideo, Uruguay | |
| Win | 12–4 | Felipe Colares | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Assunção vs. Moraes 2 | February 2, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Fortaleza, Brazil | Featherweight bout. |
| Win | 11–4 | Rafael Rafael | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Shooto Brazil 83 | May 11, 2018 | 1 | 2:37 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 10–4 | Luciano Benicio | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto Brazil 74 | August 27, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Won the Shooto Brazil Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–4 | Zeilton Rodrigues | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto Brazil 72 | May 12, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Catchweight (139 lbs) |
| Win | 8–4 | Wallace Portella | Submission (armbar) | Watch Out Combat Show 44 | November 5, 2016 | 1 | N/A | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 7–4 | Fabio Pacheco | KO (punch) | Jungle Fight 88 | June 25, 2016 | 1 | 1:11 | Pocos de Caldas, Brazil | |
| Win | 6–4 | Israel Ottoni | Submission (armbar) | Jungle Fight 84 | December 5, 2015 | 1 | 4:05 | Sao Paulo, Brazil | |
| Loss | 5–4 | Denis Silva | Decision (split) | Jungle Fight 82 | October 24, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Sao Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 5–3 | Peter Montibeller | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Nitrix Champion Fight 23 | May 9, 2015 | 2 | 5:00 | Camboriu, Brazil | |
| Loss | 4–3 | Bruno Camargo | Decision (split) | Bitetti Combat 20 | June 7, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Armação dos Búzios, Brazil | |
| Win | 4–2 | Adonilton Matos | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bitetti Combat 17 | September 6, 2013 | 2 | 4:17 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Bantamweight debut. |
| Win | 3–2 | Julio Cesar | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Luta Contra o Crack: Fight Against Crack | June 23, 2013 | 3 | 0:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 2–2 | Gustavo Prado Faquini | Submission (armbar) | Mixed Submission and Strike Arts 3 | March 25, 2013 | 1 | 4:20 | Barra da Tijuca, Brazil | |
| Loss | 1–2 | Fred Vieira Rudolph | Decision (unanimous) | Super Fight Lafaiete | September 1, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Conselheiro Lafaiete, Brazil | Featherweight debut. |
| Loss | 1–1 | Eliandro Libania | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto Brazil 32 | July 14, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | Uelington Pereira da Silva | TKO (punches) | Minas Fight | May 26, 2012 | 1 | 4:19 | Conselheiro Lafaiete, Brazil |