Introduction
Luiz Philipe Lins Pimentel do Amaral (born August 17, 1985) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, who competes in the Heavyweight division. He won the 2018 Professional Fighters League heavyweight tournament.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Lins made his professional MMA debut in August 2005.For the first eight years of his career he fought exclusively in his native Brazil although he did take an extended break from MMA competition from 2006-2011.He remained undefeated during his time in Brazil, earning a record of seven wins and no losses.
Before signing with Bellator, Lins was ranked by MMA news site Bloody Elbow as the second best Light Heavyweight prospect in 2012.
Bellator MMA
Lins made his North American and Bellator MMA debut in April 2014 at Bellator 116.He faced Travis Clark and won via rear-naked choke submission in the first round.
In the summer of 2014, Lins was announced as a participant in the Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament.He faced Austin Heidlage in the opening quarterfinals at Bellator 121 and won via submission in the first round.He faced Kelly Anundson in the semifinals and lost due to a knee injury.
Lins was expected to return against Francis Carmont at Bellator MMA & Glory: Dynamite 1 on September 19, 2015, however pulled out of the bout due to illness.
Lins faced Guilherme Viana at Bellator 159 on July 23, 2016. He won the fight via TKO in the second round.
Lins faced Kleber Silva at Bellator 168 on December 10, 2016. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.
Lins faced Vadim Nemkov at Bellator 182 on August 25, 2017. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.
On February 20, 2018 it was announced that Bellator had released Lins from the promotion.
Professional Fighters League
In the fall of 2018, Lins entered the PFL Heavyweight tournament. At PFL 8 on October 5, 2018, he defeated Caio Alencar by guillotine choke submission in the quarterfinal round and then defeated Jared Rosholt by TKO in the semifinal round. Lins faced Josh Copeland in the finals at PFL 11 on December 31, 2018. He won the fight via technical knockout in the fourth round to win the PFL Heavyweight Tournament and earn the $1 million cash prize.
Lins was expected to defend his championship in the second season of PFL, but had to withdraw from the whole season due to an injury.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Lins was scheduled to make his UFC debut against former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Andrei Arlovski on May 2, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Weidman. However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponedand rescheduled to May 13, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Lins faced Tanner Boser on June 27, 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker. He lost the fight via knockout in round one
Championships and accomplishments
- Professional Fighters League
- 2018 Heavyweight Tournament champion
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 19 matches | 14 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 8 | 4 |
| By submission | 4 | 0 |
| By decision | 2 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 14–5 | Tanner Boser | KO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker | June 27, 2020 | 1 | 2:41 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 14–4 | Andrei Arlovski | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira | May 13, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 14–3 | Josh Copeland | TKO (knees and punches) | PFL 11 | December 31, 2018 | 4 | 0:30 | New York City, New York, United States | Won the 2018 PFL Heavyweight Tournament. |
| Win | 13–3 | Jared Rosholt | TKO (punches) | PFL 8 | October 5, 2018 | 2 | 0:45 | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | 2018 PFL Heavyweight Semifinal bout. |
| Win | 12–3 | Caio Alencar | Submission (guillotine choke) | 1 | 0:58 | 2018 PFL Heavyweight Quarterfinal bout. | |||
| Win | 11–3 | Alex Nicholson | TKO (punches) | PFL 4 | July 19, 2018 | 2 | 3:39 | Uniondale, New York, United States | Heavyweight debut. |
| Loss | 10–3 | Vadim Nemkov | KO (punches) | Bellator 182 | August 25, 2017 | 1 | 3:03 | Verona, New York, United States | |
| Loss | 10–2 | Kleber Silva | TKO (punches) | Bellator 168 | December 10, 2016 | 2 | 3:42 | Florence, Italy | |
| Win | 10–1 | Guilherme Viana | TKO (punches) | Bellator 159 | July 23, 2016 | 2 | 1:13 | Mulvane, Kansas, United States | |
| Loss | 9–1 | Kelly Anundson | TKO (knee injury) | Bellator 122 | July 25, 2014 | 1 | 1:40 | Temecula, California, United States | 2014 Summer Series Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 9–0 | Austen Heidlage | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 121 | June 6, 2014 | 1 | 2:45 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | 2014 Summer Series Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 8–0 | Travis Clark | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 116 | April 11, 2014 | 1 | 0:40 | Temecula, California, United States | |
| Win | 7–0 | Armando Sixel | TKO (punches) | Bitetti Combat 18 | October 31, 2013 | 2 | 3:30 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 6–0 | Ubiratan Lima | Decision (unanimous) | Bitetti Combat 17 | September 6, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 5–0 | Daniel Alexandre Freitas Bonfim | KO (punches) | Rockstrike MMA 1 | July 9, 2011 | 1 | 4:40 | Brasília, Brazil | |
| Win | 4–0 | Antonio Mendes | Decision (unanimous) | Nordeste Combat Championship | September 6, 2006 | 3 | 5:00 | Natal, Brazil | |
| Win | 3–0 | Anderson Cruz | Submission (triangle choke) | Tremons Fight 2 | January 21, 2006 | 1 | 2:13 | João Câmara, Brazil | |
| Win | 2–0 | Antonio Mendes | KO (punches) | Bad Boy: Vale Tudo Open | December 8, 2005 | 2 | N/A | Fortaleza, Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | Maurilio de Souza da Silva | TKO (punches) | Mossoró Fight | August 26, 2005 | 2 | 1:05 | Mossoró, Brazil | Light Heavyweight debut. |