Sirwan Kakai

Sirwan Kakai
Born (1989-10-03) October 3, 1989
Kermanshah, Iran[1]
Other names Zohan
Nationality Iranian
Swedish
Ethnicity Kurdish
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st)
Division Bantamweight
Reach 67.5 in (171 cm)
Style Wrestling, Kickboxing
Fighting out of Gothenburg, Sweden
Team GBG MMA
American Top Team
Years active 2008–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 17
Wins 12
By knockout 4
By submission 6
By decision 2
Losses 5
By submission 1
By decision 4
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Sirwan Kakai (born October 3, 1989) is an Iranian-Swedish mixed martial artist currently competing in Bellator's bantamweight division. A professional competitor since 2008, Kakai has also competed for the UFC, Pancrase and Titan FC.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Kakai made his professional debut in 2008. He competed almost exclusively in the Nordic countries, for a variety of promotions, before his UFC stint. He compiled a 11–2 record, with all but one of his victories ending via KO/TKO or submission.[2]

On May 6, 2012 he fought Claudemir Souza for the Bantamweight Championship in the Swedish organisation The Zone FC.[3] He became the champion after winning the fight by TKO in the third round.[4]

Both losses by decision, one of them in the legendary Pancrase promotion after a close fight against Taichi Nakajima.[5][6]

The Ultimate Fighter

In 2011, Kakai made it to the try outs for The Ultimate Fighter 14. He advanced from the first round of the casting but wasn't able to continue with the show.[7]

In addition, Kakai instead made it to become a contestant on the The Ultimate Fighter 18.[8] He was eliminated by Chris Beal via unanimous decision in the fight to get into the house.[9]

Titan Fighting Championship

After a successful 10-2 stint on the European, North American and Asian circuit, Kakai signed with the U.S. based promotion Titan FC in September, 2014.[10][11]

In his promotional debut, he faced previously undefeated Joseph Barajas on October 31, 2014 at Titan FC 31.[12] He won the fight by submission due to an arm-triangle choke in the third round.[13]

He was supposed to face Willian Joplin on July 18, 2015 at Titan FC 34,[14] but the bout was scrapped when Kakai instead was signed by the UFC.[15]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In his UFC debut, Kakai faced Danny Martinez at UFC Fight Night 70 on June 27, 2015, taking the fight on less than a weeks notice.[16] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[17]

In another short notice fight, Kakai faced off against Frankie Saenz on August 8, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 73.[18] He lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision.[19] Subsequently, as a surprise to some, he was released from the promotion.[20][21]

Bellator MMA

In December 2015, it was revealed that Kakai had signed a four-fight deal with Bellator.[22] He made his promotional debut against Joe Taimanglo on March 4, 2016 at Bellator 151.[23][24] Kakai lost the bout by unanimous decision.

Kakai faced former Bellator champion Joe Warren on September 16, 2016 at Bellator 161.[25] He lost the fight via submission in the third round.

Personal life

Before embarking on his fight career, Kakai was a construction worker.[26]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts career

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 12–5 Joe Warren Submission (guillotine choke) Bellator 161 September 16, 2016 3 1:04 Cedar Park, Texas, United States
Loss 12–4 Joe Taimanglo Decision (unanimous) Bellator 151 March 4, 2016 3 5:00 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Loss 12–3 Frankie Saenz Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Saint Preux August 8, 2015 3 5:00 Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Win 12–2 Danny Martinez Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Romero June 27, 2015 3 5:00 Hollywood, Florida, United States
Win 11–2 Joseph Barajas Submission (arm-triangle choke) Titan FC 31 October 31, 2014 3 4:40 Tampa, Florida, United States
Win 10–2 Carl Fawcett TKO (punches) The Zone FC 13: Tough Luck April 26, 2014 3 4:34 Gothenburg, Sweden Catchweight (141 lb) bout.
Loss 9–2 Taichi Nakajima Decision (unanimous) Pancrase 252: 20th Anniversary September 29, 2013 3 5:00 Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan Pancrase World Slam tournament quarterfinal.
Win 9–1 Jose Luis Zapater TKO (knees) International Ring Fight Arena 4 March 9, 2013 3 2:39 Solna Municipality, Sweden
Win 8–1 Vladimir Karasiov Submission (rear-naked choke) Royal Arena 2 August 31, 2012 1 3:03 Copenhagen, Denmark
Win 7–1 Claudemir Souza TKO (knees and punches) The Zone FC 10: Demolition May 6, 2012 3 N/A Gothenburg, Sweden Won The Zone FC Bantamweight Championship.
Win 6–1 James Doolan Submission (guillotine choke) Superior Challenge 7: Rise of Champions April 30, 2011 2 3:07 Stockholm, Sweden
Win 5–1 Thomas Back Decision (unanimous) The Zone FC 8: Inferno February 26, 2011 3 5:00 Gothenburg, Sweden
Win 4–1 Janne Elonen-Kulmala Submission (rear-naked choke) Fight Festival 28 October 16, 2010 1 3:48 Helsinki, Finland
Win 3–1 Christophe Domin Submission (triangle choke) Superior Challenge 5: Pride and Fury May 1, 2010 1 1:13 Stockholm, Sweden
Win 2–1 Heikki Tiilikka KO (knee) Oulu Fight March 28, 2009 2 4:58 Oulu, Finland
Win 1–1 Josh Silva Submission (rear-naked choke) Duke City MMA Series 1 March 14, 2009 1 2:18 Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
Loss 0–1 Michael Gronfors Decision (unanimous) The Cage Vol. 10: Neoblood April 26, 2008 2 5:00 Helsinki, Finland

Amateur mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 1–0 Mohammad Babadivad Decision (unanimous) Shooto Sweden: Lord of the Ring 1 May 27, 2006 3 5:00 Gävle, Sweden

References

  1. ↑ Sirwan Kakai UFC profile
  2. ↑ "Sirwan Kakai: "I'm ready to show I'm one of the best"". mmaviking.com. 2015-06-08.
  3. ↑ "Announcement: Sirwan Kakai Versus Claudemir Sousa at The Zone FC – Demolition". mmaviking.com. 2012-03-30.
  4. ↑ "Sirwan Kakai Talks About Winning The Zone FC Belt". mmaviking.com. 2012-05-12.
  5. ↑ "Sirwan Kakai: 'Looking forward to challenge' of 8-man tourney at Pancrase 20th anniversary card". mmaviking.com. 2013-07-22.
  6. ↑ "Quick results: Sirwan Kakai at Pancrase 252". mmaviking.com. 2013-09-29.
  7. ↑ "10 European prospects worth watching". sherdog.com. 2011-08-14.
  8. ↑ Guilherme Cruz (August 15, 2013). "TUF 18 cast revealed with male and female bantamweights". mmafighting.com.
  9. ↑ Mike Whitman (September 4, 2013). "'TUF 18' Recap: Episode 1". sherdog.com.
  10. ↑ http://mmanytt.se/galor/the-zone/sirwan-kakai-skriver-kontrakt-med-titan-fc/
  11. ↑ http://www.mmafighting.com/2014/9/17/6334073/titan-fc-notebook-14-events-planned-for-2015
  12. ↑ "Kakai meets undefeated prospect at Titan FC 31". mmaviking.com. 2014-10-07.
  13. ↑ "Titan FC 31 results". lowkickmma.com. 2014-11-01.
  14. ↑ http://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/bouts/207125-titan-fc-34-sirwan-zohan-kakai-vs-william-the-armadillo-joplin
  15. ↑ "Sirwan Kakai Finally Gets UFC Contract, Fights Saturday". mmaviking.com. 2015-06-23.
  16. ↑ Zane Simon (June 23, 2015). "Welcome to the UFC, Montgomery, Sims, & Kakai". bloodyelbow.com.
  17. ↑ Brent Brookhouse (June 27, 2015). "UFC Fight Night 70 results: Sirwan Kakai shuts out Danny Martinez in debut". mmajunkie.com.
  18. ↑ "Sirwan Kakai vs Frankie Saenz official for UFC Fight Night 73". themmareport.com. 2015-07-02.
  19. ↑ "UFC Fight Night 73 results: Frankie Saenz edges Sirwan Kakai by split decision". mmajunkie.com. 2015-08-08.
  20. ↑ http://mmanytt.se/galor/ufc/rykte-sirwan-kakai-av-med-sitt-ufc-kontrakt/
  21. ↑ "Sirwan Kakai 'still in disbelief' after receiving UFC release". mmajr.com. 2015-12-06.
  22. ↑ Tristen Critchfield (December 4, 2015). "Ex-UFC Talent Sirwan Kakai Signs with Bellator MMA for Spring 2016 Debut". sherdog.com.
  23. ↑ "Sirwan Kakai set to make his Bellator debut against Joe Taimanglo at Bellator 151". themmareport.com. 2016-02-10.
  24. ↑ "Kakai makes Bellator debut on main card". mmaviking.com. 2016-02-10.
  25. ↑ "Joe Warren vs Sirwan Kakai set for Bellator 161 co-main event". sherdog.com. 2016-08-09.
  26. ↑ "Sirwan Kakai Official UFC Profile". ufc.com.
  27. ↑ http://www.sherdog.com/events/The-Zone-FC-10-Demolition-22053
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