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Ante Delija

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Ante Delija
Born (1990-08-07) 7 August 1990 (age 34)
Dubrovnik, Croatia
NicknameWalking Trouble
Height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight244 lb (111 kg; 17 st 6 lb)
DivisionHeavyweight
Reach79 in (201 cm)
Fighting out ofDubrovnik, Croatia
TeamGladiator Croatia, Cro Cop Team
Years active2011–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total30
Wins24
By knockout11
By submission6
By decision7
Losses6
By knockout4
By submission1
By decision1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Ante Delija (born August 7, 1990[1]) is a Croatian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Heavyweight division of Professional Fighters League (PFL). He won the 2022 PFL Heavyweight Championship. He fought in several other organizations such as M-1 Global, Rizin Fighting Federation, KSW.

Mixed martial arts career

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M-1 Global

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On February 28, 2014, Delija made his M-1 Global debut in the main event of M-1 Challenge 45 against Estonian Denis Smoldarev and lost via submission (keylock).[2]

On September 20, 2015, Delija faced Marcin Tybura at M-1 Challenge 61 for the M-1 Global Heavyweight Championship and lost after he suffered horrible open fracture of tibia.[3] Delija had two surgeries on the leg and after second surgery he got infected by hospital bactery.

RIZIN

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Three years after injury, Delija made his comeback in the sport on May 6, 2018, in Fukoka, Japan at RIZIN 10 against Ricardo Prasel and won by unanimous decision.[4]

KSW

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On November 9, 2019, Delija made his debut for Konfrontacji Sztuk Walki, in which he TKOed Englishman – Oli Thompson in the second round.[5]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

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Delija was supposed to make his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. Korean Zombie on October 17, 2020, in Abu Dhabi against Ciryl Gane.[6] Bout was cancelled due to Delijas active contract with Professional Fighters League.[7]

Professional Fighters League

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On February 9, 2021, it was announced that Delija would be part of the PFL heavyweight roster for 2021 season.[8]

Delija opened the PFL 2021 season on May 6 in New Jersey at PFL 3 against Bruno Cappelozza and lost via TKO in first round.[9]

On June 25, Delija defeated Chandler Cole via TKO in first round at PFL 6 and secured place in the PFL Playoffs.[10]

On August 19, Delija defeated Denis Goltsov via unanimous decision at PFL 8 and advanced to the PFL Playoff finals.[11]

On October 27, Delija faced Bruno Cappelozza in the PFL finals at PFL 10 and lost in five round bout via unanimous decision.[12]

Delijas PFL 2022 season campaign started with a KO victory over Matheus Scheffel on April 28 at PFL 2.[13]

On June 24, Delija defeated Shelton Graves via unanimous decision and secured his place in the 2022 PFL Playoffs.[14]

In the PFL Playoff semi-finals, Delija faced Renan Ferreira at PFL 8 and won by TKO in first round and advanced to the finals.[15]

In the finals, Delija was set to face Scheffel, whom he already defeated in first round of tournament and this time was no different. Delija knocked him out in the first round, becoming the PFL 2022 Heavyweight champion and earning the 1 milion dollar prize in the process.[16]

Delija faced Maurice Greene on June 16, 2023 at PFL 5.[17] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[18]

Delija faced Valentin Moldavsky at PFL 1 on April 4, 2024. He lost the bout by technical knockout in the first round.[19]

Delija was scheduled to face Vadim Nemkov on January 25, 2025 at Bellator Champions Series 6 (also marketed as PFL Road to Dubai: Champions Series), but Delija withdrew for unknown reasons and was replaced by Corey Anderson.[20]

Championships and accomplishments

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Mixed martial arts

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Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
30 matches 24 wins 6 losses
By knockout 11 4
By submission 6 1
By decision 7 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 24–6 Valentin Moldavsky TKO (knees and punches) PFL 1 (2024) April 4, 2024 1 2:17 San Antonio, Texas, United States
Win 24–5 Maurice Greene Decision (unanimous) PFL 5 (2023) June 16, 2023 3 5:00 Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Win 23–5 Matheus Scheffel TKO (punches) PFL 10 (2022) November 25, 2022 1 2:50 New York City, New York, United States Won the 2022 PFL Heavyweight Tournament.
Win 22–5 Renan Ferreira TKO (punches) PFL 8 (2022) August 13, 2022 1 4:31 Cardiff, Wales 2022 PFL Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win 21–5 Shelton Graves Decision (unanimous) PFL 5 (2022) June 24, 2022 3 5:00 Atlanta, Georgia, United States Graves was deducted one point in round 2 due to a headbutt.
Win 20–5 Matheus Scheffel TKO (punches) PFL 2 (2022) April 28, 2022 2 0:59 Arlington, Texas, United States
Loss 19–5 Bruno Cappelozza Decision (unanimous) PFL 10 (2021) October 27, 2021 5 5:00 Hollywood, Florida, United States 2021 PFL Heavyweight Tournament Final.
Win 19–4 Denis Goltsov Decision (unanimous) PFL 8 (2021) August 19, 2021 3 5:00 Hollywood, Florida, United States 2021 PFL Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win 18–4 Chandler Cole TKO (punches) PFL 6 (2021) June 25, 2021 1 4:39 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss 17–4 Bruno Cappelozza KO (punches) PFL 3 (2021) May 6, 2021 1 0:46 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 17–3 Oli Thompson TKO (punches) KSW 51 November 9, 2019 2 1:58 Zagreb, Croatia
Win 16–3 Carl Seumanutafa Decision (unanimous) PFL 3 (2019) June 6, 2019 3 5:00 Uniondale, New York, United States
Win 15–3 Ricardo Prasel Decision (unanimous) Rizin 10 May 6, 2018 3 5:00 Fukuoka, Japan
Loss 14–3 Marcin Tybura TKO (leg injury) M-1 Challenge 61 September 20, 2015 1 2:21 Nazran, Russia For the M-1 Global Heavyweight Championship.
Win 14–2 Tibor Soos TKO (punches) Obracun Ringu 13 May 30, 2015 1 1:30 Split, Croatia
Win 13–2 Konstantin Gluhov Decision (unanimous) M-1 Challenge 56 April 10, 2015 3 5:00 Nazran, Russia
Win 12–2 Archontis Taxiarchis Submission (north-south choke) Final Fight Championship: Futures 3 September 27, 2014 1 2:59 Zagreb, Croatia
Win 11–2 Valentijn Overeem TKO (punches) Noc Gladiatora 9 July 3, 2014 1 1:24 Dubrovnik, Croatia
Win 10–2 Ruben Wolf Submission (guillotine choke) Final Fight Championship: Futures 2 May 3, 2014 2 1:28 Opatija, Croatia
Loss 9–2 Denis Smoldarev Submission (kimura) M-1 Challenge 45 February 28, 2014 2 2:27 Saint Petersburg, Russia
Win 9–1 Sergey Sokha Submission (rear-naked choke) Noc Gladiatora 8 December 21, 2013 1 1:23 Dubrovnik, Croatia
Loss 8–1 Dion Staring TKO (punches) Final Fight Championship 8 October 25, 2013 2 2:42 Zagreb, Croatia
Win 8–0 Gzim Selmani TKO (punches) Final Fight Championship 5 May 24, 2013 1 3:09 Osijek, Croatia
Win 7–0 Michail Laprakis Submission (rear-naked choke) Final Fight Championship 3 April 19, 2013 1 1:27 Split, Croatia
Win 6–0 Ricco Rodriguez Decision (unanimous) House of Gladiators 1 December 21, 2012 3 5:00 Dubrovnik, Croatia
Win 5–0 Kristof Nataška Submission (rear-naked choke) Fight for Victory 1 August 3, 2012 2 1:09 Bibinje, Croatia
Win 4–0 Zeli Zalani Submission (rear-naked choke) Opatija Fight Night 4 February 24, 2012 1 N/A Opatija, Croatia
Win 3–0 Dražen Forgač KO (punches) Noc Gladiatora 6 December 16, 2011 1 1:02 Dubrovnik, Croatia
Win 2–0 Erni Strmonja TKO (corner stoppage) Noc Gladijatora April 23, 2011 1 0:38 Novi Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Win 1–0 Saša Lazić TKO (submission to punches) Herus Fight 1 January 22, 2011 1 1:24 Split, Croatia Heavyweight debut.

References

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  1. ^ "Ante Delija ("Walking Trouble") | MMA Fighter Page", Tapology
  2. ^ "Denis Smoldarev vs. Ante Delija", sportowefakty.wp.pl, February 28, 2014
  3. ^ "MMA borcu pukla noga tokom meča! (UZNEMIRUJUĆI VIDEO)", telegraf.rs (in Serbian), September 21, 2015
  4. ^ "Ante Delija vs. Ricardo Prasel", Tapology.com, May 6, 2018
  5. ^ Wirtualna Polska Media (November 9, 2019), "MMA. KSW 51. Ante Delija – Oli Thompson. Brutalny nokaut w drugiej rundzie", sportowefakty.wp.pl (in Polish)
  6. ^ Kewin Nowacki (September 28, 2020), "Ante Delija podpisał kontrakt z UFC i zadebiutuje już 17 października!", MMAfists.pl (in Polish)
  7. ^ Bartłomiej Zubkiewicz (October 14, 2020), "Na kilka dni przed UFC Fight Island 6, walka Ciryla Gane z Ante Deliją anulowana | MMA ROCKS", MMA Rocks! (in Polish)
  8. ^ "PFL reveals heavyweight and women's lightweight rosters for upcoming 2021 season", mmafighting.com, February 9, 2021
  9. ^ "Bruno Cappelozza def. Ante Delija at 2021 PFL 3: Best photos", mmajunkie.com, May 6, 2021
  10. ^ "Ante Delija vs. Chandler Cole", Tapology.com, June 25, 2021
  11. ^ "Denis Goltsov vs. Ante Delija", Tapology.com, August 19, 2021
  12. ^ "2021 PFL Championship: Bruno Cappelozza out-brawls Ante Delija in wild, back-and-forth affair", mmajunkie.com, October 27, 2021
  13. ^ "Ante Delija vs. Matheus Scheffel", Tapology.com, April 28, 2021
  14. ^ "Ante Delija vs. Shelton Graves", Tapology.com, June 24, 2021
  15. ^ "Ante Delija vs. Renan Ferreira", Tapology.com, August 13, 2021
  16. ^ "ANTE DELIJA WINS 2022 PFL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION TITLE, 1 MILLION USD", total-croatia.com, May 11, 2023
  17. ^ Lee, Alexander K. (May 12, 2023). "PFL announces second-half event lineups following 9 fighters receiving drug test suspensions". MMA Fighting. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  18. ^ Calhoun, Curtis (June 17, 2023). "2023 PFL 5 Results & Highlights: Ante Delija Outpoints Maurice Greene". MMA News | UFC News, Results & Interviews. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  19. ^ Anderson, Jay (April 5, 2024). "Valentin Moldavsky Impresses with TKO of Ante Delija at PFL 1". Cageside Press. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  20. ^ Adam Guillen (December 11, 2024). "Ante Delija out, Vadim Nemkov now faces Corey Anderson for light heavyweight title on Jan. 25 in Dubai". mmamania.com. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
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