Leandro Higo (born January 19, 1989) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight[3] division of Bellator MMA. A professional competitor since 2006, he has also competed for Resurrection Fighting Alliance and Legacy Fighting Alliance.
| Leandro Higo | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 19, 1989 Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil |
| Other names | Alter |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Weight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb) |
| Division | Featherweight Bantamweight |
| Reach | 72 in (183 cm) |
| Fighting out of | Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil |
| Team | Pitbull Brothers[1] Fight Ready[1] |
| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu[2] |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 29 |
| Wins | 23 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 13 |
| By decision | 7 |
| Losses | 6 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Higo made his Resurrection Fighting Alliance debut on August 21, 2015 vs. Terrion Ware at RFA 29, winning by rear-naked choke at the end of round 3.[4] Following a first round victory over Melvin Blumer at RFA 32,[5] he won the RFA Bantamweight title with a first round rear-naked choke victory against Joey Miolla at RFA 37.[6]
Higo made his debut with Legacy Fighting Alliance in the company's debut at LFA 1: Peterson vs. Higo, defeating Steven Peterson via unanimous decision to win the inaugural LFA Bantamweight Championship.[7]
The Ultimate Fighter Brazil
Higo competed in the Bantamweight division on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4.[8] He defeated Maycon Silvan in the elimination round via first round arm-triangle choke, but was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Bruno Rodrigues Mesquita via first round rear-naked choke.[9] After Giovanni Santos was forced to leave the season due to an infection, Higo reluctantly accepted to replace Santos to face Matheus Mattos in another quarterfinal bout.[10] However, his rib injury sustained in the previous week's bout with Mesquita worsened and he was forced to withdraw.[10]
Bellator MMA
Higo made his Bellator debut as a late replacement for Darrion Caldwell against Bantamweight titlist Eduardo Dantas in a non-title bout at Bellator 177, losing via split decision.[11]
Higo faced Joe Taimanglo on October 6, 2017 at Bellator 184, winning via unanimous decision.[12]
Higo earned an opportunity to compete for the Bellator Bantamweight Championship vs. Darrion Caldwell on March 2, 2018 at Bellator 195, losing via first round guillotine choke.[13]
For his next bout, Higo moved up to Featherweight and faced Aaron Pico at Bellator 206 on September 29, 2018.[14] He lost the fight via technical knockout in round one.[15]
After the failed attempt in featherweight division, Higo returned to the bantamweight division to face Shawn Bunch at Bellator 228 on September 28, 2019. He won the fight via submission in the second round. Subsequently he signed a new exclusive, multi-fight contract with Bellator.[16]
Higo was expected to face Johnny Campbell in a bantamweight bout at Bellator 241 on March 13, 2020.[17] However, Campbell withdrew from the bout due to an injury and was replaced by Dominic Mazzotta, the bout continuing as a featherweight bout.[18][19]
Higo then faced Ricky Bandejas at Bellator 249 on October 15, 2020. Higo missed the contracted weight, but went on to win the bout via second-round submission.[20]
Higo faced Darrion Caldwell at Bellator 259 on May 21, 2021.[21] At the weigh-ins, Higo weighed in at 137.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Higo was fined a percentage of his purse, which went to Caldwell.[22] Higo won the bout via split decision.[23]
Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix
Higo faced Danny Sabatello in the quarter-finals of the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix at Bellator 282 on June 24, 2022.[24] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[25]
Higo was scheduled to face James Gallagher on March 10, 2023 at Bellator 292.[26] However, in Mid February, Gallagher pulled out of the bout due to unknown reasons.[27]
Higo was scheduled to face Nikita Mikhailov on June 16, 2023 at Bellator 297.[28] However, the bout was scrapped when Mikhailov came down with a sickness.[29] The bout was rescheduled for August 11, 2023 at Bellator 298.[30] Higo won the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the second round.[31]
On short notice, Higo faced James Gallagher on March 22, 2024 at Bellator Champions Series 1.[32] Higo came out victorious via unanimous decision after a strong third round.[33]
Personal life
Higo has a son.[1]
Mixed martial arts record
| 29 matches | 23 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 2 |
| By submission | 13 | 1 |
| By decision | 7 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 23–6 | James Gallagher | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator Champions Series 1 | March 22, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Belfast, Northern Ireland | Return to Featherweight. |
| Win | 22–6 | Nikita Mikhailov | Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 298 | August 11, 2023 | 2 | 2:50 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States | |
| Loss | 21–6 | Danny Sabatello | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 282 | June 24, 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 21–5 | Darrion Caldwell | Decision (split) | Bellator 259 | May 21, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Catchweight (137.5 lb) bout; Higo missed weight. |
| Win | 20–5 | Ricky Bandejas | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 249 | October 15, 2020 | 2 | 2:32 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Catchweight (139 lbs) bout; Higo missed weight. |
| Win | 19–5 | Shawn Bunch | Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 228 | September 28, 2019 | 2 | 4:34 | Inglewood, California, United States | |
| Loss | 18–5 | Aaron Pico | TKO (elbow and punches) | Bellator 206 | September 29, 2018 | 1 | 3:19 | San Jose, California, United States | Featherweight bout. |
| Loss | 18–4 | Darrion Caldwell | Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 195 | March 2, 2018 | 1 | 2:36 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | For the Bellator Bantamweight World Championship. |
| Win | 18–3 | Joe Taimanglo | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 184 | October 6, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Loss | 17–3 | Eduardo Dantas | Decision (split) | Bellator 177 | April 14, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Budapest, Hungary | |
| Win | 17–2 | Steven Peterson | Decision (unanimous) | LFA 1: Peterson vs. Higo | January 13, 2017 | 5 | 5:00 | Dallas, Texas, United States | Won the inaugural LFA Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 16–2 | Joey Miolla | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | RFA 37 | April 15, 2016 | 1 | 2:07 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States | Won the vacant RFA Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 15–2 | Melvin Blumer | TKO (punches) | RFA 32 | November 6, 2015 | 1 | 2:58 | Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 14–2 | Terrion Ware | Submission (rear-naked choke) | RFA 29 | August 21, 2015 | 3 | 4:58 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States | |
| Win | 13–2 | Eduardo de Souza Silva | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Coliseu Extreme Fight 7 | September 6, 2013 | 2 | 2:33 | Alagoas, Brazil | |
| Win | 12–2 | Francisco Antonio Araujo Rodrigues | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Arena Fight 5 | January 18, 2013 | 1 | 2:42 | Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil | |
| Win | 11–2 | Alex Silva | Decision (unanimous) | Conquista Kombat Championship | November 17, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Bahia, Brazil | |
| Win | 10–2 | Janailson Kevin Pereira Lima | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Fort MMA 2 | April 12, 2013 | 2 | 4:04 | Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil | |
| Loss | 9–2 | Iliarde Santos | Decision (unanimous) | Jungle Fight 38 | April 28, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Pará, Brazil | |
| Win | 9–1 | Erinaldo dos Santos Rodrigues | Decision (unanimous) | WFE 11 | December 16, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Bahia, Brazil | |
| Win | 8–1 | Wagner Campos | Decision (unanimous) | WFE 10 | September 16, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Bahia, Brazil | |
| Loss | 7–1 | Marcos Vinicius Costa Silva | TKO (retirement) | Recife Fighting Championship 2 | May 20, 2010 | 2 | 3:58 | Pernambuco, Brazil | |
| Win | 7–0 | Dudu Dudu | KO (punch) | Nocaute Fight | September 16, 2011 | 1 | 3:05 | Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil | |
| Win | 6–0 | Gleidson Alves Martins | Submission (triangle armbar) | Guamare Fight 1 | March 10, 2009 | 1 | 1:45 | Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil | |
| Win | 5–0 | Arivaldo Batista da Silva | KO (punch) | Nordeste Fight Vale Tudo 4 | July 5, 2008 | 1 | 4:12 | Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil | |
| Win | 4–0 | Diego Tubarao | Submission (armbar) | Nordeste Fight Vale Tudo 4 | July 5, 2008 | 1 | 2:50 | Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil | |
| Win | 3–0 | Jose Mario Tome | Submission (armbar) | Arena Fight - Limoeiro 4 | January 9, 2008 | 1 | 0:39 | Ceara, Brazil | |
| Win | 2–0 | Rodrigo Barbosa | Submission (triangle choke) | MZI: Fight 3 | June 21, 2007 | 2 | 1:49 | Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | Gilson Gilson | Submission (armbar) | Nordeste Mega Fight Vale Tudo 2 | May 4, 2006 | 2 | 1:50 | Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil |
Mixed martial arts exhibition record
| 2 matches | 1 win | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 0 | 0 |
| By submission | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1–1 | Reginaldo Vieira | Submission (rear-naked choke) | The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4 | May 17, 2015 (airdate) | 1 | 4:04 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4 Quarterfinals round |
| Win | 1–0 | Maycon Silvan | Submission (arm triangle choke) | The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4 | April 12, 2015 (airdate) | 1 | 3:17 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4 Entry round |