| Intro | French martial artist |
| A.K.A. | Christian “Tonton” M’Pumbu |
| Is |
Athlete Martial artist Judoka |
| From |
France Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Type | Sports |
| Gender | male |
| Birth |
2 June 1977, Kinshasa |
| Age | 43 years |
| Residence | Champagne-Ardenne |
Christian M’Pumbu (born June 2, 1977) is a French-Congolese professional mixed martial artist. He was the inaugural Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion.
Background
M’Pumbu was born in Kinshasa, Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo). He currently resides in France.
Mixed martial arts career
M’Pumbu made his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut in 2004. He has fought primarily in Europe for various promotions including KSW and M-1 Global. He is currently a member of Team France in M-1 Mixfight.
Before his debut in the United States, M’Pumbu amassed a record of 15 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw. A notable win from this period is over Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight contender Stefan Struve.
Bellator Fighting Championships
M’Pumbu made his U.S. MMA debut on March 26, 2011 at Bellator 38. He faced Chris Davis in the opening round of the Light Heavyweight tournament and won the fight via TKO in the third round. In the semi-finals he defeated Tim Carpenter via TKO in the first round. M’Pumbu would go on to defeat Rich Hale via TKO in the third round at the finals of the season 4 tournament, becoming the inaugural Bellator Light Heavyweight champion. He was unofficially dubbed the first African born mixed martial artist to hold a title in a major MMA organization.
On October 22, 2011 at Bellator 55, M’Pumbu lost a non-title fight against Travis Wiuff via unanimous decision. On February 28, 2013, at Bellator 91 M’Pumbu faced Bellator 2012 Summer Series Light Heavyweight tournament winner Attila Vegh in his first title defense and lost via unanimous decision.
On September 13, 2013, at Bellator 99, M’Pumbu was expected to face UFC veteran Vladimir Matyushenko. M’Pumbu pulled out of the fight with a hand injury and was replaced with Houston Alexander.
M’Pumbu faced Quinton Jackson in the opening round of Bellator’s Season 10 Light Heavyweight tournament in the main event at Bellator 110 on February 28, 2014. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round, the first knockout loss of his career.
M’Pumbu made his Middleweight debut against Kendall Grove on October 3, 2014 at Bellator 127. He lost the fight via submission in the second round.
Championships and accomplishments
-
Bellator Fighting Championships
- Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship (One time; First)
- Bellator Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Winner
-
Union of Peresvit
- Star of Peresvit Openweight Tournament Winner
- Fire of Persevit Openweight Tournament Winner
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 29 matches | 20 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 9 | 2 |
| By submission | 8 | 2 |
| By decision | 3 | 4 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 20–8–1 | Sebastien Huot Marchand | TKO (arm injury) | ADW: Road to Abu Dhabi 3 | 000000002016-08-12-0000August 12, 2016 | 2 | 2:12 | Bangkok, Thailand | |
| Loss | 19–8–1 | Denis Stojnic | TKO (punches) | HIT Fighting Championship 2 | 000000002016-05-28-0000May 28, 2016 | 2 | 1:36 | Zurich, Switzerland | For HIT Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | 19–7–1 | Ramis Teregulov | KO (punch) | WWFC: Cage Encounter 4 | 000000002015-09-19-0000September 19, 2015 | 2 | 3:37 | Paris, France | |
| Loss | 18–7–1 | Kendall Grove | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 127 | 000000002014-10-03-0000October 3, 2014 | 2 | 4:14 | Temecula, California, United States | Middleweight debut; Bellator Middleweight Championship title eliminator |
| Loss | 18–6–1 | Quinton Jackson | KO (punches) | Bellator 110 | 000000002014-02-28-0000February 28, 2014 | 1 | 4:34 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Bellator Season 10 Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal |
| Loss | 18–5–1 | Attila Vegh | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 91 | 000000002013-02-28-0000February 28, 2013 | 5 | 5:00 | Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States | Lost the Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship |
| Loss | 18–4–1 | Travis Wiuff | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 55 | 000000002011-10-22-0000October 22, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Yuma, Arizona, United States | Non-title bout |
| Win | 18–3–1 | Rich Hale | TKO (punches) | Bellator 45 | 000000002011-05-21-0000May 21, 2011 | 3 | 4:17 | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States | Bellator Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Final; Won Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | 17–3–1 | Tim Carpenter | TKO (punches) | Bellator 42 | 000000002011-04-23-0000April 23, 2011 | 1 | 2:08 | Concho, Oklahoma, United States | Bellator Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal |
| Win | 16–3–1 | Chris Davis | TKO (punches) | Bellator 38 | 000000002011-03-26-0000March 26, 2011 | 3 | 3:34 | Tunica, Mississippi, United States | Bellator Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal |
| Loss | 15–3–1 | Yoshiyuki Nakanishi | Decision (split) | Deep: 47 Impact | 000000002010-04-17-0000April 17, 2010 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | DEEP Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal |
| Win | 15–2–1 | Yuji Sakuragi | TKO (punches) | Deep: 46 Impact | 000000002010-02-28-0000February 28, 2010 | 1 | 2:29 | Tokyo, Japan | DEEP Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal |
| Win | 14–2–1 | Hideto Tatsumi | TKO (punches) | M-1 Challenge 18: Netherlands Day One | 000000002009-08-15-0000August 15, 2009 | 2 | 4:53 | Hilversum, Netherlands | |
| Win | 13–2–1 | Krzysztof Kulak | Decision (unanimous) | Multi Boxes: 1er Gala International | 000000002009-06-26-0000June 26, 2009 | 2 | 5:00 | Paris, France | |
| Win | 12–2–1 | Enoc Solves Torres | Submission (armbar) | M-1 Challenge 14: Japan | 000000002009-04-29-0000April 29, 2009 | 1 | 4:59 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 11–2–1 | Leonardo Nascimento Lucio | Draw | 100% fight 1 | 000000002009-01-10-0000January 10, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Paris, France | |
| Win | 11–2 | Marcus Vanttinen | Submission (rear-naked choke) | M-1 Challenge 10: Finland | 000000002008-11-26-0000November 26, 2008 | 1 | 2:15 | Helsinki, Finland | |
| Loss | 10–2 | Jan Błachowicz | Submission (armbar) | KSW Extra | 000000002008-09-13-0000September 13, 2008 | 2 | 3:12 | Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland | |
| Win | 10–1 | Barry Guerin | TKO (punches) | M-1 Challenge 5: Japan | 000000002008-07-17-0000July 17, 2008 | 1 | 0:32 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 9–1 | Fabio Fernandes | Decision (unanimous) | Fite Selektor | 000000002008-03-13-0000March 13, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | Dubai City, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 9–0 | Denis Sobolev | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Star of Peresvit | 000000002007-12-07-0000December 7, 2007 | 1 | 1:20 | Kiev, Ukraine | Star of Peresvit Openweight Tournament Final |
| Win | 8–0 | Stefan Struve | Submission (D’arce choke) | Star of Peresvit | 000000002007-12-07-0000December 7, 2007 | 1 | 2:05 | Kiev, Ukraine | Star of Peresvit Openweight Tournament Semifinal |
| Win | 7–0 | Aleksey Gonchar | Decision | Star of Peresvit | 000000002007-12-07-0000December 7, 2007 | 2 | 5:00 | Kiev, Ukraine | Star of Peresvit Openweight Tournament Quarterfinal |
| Win | 6–0 | Sergey Mukhamedshin | Submission (guillotine choke) | M-1 MFC: International Mix Fight | 000000002007-03-17-0000March 17, 2007 | 1 | 1:25 | St. Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 5–0 | Vladimir Shemarov | Decision | Fire of Persevit | 000000002006-12-02-0000December 2, 2006 | 2 | 5:00 | Kiev, Ukraine | Fire of Persevit Openweight Tournament Final |
| Win | 4–0 | Valdas Pocevicius | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Fire of Persevit | 000000002006-12-02-0000December 2, 2006 | 1 | 1:48 | Kiev, Ukraine | Fire of Persevit Openweight Tournament Semifinal |
| Win | 3–0 | Denis Bublov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Fire of Persevit | 000000002006-12-02-0000December 2, 2006 | 1 | 2:20 | Kiev, Ukraine | Fire of Persevit Openweight Tournament Quarterfinal |
| Win | 2–0 | Dramane Traore | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Xtreme Gladiators 2 | 000000002006-03-11-0000March 11, 2006 | 2 | 2:40 | Paris, France | |
| Win | 1–0 | Kuljit Degun | KO (punches) | UKMMAC 7: Rage & Fury | 000000002004-05-30-0000May 30, 2004 | 1 | 0:32 | Essex, England |