Olaf Alfonso
| Olaf Alfonso | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ensenada, Mexico |
| Nationality | Mexican-American |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1] |
| Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st) |
| Division |
Lightweight Welterweight |
| Fighting out of | Ensenada, Baja California |
| Team | Odo Fight Club, Carlson Gracie |
| Rank |
Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black belt in Judo |
| Years active | 2002-2010; 2014-present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 20 |
| Wins | 8 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Losses | 12 |
| By knockout | 8 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 3 |
Olaf Alfonso is a Mexican-American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division. A professional competitor since 2002, Alfonso has formerly competed for the WEC, the PRIDE Fighting Championships, Tachi Palace Fights, and the Palace Fighting Championship.
Background
Alfonso was born in Ensenada, Baja California to a Guatemalan mother and a Norwegian father, who was a famous television and motion picture animator/director. Alfonso wrestled and helped coach during part of his time while enlisted with the U.S. Airforce, and also competed in boxing and kickboxing during his time overseas. He was also a former high school wrestling coach in Oregon.
Mixed martial arts
Alfonso made his professional debut in 2002, fighting for a small organization called DesertBrawl, against Ryan Healy, a future Strikeforce and WEC veteran. The fight was a highly-entertaining striking battle and the kind of fight that Alfonso would become known for later in his career. Both fighters exchanged punches, with Alfonso landing powerful left hooks from the southpaw stance, before switching stances. However, Alfonso could not come out for the third round and his corner threw in their towel, therefore losing by TKO.
Alfonso then made his debut in the Zuffa-owned organization, the WEC, in a Lightweight bout. The fight was against Randy Spence, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist who was a member of Cesar Gracie's training camp. Alfonso immediately came out as the aggressor, grappling with Spence, where he landed many knees from the Muay Thai clinch. Alfonso was then knocked down with a right hand from Spence, but was able to recover, reversing Spence's mount before eventually winning by using the ground and pound technique to get his first professional win by TKO.
Alfonso would then win his next two fights in the WEC, despite, in one of these fights getting his nose broken with the first punch that his opponent threw. At this time, he was simply known as "Olaf," and quickly became a fan favorite due to his eccentric personality, fighting style, as well as his appearance, often sporting shoulder-length hair with a full beard. At WEC 10, his hair braided, he fought for the WEC Lightweight Championship, facing future Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez, another Cesar Gracie student who was at that time undefeated. The two traded punches from the start but ultimately Melendez won by utilizing his wrestling, before the referee stopped the fight after Melendez landed many unanswered strikes with the ground and pound technique.
Two fights later, Alfonso fought again at WEC 12 for the now-vacant WEC Lightweight Championship against future UFC veteran, Gabe "Godzilla" Ruediger. Olaf put on another entertaining fight, landing big punches, but lost again, this time by rear-naked choke. Alfonso then lost two of his next three fights, one of which was handed to him by future WEC Lightweight Champion Rob McCullough, before being given a fight against Japanese superstar and striking specialist Hayato Sakurai despite only owning a record of 5-5. The fight was for the PRIDE organization in Japan, which at the time was arguably the best organization in the world. However, Alfonso would end up on the receiving end of a highlight reel knockout, running into a huge right overhand punch that knocked him completely unconscious, falling down face first into the mat.
Alfonso returned to the WEC losing two more bouts against future UFC veteran Alex Karalexis before making his debut in the California-based Palace Fighting Championship, but lost again this time against former King of the Cage Welterweight Champion, Thomas Denny. Alfonso then won his next two fights, snapping a six-fight losing streak, before losing to UFC and PRIDE veteran Phil Baroni. In his next bout, Alfonso fought for the PFC Welterweight Championship, winning the bout by submission from an armbar, becoming the new PFC Welterweight Champion. Alfonso would then lose the belt in his next fight, via TKO.
Alfonso officially retired in 2010 due to injuries (Alfonso had already broken his nose a shocking nine times heading into the fight with Sakurai). Alfonso also retired to focus on his gym and work for MMA Mexico events as a color commentator.
Olaf later decided to come out of retirement in mid-2014 to return full-time to compete in mixed martial arts competition.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 20 matches | 8 wins | 12 losses |
| By knockout | 5 | 8 |
| By submission | 2 | 1 |
| By decision | 1 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 8–12 | Adrian Diaz | TKO (punches) | TPF 19: Throwback Thursday | June 19, 2014 | 3 | 2:35 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Loss | 8–11 | Kyle Pimentel | TKO (doctor stoppage) | PFC 13: Validation | May 8, 2009 | 3 | 2:48 | Lemoore, California, United States | Lost PFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–10 | Jeremiah Metcalf | Submission (armbar) | PFC 12: High Stakes | January 22, 2009 | 1 | 1:38 | Lemoore, California, United States | Won PFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Loss | 7–10 | Phil Baroni | Decision (unanimous) | PFC 10: Explosive | September 26, 2008 | 3 | 3:00 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 7–9 | Chris Solomon | KO (punch) | PFC 8: A Night of Champions | May 8, 2008 | 1 | 0:28 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 6–9 | Casey Olson | KO (punch) | PFC: Olson vs. Alfonso | February 29, 2008 | 2 | 1:50 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Loss | 5–9 | Thomas Denny | Decision (unanimous) | PFC 4: Project Complete | October 18, 2007 | 3 | 3:00 | Fresno, California, United States | |
| Loss | 5–8 | Alex Karalexis | TKO (doctor stoppage) | WEC 25 | January 20, 2007 | 2 | 3:53 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 5–7 | John Polakowski | Decision (split) | WEC 24 | October 12, 2006 | 3 | 5:00 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Loss | 5–6 | Hayato Sakurai | KO (punch) | PRIDE: Bushido 11 | June 4, 2006 | 1 | 1:54 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Loss | 5–5 | Rob McCullough | KO (punch) | WEC 19 | March 17, 2006 | 2 | 0:12 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Loss | 5–4 | John Polakowski | TKO (corner stoppage) | WEC 14 | March 17, 2005 | 1 | 5:00 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 5–3 | Chin Seng | TKO (punches) | WEC 13 | January 22, 2005 | 1 | 1:13 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Loss | 4–3 | Gabe Ruediger | Submission (rear naked choke) | WEC 12 | October 21, 2004 | 1 | 3:05 | Lemoore, California, United States | For vacant WEC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 4–2 | Philip Perez | TKO (elbows) | WEC 11 | August 20, 2004 | 1 | 2:57 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Loss | 3–2 | Gilbert Melendez | TKO (punches) | WEC 10 | May 21, 2004 | 3 | 4:54 | Lemoore, California, United States | For WEC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 3–1 | John Polakowski | Decision (split) | WEC 9 | January 16, 2004 | 3 | 5:00 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 2–1 | Randy Bowers | Submission (armbar) | WEC 8 | October 17, 2003 | 1 | 3:05 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 1–1 | Randy Spence | TKO (punches) | WEC 7 | August 9, 2003 | 2 | 4:34 | Lemoore, California, United States | Lightweight debut. |
| Loss | 0–1 | Ryan Healy | TKO (corner stoppage) | DesertBrawl 5 | August 17, 2002 | 1 | 5:00 | Bend, Oregon, United States |