Santiago Ponzinibbio

Santiago “Gente Boa” Ponzinibbio is an Argentinian mixed martial artist born in in 1986. He competes in the welterweight division in the UFC. He has a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu and has won several titles in South America. He has belts in several regional promotions in South America.

He started training martial arts at 13 years old.

Santiago Ponzinibbio’s career before the UFC

Santiago Ponzinibbio made his pro MMA debut in 2008 and fought on regional shows in South America. He won his first 11 pro fights and finished 9 of them, 5 by KO and 4 submissions.

In his 12th fight he faced Leonardo Mafra Texeira who finished Ponzinibbio in the first round.

Ponzinibbio rebounded with 7 straight wins, all by stoppage. After the stoppage streak he got the chance to participate in The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2.

Santiago Ponzinibbio – Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Santiago Ponzinibbio in TUF: Brazil

Santiago Ponzinibbio won his elimination bout to get into the house against Thiago Silva, who he finished in the 1st round. After making it into the house he got picked by Team Nogueira.

He defeated Marcio Santos by TKO in his first tournament fight. In the second fight he faced off against Cleiton Duarte who took Ponzinibbio the distance.

Ponzinibbio won the fight by decision and faced Leonardo Santos next. Ponzinibbio won that fight too and secured his spot at the live finale.

Sadly things didn’t work out for Ponzinibbio as he broke his hand in the last fight and couldn’t participate in the live finale against William Macárino. His last fight with Santos was awarded Fight of the Season and he got a $50.000 bonus.

Santiago Ponzinibbio’s career in the UFC

Ponzinibbio made his UFC debut in 2013. He fought tough veteran Ryan LaFlare in his first fight which didn’t go his way and he lost a unanimous decision.

In September of 2014 he faced Wendell de Oliveira Marquez and finished the Brazilian in the first round.

Santiago Ponzinibbio – Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

He defeated gritty Sean Strickland before he faced off with Taekwondo exptert Lorenz Larkin. Ponzinibbio lost by TKO but they both got a fight night bonus.

He won four fights in a row and got the chance to headline his first event when he faced off against Gunnar Nelson in Glasgow, Scotland. He shocked everyone when he knocked out Nelson in the first round. He also got another Performance of the Night bonus.