Nad Narimani (born 14 April 1987) is an English mixed martial artist. He was the former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship featherweight champion and he competed in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Nad Narimani | |
---|---|
Born | (1987-04-14) 14 April 1987 (age 37) Bristol, England |
Other names | Smiler[1] 1SA (One Step Ahead)[2] |
Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
Weight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb) |
Division | Featherweight |
Reach | 70[3] in (178 cm) |
Fighting out of | Bristol, England |
Team | Team Alpha Male |
Rank | Black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Pedro Bessa[4] |
Years active | 2011–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 16 |
Wins | 12 |
By knockout | 2 |
By submission | 5 |
By decision | 5 |
Losses | 4 |
By knockout | 1 |
By decision | 3 |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Narimani started his professional mma career in 2011 and he won the Cage Warriors Fighting Championship featherweight championship against Paddy Pimblett in April 2017[5] with a record of 10-2 period he signed with the UFC.[6]
Narimani was scheduled to make his UFC debut on a short notice on 17 March 2018 at UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Volkov against Nasrat Haqparast, replacing injured Alex Reyes.[7][8] The bout was scrapped on the day of the event as Haqparast was deemed unfit to fight by the medical team due to an infectious eye condition.[9]
Narimani's UFC debut was rescheduled on 22 July 2018 against Khalid TahaatUFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Smith.[10] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[11]
Narimani was scheduled to face Enrique Barzola on 17 November 2018 at UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Ponzinibbio.[12] However, Barzola was pulled from the event and he was replaced by Anderson dos Santos.[13] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[14]
Narimani next faced Mike Grundy on 16 March 2019 at UFC Fight Night: Till vs. Masvidal.[15] [16] Narimani lost the fight via TKO in the second round.[17]
Narimani was scheduled to face Nik LentzatUFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos on 25 January 2020.[18] However, Narimani pulled out of the fight citing injury and was replaced by Arnold Allen.[19]
Narimani faced Grant Dawson on 19 July 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2.[20] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[21] He was subsequently released by the UFC.[22]
Narimani is married with two children and is of Iranian heritage. He spent time helping in his father's Middle-Eastern restaurants in his spare time before turning to be a professional MMA fighter.[23]
16 matches | 12 wins | 4 losses |
By knockout | 2 | 1 |
By submission | 5 | 0 |
By decision | 5 | 3 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 12–4 | Grant Dawson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2 | 19 July 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Catchweight (150 lb) bout. |
Loss | 12–3 | Mike Grundy | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Till vs. Masvidal | 16 March 2019 | 2 | 4:42 | London, England | |
Win | 12–2 | Anderson dos Santos | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Ponzinibbio | 17 November 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
Win | 11–2 | Khalid Taha | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Smith | 22 July 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Hamburg, Germany | |
Win | 10–2 | Paddy Pimblett | Decision (unanimous) | Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 82 | 1 April 2017 | 5 | 5:00 | Liverpool, England | Won the Cage Warriors Featherweight Championship. |
Win | 9–2 | Daniel Requeijo | Submission (guillotine choke) | Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 76 | 4 June 2016 | 3 | 1:21 | Newport, Wales | |
Win | 8–2 | Jeremy Petley | TKO (punches) | BAMMA 23 | 4 November 2015 | 1 | 2:26 | Birmingham, England | |
Loss | 7–2 | Alex Enlund | Decision (unanimous) | Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 73 | 1 November 2014 | 5 | 5:00 | Newcastle upon Tyne, England | For the vacant Cage Warriors Featherweight Championship. |
Win | 7–1 | Benjamin Brander | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 64 | 15 February 2014 | 1 | 4:53 | London, England | |
Win | 6–1 | Athinodoros Michailidis | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 60 | 5 October 2013 | 1 | 3:42 | London, England | |
Loss | 5–1 | Graham Turner | Decision (split) | Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 56 | 6 July 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
Win | 5–0 | Karsten Lenjoint | Decision (unanimous) | Fight UK 9 | 20 April 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Leicester, England | |
Win | 4–0 | Marcin Wrzosek | Decision (split) | Fight UK 8 | 17 November 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Leicester, England | |
Win | 3–0 | Maksym Matus | Submission (triangle choke) | Cage Conflict 14 | 28 August 2012 | 1 | 0:53 | Manchester, England | |
Win | 2–0 | Alex Brunnen | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Tear Up 7: Murch vs. Paul | 19 November 2011 | 2 | 4;28 | Bristol, England | |
Win | 1–0 | Harvey Dines | TKO (corner stoppage) | KnuckleUp MMA: The New Breed 7 | 16 July 2011 | 2 | 4:42 | Somerset, England |