title: Willie Gates
text: # Willie Gates
  
  Willie Gates (born January 21, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Flyweight division. A professional competitor since 2008, he has competed for the UFC, King of the Cage, Tachi Palace Fights, and Bellator MMA.
  
  ## Mixed martial arts career
  
  ### Early career
  
  Born and raised in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, Gates began training in mixed martial arts in 2004. He made his professional debut as a lightweight in October 2008 where he competed in several regional promotions. Gates fought predominantly in his native state of California where he amassed a record of 11–4, competing primarily in the bantamweight division before joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
  
  ### Ultimate Fighting Championship
  
  Gates made his promotional debut as a short notice replacement for an injured Jussier Formiga against John Moraga on December 13, 2014, at UFC on Fox 13. He lost the back-and-forth fight via submission in the third round.
  
  Gates faced Darrell Montague on July 12, 2015, at The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale. Gates won the one-sided fight via TKO in the first round.
  
  In a quick turnaround, Gates faced Dustin Ortiz on August 8, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 73, filling in for an injured Ian McCall. He lost the fight via TKO in the third round.
  
  Gates was expected to face Patrick Holohan on May 8, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 87. However, on April 25, Holohan abruptly announced his retirement, citing a rare blood disorder. He was replaced on the card by Ulka Sasaki. Gates lost the fight via submission in the second round.
  
  On June 3 Willie Gates was released from the promotion.
  
  ### Post UFC
  
  In his first bout post UFC release, Gates faced Andre Ewell in September 2017, losing by a rear-naked choke submission at KOTC: Never Quit. Gates then lost to George Garcia in October 2018 in a bout for the CXF Bantamweight Championship at CXF 15: Rage in the Cage, with Garcia winning by a rear-naked choke submission in the second round. In March 2019, Gates lost to Marvin Garcia at KOTC: Sin Rival, with Garcia winning by unanimous decision. They then suffered a loss to Ryan MacDonald in October 2021 at Art of Scrap 3, with MacDonald winning by TKO punches during a catchweight (140 lb) bout.
  
  In January 2023, they lost to Musa Toliver at LXF 8: The Return, with Toliver winning by split decision. Gates made a return a few months later against Teruto Ishihara at Urijah Faber's A1 Combat 9 in March 2023, with Ishihara winning by rear-naked choke submission in the first round.
  
  ## Mixed martial arts record
  
  Professional record breakdown :
  
  | 25 matches | 12 wins | 13 losses |
  | - | - | - |
  | By knockout | 5 | 3 |
  | By submission | 4 | 7 |
  | By decision | 3 | 3 |
  | Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
  | Loss | 12–13 | Teruto Ishihara | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Urijah Faber's A1 Combat 9 | March 18, 2023 | 1 | 3:12 | Long Beach, California, United States | |
  | Loss | 12–12 | Musa Toliver | Decision (split) | LXF 8: The Return | January 14, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Commerce, California, United States | |
  | Loss | 12–11 | Ryan MacDonald | TKO (punches) | Art of Scrap 3 | October 30, 2021 | 3 | 1:56 | Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States | Catchweight (140 lb) bout. |
  | Loss | 12–10 | Marvin Garcia | Decision (unanimous) | KOTC: Sin Rival | March 10, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Ontario, California, United States | |
  | Loss | 12–9 | George Garcia | Submission (rear-naked choke) | CXF 15: Rage in the Cage | October 20, 2018 | 2 | 2:33 | Burbank, California, United States | For CXF Bantamweight Championship. Return to Bantamweight. |
  | Loss | 12–8 | Andre Ewell | Submission (rear-naked choke) | KOTC: Never Quit | September 2, 2017 | 3 | 2:47 | Ontario, California, United States | |
  | Loss | 12–7 | Ulka Sasaki | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Arlovski | May 8, 2016 | 2 | 2:30 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
  | Loss | 12–6 | Dustin Ortiz | TKO (elbows and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Saint Preux | August 8, 2015 | 3 | 2:58 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
  | Win | 12–5 | Darrell Montague | TKO (knees to the body and elbows) | The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians Finale | July 12, 2015 | 1 | 1:36 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
  | Loss | 11–5 | John Moraga | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on Fox: dos Santos vs. Miocic | December 13, 2014 | 3 | 4:06 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
  | Win | 11–4 | Hector Sandoval | TKO (punches) | TPF 21: All or Nothing | November 6, 2014 | 1 | 1:23 | Lemoore, California, United States | Flyweight debut; won vacant Tachi Palace Fights Flyweight Championship. |
  | Win | 10–4 | Jimmy Marquez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Gladiator Challenge: Glove Up | October 4, 2014 | 1 | 1:36 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
  | Win | 9–4 | Chris Chavez | KO (knee) | Gladiator Challenge: Battle Ready | August 23, 2014 | 1 | 1:10 | El Cajon, California, United States | |
  | Win | 8–4 | Eddy Gonzalez | Submission (armbar) | Gladiator Challenge: Night of the Champions | July 19, 2014 | 1 | 0:20 | Rancho Mirage, California, United States | |
  | Win | 7–4 | Mario Casares | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Gladiator Challenge: Nitro | April 5, 2014 | 1 | 1:59 | San Jacinto, California, United States | Won vacant Gladiator Challenge Bantamweight Championship. |
  | Loss | 6–4 | Anthony Perales | Submission (armbar) | SCMMA 2: Inland Empire Strikes Again | May 18, 2013 | 3 | 1:43 | Ontario, California, United States | |
  | Win | 6–3 | Justin Santistevan | Submission | Gladiator Challenge: Battleground | March 24, 2013 | 1 | 0:28 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
  | Win | 5–3 | Gary Franklin | TKO (punches) | Gladiator Challenge: Heat Returns | October 28, 2012 | 1 | 0:15 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
  | Loss | 4–3 | Federico Lopez | Decision (unanimous) | MEZ Sports: Pandemonium 7 | August 18, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Inglewood, California, United States | |
  | Win | 4–2 | Jason Carbajal | Decision (unanimous) | FCOC: Fight Club OC | June 7, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Costa Mesa, California, United States | |
  | Win | 3–2 | Keenan Lewis | Decision (split) | National Fight Alliance: Valley Invasion 2 | April 6, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
  | Win | 2–2 | Thomas Casarez | Decision (unanimous) | LBFN 13: Long Beach Fight Night 13 | November 20, 2011 | 3 | 3:00 | Long Beach, California, United States | |
  | Win | 1–2 | Skylar Reider | TKO (punches) | LBFN 11: Long Beach Fight Night 11 | January 2, 2011 | 1 | 1:14 | Long Beach, California, United States | |
  | Loss | 0–2 | Jimmie Rivera | Submission (triangle choke) | Bellator 2 | April 10, 2009 | 3 | 3:17 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
  | Loss | 0–1 | Robbie Peralta | TKO (punches) | GC 85: Cross Fire | October 25, 2008 | 1 | 3:50 | San Diego, California, United States | |
  