title: Mehdi Baghdad
text: # Mehdi Baghdad
  
  Mehdi Baghdad (born 13 April 1985) is a French mixed martial artist who fights out of Los Angeles, California. He previously fought for the UFC in the lightweight division. He was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs Team Faber.
  
  ## Mixed martial arts career
  
  Baghdad started training at the age of 16 and had his first fight at the age of 20. He went on to become a world champion in Muay Thai, WKBC also lightweight champion in RFA MMA. Baghdad is inspired by his father who died when he was young, and former world champion boxer Prince Naseem Hamed. Baghdad's first loss was handed to him by UFC competitor Charles Oliveira. Baghdad's nickname is Sultan, which in Arabic means High King / Emperor.
  
  ### The Ultimate Fighter
  
  Baghdad joined the Ultimate Fighter 22: Team McGregor vs Team Faber. Baghdad defeated Artem Lobov via majority decision after two rounds. He then joined McGregor's team (European team). Unfortunately Julian Erosa defeated Mehdi Baghdad via majority decision after two rounds in the preliminary fights, this would eliminate him from the tournament.
  
  ### Ultimate Fighting Championship
  
  Despite losing TUF 22 Baghdad would still be signed by the promotion and would have his first match against Chris Wade on UFC Fight Night 81 on 17 January 2016. Baghdad would lose 4 minutes and 30 seconds into the first round by tapping out to the rear - naked choke.
  
  Baghdad was expected to face John Makdessi on 4 June 2016 at UFC 199 but was rescheduled to 7 July 2016 at UFC Fight Night 90. Makdessi was awarded a split decision victory.
  
  Baghdad was scheduled to face Jon Tuck on 15 October 2016 at UFC Fight Night 97. However, Baghdad pulled out of the fight in mid-September citing injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Alex Volkanovski. In turn, Baghdad was released from the promotion.
  
  ### The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption
  
  In February 2017, it was revealed that Baghdad would again compete on the UFC's reality show in the 25th season on The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption. Baghdad was the second pick overall for Team Garbrandt. He faced Jesse Taylor in the opening round and lost via unanimous decision.
  
  ### Post UFC
  
  Baghdad faced Thibault Gouti for the LTDE Super Lightweight belt on 2 July 2021 at Trophee des Etoiles 15. Baghdad lost the bout via TKO in the first round.
  
  ## Mixed martial arts record
  
  Professional record breakdown :
  
  | 19 matches | 12 wins | 7 losses |
  | - | - | - |
  | By knockout | 8 | 3 |
  | By submission | 3 | 1 |
  | By decision | 1 | 3 |
  | Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
  | Loss | 12–7 | Thibault Gouti | TKO (punches) | Trophee des Etoiles 15 | 2 July 2021 | 1 | N/A | Aix-en-Provence, France | For the LTDE Super Lightweight Championship. |
  | Win | 12–6 | Erivan Pereira | Decision (split) | Brave 25 | 30 August 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Belo Horizonte, Brazil | |
  | Loss | 11–6 | Pawel Kielek | Decision (unanimous) | Brave 12 - KHK Legacy | 11 May 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Jakarta, Indonesia | |
  | Loss | 11–5 | John Makdessi | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Alvarez | 7 July 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
  | Loss | 11–4 | Chris Wade | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Dillashaw vs. Cruz | 17 January 2016 | 1 | 4:30 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
  | Win | 11–3 | Zach Juusola | TKO (punches) | RFA 21 - Juusola vs. Baghdad | 5 December 2014 | 4 | 2:37 | Costa Mesa, California, United States | Won the vacant RFA Lightweight Championship. |
  | Win | 10–3 | Evan Delong | TKO (punches) | RFA 18 - Manzanares vs. Pantoja | 12 September 2014 | 1 | 1:55 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | Return to Lightweight. |
  | Win | 9–3 | Nicholas Christy | Submission (choke) | West Coast FC 7: Griffin vs. Gonzalez | 16 November 2013 | 2 | 4:57 | Sacramento, California, United States | Featherweight debut. |
  | Win | 8–3 | Dionisio Ramirez | Submission (choke) | BAMMA USA: Badbeat 11 | 25 October 2013 | 2 | 1:53 | Commerce, California, United States | Won the BAMMA USA Lightweight Championship. |
  | Win | 7–3 | Tom Douglas | TKO (punches) | Gladiator Challenge: Summer Heat | 30 June 2013 | 1 | 0:42 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
  | Win | 6–3 | Dominic Gutierrez | Submission (anaconda choke) | All Star Boxing | 21 September 2012 | 2 | 2:31 | Oceanside, California, United States | |
  | Win | 5–3 | Mike Sandez | KO (punch) | Marconi Fight Night | 9 March 2012 | 1 | 2:30 | Tustin, California, United States | |
  | Loss | 4–3 | Yves Landu | Decision (unanimous) | 100% Fight 5 | 28 May 2011 | 2 | 5:00 | Paris, France | |
  | Win | 4–2 | Randall Jimenez | TKO (soccer kicks and punches) | Xtreme Vale Todo 5: Franca vs. Kheder | 19 December 2010 | 1 | 0:37 | Cartago, Costa Rica | |
  | Win | 3–2 | Jeffry Lopez Madrigal | TKO (punches) | Xtreme Vale Todo 4 | 26 June 2010 | 1 | 3:45 | Guanacaste, Costa Rica | |
  | Loss | 2–2 | Juan Puig | TKO (punches) | Panama Fight League: Ultimate Combat Challenge 5 | 22 May 2010 | 2 | 3:37 | Panama City, Panama | |
  | Win | 2–1 | Rudy Saoudi | TKO (leg kicks) | 100% Fight: Contenders 4 | 10 October 2009 | 2 | 1:43 | Paris, France | |
  | Loss | 1–1 | Charles Oliveira | TKO (punches) | Kawai Arena 1 | 13 December 2008 | 1 | 1:01 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
  | Win | 1–0 | Unknown Fighter | TKO (knees and punches) | Rio Recreio Fighting | 14 March 2007 | 1 | 2:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
  
  ### Mixed martial arts exhibition record
  
  Professional record breakdown :
  
  | 3 matches | 1 win | 2 losses |
  | - | - | - |
  | By decision | 1 | 2 |
  | Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
  | Loss | 1–2 | Jesse Taylor | Decision (Unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Garbrandt vs Team Dillashaw | 3 May 2017 | 2 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Eliminated from the TUF 25 tournament |
  | Loss | 1–1 | Julian Erosa | Decision (majority) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs Team Faber | 21 October 2015 | 2 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Eliminated from the TUF 22 tournament |
  | Win | 1–0 | Artem Lobov | Decision (majority) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs Team Faber | 9 September 2015 | 2 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Entered in the TUF 22 tournament |
  