Raush Manfio
BornRaush Manfio Lourenco
(1991-11-03) November 3, 1991
Porto Alegre, Brazil
Other namesCavalo de Guerra
NationalityBrazilian
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb)
DivisionLightweight
Featherweight
Reach73.0 in (185 cm)
Fighting out ofPorto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
TeamAmerican Top Team
Team Nogueira
Years active2011–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total22
Wins17
By knockout8
By decision9
Losses5
By decision5
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Raush Manfio Lourenço[1][2] (born November 3, 1991) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division. A professional since 2011, Manfio is most notable for winning the 2021 Professional Fighters League Lightweight tournament. Fight Matrix had him ranked a top 10 lightweight in the world in May 2022.[3]

Personal life

Manfio was born in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil on November 3, 1991. Raush, a professional MMA fighter since 2011, initially lived a carefree lifestyle as a "playboy" in Brazil. After a setback in the TUF Brasil qualifiers, he sought improvement, joining American Top Team in Florida. Struggling with finances and unable to bring his wife initially, the church community stepped in to help, allowing her to join him. Despite early success in Titan FC, visa issues and financial struggles followed. Raush took odd jobs, learning construction skills, and faced setbacks, including a title loss. Frustratingly, he went without fights for three years, facing financial difficulties with a growing family.[4][5] Despite contemplating a career change, Raush's wife, Michele, urged him to persist. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened their situation in 2020. Considering a shift away from fighting, Raush gave himself an ultimatum, planning to quit with his manager's encouragement. However, his manager insisted on one more month, supporting him financially and expressing belief in his potential championship. He was eventually signed as a late replacement for the PFL season.[6][7][8]

Manfio is best friends with two-time PFL Lightweight champion Natan Schulte. Schulte is the godfather of Manfio’s daughter.[9]

Mixed martial arts career

Manfio began competing in professional MMA in 2011 in his native Brazil, with a win against Demetro Borges in Brazil's Valiant FC 8 promotion.[1]

The Ultimate Fighter

In March 2015, it was announced that Manfio was one of the fighters selected to be on the UFC reality show The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4.[10] Manfio was eliminated by eventual lightweight season winner Glaico França.[11]

After losing on the Ultimate Fighter, He found his way to American Top Team with the support of MMA veteran Carlos Barreto, and it was during this time that he received a glimmer of hope from a friend's promise of sponsorship. It seemed like a lifeline to continue his journey in the U.S.[4]

However, the promise of sponsorship turned out to be a mirage. With no money and no options, Manfio made a bold choice to leave the U.S. behind. But fate had other plans. As he lived in one of the apartments provided by ATT and befriended Adriano Moraes, a ONE Championship fighter, an unexpected opportunity presented itself. Moraes needed a cornerman for his fight in Myanmar, and Manfio stepped up.[4][8]

That experience reignited Manfio's passion for fighting, and it was through Moraes' manager, Alex Davis, that he received an offer that changed his trajectory. A fight at Titan FC was on the table, and Manfio seized it.[4][6]

He debuted in the United States at Titan FC in 2016.[12] From November 2017 to June 2018, he held the role of Titan FC lightweight champion, after defeating Chazz Walton via knockout in the first round.[4][13] He lost the title to Sidney Outlaw at Titan FC 50.[14] However, a disappointing loss and inadequate compensation for his efforts forced him to take a job in construction to fund his work visa. Before signing with PFL, Manfio hadn't fought in three years and was working teaching MMA and as a janitor.[15][16]

Professional Fighters League

2021 Season

Manfio made his PFL debut as a short notice replacement for Olivier Aubin-Mercier against Joilton Lutterbach on April 23, 2021 at PFL 1.[17] He won the bout via split decision.

After being initially booked as a short notice replacement for Mikhail Odintsov against his teammate Natan Schulte at PFL 4 on June 10, 2021, Manfio was later rebooked against Anthony Pettis at PFL 6 on June 25, 2021 after Pettis pulled out of his previous bout due to illness.[18] Manfio won the close bout via split decision.[19]

In the semi-finals of the Lightweight tournament, Manfio faced Clay Collard on August 13, 2021 at PFL 7.[20] Manfio won the bout via unanimous decision.[21]

Manfio faced Loik Radzhabov in the Finals of the Lightweight tournament on 27 October 2021 at PFL 10.[22] He won the bout via unanimous decision, winning the 2021 PFL Lightweight Tournament and $1 million dollar prize.[23]

In February 2021, YouTuber Jake Paul hired Manfio to spar with him in preparation for Paul's fight against former Bellator and ONE Welterweight Champion Ben Askren.[24] As of 2022, Manfio trains at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida.[25][26]

2022 Season

Manfio faced Don Madge on April 23, 2022 at PFL 1.[27] In a comeback fashion, Manfio won the bout after dropping Madge in the third round and finishing with ground and pound.[28][16]

Manfio faced Olivier Aubin-Mercier on June 17, 2022 at PFL 4.[29] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[30]

2023 Season

Manfio started off the 2023 season against Alex Martinez on April 14, 2023, at PFL 3.[31] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[32]

Manfio faced Natan Schulte on June 23, 2023 at PFL 6.[33] Manfio lost via a unanimous decision in a fight that saw both men, who openly state to be best friends, refuse to engage.[34] Following the fight, PFL suspended both fighters, saying in a statement that "All fighters in their PFL Fight Agreements agree to use their best efforts ... skills and abilities as a professional athlete to compete ... and defeat any opponent. It was very clear that Natan and Raush did not meet that contractual standard in yesterday’s bout."[35]

On October 6, 2023, Manfio announced on his social media that he was no longer with PFL.[36]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
22 matches 17 wins 5 losses
By knockout 8 0
By decision 9 5
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 17–5 Natan Schulte Decision (unanimous) PFL 6 (2023) June 23, 2023 3 5:00 Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Win 17–4 Alexander Martinez Decision (unanimous) PFL 3 (2023) April 14, 2023 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 16–4 Olivier Aubin-Mercier Decision (unanimous) PFL 4 (2022) June 17, 2022 3 5:00 Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Win 16–3 Don Madge TKO (punches) PFL 1 (2022) April 20, 2022 3 2:42 Arlington, Texas, United States
Win 15–3 Loik Radzhabov Decision (unanimous) PFL 10 (2021) October 27, 2021 5 5:00 Hollywood, Florida, United States Won the 2021 PFL Lightweight Tournament.
Win 14–3 Clay Collard Decision (unanimous) PFL 7 (2021) August 13, 2021 3 5:00 Hollywood, Florida, United States 2021 PFL Lightweight Semifinals.
Win 13–3 Anthony Pettis Decision (split) PFL 6 (2021) June 25, 2021 3 5:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 12–3 Joilton Lutterbach Decision (split) PFL 1 (2021) April 23, 2021 3 5:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss 11–3 Sidney Outlaw Decision (unanimous) Titan FC 50 June 29, 2018 3 5:00 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States Lost the Titan FC Lightweight Championship. Outlaw missed weight (159.9 lb) and was ineligible to win title.
Win 11–2 Lee Henry Lilly Decision (unanimous) Titan FC 48 February 16, 2018 3 5:00 Coral Gables, Florida, United States Defended the Titan FC Lightweight Championship.
Win 10–2 Chazz Walton KO (punch) Titan FC 46 November 17, 2017 1 3:08 Pembroke Pines, United States Won the Titan FC Lightweight Championship.
Win 9–2 Martin Brown Decision (unanimous) Titan FC 45 August 18, 2017 3 5:00 Pembroke Pines, Florida, United States
Loss 8–2 Matt Frevola Decision (unanimous) Titan FC 43 January 21, 2017 3 5:00 Coral Gables, Florida, United States
Win 8–1 Demarques Jackson TKO (punches and elbows) Titan FC 41 September 9, 2016 3 1:42 Coral Gables, Florida, United States
Win 7–1 Luis Zequeira KO (knee) Titan FC 39 June 10, 2016 2 4:52 Coral Gables, Florida, United States Catchweight (150 lb) bout.
Win 6–1 Douglas Saraiva TKO (doctor stoppage) Gringo Super Fight 10 April 27, 2014 1 5:00 Nova Iguaçu, Brazil Featherweight bout.
Win 5–1 Oton Jasse Decision (unanimous) Face to Face 6 January 21, 2014 3 5:00 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Loss 4–1 Fernando dos Santos Decision (unanimous) Watch Out Combat Show 29 September 20, 2013 3 5:00 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win 4–0 Patrick Gomes Silva Decision (unanimous) Circuito Team Nogueira de MMA 3 May 24, 2013 3 5:00 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win 3–0 Tiago Rocha TKO (punches) Conquista Kombat Championship November 17, 2012 2 0:53 Vitória da Conquista, Brazil
Win 2–0 Marcilio Villas Boas KO (knee) Black Belt Fight June 2, 2012 1 N/A Vitória da Conquista, Brazil
Win 1–0 Demetro Borges KO (knee) Valiant Fighters Championship 8 December 8, 2011 3 2:49 Ribeirão Preto, Brazil Lightweight debut.

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 0–1 Glaico França Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4 February 2, 2015 2 2:46 Las Vegas, United States TUF: Brazil 4 house entry bout.

[37]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Raush Manfio". Sherdog.
  2. ↑ "Raush Manfio ("Cavalo de Guerra") | MMA Fighter Page".
  3. ↑ "Lightweight - Fight Matrix". 2022-06-03. Archived from the original on 2022-06-03. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Cruz, Guilherme (2018-06-29). "Being in the right place at the right time saved Titan FC champion Raush Manfio's career". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-05-06.
  5. ↑ "MMA Junkie's 2021 Newcomer of the Year: Raush Manfio". MMA Junkie. 2022-01-05. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  6. 1 2 Cruz, Guilherme (2021-04-20). "PFL newcomer Raush Manfio offered to fight for free during three-year layoff". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  7. ↑ "Seis anos de "perrengue": Raush Manfio e o caminho à disputa do prêmio milionário da PFL". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  8. 1 2 Cruz, Guilherme (2018-06-29). "Being in the right place at the right time saved Titan FC champion Raush Manfio's career". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  9. ↑ Johnny, Jack (2021-06-07). "Mikhail Odintsov out, Natan Schulte to face teammate Raush Manfio - MMA Root". MMA Root. Retrieved 2022-05-06.
  10. ↑ Guilherme Cruz (March 18, 2015). "The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4 cast announced". mmafighting.com. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  11. ↑ "UFC - The Ultimate Fighter Brazil Season 4 Elimination Fights". Sherdog.
  12. ↑ "Titan FC 39 - Cavalcante vs. Healy". Sherdog.
  13. ↑ Crist, Adam (2018-06-26). "Sidney Outlaw discusses Titan FC lightweight title fight opportunity". MyMMANews. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  14. ↑ Knapp, Brian. "5 Things You Might Not Know About Raush Manfio". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  15. ↑ McCarson, Kelsey (2021-07-27). "2021 PFL Playoffs: Raush Manfio Thought His Career Was Over". Heavy.com. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  16. 1 2 Martin, Damon (2022-04-20). "Raush Manfio recounts cleaning offices and borrowing money just to survive before becoming PFL champion". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  17. ↑ Cruz, Guilherme (23 March 2021). "Raush Manfio replaces injured Olivier Aubin-Mercier against Joilton Lutterbach at April 23 PFL card". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  18. ↑ "Anthony Pettis passa mal e é retirado de card do PFL 4; Natan Schulte o substitui". www.uol.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  19. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2021-06-26). "PFL 6: Anthony Pettis Out of Playoffs, Upset by Raush Manfio". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  20. ↑ Newswire, MMA Fighting (2021-07-20). "PFL playoff cards announced with first event kicking off Aug. 13 with Rory MacDonald vs. Ray Cooper in main event". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  21. ↑ "Ray Cooper locks up PFL championship rematch against Magomed Magomedkerimov". ESPN.com. 2021-08-13. Retrieved 2021-08-14.
  22. ↑ Alexander, Mookie (2021-08-28). "Here are the six tournament finals for the PFL 2021 season finale". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  23. ↑ "2021 PFL Championship results: Raush Manfio tops Loik Radzhabov in classic slugfest". MMA Junkie. 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  24. ↑ Cruz, Guilherme (2021-02-18). "MMA fighter Raush Manfio spars with Jake Paul, sees no path to victory for Ben Askren". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  25. ↑ Kontek, Riley. "PFL 2022: Previewing the Men's Lightweight Field". Combat Press. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  26. ↑ Cruz, Guilherme (2021-06-25). "Raush Manfio: Anthony Pettis is 'going downhill,' and 'I want his head' at PFL 6". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  27. ↑ "Manfio vs. Madge to headline PFL season kickoff". ESPN.com. 2022-03-22. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  28. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2022-04-20). "PFL 1 2022: Raush Manfio Stuns Don Madge With Third-Round KO In Otherwise Tepid Affair". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  29. ↑ "Collard to face Martinez in PFL second round". ESPN.com. 2022-05-18. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  30. ↑ "PFL : Olivier Aubin-Mercier se paie le champion en titre". RDS.ca (in French). 2022-06-17. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
  31. ↑ "Loughnane-Moraes to kick off 2023 PFL season". ESPN.com. 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  32. ↑ Sherdog.com. "2023 PFL 3 Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring". Sherdog. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  33. ↑ Lee, Alexander K. (2023-05-12). "PFL announces second-half event lineups following 9 fighters receiving drug test suspensions". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  34. ↑ Al-Shatti, Shaun (2023-06-24). "PFL 6 results: Olivier Aubin-Mercier advances with wicked knee knockout; Shane Burgos misses playoffs". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  35. ↑ Lee, Alexander K. (2023-06-24). "Natan Schulte and Raush Manfio suspended by PFL for substandard fight, Shane Burgos now in playoffs". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  36. ↑ Cruz, Guilherme (2023-11-06). "Raush Manfio parts ways with PFL after controversial Natan Schulte fight". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  37. ↑ "Raush Manfio". Sherdog. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
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