Ľudovít Klein
| Ľudovít Klein | |
|---|---|
 Klein in 2022 | |
| Born | February 22, 1995 Nové Zámky, Slovakia |
| Other names | Mr. Highlight |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb) |
| Division | Lightweight Featherweight |
| Reach | 72.0 in (183 cm)[1] |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Fighting out of | Trnava, Slovakia |
| Team | Spartakus Fight Gym |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 28 |
| Wins | 23 |
| By knockout | 9 |
| By submission | 8 |
| By decision | 6 |
| Losses | 4 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Ľudovít Klein (born February 22, 1995) is a Slovak mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Background
[edit]Ľudovít Klein was born in Nové Zámky, where he also started his sports career. When he was about 12 years old, Klein secretly signed up for boxing training as he feared his parents' reaction. After the first training sessions he was already aware that martial arts would accompany him throughout his life. Later, the boxing club he was involved in broke up and for some time he did not know which direction to take. As he wanted to continue his hobby, he signed up for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training. He trained for a long time in the Thomas Bilishich Martial Arts Academy. He later added Thai boxing to his martial arts training, which is how he first heard about the amateur MMA league. Subsequently, he started to devote himself to it.[2][3]
In the beginning he earned his living as a bouncer at discos, where he was often picked on because of his shorter stature.[2]
Mixed martial arts career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Klein joined the professional MMA as a relatively experienced amateur. After a couple of performances on smaller Slovak shows, his potential was noticed by the Slovak MMA legend Attila Végh, who brought him to his gym based on his great performances. On the domestic scene, Lajoš went undefeated in his first six fights in smaller Slovak organizations, after which he decided to go abroad.[4]
The first match outside Slovakia did not turn out as expected. Klein lost to Igor Tarytsa at A-Fight 5 via KO. He won 2 matches in the ACB, and managed to finish both in the second round. He returned to Slovakia for one match against Moric Besztercei, which he left as the winner.[4]
He came to the British Cage Warriors as a favorite, but he fell short, losing to Aiden Lee . He finished Lajoš in the first round via submission and Klein decided to return home to Slovakia.[4]
With a record of 9-2, Klein transferred to Oktagon MMA. In it he fought two times, giving dominant performances and winning both fights before the limit. In the second match against Matěj Kuzník, he headlined Oktagon 5.[4]
Subsequently, he bounced for 2 matches in the competing XFN. In both, he won the bouts comfortably, but decided to return to the Oktagon due to problems in the organization.[4]
In the Oktagon 12 tournament, he defeated the Brazilian William Lima in the first round, followed by wins against João Paulo Rodrigues at Oktagon 14 and Łukasz Sajewski at Oktagon Prime 3, ending both subsequent matches with his signature head kick.[4]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
[edit]Klein, as a replacement for Nate Landwehr, faced Shane Young on 27 September 2020 at UFC 253.[5] At the weigh-ins, Klein weighed in at 150 pounds, four pounds over the non-title featherweight fight limit. The bout proceeded at a catchweight and Klein was fined a percentage of his purse, which went to Young.[6] Klein won the fight via knockout in round one.[7]
Klein faced Michael Trizano on May 8, 2021 at UFC on ESPN: Rodriguez vs. Waterson.[8] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[9] 11 out of 14 media scores gave the fight to Klein.[10]
Klein faced Nate Landwehr on October 16, 2021 at UFC Fight Night: Ladd vs. Dumont.[11] He lost the fight in the third round via a submission due to an anaconda choke.[12]
Klein faced Devonte Smith, replacing injured Erick Gonzalez, on March 5, 2022, at UFC 272.[13] He won the fight via split decision.[14]
Klein was scheduled to face Ignacio Bahamondes on August 30, 2022 at UFC 277.[15] However, Bahamondes pulled out on July 15, 2022 and Klein was rebooked against Mason Jones a week earlier at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall.[16] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[17]
Klein faced Jai Herbert on March 18, 2023 at UFC 286.[18] The fight ended in a majority draw.[19]
Klein was scheduled to face Jim Miller on June 3, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 46.[20] However, Klein pulled out on May 19 due to illness and was replaced by Jared Gordon.[21]
Klein was rescheduled to face Ignacio Bahamondes on August 5, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 226.[22] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[23]
Klein was scheduled to face Joel Álvarez on March 2, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 238.[24] However, Álvarez was replaced by AJ Cunningham for unknown reasons.[25] Klein won by technical knockout as a result of a body kick and follow-up punches at the end of the first round.[26]
Klein faced Thiago Moisés on June 8, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 57.[27] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[28]
Klein was scheduled to face Nikolas Motta on September 28, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 243.[29] However, Motta withdrew from the bout for unknown reasons and was replaced with Roosevelt Roberts.[30] Klein won the fight by unanimous decision.[31]
Mixed martial arts record
[edit]| 28 matches | 23 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 9 | 1 |
| By submission | 8 | 2 |
| By decision | 6 | 1 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 23–4–1 | Roosevelt Roberts | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis | September 28, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Paris, France | |
| Win | 22–4–1 | Thiago Moisés | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Imavov | June 8, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Louisville, Kentucky, United States | |
| Win | 21–4–1 | AJ Cunningham | TKO (front kick to the body and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev | March 2, 2024 | 1 | 4:36 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 20–4–1 | Ignacio Bahamondes | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font | August 5, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
| Draw | 19–4–1 | Jai Herbert | Draw (majority) | UFC 286 | March 18, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | Herbert was deducted 1 point in round 3 due to multiple groin strikes. |
| Win | 19–4 | Mason Jones | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall | July 23, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| Win | 18–4 | Devonte Smith | Decision (split) | UFC 272 | March 5, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Lightweight. |
| Loss | 17–4 | Nate Landwehr | Submission (anaconda choke) | UFC Fight Night: Ladd vs. Dumont | October 16, 2021 | 3 | 2:22 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 17–3 | Michael Trizano | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Rodriguez vs. Waterson | May 8, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–2 | Shane Young | KO (head kick and punches) | UFC 253 | September 27, 2020 | 1 | 1:16 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Catchweight (150 lb) bout; Klein missed weight. |
| Win | 16–2 | Łukasz Sajewski | TKO (punches) | Oktagon Prime 3 | February 15, 2020 | 1 | 3:49 | Šamorín, Slovakia | |
| Win | 15–2 | João Paulo Rodrigues | KO (head kick) | Oktagon 14 | September 14, 2019 | 3 | 0:46 | Bratislava, Slovakia | |
| Win | 14–2 | Willian Lima | TKO (punches) | Oktagon 12 | June 8, 2019 | 1 | 2:27 | Bratislava, Slovakia | Lightweight bout. |
| Win | 13–2 | Arbi Mezhidov | Decision (unanimous) | XFN 14 | November 18, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Bratislava, Slovakia | |
| Win | 12–2 | Kamil Selwa | TKO (punches) | XFN 11 | June 28, 2018 | 2 | N/A | Prague, Czech Republic | Return to Featherweight. |
| Win | 11–2 | Matěj Kuzník | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Oktagon 5 | March 17, 2018 | 4 | 5:00 | Ostrava, Czech Republic | Lightweight debut. |
| Win | 10–2 | Krzysztof Klaczek | KO (head kick) | Oktagon 4 | November 12, 2017 | 1 | 2:00 | Bratislava, Slovakia | |
| Loss | 9–2 | Aiden Lee | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Cage Warriors 87 | October 14, 2017 | 1 | 2:34 | Newport, Wales | |
| Win | 9–1 | Moric Besztercei | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Dark Night Volume 2 | June 24, 2017 | 1 | 4:56 | Nové Zámky, Slovakia | |
| Win | 8–1 | Ahmed Abdulkadirov | Submission (guillotine choke) | ACB 60 | May 13, 2017 | 2 | 0:44 | Vienna, Austria | |
| Win | 7–1 | Khusein Maltsagov | KO (knee) | ACB 56 | April 1, 2017 | 2 | 3:29 | Minsk, Belarus | |
| Loss | 6–1 | Igor Tarytsa | KO (punch) | A-Fight 5 | February 24, 2017 | 1 | 4:58 | Nevinnomyssk, Russia | |
| Win | 6–0 | Aleksandar Janković | Submission (armbar) | Fight of Gladiators 5 | April 9, 2016 | 1 | N/A | Nitra, Slovakia | |
| Win | 5–0 | Michal Stefek | Submission (guillotine choke) | Hanuman Cup 30 | March 5, 2016 | 1 | 0:40 | Bratislava, Slovakia | |
| Win | 4–0 | Samuel Ribansky | Submission (armbar) | Hanuman Cup 28 | September 26, 2015 | 2 | 0:00 | Bratislava, Slovakia | |
| Win | 3–0 | Adam Németh | Submission (guillotine choke) | Hanuman Cup 27 | July 4, 2015 | 1 | 1:00 | Senec, Slovakia | |
| Win | 2–0 | Kamil Tarnawski | Submission (triangle choke) | PCF 12 | May 16, 2015 | 2 | 1:35 | Poprad, Slovakia | |
| Win | 1–0 | Martin Mihálik | Submission (rear-naked choke) | PCF 11 | December 20, 2014 | 1 | 0:27 | Levoča, Slovakia |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com.
- ^ a b REFRESHER. "Od vyhadzovača až po svetového bojovníka. Prvý Slovák v UFC Ľudovít Klein sa zapísal do histórie domáceho MMA". refresher.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ^ "Cesta bojovníka Kleina: Ambíciu dostať sa medzi najlepších mal už časoch, keď robil vyhadzovača". tvnoviny.sk (in Slovak). 2021-10-14. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ^ a b c d e f Webikon.sk (2020-11-08). "Kto je Ľudovít Klein? Prvý Slovák v UFC má veľké ambície". Hashtag.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ^ "Ludovit Klein steps in for Nate Landwehr at UFC 253 after positive COVID-19 test". MMA Junkie. 2020-09-17. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
- ^ Staff (2020-09-25). "UFC 253 weigh-in results: All title fighters hit marks, but two come in heavy on 'Fight Island'". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
- ^ Bitter, Shawn (2020-09-26). "UFC 253 Results: Ludovit Klein Knocks Out Shane Young". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ DNA, MMA (2021-04-08). "BREAKING: Mike Trizano vs. Ľudovít Klein ingepland voor UFC evenement op 8 mei". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
- ^ Behunin, Alex (2021-05-08). "UFC Vegas 26 Results: Michael Trizano Takes Questionable Decision Over Ľudovít Klein". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
- ^ "Michael Trizano def. Ludovit Klein :: UFC on ESPN 24 :: MMA Decisions". www.mmadecisions.com. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ DNA, MMA (2021-07-03). "BREAKING: Ľudovít Klein vs. Nate Landwehr toegevoegd aan UFC evenement op 16 oktober". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
- ^ "UFC Vegas 40 video: Nate Landwehr taps out Ludovit Klein with nasty third-round anaconda choke". 16 October 2021.
- ^ Marcel Dorff (2022-02-25). "Klein replaces Gonzalez for Smith in 8 days". eurosport.nl. Retrieved 2022-02-25. (in Dutch)
- ^ Behunin, Alex (2022-03-05). "UFC 272: L'udovit Klein Earns Second UFC Win With Split Decision Over Devonte Smith". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
- ^ "Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Ludovit Klein added to UFC 277 in Dallas". MMA Junkie. 2022-06-03. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
- ^ Farah Hannoun (2022-07-15). "With Ignacio Bahamondes out of UFC 277, Ludovit Klein now faces Mason Jones at UFC London". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-07-15.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "UFC Fight Night 208 Prelim Results: Ludovit Klein Shuts Down Mason Jones". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-07-23.
- ^ ATSteveDuncan (2023-01-06). "Jai Herbert vs. Ludovit Klein agregado a UFC 286". MMA.uno, #1 En noticias de Artes Marciales Mixtas (MMA) en Español. (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-01-06.
- ^ Val Dewar (2023-03-18). "UFC 286: Late, controversial point deduction sees Jai Herbert draw with Ľudovit Klein". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
- ^ "Jim Miller set for 42nd UFC fight, meets Ludovit Klein in Las Vegas". MMA Junkie. 2023-04-22. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- ^ Matthew Wells and Farah Hannoun (2023-05-19). "Jim Miller gets new opponent, now set to face Jared Gordon at June UFC Fight Night event". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ "UFC finalizing Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Ludovit Klein for August event". MMA Junkie. 2023-06-07. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ Theodosi, Jamie (2023-08-05). "UFC Nashville: L'udovit Klein Dominates Bahamondes, Picks Up Decision Win". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ^ "Joel Álvarez peleará contra Ludovit Klein en el UFC de Arabia Saudí del 2 de Marzo". Eurosport (in Spanish). 2023-12-17. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
- ^ "Two UFC Fight Night 238 replacements step in on less than one week's notice". MMA Junkie. 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
- ^ Shawn Bitter (2024-03-02). "UFC Vegas 87: Bodywork Key to Ľudovít Klein Stopping AJ Cunningham". casesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
- ^ "Thiago Moisés busca 2ª vitória seguida nos leves do UFC em junho - Ag. Fight – MMA, UFC, Boxe e Mais". agfight.com. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
- ^ Hester, Bryson (2024-06-09). "UFC Louisville: Ľudovit Klein Has Best Showing Yet Against Thiago Moises". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-06-09.
- ^ Drake Riggs (2024-08-21). "Morning Report: Mike Tyson says Jake Paul boxing match is 'what the world really needs right now' - Fight Announcements". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
- ^ Kevin Priest (2024-09-03). "UFC Paris : Nouvel adversaire pour L'udovit Klein" (in French). Boxemag.com. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ Eddie Law (2024-09-28). "Ludovit Klein Pressures, Grapples Roberts To Decision Win". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Ľudovít Klein". Sherdog.