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Ray Sefo
Born	(1971-02-15) February 15, 1971 (age 47) Auckland, New Zealand
Other names	Sugarfoot
Nationality	New Zealander
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	115.5 kg (255 lb; 18 st 3 lb)
Division	Light Heavyweight Cruiserweight Heavyweight Super Heavyweight
Reach	75 in (191 cm)
Style	Boxing
Stance	Orthodox
Fighting out of	Las Vegas, Nevada, US
Team	Xtreme Couture Ray Sefo's Fight Academy
Years active	1989 - 2012 (Kickboxing) 1989 - 2012 (Muay Thai) 1994 - 2001 (Boxing) 2005 - 2013 (MMA)
Professional boxing record
Total	6
Wins	5
By knockout	4
Losses	1
By knockout	1
Draws	0
Kickboxing record
Total	79
Wins	56
By knockout	38
Losses	22
By knockout	11
Draws	1
Mixed martial arts record
Total	4
Wins	2
By knockout	2
Losses	2
By knockout	1
By submission	1
Other information
Notable relatives	Rony Sefo, brother Antz Nansen, cousin Baby Nansen, cousin Fai Falamoe, cousin
Boxing record from BoxRec
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
last updated on: 11 May 2011

"Sugar" Ray Sefo (born February 15, 1971) is a New Zealand fight promoter and retired^[1]kickboxer, boxer, and mixed martial artist of Samoan, Samoa descent.^[2][3] He is a six-time Muay Thai World Champion^[4] and eight time K-1 World Grand Prix Finals tournament participant. He is the president of MMA promotion Professional Fighters League.^[5]

Background

Training in Wing Chun as a youth, Sefo moved to Muay Thai under Thai fighting legend Kiosot, then continued training under Lollo Heimuli at the infamous Balmoral Lee Gar Gym.

Career

Early career

Sefo had an impressive unbeaten record as an amateur and a professional in the Oceania kickboxing league. Early in his career, he trained at Balmoral Lee Gar gym alongside Jason Suttie, Jayson Vemoa, Doug Viney, John Conway, and his brother, Rony Sefo. In 1996, Ray Sefo fought Andre Mannaart in a kickboxing match and overwhelmed Manaart with devastating speed and elusive footwork, knocking him down on numerous occasions. In the ring after the fight, Mannaart took the microphone and said, "...you should call him Sugarfist, not Sugarfoot..." Sefo's first major breakthrough was becoming a WKA Cruiserweight Champion. He also acted as a sparring partner for fellow New Zealander David Tua, when Tua first returned to New Zealand for a fight after turning pro.

K-1

Sefo made his K-1 debut against future four-time World Grand Prix Champion, Ernesto Hoost. Sefo held his own against the much more experienced Hoost but was finally knocked out in the 4th round by a leg kick. Sefo gained respect for standing up to such an elite fighter in just his first fight. Sefo gained more respect in his third K-1 fight where he knocked out K-1 legend Jerome Lebanner in the 1st round. Sefo's hard right hand was enough to break the Frenchman's jaw in four places.^{[citation needed]}

Sefo had an up and down first few years in K-1, unable to make it past the quarter finals in the K-1 World Grand Prix against the likes of Sam Greco and Andy Hug. In 2000, he made it to the WGP final after knocking out Japanese star Musashi and French kickboxer Cyril Abidi, before losing again to Hoost. In 2002, Sefo defeated Dutch legend Peter Aerts in the quarter finals but lost again to his nemesis Hoost in the semi-finals.

In 2007, Sefo was thought to be a legitimate challenger to dethrone four-time World Grand Prix Champion Semmy Schilt for the new Super Heavyweight title. In the 1st round, Sefo became only the second man in history to knock Schilt down. However, he would go on to lose by KO in the second round. He went on to lose five more fights and would not find the winners circle again until he beat Hong Man Choi, Yosuke Nishijima, and Ionut Iftimoaie, all by decision.

Sefo was then asked to fight at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Seoul Final 16 on ten days notice against Tyrone Spong. Sefo put up a decent fight on short preparation but was beaten by decision.

MMA and retirement

In mid-February 2011, Sefo had his third MMA fight in a reserve fight for the Strikeforce Heavyweight tournament. He fought Valentijn Overeem, brother of Alistair Overeem, the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix champion. Overeem had 50 MMA fights behind him and beat Sefo by submission in the first round. Sefo's striking on the feet looked good, but as an inexperienced grappler, he lost early on by neck crank.

On 12 June 2013, Sefo announced that he would return to fighting.^[6] At WSOF 3, Sefo announced that he would be facing Dave Huckaba.^[7] The two fought at World Series of Fighting 4 on 10 August 2013. Sefo lost the fight via TKO in the second round. In an interview in April 2015, Sefo said, "I actually made a promise to myself that this year will be my last year." He did not fight again after losing against Huckaba.^[8] While he considered fighting again, Sefo officially announced his retirement in 2018.^[1]

Executive career

Sefo is the current president of MMA promotion Professional Fighters League.^[9] He was named president when the promotion was still known as World Series of Fighting. He helped the promotion ink a deal with NBC Sports to air 8 to 10 events on its network.

Titles

• 2000 K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 Runner Up.


• 1997 WKA World Super Heavyweight World champion.


• 1996 WMTF World Heavyweight champion.


• 1996 ISKA World Super Cruiserweight Champion.


• 1995 ISKA World Cruiserweight Champion


• 1994 ISKA World Light Cruiserweight Champion.


• 1992 WMTF World Light Heavyweight Champion.


• 1992 South Pacific Cruiserweight Champion.


• 1991 New Zealand Cruiserweight Champion.


• 1990 New Zealand Heavyweight Champion.

MMA accomplishments

Hero's

• Superfight winner at K-1 Hero's 2

Personal life

Sefo lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, and continues to train out of Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts.^[10]

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing Record
56 Wins (38 (T)KO's, 18 Decisions), 21 Losses, 1 Draw Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time Record 2012-03-10 Loss Mirko Cro Cop Cro Cop Final Fight Zagreb, Croatia Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 56-22-1 2010-10-02 Loss Tyrone Spong K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Seoul Final 16 Seoul, South Korea Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 56-21-1 Fails to qualify for K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final. 2010-05-21 Win Ionuţ Iftimoaie K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Bucharest Bucharest, Romania Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 56-20-1 2009-12-31 Win Yosuke Nishijima Dynamite!! 2009 Saitama, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 55-20-1 2008-12-06 Win Choi Hong Man K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 Final Yokohama, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 54-20-1 2008-09-27 Loss Gokhan Saki K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Seoul Final 16 Seoul, Korea Ext.R Decision 4 3:00 53-20-1 Fails to qualify for K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 Final. 2008-07-13 Loss Zabit Samedov K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Taipei Taipei City, Taiwan 2nd Ext.R Decision (Split) 5 3:00 53-19-1 2008-04-13 Loss Badr Hari K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Yokohama Yokohama, Japan TKO (Referee Stoppage) 1 2:43 53-18-1 2007-09-29 Loss Peter Aerts K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Seoul Final 16 Seoul, South Korea TKO (Corner Stoppage) 1 3:00 53-17-1 Fails to qualify for K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 Final. 2007-08-11 Loss Bjorn Bregy K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Decision (Split) 3 3:00 53-16-1 2007-03-04 Loss Semmy Schilt K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Yokohama Yokohama, Japan KO (Punch) 2 0:26 53-15-1 Fight was for K-1 Super Heavyweight Title. 2006-12-02 Win Melvin Manhoef K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 Final Tokyo, Japan KO (Right Hook) 1 0:40 53-14-1 2006-09-30 Loss Stefan Leko K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Osaka Opening Round Osaka, Japan Ext.R Decision (Unanimous) 4 3:00 52-14-1 Loses fight but invited to K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 Final as Reservist. 2006-08-12 Win Azem Maksutaj K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Las Vegas II Las Vegas, Nevada, USA TKO (Referee Stoppage) 3 2:02 52-13-1 2006-06-03 Win Ruslan Karaev K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Seoul Seoul, South Korea KO (Right Hook) 1 1:42 51-13-1 2006-03-05 Win Francois Botha K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Auckland Auckland, New Zealand Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 50-13-1 2005-11-19 Loss Semmy Schilt K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 Final Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 49-13-1 2005-09-23 Win Kaoklai Kaennorsing K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Osaka - Final Elimination Osaka, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 49-12-1 Qualifies for K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 Final. 2005-06-14 Win Ruslan Karaev K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Hiroshima Hiroshima, Japan TKO (Referee Stoppage) 1 0:37 48-12-1 2004-12-31 Win Gary Goodridge K-1 PREMIUM 2004 Dynamite!! Osaka, Japan KO (Right Uppercuts) 1 0:24 47-12-1 2004-11-04 Loss Musashi K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 Final Tokyo, Japan Ext.R Decision (Unanimous) 4 3:00 46-12-1 2004-09-25 Win Hiromi Amada K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 Final Elimination Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 46-11-1 Qualifies for K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 Final. 2004-08-07 Win Marvin Eastman K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 in Las Vegas II Las Vegas, Nevada, USA TKO (Referee Stoppage) 1 1:32 45-11-1 2004-06-26 Win Bob Sapp K-1 Beast 2004 in Shizuoka Shizuoka, Japan KO 2 0:29 44-11-1 2003-12-06 Loss Musashi K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 43-11-1 2003-10-11 Win Carter Williams K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final Elimination Osaka, Japan Decision (Majority) 3 3:00 43-10-1 Qualifies for K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final. 2003-07-13 Win Tatsufumi Tomihira K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 in Fukuoka Fukuoka, Japan TKO (Corner Stoppage) 5 2:15 42-10-1 2003-03-30 Win Pelé Reid K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 in Saitama Saitama, Japan TKO (Corner Stoppage) 3 1:15 41-10-1 2002-12-07 Loss Ernesto Hoost K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Tokyo, Japan TKO (Shin injury) 1 1:49 40-10-1 2002-12-07 Win Peter Aerts K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Tokyo, Japan Decision (Split) 3 3:00 40-9-1 2002-10-05 Win Martin Holm K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final Elimination Saitama, Japan Decision (Majority) 3 3:00 39-9-1 Qualifies for K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final. 2002-07-14 Win Gilbert Yvel K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 in Fukuoka Fukuoka, Japan KO (Low Kicks) 2 2:07 38-9-1 2002-06-02 Win Julio Cesar Santana K-1 Survival 2002 Toyama, Japan KO (Right Hook) 1 0:37 37-9-1 2002-03-03 Win Mike Bernardo K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 in Nagoya Nagoya, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00 36-9-1 2001-10-08 Win Mark Hunt K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 in Fukuoka Fukuoka, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 35-9-1 2001-06-24 Loss Remy Bonjasky K-1 Survival 2001 Sendai, Japan Ext.R TKO (Corner Stoppage) 4 3:00 34-9-1 2001-04-29 Win Adam Watt K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 in Osaka Osaka, Japan TKO (Right Hook) 1 2:20 34-8-1 2001-03-17 Win Michael McDonald K-1 Gladiators 2001 Yokohama, Japan KO (Right Hook) 1 1:56 33-8-1 2000-12-10 Loss Ernesto Hoost K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 Final Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 32-8-1 Fight was for K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 title. 2000-12-10 Win Cyril Abidi K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 Final Tokyo, Japan TKO (Referee Stoppage) 1 1:45 32-7-1 2000-12-10 Win Musashi K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 Final Tokyo, Japan TKO (Referee Stoppage) 1 1:38 31-7-1 2000-08-20 Loss Cyril Abidi K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 in Yokohama Yokohama, Japan TKO (Corner Stoppage) 2 3:00 30-7-1 2000-08-20 Win Frank Otto K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 in Yokohama Yokohama, Japan TKO (Referee Stoppage) 1 2:24 30-6-1 2000-08-20 Loss Peter Aerts K-1 The Millennium Osaka, Japan KO (Right Low Kick) 3 2:24 29-6-1 1999-12-05 Loss Sam Greco K-1 World Grand Prix 1999 Final Quarter Finals Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 29-5-1 1999-10-03 Win Samir Benazzouz K-1 World Grand Prix '99 Opening Round Osaka, Japan TKO (Referee Stoppage) 1 2:14 29-4-1 Qualifies for K-1 World Grand Prix 1999 Final. 1999-06-06 Win Jim Mullen K-1 Survival '99 Sapporo, Japan KO (Right Hook) 2 0:45 28-4-1 1999-04-25 Loss Andy Hug K-1 Revenge '99 Yokohama, Japan TKO (Corner Stoppage) 4 3:00 27-4-1 1998-12-13 Loss Andy Hug K-1 World Grand Prix 1998 Final Quarter Finals Tokyo, Japan TKO (Referee stoppage/two knockdowns) 2 2:28 27-3-1 1998-09-27 Win Stefan Leko K-1 World Grand Prix '98 Opening Round Osaka, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00 27-2-1 Qualifies for K-1 World Grand Prix 1998 Final. 1998-05-24 Loss Matt Skelton K-1 Braves '98 Fukuoka, Japan TKO (Corner Stoppage) 2 3:00 26-2-1 1998-04-09 Draw Francisco Filho K-1 Kings '98 Yokohama, Japan Decision Draw 5 3:00 26-1-1 1998-01-23 Win Stephane Reveillon KO 2 26-1-0 Won WKBF Super Heavyweight title. 1997-10-00 Win Jean-Claude Leuyer Decision 5 3:00 25-1-0 1997-07-20 Win Jean-Claude Leuyer K-1 Dream '97 Nagoya, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 7 3:00 24-1-0 Won WKBA Super Heavyweight title. 1997-04-29 Win Jérôme Le Banner K-1 Braves '97 Fukuoka, Japan KO (Right Hook) 1 1:31 23-1-0 1997-03-16 Win Petar Majstorovic K-1 Kings '97 Yokohama, Japan TKO (Referee Stoppage) 4 1:36 22-1-0 1996-12-08 Loss Ernesto Hoost K-1 Hercules '96 Nagoya, Japan KO (Low Kicks) 4 0:25 21-1-0 1996-09-09 Win Kirkwood Walker Hong Kong KO 21-0-0 Won WMTF World Heavyweight title. 1996-08-01 Win Lee Swaney New Zealand vs England Auckland, New Zealand KO 20-0-0 1996-02-25 Win Andre Mannaart NZ - AUS - HOL Auckland, New Zealand KO (Punches) 4 19-0-0 Wins I.S.K.A. Super Cruiserweight World title. 1995-08-25 Win Michael McDonald Auckland, New Zealand KO (Right Hook) 3 18-0-0 Won ISKA World Light Cruiserweight title. 1995-04-27 Win Rob Martin Auckland, New Zealand KO (Left Hook) 1 17-0-0 Won WMTF Light Heavyweight title.
Boxing Record
5 Wins (4 (T)KO's, 1 Decision), 1 Loss, 0 Draw Date Result Opponent Location Method Round Time Record 2001-09-02 Loss Chester Hughes Elgin, Illinois, USA KO 1 5-1-0 2001-06-03 Win Joe Lenhart Elgin, Illinois, USA TKO 1 5-0-0 2001-02-11 Win Steve Griffin Elgin, Illinois, USA TKO 1 4-0-0 1996-10-05 Win Nicky Faamata Auckland, New Zealand TKO 3 3-0-0 1995-03-16 Win Paul Baker Auckland, New Zealand Decision 4 2-0-0 1994-11-24 Win Alex Katu Auckland, New Zealand TKO 1 1-0-0 Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
4 matches	2 wins	2 losses
By knockout	2	1
By submission	0	1

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Loss	2-2	Dave Huckaba	TKO (punches)	WSOF 4	August 10, 2013	2	4:32	Ontario, California, United States
Loss	2-1	Valentijn Overeem	Submission (baseball choke)	Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva	February 12, 2011	1	1:37	East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States
Win	2-0	Kevin Jordan	TKO (injury)	Strikeforce Challengers: Kennedy vs. Cummings	September 25, 2009	2	0:24	Bixby, Oklahoma, United States
Win	1-0	Kim Min-soo	KO (head kick)	Hero's 2	July 6, 2005	2	0:30	Tokyo, Japan

See also

• List of current WSOF fighters


• List of male kickboxers


• List of K-1 events


• Champions of Champions Elite

References

External links

• 
  Profile at K-1
  


• Ray Sefo Interview


• 
  Professional MMA record for Ray Sefo from Sherdog
  


• 
  Professional boxing record for Ray Sefo from BoxRec