Alessio Di Chirico
Alessio Di Chirico (born December 12, 1989) is an Italian former professional mixed martial artist who competed in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Known by the nickname "Manzo"—derived from his time playing football, where teammates called him "beef" for his sturdy build—he amassed a professional record of 13 wins and 7 losses from 2011 to 2022, with 6 knockouts, 4 submissions, and 3 decisions among his victories. Hailing from Rome, Italy, Di Chirico trained at the Gloria Fight Center and fought in an orthodox stance, standing 6 feet tall with a 74-inch reach.[1][2][3] Di Chirico began his combat sports journey as an amateur, compiling a 3-0 record and capturing multiple national titles in Italy from 2012 to 2014. In 2014, he achieved international success by winning the inaugural light heavyweight gold medal at the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) World Championships in Las Vegas, defeating opponents via knockout and submission en route to the title. That same year, he claimed the European WFCA middleweight championship in Prague, marking his transition toward professional competition. Di Chirico turned professional in 2011, initially fighting on the regional European circuit, where he secured early wins by submission and decision before earning a UFC contract in 2016.[2][4][5] In the UFC, Di Chirico made his Octagon debut on April 10, 2016, losing to Bojan Velickovic via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 86. Over his UFC tenure from 2016 to 2022, he competed in 11 bouts, achieving notable victories including a second-round knockout of Oluwale Bamgbose with a knee strike on December 16, 2017, at UFC on Fox 26, and a first-round head-kick knockout of previously unbeaten Joaquin Buckley on January 16, 2021, at UFC on ABC 1. Other key wins came via split decision against Julian Marquez on July 6, 2018, at The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale, and earlier against Garreth McLellan via split decision on August 27, 2016, at UFC on Fox 21. Despite these highlights, Di Chirico faced setbacks, suffering knockouts to Abdul Razak Alhassan on August 28, 2021, and Roman Kopylov on September 3, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 209, the latter marking his final professional fight. His UFC tenure showcased his aggressive striking and grappling prowess, contributing to his reputation as a durable and exciting fighter in the middleweight division.[2][3][1]Early Life and Background
Birth and Family Origins
Alessio Di Chirico was born on December 12, 1989, in Rome, Italy.[6] As the son of Italian parents, Di Chirico hails from a family rooted in the Eternal City, though specific details about his parents' professions or any siblings remain undocumented in public records.[2][7] Di Chirico spent his early childhood growing up in Rome, immersed in the vibrant cultural and historical milieu of the Italian capital. This environment, marked by ancient landmarks like the Colosseum and a deep connection to Italy's classical heritage, played a formative role in shaping his early years, fostering an appreciation for the region's athletic and communal traditions.[7]Education and Athletic Beginnings
Alessio Di Chirico pursued higher education at the Università degli Studi di Roma "Foro Italico," where he majored in Sport and Science.[2] This academic focus aligned with his growing interest in physical performance and athletic development, providing a theoretical foundation for his practical pursuits in sports.[2] During his late teens and early twenties, Di Chirico immersed himself in organized American football, playing as a linebacker for the Grizzlies Rome team from 2008 to 2011.[8] This period marked his initial foray into high-contact team sports, where he honed physical conditioning through rigorous training regimens that emphasized strength, endurance, and agility.[9] The team environment also instilled valuable lessons in discipline, strategy, and collaboration, shaping his approach to competitive athletics.[10] His exposure to American football served as an early gateway to contact sports, building the foundational athleticism that would later influence his physical capabilities.[9] By engaging in this demanding sport, Di Chirico developed a robust physique and resilience, attributes essential for high-intensity physical activities.[8]Mixed Martial Arts Career
Amateur and Early Professional Phases
Alessio Di Chirico transitioned from American football, where he played for the Rome Gladiators, to mixed martial arts in 2011, seeking a more viable athletic path amid limited opportunities in Italy's football scene.[9][11] Coached by Fabio Cioli at the Gloria Fight Center in Rome, he began training MMA that year and initially competed in the light heavyweight division as an amateur from 2011 to 2014.[9] His amateur record stood at 3-0, with victories that honed his skills and positioned him for international amateur competition, serving as a stepping stone to his professional aspirations. During this period, he captured Italian national amateur titles in MMA (2013) and grappling/submission grappling (2012 and 2013).[2][3] Di Chirico made his professional debut on December 9, 2011, at Ronin FC 1: The Genesis in Rome, defeating Mohamed Anoir via submission (rear-naked choke) in the first round at 2:55 while competing at welterweight.[3] He followed with another first-round submission win against Issa Saidi on February 24, 2012, at Ronin FC 2, again using a rear-naked choke at 2:48.[3] These early bouts showcased his grappling prowess, as he secured multiple finishes in regional Italian promotions like Ronin FC and Storm FC.[3] In 2013, Di Chirico continued his undefeated streak with a first-round TKO (punches) over Daniele D'Angelo at Storm FC 3 on March 23, followed by a submission (keylock) victory against Oleg Medvedev at White Rex: Tana Delle Tigri 1 on May 31, and another TKO (punches) against Cristian Magro at Storm FC 5 on October 12.[3] By 2014, he added a second-round submission (rear-naked choke) win over Giovanni Luciani at CFC on June 21, maintaining his momentum in European circuits.[3] Transitioning to middleweight in 2015, he notched three more victories that year: a second-round TKO (punches) against Adam Kowalski at PLMMA 47 on January 30, a third-round TKO (punches) over Andre Reinders at Caveam: Bitva Roku 2015 on March 19, and a unanimous decision win versus Andrzej Grzebyk at FEN 9: Go For It on November 7.[3] These performances built an unblemished 9-0 professional record, highlighted by six finishes (three TKOs and three submissions), before earning a UFC contract.[3][12]International Mixed Martial Arts Federation Involvement
Alessio Di Chirico represented Italy at the 2014 IMMAF Amateur World Championships, held from July 1 to July 5 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, competing in the light heavyweight division (93 kg / 205 lbs).[3][13] In the quarterfinals on July 1, Di Chirico secured a first-round knockout victory over American fighter Cole Fetzner via punches at 2:48, showcasing his striking prowess early in the tournament.[3][13] He advanced to the semifinals on July 3, where he defeated Poland's Karol Linowski by unanimous decision after three three-minute rounds, overcoming a challenging opponent in a closely contested bout.[3][13] Di Chirico capped his run in the finals on July 5, earning a unanimous decision win over Norway's Eivind Kjonsvik across three rounds to claim the gold medal.[3] This victory marked him as the inaugural IMMAF Light Heavyweight World Champion, a significant milestone in his amateur career.[13][5] The championship highlighted Di Chirico's effective striking under amateur rules, blending knockouts with disciplined decision-based performances, and elevated his international profile as he transitioned toward professional competition.[13][5]Ultimate Fighting Championship Tenure
Alessio Di Chirico signed a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship in January 2016, marking his entry into the premier mixed martial arts promotion.[9] He made his Octagon debut on April 10, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 86 in Zagreb, Croatia, where he faced fellow newcomer Bojan Veličković in a middleweight bout. Di Chirico lost the fight via unanimous decision after three rounds, with judges scoring it 29-28 across the board. Following his debut setback, Di Chirico rebounded in his second UFC appearance on August 27, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 92 in Salt Lake City, Utah, defeating Garreth McLellan by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28).[14] His momentum was halted in his next outing on January 28, 2017, at UFC on Fox 23 in Denver, Colorado, where he submitted to Eric Spicely via triangle choke at 2:14 of the first round.[15] Di Chirico achieved one of his most notable victories on December 16, 2017, at UFC on Fox 26 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, knocking out Oluwale Bamgbose with a knee at 2:14 of the second round and earning a Performance of the Night bonus. He extended his win streak to two fights with a split decision victory over Julian Marquez (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) at The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale on July 6, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada.[16] A three-fight losing skid followed, beginning with a unanimous decision defeat (30-27 x3) to Kevin Holland at UFC Fight Night 154 on June 22, 2019, in Copenhagen, Denmark.[17] Di Chirico then lost unanimous decisions (29-28 x3) to Makhmud Muradov at UFC Fight Night 158 on September 28, 2019, also in Copenhagen, and to Zak Cummings (29-28 x2, 30-27) at UFC Fight Night 175 on August 29, 2020, in Las Vegas.[18][19] Di Chirico snapped the skid with a highlight-reel knockout of Joaquin Buckley via head kick at 2:12 of the first round on January 16, 2021, at UFC on ABC 1 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, once again securing a Performance of the Night award.[20] However, his resurgence was short-lived, as he was stopped quickly by Abdul-Razak Alhassan via punches at 0:17 of the first round at UFC Fight Night 191 on August 28, 2021, in Las Vegas. Di Chirico's UFC tenure concluded on September 3, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 209 in Paris, France, where he suffered a third-round TKO loss to Roman Kopylov via punches at 1:09.[21] Following this defeat, he was released from the promotion, ending his UFC career with an overall record of 4 wins and 7 losses across 11 bouts fought in Europe, the United States, and Asia.[1] In the Octagon, Di Chirico demonstrated an aggressive striking approach, landing significant strikes at a rate of 3.32 per minute with 39% accuracy.[1]| Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round | Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 10, 2016 | Bojan Veličković | Loss | Unanimous Decision | 3 | 5:00 | UFC Fight Night 86 | Zagreb, Croatia |
| August 27, 2016 | Garreth McLellan | Win | Split Decision | 3 | 5:00 | UFC Fight Night 92 | Salt Lake City, Utah, USA |
| January 28, 2017 | Eric Spicely | Loss | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 1 | 2:14 | UFC on Fox 23 | Denver, Colorado, USA |
| December 16, 2017 | Oluwale Bamgbose | Win | KO (Knee) | 2 | 2:14 | UFC on Fox 26 | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| July 6, 2018 | Julian Marquez | Win | Split Decision | 3 | 5:00 | The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| June 22, 2019 | Kevin Holland | Loss | Unanimous Decision | 3 | 5:00 | UFC Fight Night 154 | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| September 28, 2019 | Makhmud Muradov | Loss | Unanimous Decision | 3 | 5:00 | UFC Fight Night 158 | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| August 29, 2020 | Zak Cummings | Loss | Unanimous Decision | 3 | 5:00 | UFC Fight Night 175 | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| January 16, 2021 | Joaquin Buckley | Win | KO (Head Kick) | 1 | 2:12 | UFC on ABC 1 | Abu Dhabi, UAE |
| August 28, 2021 | Abdul-Razak Alhassan | Loss | KO (Punches) | 1 | 0:17 | UFC Fight Night 191 | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| September 3, 2022 | Roman Kopylov | Loss | TKO (Punches) | 3 | 1:09 | UFC Fight Night 209 | Paris, France |