Ray Sefo

Background

Training in Boxing 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.

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 Choi Hong-man, 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.

Sefo is one of the first Samoans to appear in a video game, featuring in K1 Premium 2004 Dynamite!! for PlayStation 2.

MMA and retirement

In mid-February 2011, Sefo, possessing and undefeated record of 2-0, 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 average, and as an inexperienced grappler, he lost early on by neck crank.

On 12 June 2013, Sefo announced that he would return to fighting. At WSOF 3, Sefo announced that he would be facing Dave Huckaba. 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. While he considered fighting again, Sefo officially announced his retirement in 2018.

Executive career

Sefo is the current president of MMA promotion Professional Fighters League. 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

• K-1
  • 2000 K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 Runner-up.
• World Kickboxing Association
  • 1997 WKA World Super Heavyweight World Champion.
• World Muay Thai Federation
  • 1996 WMTF World Heavyweight Champion.
  • 1992 WMTF World Light Heavyweight Champion.
• International Sport Karate Association
  • 1996 ISKA World Super Cruiserweight Champion.
  • 1994 ISKA World Light Cruiserweight Champion.
• Regional
  • 1992 South Pacific Cruiserweight Champion.
  • 1991 New Zealand Cruiserweight Champion.
  • 1990 New Zealand Heavyweight Champion.

Personal life

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

Kickboxing record (incomplete)

|- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2012-03-10 || Loss ||align=left|CRO Mirko Cro Cop || Cro Cop Final Fight || Zagreb, Croatia || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 56-22-1 |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2010-10-02 || Loss ||align=left|SUR Tyrone Spong || K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Seoul Final 16 ||Seoul, South Korea || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 56-21-1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Fails to qualify for K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 final. |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2010-05-21 || Win ||align=left|ROM Ionuţ Iftimoaie || K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Bucharest ||Bucharest, Romania ||Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 56-20-1 |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2009-12-31 || Win ||align=left|JPN Yosuke Nishijima || Dynamite!! 2009 || Saitama, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 55-20-1 |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2008-12-06 || Win ||align=left|KOR Choi Hong-man || K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 Final || Yokohama, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 54-20-1 |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2008-09-27 || Loss ||align=left|TUR Gokhan Saki || K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Seoul Final 16 || Seoul, Korea || Ext.R decision || 4 || 3:00 || 53-20-1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Fails to qualify for K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 final. |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2008-07-13 || Loss ||align=left|AZE Zabit Samedov || K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Taipei || Taipei City, Taiwan || 2nd Ext.R decision (split) || 5 || 3:00 || 53-19-1 |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2008-04-13 || Loss ||align=left|MAR Badr Hari || K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Yokohama || Yokohama, Japan || TKO (referee stoppage) || 1 || 2:43 || 53-18-1 |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2007-09-29 || Loss ||align=left|NLD Peter Aerts || K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Seoul Final 16 || Seoul, South Korea || TKO (corner stoppage) || 1 || 3:00|| 53-17-1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Fails to qualify for K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 final. |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2007-08-11 || Loss ||align=left|CH Bjorn Bregy || K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Las Vegas || Las Vegas, Nevada, USA || Decision (split) || 3 || 3:00 || 53-16-1 |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2007-03-04 || Loss ||align=left|NLD Semmy Schilt || K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Yokohama || Yokohama, Japan || KO (punch) || 2 || 0:26 || 53-15-1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Fight was for K-1 Super Heavyweight Title. |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2006-12-02 || Win ||align=left|NLD Melvin Manhoef || K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 Final || Tokyo, Japan || KO (right hook) || 1 || 0:40 || 53-14-1 |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2006-09-30 || Loss ||align=left|GER Stefan Leko || K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Osaka opening round || Osaka, Japan || Ext.R decision (unanimous) || 4 || 3:00 || 52-14-1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Loses fight but invited to K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 Final as Reservist. |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2006-08-12 || Win ||align=left|ALB 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 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2006-06-03 || Win ||align=left|RUS Ruslan Karaev || K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Seoul || Seoul, South Korea || KO (right hook) || 1 || 1:42 || 51-13-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2006-03-05 || Win ||align=left|RSA Francois Botha || K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Auckland || Auckland, New Zealand || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 50-13-1 |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2005-11-19 || Loss ||align=left|NLD Semmy Schilt || K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 Final || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 49-13-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2005-09-23 || Win ||align=left|THA Kaoklai Kaennorsing || K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Osaka – final elimination || Osaka, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 49-12-1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Qualifies for K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 final. |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2005-06-14 || Win ||align=left|RUS Ruslan Karaev || K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Hiroshima || Hiroshima, Japan || TKO (referee stoppage) || 1 || 0:37 || 48-12-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2004-12-31 || Win ||align=left|TRI Gary Goodridge || K-1 PREMIUM 2004 Dynamite!! || Osaka, Japan || KO (right Uppercuts) || 1 || 0:24 || 47-12-1 |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2004-11-04 || Loss ||align=left|JPN Musashi || K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 Final || Tokyo, Japan || Ext.R decision (unanimous) || 4 || 3:00 || 46-12-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2004-09-25 || Win ||align=left|JPN Hiromi Amada || K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 final elimination || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 46-11-1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Qualifies for K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 final. |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2004-08-07 || Win ||align=left|USA 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 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2004-06-26 || Win ||align=left|USA Bob Sapp || K-1 Beast 2004 in Shizuoka || Shizuoka, Japan || KO || 2 || 0:29 || 44-11-1 |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2003-12-06 || Loss ||align=left|JPN Musashi || K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 Final || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 43-11-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2003-10-11 || Win ||align=left|USA Carter Williams || K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 final elimination || Osaka, Japan || Decision (majority) || 3 || 3:00 || 43-10-1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Qualifies for K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 final. |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2003-07-13 || Win ||align=left|JPN Tatsufumi Tomihira || K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 in Fukuoka || Fukuoka, Japan || TKO (corner stoppage) || 5 || 2:15 || 42-10-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2003-03-30 || Win ||align=left|ENG Pelé Reid || K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 in Saitama || Saitama, Japan || TKO (corner stoppage) || 3 || 1:15 || 41-10-1 |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2002-12-07 || Loss ||align=left|NLD Ernesto Hoost || K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final || Tokyo, Japan || TKO (Shin Injury) || 1 || 1:49 || 40-10-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2002-12-07 || Win ||align=left|NLD Peter Aerts || K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Final || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (split) || 3 || 3:00 || 40-9-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2002-10-05 || Win ||align=left|SWE Martin Holm || K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 final elimination || Saitama, Japan || Decision (majority) || 3 || 3:00 || 39-9-1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Qualifies for K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 final. |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2002-07-14 || Win ||align=left|NLD Gilbert Yvel || K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 in Fukuoka || Fukuoka, Japan || KO (Low Kicks) || 2 || 2:07 || 38-9-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2002-06-02 || Win ||align=left|BRA Julio Cesar Santana || K-1 Survival 2002 || Toyama, Japan || KO (right hook) || 1 || 0:37 || 37-9-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2002-03-03 || Win ||align=left|RSA Mike Bernardo || K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 in Nagoya || Nagoya, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 5 || 3:00 || 36-9-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2001-10-08 || Win ||align=left|NZ Mark Hunt || K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 in Fukuoka || Fukuoka, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 35-9-1 |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2001-06-24 || Loss ||align=left|NLD Remy Bonjasky || K-1 Survival 2001 || Sendai, Japan || Ext.R TKO (corner stoppage) || 4 || 3:00 || 34-9-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2001-04-29 || Win ||align=left|AUS Adam Watt || K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 in Osaka || Osaka, Japan || TKO (right hook) || 1 || 2:20 || 34-8-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2001-03-17 || Win ||align=left|CAN Michael McDonald || K-1 Gladiators 2001 || Yokohama, Japan || KO (right hook) || 1 || 1:56 || 33-8-1 |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2000-12-10 || Loss ||align=left|NLD Ernesto Hoost || K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 Final || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 32-8-1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Fight was for K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 title. |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2000-12-10 || Win ||align=left|FRA Cyril Abidi || K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 Final || Tokyo, Japan || TKO (referee stoppage) || 1 || 1:45 || 32-7-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2000-12-10 || Win ||align=left|JPN Musashi || K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 Final || Tokyo, Japan || TKO (referee stoppage) || 1 || 1:38 || 31-7-1 |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2000-08-20 || Loss ||align=left|FRA Cyril Abidi || K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 in Yokohama || Yokohama, Japan || TKO (corner stoppage) || 2 || 3:00 || 30-7-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2000-08-20 || Win ||align=left|GER Frank Otto || K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 in Yokohama || Yokohama, Japan || TKO (referee stoppage) || 1 || 2:24 || 30-6-1 |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2000-08-20 || Loss ||align=left|NLD Peter Aerts || K-1 The Millennium || Osaka, Japan || KO (right low kick) || 3 || 2:24 || 29-6-1 |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 1999-12-05 || Loss ||align=left|AUS Sam Greco || K-1 World Grand Prix 1999 Final quarter-finals || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 29-5-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 1999-10-03 || Win ||align=left|MAR Samir Benazzouz || K-1 World Grand Prix '99 opening round || Osaka, Japan || TKO (referee stoppage) || 1 || 2:14 || 29-4-1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Qualifies for K-1 World Grand Prix 1999 final. |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 1999-06-06 || Win ||align=left|USA Jim Mullen || K-1 Survival '99 || Sapporo, Japan || KO (right hook) || 2 || 0:45 || 28-4-1 |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 1999-04-25 || Loss ||align=left|CH Andy Hug || K-1 Revenge '99 || Yokohama, Japan || TKO (corner stoppage) || 4 || 3:00 || 27-4-1 |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 1998-12-13 || Loss ||align=left|CH Andy Hug || K-1 World Grand Prix 1998 Final quarter-finals || Tokyo, Japan || TKO (referee Stoppage/Two Knockdowns) || 2 || 2:28 || 27-3-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 1998-09-27 || Win ||align=left|GER Stefan Leko || K-1 World Grand Prix '98 opening round || Osaka, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 5 || 3:00 || 27-2-1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Qualifies for K-1 World Grand Prix 1998 final. |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 1998-05-24 || Loss ||align=left|ENG Matt Skelton || K-1 Braves '98 || Fukuoka, Japan || TKO (corner stoppage) || 2 || 3:00 || 26-2-1 |- |- bgcolor="#c5d2ea" | 1998-04-09 || Draw ||align=left|BRA Francisco Filho || K-1 Kings '98 || Yokohama, Japan || Draw || 5 || 3:00 || 26-1-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 1998-01-23 || Win ||align=left|FRA Stephane Reveillon || N/A || N/A || KO || 2 || N/A || 26-1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Won WKBF Super Heavyweight title. |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 1997-10-00 || Win ||align=left|USA Jean-Claude Leuyer || N/A || N/A || Decision || 5 || 3:00 || 25-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 1997-07-20 || Win ||align=left|USA Jean-Claude Leuyer || K-1 Dream '97 || Nagoya, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 7 || 3:00 || 24-1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Won WKBA Super Heavyweight title. |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 1997-04-29 || Win ||align=left|FRA Jérôme Le Banner || K-1 Braves '97 || Fukuoka, Japan || KO (right hook) || 1 || 1:31 || 23-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 1997-03-16 || Win ||align=left|CRO Petar Majstorovic || K-1 Kings '97 || Yokohama, Japan || TKO (referee stoppage) || 4 || 1:36 || 22-1 |- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 1996-12-08 || Loss ||align=left|NLD Ernesto Hoost || K-1 Hercules '96 || Nagoya, Japan || KO (Low Kicks) || 4 || 0:25 || 21-1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 1996-09-09 || Win ||align=left|ENG Kirkwood Walker || N/A || Hong Kong || KO || N/A || N/A || 21-0 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Won WMTF World Heavyweight title. |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 1996-08-01 || Win ||align=left|ENG Lee Swaney || New Zealand vs England || Auckland, New Zealand || KO || N/A || N/A || 20-0 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 1996-02-25 || Win ||align=left|NLD Andre Mannaart || NZ - AUS - HOL || Auckland, New Zealand || KO (punches) || 4 || N/A || 19-0 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins I.S.K.A. Super Cruiserweight World title. |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 1995-08-25 || Win ||align=left|CAN Michael McDonald || N/A || Auckland, New Zealand || KO (right hook) || 3 || N/A || 18-0 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |For I.S.K.A. World Light Cruiserweight title. |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 1995-04-27 || Win ||align=left|USA Rob Martin || N/A || Auckland, New Zealand || KO (left hook) || 1 || N/A || |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Won WMTF Light Heavyweight title.

Boxing Record

|- |- bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2001-09-02 || Loss ||align=left|USA Chester Hughes || Elgin, Illinois, USA || KO || 1 || N/A || 5–1 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2001-06-03 || Win ||align=left|USA Joe Lenhart || Elgin, Illinois, USA || TKO || 1 || N/A || 5–0 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2001-02-11 || Win ||align=left|USA Steve Griffin || Elgin, Illinois, USA || TKO || 1 || N/A || 4–0 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 1996-10-05 || Win ||align=left|NZ Nicky Faamata || Auckland, New Zealand || TKO || 3 || N/A || 3–0 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 1995-03-16 || Win ||align=left|NZ Paul Baker || Auckland, New Zealand || PTS || 4 || N/A || 2–0 |- |- bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 1994-11-24 || Win ||align=left|NZ Alex Katu || Auckland, New Zealand || TKO || 1 || N/A || 1–0 |-

Mixed martial arts record

| ko-wins= 2 | ko-losses= 1 | sub-wins= | sub-losses= 1 | dec-wins= | dec-losses= | dq-wins= | dq-losses= | other-wins=

| | Ontario, California, United States | |- | Loss | Valentijn Overeem | Submission (neck crank) | Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva | | East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States | |- | Win | Kevin Jordan | TKO (knee injury) | Strikeforce Challengers: Kennedy vs. Cummings | | Bixby, Oklahoma, United States | |- | Win | Kim Min-soo | KO (head kick) | Hero's 2 | | Tokyo, Japan |

References

References

1. "Ray Sefo ("Sugarfoot")".
2. (4 June 2018). "PFL executive Ray Sefo officially announces retirement from fighting".
3. (17 February 2006). "Kickboxing: Fighting among friends". The New Zealand Herald.
4. Jessup, Peter. (8 October 2005). "Kickboxing: Sefo makes his presence felt". The New Zealand Herald.
5. (13 December 2008). "Kickboxer Sefo battles bankruptcy". Sunday News.
6. (25 July 2016). "WSOF President Ray Sefo".
7. https://www.giantbomb.com/k-1-premium-2004-dynamite/3030-29912/characters/
8. "WSOF Pres. Ray Sefo Fighting on Aug. 10th Card". mmafrenzy.com.
9. (16 June 2013). "Company President Ray Sefo Set to Fight at World Series of Fighting 4 in August". mmaweekly.com.
10. (21 April 2015). "WSOF Boss Ray Sefo".
11. (7 August 2016). "Ray Sefo Recalls Fight With Mark Hunt".