Dustin_Pague

Dustin Pague

Dustin Pague

American mixed martial arts fighter

Dustin William Pague (born August 5, 1987) is a former American mixed martial artist who most recently fought in the Bantamweight division of the UFC. He was a competitor on Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller, and has formerly competed as a Lightweight and Featherweight.

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Pague is currently a professional boxer after announcing his switch from MMA in January 2016. He most recently competed as a bare-knuckle boxer in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.[1]

Background

Pague began boxing when he was 15 years old and graduated from Central Dauphin East High School, then attended Harrisburg Area Community College but transferred before eventually earning a degree. Six months after viewing a video of a UFC event, Pague began his amateur career.[2]

After suffering a series of back injuries throughout his MMA career, Pague decided to make the transition to professional boxing as a way to continue fighting and reduce the daily strain he was putting on his back.[citation needed]

Professional boxing career

Pague won his professional boxing debut on April 19, 2016, by unanimous decision over Rafael Davis.[3]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

In late 2008, Pague made the decision to turn professional after a successful 7–4 amateur career.[4] Pague's pro debut took place on October 11, 2008, against Jon Owens. The fight was contested at Featherweight instead of Lightweight, where Pague spent the entirety of his amateur career.[4] Pague lost the fight via KO in only 18 seconds. Two months after the loss, Pague returned against John Myers. He won the fight via kimura submission in round one.[5]

Pague built up a five-fight win streak before losing three straight fights to future TUF contestant Jeff Lentz, WEC veteran Anthony Leone, and longtime UFC veteran Din Thomas.

He built up another winning streak that earned him a title shot for the vacant Ring of Combat Bantamweight Championship. The fight marked the first time Pague fought at Bantamweight. He fought Steve De Angelis, defeating him via knockout in the second round.

Pague co-owns and operates his own gym, Disciple MMA.[6] He also trains at the TapouT Ranch owned by Donald Cerrone.[7]

The Ultimate Fighter

In 2011, Pague had signed with the UFC to compete on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller.[8] In the first episode, Pague fought Tateki Matsuda and won via majority decision (19-19, 20-18, 20-18) after two close rounds.[9] The win gained Pague entry into the Ultimate Fighter house. He was selected as a part of Team Mayhem.[10]

Pague next fought against Team Bisping's top Bantamweight pick, Louis Gaudinot. Pague won the fight in the second round via submission (rear-naked choke) to get into the semi-finals.[11] The fight also won Pague and Gaudinot an additional $25,000 for the fan voted "Fight of the Season".

In the semi-finals Pague fought and lost to T.J. Dillashaw. Dillashaw controlled Pague on the ground throughout three rounds while landing heavy ground and pound en route to a unanimous decision.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Pague officially made his UFC debut on December 3, 2011 at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale losing to John Albert via TKO in the first round. Pague was dropped by a combination from Albert in the opening moments, and then was put in the giftwrap position while getting hit with heavy ground and pound causing the referee to intervene.

Pague captured his first UFC win after defeating Jared Papazian on June 8, 2012 at UFC on FX 3.[12] Pague won the fight via submission (rear-naked choke) in the first round.

Two weeks after his win over Papazian and with six days notice, Pague fought Ken Stone at UFC on FX 4 on June 22, 2012, replacing an injured Francisco Rivera.[13] Pague was defeated via split decision.

Pague faced promotional newcomer Chico Camus on August 11, 2012, at UFC 150.[14] Pague lost via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28).

Pague faced Yves Jabouin on June 15, 2013, at UFC 161.[15] He lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision.

Pague faced promotional newcomer Kyoji Horiguchi on October 19, 2013 at UFC 166.[16] Despite controlling Horiguchi for the first round, Pague lost via TKO in the second round.

On April 23, 2014, Pague was released from his UFC contract following a four-fight losing streak in the promotion.[17]

Post-UFC career

In his first post-UFC fight, Pague faced D'Juan Owens at The Victorium: Episode 3 on July 12, 2014. He lost the fight via rear-naked choke.[18]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Personal life

Pague is a devoted Christian and has the word "Forgiven" tattooed across his chest.[11]

Bare knuckle record

Professional record breakdown
4 matches 3 wins 1 loss
By knockout 2 0
By decision 1 0
By disqualification 0 1
Draws 0
More information Res., Record ...

Professional boxing record

1 Win (0 knockouts, 1 decisions), 0 Losses, 0 Draws, 0 No Contests[19]
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
Win 1-0 United States Rafael Davis UD 4 2016-04-19 United States Sands Bethlehem Event Center, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Debut.

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
23 matches 12 wins 11 losses
By knockout 3 4
By submission 9 3
By decision 0 4
More information Res., Record ...

Amateur mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
11 matches 7 wins 4 losses
By knockout 1 0
By submission 6 1
By decision 0 2
By disqualification 0 1
More information Res., Record ...

References

  1. [1]
    "Dustin Pague". BKFC. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  2. [2]
    "Dustin Pague Ultimate Fighter pictures, bio, news". Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  3. [3]
    "BoxRec: Rafael Davis". boxrec.com. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  4. [4]
    "Dustin Pague MMA.tv". MMA.tv. 2011-10-12.
  5. [5]
    "Fight Finder". Sherdog.com. 2011-10-12.
  6. [6]
    "Disciple MMA Academy". disciplemmaacademy.com. 2011-10-12.
  7. [7]
    "Dustin Pague Official Website". DustinPague.com. 2011-10-12.
  8. [8]
    ""The Ultimate Fighter 14" cast unveiled with 32 bantamweights and featherweights". MMAJunkie.com. 2011-08-22. Archived from the original on 2011-10-28.
  9. [9]
    "Episode No. 1 recap: 'The Ultimate Fighter 14: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller'". MMAJunkie.com. 2011-09-21. Archived from the original on 2011-10-25.
  10. [10]
    "Episode No. 2 recap: 'The Ultimate Fighter 14: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller'". MMAJunkie.com. 2011-09-28. Archived from the original on 2011-10-01.
  11. [11]
    "Episode No. 4 recap: 'The Ultimate Fighter 14: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller'". MMAJunkie.com. 2011-10-12. Archived from the original on 2011-10-16.
  12. [12]
    "Pague-Papazian slated for UFC on FX 3". mmajunkie.com. March 20, 2012. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  13. [13]
    "Dustin Pague in for injured Francisco Rivera meets Ken Stone at UFC on FX 4". mmajunkie.com. June 15, 2012. Archived from the original on June 19, 2012.
  14. [14]
    Kelly, Jason (July 24, 2012). "Chico Camus vs. Dustin Pague slated for UFC 150". mmadiehards.com.
  15. [15]
    Staff (April 3, 2013). "Dustin Pague vs. Yves Jabouin joins UFC 161 lineup". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  16. [16]
    Staff (2013-09-13). "Kyoji Horiguchi UFC Bound – Faces Dustin Pague At UFC 166". asianmma.com. Archived from the original on 2013-09-20. Retrieved 2013-09-13.
  17. [17]
    "UFC Cuts Ties With TUF Alum Dustin Pague". fightline.com. April 24, 2014.
  18. [18]
    "Beyond the Octagon: UFC vet Nam Phan rebounds, plus Akihiro Gono, Hideo Tokoro, and more". bloodyelbow.com. July 15, 2014.
  19. [19]
    "Mike Tyson Professional boxing record". BoxRec.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-28. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  20. [20]
    "Ring of Combat XXXIV Official Results". mixedmartialarts.com. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  21. [21]
    "Valhalla MMA 4 Official Results". mixedmartialarts.com. January 19, 2008.
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