Zach Light


Zach Light is a retired American mixed martial artist. A professional from 2002 until 2011, he competed for the UFC, WEC, Strikeforce, and BAMMA. Light is currently a talent scout for Bellator MMA.

Background

Light was an All-American freestyle wrestler in high school and college. After college, he worked construction and frequently got into bar fights. He then moved to California after a judge told him that he would go to prison for two years if he continued this lifestyle.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Light was inspired to take up mixed martial arts after seeing Tito Ortiz fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and he went on to win his first two fights before being given the chance to fight in the UFC himself.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Light took on Pete Spratt at UFC 37.5 and lost via submission in the first round. This would be his only UFC fight, and the first in a three-fight losing streak; he was defeated by Tony Fryklund and Jeremy Jackson later that year.

Post-UFC/WEC

In 2003, he beat Beto Ibarra before taking a three-year hiatus from the sport.
He returned in 2006, winning against Nick Willert before being defeated by Jake Ellenberger in BodogFIGHT in his next bout. Light then notched up two wins either side of a submission loss to Toby Imada before a five-fight losing streak brought his record to 6-10. Among the fighters who beat him during this period were Tyron Woodley and War Machine.
Light was previously the wrestling coach at the Wolfslair MMA Academy in Liverpool, England where he has trained the likes of Michael Bisping, Quinton Jackson and Cheick Kongo until 2009.

Mixed martial arts record