{{Short description|American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter}} {{Infobox martial artist | name = Chris Dempsey | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|09|08}} | birth_place = Sewickley, Pennsylvania, United States<ref name="UFCprofile">{{cite web|url=https://www.ufc.com/athlete/chris-dempsey|title=Chris Dempsey - Official Profile|publisher=UFC|access-date=August 9, 2015}}</ref> | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | nationality = | height = {{convert|5|ft|10|in|cm|abbr=on}}<ref name=UFN73stats>{{cite web|url=http://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-nashville-2015/printFightCard|title=Fight Card - UFC Fight Night Teixeira vs. Saint Preux|publisher=UFC|access-date=August 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806045357/http://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-nashville-2015/printFightCard|archive-date=August 6, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> | weight = {{convert|185|lb|kg st|abbr=on}} | weight_class = Light Heavyweight<br>Middleweight | reach = {{convert|71|in|cm|abbr=on}} | style = | fighting_out_of = Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania, United States | team = The Mat Factory | rank = | years_active = 2012–2021 | mma_kowin = 2 | mma_subwin = 3 | mma_decwin = 6 | mma_koloss = 6 | mma_subloss = 1 | mma_decloss = | mma_draw = | mma_nc = | url = | university = University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown | sherdog = 79277 | footnotes = | updated = }}
'''Chris Dempsey''' is an American professional mixed martial artist who last competed in 2021. A professional since 2012, he has competed for the UFC and Bellator MMA.
==Background== Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Dempsey played football, and also competed in wrestling. He was a two time All-American at University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, where he also earned a degree in political science. He began training in mixed martial arts part-time as a college student in 2008.<ref name=UFCprofile />
==Mixed martial arts career== ===Early career=== Dempsey made his debut as an amateur in 2011, winning three fights before turning professional in 2012.
He fought primarily for regional promotions in Western Pennsylvania where he compiled a record of 10-1 competing in both the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions before signing with the UFC on the summer of 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2122234-chris-dempsey-how-the-ufc-newcomer-paddled-a-canoe-into-the-octagon|title=Chris Dempsey: How the UFC Newcomer Paddled a Canoe into the Octagon|publisher=bleacherreport.com|date=July 7, 2014}}</ref>
===Ultimate Fighting Championship=== Dempsey made his promotional debut as a short notice replacement against Ilir Latifi on July 19, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 46, filling in for Tom Lawlor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2014/07/newcomer-chris-dempsey-meets-ilir-latifi-at-ufc-fight-night-46|title=Newcomer Chris Dempsey meets Ilir Latifi at UFC Fight Night 46|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2014-07-03|accessdate=2014-07-03}}</ref> Latifi effectively used leg kicks to disable his opponent, before finishing him with punches, ending the fight by a first round knockout.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2014/07/ufc-fight-night-46-results-ilir-latifi-shuts-down-chris-dempsey-in-first|title=UFC Fight Night 46 results: Ilir Latifi shuts down Chris Dempsey in first round|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Matt Erickson|date=2014-07-19|accessdate=2014-07-19}}</ref>
Dempsey next faced Eddie Gordon in a middleweight bout on April 18, 2015, at UFC on Fox 15.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/TUF-19-Winner-Eddie-Gordon-Matched-Against-Chris-Dempsey-at-UFC-on-Fox-15-80365|title='TUF 19' Winner Eddie Gordon Matched Against Chris Dempsey at UFC on Fox 15|publisher=Sherdog.com|author=Tristen Critchfield|date=2015-01-16|accessdate=2015-01-16}}</ref> He won the fight via split decision.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2015/04/ufc-on-fox-15-results-chris-dempsey-edges-split-decision-over-eddie-gordon|title=UFC on FOX 15 results: Chris Dempsey edges split decision over Eddie Gordon|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Steven Marrocco|date=2015-04-18|accessdate=2015-04-18}}</ref>
Dempsey returned to the light heavyweight division as a short notice replacement to face promotional newcomer Jonathan Wilson on August 8, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 73, filling in for Jared Cannonier.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ufc.com/news/Dempsey-Moves-to-205-for-Wilson-Clash|title=Dempsey Moves to 205 for Wilson Clash|publisher=UFC|author=Thomas Gerbasi|date=2015-07-22|access-date=2015-07-22}}</ref> He lost the fight knockout in the first round.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2015/08/ufc-fight-night-73-results-jonathan-wilson-knocks-out-chris-dempsey-in-under-a-minute|title=UFC Fight Night 73 results: Jonathan Wilson KOs Chris Dempsey in less than a minute|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Steven Marrocco|date=2015-08-08|accessdate=2015-08-08}}</ref>
Dempsey faced Scott Askham on February 27, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 84.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2015/12/brad-scott-krzysztof-jotko-scott-askham-chris-dempsey-set-for-ufc-fight-night-83|title=Scott Askham-Chris Dempsey set for UFC Fight Night 84|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2015-12-21|accessdate=2015-12-21}}</ref> He lost the fight by knockout in the first round and was subsequently released from the promotion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2016/02/ufc-fight-night-84-results-scott-askham-head-kicks-way-past-chris-dempsey|title=UFC Fight Night 84 results: Scott Askham head-kicks way past Chris Dempsey|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Steven Marrocco|date=27 February 2016|accessdate=27 February 2016}}</ref>
===Bellator MMA=== In his Bellator debut, Dempsey faced undefeated prospect Ed Ruth on November 3, 2017, at Bellator 186.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Phil-Davis-Ed-Ruth-Get-Opponents-for-Bellator-186-on-Penn-State-University-Campus-127187|title=Phil Davis, Ed Ruth Get Opponents for Bellator 186 on Penn State University Campus}}</ref> He lost the fight via knockout in the second round.
==Mixed martial arts record== {{MMArecordbox |ko-wins=2 |ko-losses=6 |sub-wins=3 |sub-losses=1 |dec-wins=6 |dec-losses=0 }} {{MMA record start}} |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|11–7 |Rex Harris |TKO (punches) |247 FC: Flood City Fight Night |{{dts|2021|August|21}} |align=center|1 |align=center|1:58 |Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|11–6 |Ed Ruth |KO (punch) |Bellator 186 |{{dts|2017|November|3}} |align=center|2 |align=center|0:27 |University Park, Pennsylvania, United States | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|11–5 |Adam Hunter |KO (punches) |Gladiators of the Cage MMA 21 |{{dts|2016|June|4}} |align=center|1 |align=center|0:40 |Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|11–4 |Scott Askham |KO (punch and head kick) |UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping |{{dts|2016|February|27}} |align=center|1 |align=center|4:45 |London, England | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|11–3 |Jonathan Wilson |KO (punches) |UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Saint Preux |{{dts|2015|August|8}} |align=center|1 |align=center|0:50 |Nashville, Tennessee, United States |{{small|Light Heavyweight bout.}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|11–2 |Eddie Gordon |Decision (split) |UFC on Fox: Machida vs. Rockhold |{{dts|2015|April|18}} |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Newark, New Jersey, United States | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|10–2 |Ilir Latifi |KO (punches) |UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Brandão |{{dts|2014|July|19}} |align=center|1 |align=center|2:07 |Dublin, Ireland |{{small|Light Heavyweight bout.}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|10–1 |Nick Krauss |TKO (punches) |Gladiators of the Cage: Road to Glory 6 |{{dts|2014|May|3}} |align=center|3 |align=center|4:11 |Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States |{{small|Defended the GOTC Middleweight Championship.}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|9–1 |Muhammad Abdullah |Submission (guillotine choke) |Gladiators of the Cage: North Shore 4 |{{dts|2014|March|15}} |align=center|2 |align=center|0:56 |Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States |{{small|Defended the GOTC Middleweight Championship.}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|8–1 |Tiawan Howard |Submission (north-south choke) |Gladiators of the Cage: North Shore 3 |{{dts|2013|December|7}} |align=center|1 |align=center|4:51 |Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States |{{small|Catchweight (190 lbs) bout.}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|7–1 |Tenyeh Dixon |TKO (punches) |Gladiators of the Cage: Road to Glory 5 |{{dts|2013|September|7}} |align=center|2 |align=center|1:27 |Cheswick, Pennsylvania, United States |{{small|Won the GOTC Middleweight Championship.}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|6–1 |Lewis Rumsey |Decision (unanimous) |Gladiators of the Cage: North Shore 2 |{{dts|2013|July|20}} |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States |{{small|Light Heavyweight bout; won the GOTC Light Heavyweight Championship.}} |- |{{yes2}}Winn |align=center|5–1 |Dervyn Lopez |Decision (unanimous) |Gladiators of the Cage: Road to Glory 5 |{{dts|2013|April|6}} |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Cheswick, Pennsylvania, United States | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|4–1 |Christopher Wing |Decision (unanimous) |Xtreme Caged Combat: Mayhem |{{dts|2013|February|16}} |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|3–1 |Chase Owens |Decision (unanimous) |Gladiators of the Cage: North Shore |{{dts|2013|January|26}} |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States |{{small|Middleweight debut.}} |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|2–1 |Mojtaba Najim Wali |Submission (armbar) |Caged Power 2 |{{dts|2012|September|8}} |align=center|3 |align=center|1:45 |Morgantown, West Virginia, United States | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|2–0 |Marcus Finch |Decision (split) |Gladiators of the Cage: Road to Glory 2 |{{dts|2012|April|14}} |align=center| 3 |align=center| 5:00 |Kittanning, Pennsylvania, United States | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|1–0 |Eddie Hardison |Submission (rear-naked choke) |American MMA Fight League 4: Fight Night |{{dts|2012|February|17}} |align=center|2 |align=center|2:57 |West Newton, Pennsylvania, United States | |- |}
==Grappling record== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:80%; text-align:left;"<!-- width:100%; --> |- | colspan=9 style="text-align:center;" | '''2 Matches, 2 (2 Submissions), 0 Losses, 0 Draws''' |- ! Result ! Rec. ! Opponent ! Method ! Event ! Division ! Type ! Year ! Location |-
|- |{{yes2}}Win||style="text-align:center;"|2–0–0||{{flagicon|USA}} Jason Robinson || Submission (Choke) || GFC 2|| Supermatch||Gi|| April, 28th 2019||{{flagicon|USA}}State College, PA |- |{{yes2}}Win||style="text-align:center;"|1–0–0||{{flagicon|USA}} Connor Watson || Submission (Choke) || GFC 2|| Supermatch||Gi|| April, 28th 2019||{{flagicon|USA}}State College, PA |- |- |}
==See also== * List of current Bellator fighters * List of male mixed martial artists
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{UFC|chris-dempsey}} *{{Sherdog}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dempsey, Chris}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Sewickley, Pennsylvania Category:American male mixed martial artists Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing wrestling Category:Mixed martial artists from Pennsylvania Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters