5 Things You Might Not Know About Bill Algeo

Sustainability at the Ultimate Fighting Championship level remains a question mark for Bill Algeo.

The 32-year-old Pennsylvanian will seek back-to-back victories for the first time in more than three years when he matches wits and fists with Herbert Burns in a UFC on ABC 3 featherweight prelim this Saturday at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. Algeo has alternated wins and losses in each of his past six outings and carries a pedestrian 2-2 record inside the Octagon. He last appeared at UFC on ESPN 32, where he was awarded a unanimous decision over fellow Dana White’s Contender Series alum Joanderson Brito on Jan. 15.

In advance of Algeo’s upcoming clash with Burns at 145 pounds, here are five things you might not know about him:

1. He beat the odds.

Algeo was born on June 9, 1989 in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania—a “census-designated place” of less than 5,000 people situated some 20 miles to the southwest of Philadelphia.

2. Putting safety nets in place was a priority.

“Senor Perfecto” earned a bachelors degree in accounting from Penn State University, where he once ran a Brazilian jiu-jitsu program as a student. In addition to his competitive career, Algeo also owns and operates a martial arts academy in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

3. He stays true to his roots.

Algeo holds the rank of black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Tim Carpenter. He made his professional mixed martial arts debut in June 2012, when he dispatched David Miller with an arm-triangle choke at an Xtreme Fight Events show. It was the first of Algeo’s six submission victories, with the other five resulting from rear-naked chokes.

4. Staying power was not an issue on the regional circuit.

The 21-fight veteran captured the Ring of Combat featherweight championship at ROC 61, where he put away Tim Dooling with punches in the second round of their Nov. 17, 2017 pairing. Algeo went on to defend the title on three subsequent occasions: He laid claim to a unanimous decision over James Gonzalez at ROC 63, knocked out Scott Heckman with a flying head kick at ROC 65 and dismissed John de Jesus with a rear-naked choke at ROC 67.

5. He could stand to stretch his legs.

Algeo has never fought outside of the continental United States. In fact, his appearances have been confined to Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Nevada.