5 Things You Might Not Know About Curtis Millender

Curtis Millender 17-3 is a welterweight combatant who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. In his next outing, the 31 year-old will face Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos on the main card at UFC Fight Night 146 at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas, on March 9.

In the lead-up to the clash, here are five things that you might not know about the man they call “Curtious.”

He grew up in a rough neighbourhood.

Millender has by all accounts always been a well-mannered individual intent on avoiding trouble. Despite this, he faced considerable adversity growing up in San Bernardino, California. His high school was infiltrated by gangs who looked to recruit members from the establishment’s ranks. In one interview, the 31 year-old said, “We had probably three or four people get shot and killed that went to school with us from my freshman year to senior year …”

Post high school, Millender has narrowly avoided being the victim of crime on two occasions -- when he outed an attempted burglary at his then apartment, and an attempt to ransack his parked car.

He more often than not wins by decision.

Of Millender’s 17 professional victories to date, 11 (65 percent) have come by way of decision. When the 31 year-old is not forcing his opponent to engage in a losing war of attrition, he gets the job done by knockout. The California native’s impressive resume boasts 6 KO/TKO wins.

He has not lost in nearly three-and-a-half years.

Back in 2015, Millender was a fighter facing adversity. That year he lost three out of four fights. However, the bad run proved to be a mere bump in the road: Millender has not tasted defeat since. His remarkable winning streak has seen him emerge victorious from nine consecutive bouts. The most recent three have been under the umbrella of the UFC.

He has been a champion before.

“Curtious” turned professional with his home state promotion Fight Club OC back in 2013. He fought his first seven contests with the organization: emerging triumphant from all seven. In June 2013, in his sixth Fight Club OC bout, Millender claimed the vacant welterweight belt by besting Dominic Waters by split decision after three rounds. He would go on to defend his title one time. In June 2016, in his sophomore appearance with the Lights Out promotion, Millender won their welterweight title. Two months later, in August 2016, he returned to his original employer, Fight Club OC, to win their welterweight crown for a second time.

He places great confidence in his striking.

Millender stated in a recent interview that the only strikers at 170 who are of a comparable standard to him are Darren Till and Stephen Thompson. Millender’s trust in his stand-up ability is understandable in the context of his UFC debut; a second round TKO via a left knee to the chin of knock-out artist Thiago Alves at UFC Fight Night 126, in February of last year. The emphatic victory saw “Curtious” claim Performance of the Night honors. The avid Mayweather fan has developed a cerebral style based around effective counter-striking and utilizing his impressive 78-inch reach to avoid taking punishment. The CSW team member hones his striking skills along with the other facets of the MMA game under the tutelage of revered coach Erik Paulson.