PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: Pupanga Tresor, Democratic Republic of The Congo
Nickname: Fireboy
Date of Birth: 1994
Weight: 170LBS/77.11kg
Division: Middleweight
Pro MMA Record: [4-5-0]
EARLY LIFE
Pupanga is a ferocious fighter who has proven to be a formidable athlete in the cage. His first encounter with combat sports was at a very young age when his dad enrolled him to learn karate. Unfortunately, Pupanga was uninterested and decided to train in jiu-jitsu at age 12. After some training, he got his black belt and then went on to kickboxing when he relocated to SA.
After years of competing in other combat sports, he finally transitioned to MMA, following the advice of his coaches. He is currently ranked #12 in pro-middleweight and has played in nine professional matches since his debut.
MMA CAREER
The athlete won the world amateur championship in 2014 and is the Figtstar Heavyweight champion. He has an amateur record of 7-0-0 and is ranked #1 heavyweight in South Africa. His first fight was against Gareth Sawyer, and he lost the fight after multiple elbow strikes led to a TKO in the first round. Next, Pupanga faced Gordon Roodman and lost the fight after an armbar led to his submission in round two.
Soon afterward, he went up against Tyron Bester and defeated his rival after a knee strike led to a TKO in round one. Next, he faced Cameron Pritchard but lost the fight after a barrage of punches led to a first-round KO. After this defeat, he hammered his next opponent, Pietie Coxen, and won the match via TKO in round one.
Next, he faced Kaleka Kabanda and won this fight after a unanimous decision. His next match was against Jose Da Rocha Junior. The two came in with a lot of energy, and Rocha went in for a takedown. He threw a few punches, but Pupanga got back on his feet. Rocha soon had him back on the floor. The two wrestled for control, but Rocha had the upper hand. He latched onto Pupanga’s leg and threw a hard right hand. Rocha continued to hammer Pupanga before going for a sprawl and an anaconda choke that led to submission in round one.
He soon faced longtime opponent Kaleka Kabanda and won the match after a unanimous decision. Next, he faced Luke Michael for the middleweight championship. Pupanga came in with a takedown and landed a few blows. They continued to struggle before getting back on their feet. Pupanga threw a hard right hook, and Michael went for a sprawl, but Pupanga continued to hammer him with strikes. The referee stopped the fight due to an illegal hit, but it was misinterpreted as a win for Pupanga. After the fight resumed, Micheal went for a takedown and tried for an armbar, but Pupanga flipped position and went in for a barrage of strikes. His opponent flipped it and retaliated with elbow strikes and punches that led to a TKO in round one.
Pupanga’s last recorded match was against Laid Zerhouni, but it was overturned to no contest.
MMA RECORD
| W/L/D[NC] | RECORD AFTER FIGHT | OPPONENT | FIGHT LIBRARY |
| NC | 4-4-0-1 | LAID ZERHOUNI | https://youtu.be/XvCtuLDNh5Y?si=63V9D0he1bA9Q7e0 |
| L | 4-4-0 | LUKE MICHAEL | https://youtu.be/JKh0o-5Xxjk?si=EWwkjQVPVMxv6te5 |
| W | 4-3-0 | KALEKA KABANDA | https://youtu.be/t_o-ioZPE9c?si=2bBWMlLX7y6wctI_ |
| L | 3-3-0 | JOSE DA ROCHA JUNIOR | |
| W | 3-2-0 | KALEKA KABANDA | |
| W | 2-2-0 | PIETIE COXEN | |
| L | 1-2-0 | CAMERON PRITCHARD | |
| W | 1-1-0 | TYRON BESTER | |
| L | 0-1-0 | GARETH SAWYER |
