Kevin Croom
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Kevin Croom (born July 15, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division. A professional since 2009, he has fought in the UFC, Bellator, Titan FC, the RFA, the LFA, and CES MMA.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Croom has fought for multiple MMA promotions during his professional MMA career, including Legacy Fighting Alliance and Bellator MMA. Croom has 16 stoppages in his total of 21 professional victories.
Croom faced Brian Davidson at Bellator 26 on August 26, 2010. Davidson lost via rear-naked choke submission in the second round.
In his seventh fight, Croom faced Justin Gaethje in his professional debut on August 20, 2011. Gaethje won the fight in the first round via KO due to a slam after Croom attempted a submission.
Croom faced Bryan Goldsby at Titan FC 27 on February 28, 2014. He won by unanimous decision.
Croom fought for the CES MMA Featherweight Championship against reigning champion Matt Bessette at CES MMA 41, losing via TKO.
Croom defeated Darrick Minner via TKO in the second round at LFA 48.
Croom faced John Teixeira at Bellator 218 on March 22, 2019. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Croom tapped out Charles Bennett via rear-naked choke in round one at FAC 1 to pick up submission victory number 10 as a professional.
At Bellator 239, Croom took on Adil Benijilany and defeated him via split decision.
In the fight before getting a UFC contract, Croom faced Anderson Hutchinson, who was later in September arrested for having sex with a 17-year-old female boxing student, on August 14, 2020, at Fighting Alliance Championship 3 for the FAC Featherweight Championship. Croom won the championship fight via unanimous decision.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Croom, replacing Giga Chikadze as a COVID replacement, was scheduled to face Alex Caceres on August 29, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Rakić The following day, Croom was removed after also testing positive for COVID and replaced by fellow newcomer Austin Springer.
Croom made his UFC debut, as an injury fill in for Matt Frevola, against Roosevelt Roberts on September 12, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. Hill. Croom won the fight via a guillotine choke in round one. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award. After the fight, Croom said on Twitter that he had only $64 in his bank account before the fight.
On November 4, it was announced by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) that the fight with Roosevelt Roberts would be overturned to a no contest, after Croom tested positive for marijuana. Croom was suspended for 4 1⁄2 months and had to pay a fine of $1,800.
Croom faced Alex Caceres on February 27, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gane. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.
Croom was scheduled to face Marcelo Rojo on August 28, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 30. However, Croom was removed from the bout in mid-August for undisclosed reasons.
Croom faced Brian Kelleher, replacing Saidyokub Kakhramonov, on January 15, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 32. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Croom faced Alateng Heili at UFC on ESPN 34 on April 16, 2022. He lost the fight via TKO early into the first round.
In May 2022, it was reported that Croom was released from UFC.
Post UFC
In his first bout after his UFC release, Croom faced Brad Robinson on September 10, 2022 at Synergy FC: Kansas City Fight Night. He won the bout via majority decision.
Bare-knuckle boxing
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Croom made his BKFC debut on November 18, 2022 at BKFC 33 against Sean Wilson and won by knockout in the second round.
Croom faced Chevvy Bridges on February 17, 2023 at BKFC KnuckleMania 3 and won the bout by first round knockout.
Croom faced Tony Soto on October 20, 2023 at BKFC 52 and lost by unanimous decision. This fight earned him a Fight of the Night award.
Croom was scheduled to face Emeka Ifekandu on August 16, 2024 at BKFC Fight Night: Kansas City. However, the bout was pulled from the card for unknown reasons.
Championships and achievements
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Roosevelt Roberts
- Fighting Alliance Championship FAC Featherweight Championship (One Time)
- Shamrock Fighting Championships SFC Bantamweight Championship (One Time)
Bare-knuckle boxing
- Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Tony Soto
Mixed martial arts record
| 39 matches | 23 wins | 15 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 5 |
| By submission | 11 | 4 |
| By decision | 6 | 6 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 23–15 (1) | Isaac Ware | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Midwest Fight League 209 | July 19, 2025 | 1 | 1:37 | Boonville, Missouri, United States | Catchweight (165 lb) bout. |
| Win | 22–15 (1) | Brad Robison | Decision (majority) | Synergy FC: Kansas City Fight Night | September 10, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | Return to Lightweight. |
| Loss | 21–15 (1) | Alateng Heili | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. Muhammad 2 | April 16, 2022 | 1 | 0:47 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Bantamweight bout. |
| Loss | 21–14 (1) | Brian Kelleher | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Chikadze | January 15, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 21–13 (1) | Alex Caceres | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gane | February 27, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| NC | 21–12 (1) | Roosevelt Roberts | NC (overturned) | UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. Hill | September 12, 2020 | 1 | 0:31 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Lightweight bout. Performance of the Night. Originally a submission (guillotine choke) win for Croom; overturned after he tested positive for marijuana. |
| Win | 21–12 | Anderson Hutchinson | Decision (unanimous) | FAC 3 | August 14, 2020 | 5 | 5:00 | Independence, Missouri, United States | Won the inaugural FAC Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 20–12 | Adil Benjilany | Decision (split) | Bellator 239 | February 21, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Win | 19–12 | Charles Bennett | Submission (rear-naked choke) | FAC 1 | August 24, 2019 | 1 | 2:15 | Independence, Missouri, United States | |
| Loss | 18–12 | John Macapá | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 218 | March 22, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Loss | 18–11 | Kamuela Kirk | Submission (triangle choke) | LFA 53 | November 9, 2018 | 1 | 3:54 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 18–10 | Darrick Minner | TKO (elbows) | LFA 48 | September 7, 2018 | 2 | 2:10 | Kearney, Nebraska, United States | |
| Loss | 17–10 | Nate Jennerman | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | LFA 41 | June 1, 2018 | 1 | 0:48 | Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 17–9 | CJay Hunter | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Kansas City Fighting Alliance 27 | February 17, 2018 | 3 | 1:16 | Independence, Missouri, United States | |
| Loss | 16–9 | Matt Bessette | TKO (punches and kicks) | CES MMA 41 | January 27, 2017 | 3 | 0:32 | Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States | For the CES MMA Featherweight Championship. |
| Loss | 16–8 | Tatsuya Ando | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | Shooto 11/12 | November 12, 2016 | 2 | 3:13 | Tokyo, Japan | Bantamweight bout. |
| Win | 16–7 | Lenny Wheeler | TKO (punches) | Triumph FC 1 | April 22, 2016 | 1 | 0:26 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | |
| Loss | 15–7 | Rasul Mirzaev | TKO (punches) | Fight Nights Global 41 | September 25, 2015 | 2 | 3:16 | Kaspiysk, Russia | Return to Featherweight. |
| Win | 15–6 | Jacob Akin | KO (punch) | Shamrock FC: Shock | January 17, 2015 | 1 | 2:13 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Won the vacant Shamrock FC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Loss | 14–6 | Jesse Brock | Decision (split) | Maximum FC 40 | May 9, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | |
| Win | 14–5 | Bryan Goldsby | Decision (unanimous) | Titan FC 27 | February 28, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | Catchweight (137 lb) bout; Croom missed weight. |
| Win | 13–5 | Aslan Toktarbaev | TKO (corner stoppage) | Alash Pride: Great Battle 2 | December 19, 2013 | 1 | 2:55 | Almaty, Kazakhstan | Return to Bantamweight. |
| Win | 12–5 | Deryck Ripley | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Midwest Fight League: Saloon Showdown 22 | November 22, 2013 | 1 | 3:23 | Columbia, Missouri, United States | Catchweight (150 lb) bout. |
| Win | 11–5 | Dustin Phillips | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Titan FC 26 | August 30, 2013 | 1 | 1:45 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 10–5 | Javier Lujan | TKO (retirement) | World MMA Council: Mexican Standoff | May 25, 2013 | 1 | 3:30 | Ciudad Juárez, Mexico | |
| Win | 9–5 | Adam Rider | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Cage Time Production 1 | May 3, 2013 | 1 | 1:16 | Columbia, Missouri, United States | Return to Featherweight. |
| Win | 8–5 | Brian Pearman | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Tommy Tran Promotions 4 | April 6, 2013 | 1 | 3:03 | Springfield, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 7–5 | Brian Davidson | TKO (punches) | RFA 6 | January 18, 2013 | 1 | 0:42 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Catchweight (140 lb) bout. |
| Win | 6–5 | Nathan Murdock | Decision (unanimous) | Tommy Tran Promotions 3 | November 17, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Branson, Missouri, United States | Return to Lightweight. |
| Loss | 5–5 | Yaotzin Meza | Decision (unanimous) | Rage in the Cage 163 | October 20, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | |
| Loss | 5–4 | Ramiro Hernandez | Decision (split) | Titan FC 21 | March 2, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | Return to Featherweight. |
| Win | 5–3 | Rodrigo Sotelo Jr. | Decision (unanimous) | Martinez Brothers Production: Sun City Battle 2 | October 1, 2011 | 3 | 3:00 | El Paso, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 4–3 | Justin Gaethje | KO (slam) | Ring of Fire 41 | August 20, 2011 | 1 | 1:01 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | Lightweight debut; Gaethje missed weight (158.2 lb). |
| Win | 4–2 | J.R. Sotelo | Submission (triangle choke) | Martinez Brothers Production: Sun City Battle 1 | July 9, 2011 | 1 | 0:16 | El Paso, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 3–2 | Brian Davidson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 26 | August 26, 2010 | 2 | 3:22 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 2–2 | Kody Frank | Submission (triangle choke) | First Blood: Friday Night Fight Night | November 6, 2009 | 2 | 4:05 | Sedalia, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 1–2 | Eddie Granado | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Midwest Fight League | June 26, 2009 | 1 | 4:52 | Boonville, Missouri, United States | |
| Loss | 0–2 | Willie Mack | KO (punch) | Warfare Xtreme Cagefighting: Caged Controversy | May 2, 2009 | 1 | 0:37 | Sedalia, Missouri, United States | Featherweight debut. |
| Loss | 0–1 | Jose Vega | Submission | Hulett Productions: First Blood | February 7, 2009 | 2 | 2:22 | Sedalia, Missouri, United States | Bantamweight debut. |
Bare knuckle boxing record
| 3 matches | 2 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 2 | 0 |
| By decision | 0 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 2–1 | Tony Soto | Decision (unanimous) | BKFC 52 | October 20, 2023 | 5 | 2:00 | Columbia, South Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Chevvy Bridges | KO (punches) | BKFC KnuckleMania 3 | February 17, 2023 | 1 | 1:11 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Sean Wilson | KO (punch) | BKFC 33 | November 18, 2022 | 2 | 1:36 | Omaha, Nebraska, United States |