Luke Joseph Cummo (born April 27, 1980) is an American former
mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorpo ...
. A professional from 2002 until 2008, he is perhaps best remembered for his stint in the
UFC
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...
and being a finalist on the
reality TV series ''
The Ultimate Fighter 2
''The Ultimate Fighter 2'' was the second season of the mixed martial arts reality television series ''The Ultimate Fighter''. The season featured a heavyweight and a welterweight division, with 9 fighters initially in each division. The UFC co ...
'' on
Spike TV.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Cummo fights out of
Long Island, where he attended
Chaminade High School
Chaminade High School is a Roman Catholic Marianist college preparatory high school for boys in Mineola, New York, United States. Chaminade’s main campus is also home to Saragossa Retreat Center, one of their three retreat houses.
Athletics
T ...
(class of 1998) in
Mineola, New York
Mineola is a village in and the county seat of Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 18,799 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from an Algonquin Chief, Miniolagamika, which means "pleasant village".
...
and works with (
Matt Serra
Matthew John Serra (born June 2, 1974) is an American former professional mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner who competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the co-star of Dana White: Lookin' for a Fight and co- ...
) Serra Jiu-Jitsu and Ray Longo's IMAA. Although his grappling ability has been improving, his primary style remains
Muay Thai kickboxing. He also holds a
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt. He graduated
Nassau Community College
Nassau Community College (NCC) is a public community college in Uniondale, New York, using the Garden City, New York ZIP Code. It was founded in 1959 and is part of the State University of New York.
History
Nassau Community College was crea ...
with a degree in Biology.
Cummo began his professional mixed martial arts career in 2002, fighting exclusively in the Ring of Combat promotion in New Jersey. Over two-and-a-half years, he amassed a record of 3 wins and 2 losses.
''The Ultimate Fighter 2''
In 2005, Cummo was selected to be a contestant on ''The Ultimate Fighter 2'' season. He gained recognition on the show due to his personality,
vegan
Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal product—particularly in diet—and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. An individual who follows the diet or philosophy is known as a vegan. ...
and unorthodox diet (which according to
Joe Rogan
Joseph James Rogan (born August 11, 1967) is an American UFC color commentator, podcaster, comedian, actor, and former television presenter. He hosts ''The Joe Rogan Experience'', a podcast in which he discusses current events, comedy, polit ...
includes
urine therapy
Urine therapy or urotherapy, (also urinotherapy, Shivambu, uropathy, or auto-urine therapy) in alternative medicine is the application of human urine for medicinal or cosmetic purposes, including drinking of one's own urine and massaging one' ...
when sick),
his striking ability and his love of comic books. He was also the last person picked for a team on the show, fighting throughout the show as the underdog.
In his first fight, Cummo defeated Anthony Torres by unanimous decision after three rounds. In the semi-finals, Cummo faced Sammy Morgan and won by knockout via a knee at 2:05 of the second round. After winning two exhibition fights, he made it to the finals against
Joe Stevenson
Joseph Christopher Stevenson (born June 15, 1982) is a retired American mixed martial artist fighting out of Hesperia, California. Coached by (UFC Hall of Famer) Matt Hughes, Stevenson rose to prominence by becoming The Ultimate Fighter 2 Wel ...
.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Cummo faced Joe Stevenson in an officially sanction bout at
The Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale
''The Ultimate Fighter 2'' was the second season of the mixed martial arts reality television series ''The Ultimate Fighter''. The season featured a heavyweight and a welterweight division, with 9 fighters initially in each division. The UFC co ...
on November 5, 2005. He lost the bout via a unanimous decision. Even though Cummo lost to Stevenson, his performance earned him a
UFC
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...
contract.
In Cummo's first match under a UFC contract at
UFC Ultimate Fight Night 4, he defeated
Jason Von Flue
Jason Lee Von Flue (born August 1, 1975) is a former American mixed martial artist who appeared on the second season of '' The Ultimate Fighter''. A professional competitor since 1999, he has competed for the UFC, WEC, Strikeforce and King of ...
via unanimous decision.
In his next fight, Cummo was defeated by
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
fighter
Jonathan Goulet, who scored a decision victory over Cummo with superior wrestling and ground control.
Cummo then amassed a two fight win streak when he defeated
Josh Haynes
Joshua Lee Haynes (born July 30, 1977) is an American former mixed martial artist. He fought out of Las Vegas, Nevada, with Xtreme Couture where he was also a coach. His MMA record is 17 wins, 11 losses. He was also a contestant on the third sea ...
via knockout at
UFC 69
''UFC 69: Shootout'' was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday, April 7, 2007, at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
UFC 69 is most remembered for the main event, in which Matt Serra shocked the UFC W ...
on April 7, 2007 and defeated Edilberto de Oliveira via TKO at
UFC Fight Night 11
''UFC Fight Night: Thomas vs. Florian'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 11'') was a mixed martial arts (MMA) event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on Wednesday, September 19, 2007, at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. ...
on September 19, 2007.
Cummo next faced
Luigi Fioravanti
Luigi Fioravanti (born January 22, 1981) is an American mixed martial artist who last competed in 2016. A professional since 2004, he is perhaps best known for competing in the UFC, but has also fought for M-1 Global and the Maximum Fighting Cham ...
at
UFC 82
''UFC 82: Pride of a Champion'' was a mixed martial arts (MMA) event that took place on March 1, 2008, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Background
The main event was a UFC & Pride FC middleweight title unification match between UFC mid ...
on March 1, 2008. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Cummo's last fight was a unanimous decision loss to
Tamdan McCrory
Tamdan Wade McCrory (born November 5, 1986) is an American professional mixed martial artist who formerly competed in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2006, McCrory has also formerl ...
at
UFC 87
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...
. His UFC record stands at 3 wins and 4 losses.
Personal life
Luke and his ex-wife Lara have two sons, Zachary Michael, who was born on October 7, 2007, and Maxwell Joseph, born April 24, 2009.
Urine therapy
Cummo has endorsed
urine therapy
Urine therapy or urotherapy, (also urinotherapy, Shivambu, uropathy, or auto-urine therapy) in alternative medicine is the application of human urine for medicinal or cosmetic purposes, including drinking of one's own urine and massaging one' ...
, which is the drinking of one's own urine.
He has stated that this gives him an advantage over the competition due to the supposed nutritional benefits that it provides.
[
]
Championships and accomplishments
*Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...
** Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Jonathan Goulet
Mixed martial arts record
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 6–6
, Tamdan McCrory
Tamdan Wade McCrory (born November 5, 1986) is an American professional mixed martial artist who formerly competed in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2006, McCrory has also formerl ...
, Decision (unanimous)
, UFC 87
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
, Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 6–5
, Luigi Fioravanti
Luigi Fioravanti (born January 22, 1981) is an American mixed martial artist who last competed in 2016. A professional since 2004, he is perhaps best known for competing in the UFC, but has also fought for M-1 Global and the Maximum Fighting Cham ...
, Decision (unanimous)
, UFC 82
''UFC 82: Pride of a Champion'' was a mixed martial arts (MMA) event that took place on March 1, 2008, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Background
The main event was a UFC & Pride FC middleweight title unification match between UFC mid ...
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Columbus, Ohio, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 6–4
, Edilberto de Oliveira
, TKO (strikes)
, UFC Fight Night 11
''UFC Fight Night: Thomas vs. Florian'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 11'') was a mixed martial arts (MMA) event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on Wednesday, September 19, 2007, at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. ...
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 1:45
, Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 5–4
, Josh Haynes
Joshua Lee Haynes (born July 30, 1977) is an American former mixed martial artist. He fought out of Las Vegas, Nevada, with Xtreme Couture where he was also a coach. His MMA record is 17 wins, 11 losses. He was also a contestant on the third sea ...
, KO (punch)
, UFC 69
''UFC 69: Shootout'' was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday, April 7, 2007, at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
UFC 69 is most remembered for the main event, in which Matt Serra shocked the UFC W ...
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 2:45
, Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...
, Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 4–4
, Jonathan Goulet
, Decision (majority)
, UFC Fight Night 5
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 4–3
, Jason Von Flue
Jason Lee Von Flue (born August 1, 1975) is a former American mixed martial artist who appeared on the second season of '' The Ultimate Fighter''. A professional competitor since 1999, he has competed for the UFC, WEC, Strikeforce and King of ...
, Decision (unanimous)
, UFC Fight Night 4
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 3–3
, Joe Stevenson
Joseph Christopher Stevenson (born June 15, 1982) is a retired American mixed martial artist fighting out of Hesperia, California. Coached by (UFC Hall of Famer) Matt Hughes, Stevenson rose to prominence by becoming The Ultimate Fighter 2 Wel ...
, Decision (unanimous)
, The Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale
''The Ultimate Fighter 2'' was the second season of the mixed martial arts reality television series ''The Ultimate Fighter''. The season featured a heavyweight and a welterweight division, with 9 fighters initially in each division. The UFC co ...
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 3–2
, Josh Koscheck
Edinboro Fighting Scots
Josh D. Koscheck (born November 30, 1977) is an American retired mixed martial artist who fought at Welterweight for the UFC and Bellator MMA. Koscheck made his debut with the UFC on the first season of the realit ...
, Decision (unanimous)
, Ring of Combat 6
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States
, Catchweight (175 lbs) bout.
, -
, Win
, align=center, 3–1
, Mike Thatcher
, Submission ( triangle choke)
, Ring of Combat 5
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 1:53
, Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States
, Middleweight bout.
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 2–1
, Dave Tirelli
, Decision (unanimous)
, Ring of Combat 4
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
, Catchweight (175 lbs) bout.
, -
, Win
, align=center, 2–0
, Dave Tirelli
, TKO (doctor stoppage)
, Ring of Combat 3
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 0:46
, Morristown, New Jersey, United States
, Catchweight (175 lbs) bout.
, -
, Win
, align=center, 1–0
, Kadir Kadri
, TKO
, Ring of Combat 1
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 2:37
, Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut, United States. It is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River where it flows into the Thames River. The name is now applied more generally to all of the ea ...
, United States
,
See also
*List of vegans
Veganism involves following a vegan diet, which is a diet that includes no animal products of any kind. It can extend to ethical veganism which avoids or boycotts all products and activities whose production or undertaking is perceived to ...
References
External links
*
*
*
*
Interview (Bout Review USA, Oct 2005)
Interview (Colin Timberlake, Aug 2009)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cummo, Luke
1980 births
American male mixed martial artists
Mixed martial artists from New York (state)
Living people
Chaminade High School alumni
American sportspeople of Italian descent
People from New Hyde Park, New York
Welterweight mixed martial artists
Mixed martial artists utilizing Muay Thai
Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu
American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
American Muay Thai practitioners
Nassau Community College alumni
Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters