Bermudez was born in Boston, Massachusetts, United States[1] Bermudez started training Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of thirteen and competed his first amateur fight five year later.[1]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Bermudez fought all his fights under Cage Titan, Classic Entertainment, and Sports promotions since 2015 and amassed a record of 11-0[3] prior signed by UFC.[4]
Bermudez was scheduled to face Davey Grant on 27 May 2018 at UFC Fight Night 130.[7] However, Grant pulled out of the fight after being diagnosed with a staph infection, and the bout was scrapped.[8] The pairing was left intact and took place on 22 July 2018 at UFC Fight Night 134.[9] He won the fight via a triangle choke.[10]
Bermudez was scheduled to face Benito Lopez on January 26, 2019, at UFC 233.[11] As a result of the cancellation of UFC 233, the pair was rescheduled to UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Velasquez on February 17, 2019.[12]
At the weigh-ins, Bermudez weighed in at 140 pounds, 4 pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight upper limit of 136 pounds. As a result, the bout proceeded at catchweight and Bermudez was fined 30% of his purse which went to his opponent Lopez.[13] He won the fight via a submission in round one.[14]
After the Lopez fight, Bermudez signed a new, four-fight contract with the UFC.[15]
A bantamweight bout between Bermudez and Casey Kenney was originally scheduled to on August 17, 2019, at UFC 241.[16] However, the UFC decided to move the bout to a catchweight bout of 140 lbs. due to the fighters cutting substantial weight the night before weigh-ins.[17] Bermudez lost the bout via unanimous decision.[18]
Bermudez faced Charles Rosa on October 18, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 6.[19] At the weigh-in, Bermudez weighed in at 148 pounds, 2 pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit of 146. The bout was held at catchweight. Bermudez was fined 20% of his purse which went to Rosa.[20] He lost the fight via a submission in round one,[21] and was subsequently released from the promotion.[22]
Post-UFC career
On January 20, 2020, news surfaced that Bermudez would face Bruce Boyington at New England Fights 42 on February 8, 2020, replacing Josh Grispi who was forced to withdraw from the bout due to legal complications.[23] At the weigh-ins, Bermudez missed the lightweight title fight weight limit, making him ineligible for the championship. Bermudez won the fight via first-round submission.[24]
