Eric Schafer
American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter
title: "Eric Schafer" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["american-male-mixed-martial-artists", "mixed-martial-artists-utilizing-brazilian-jiu-jitsu", "living-people", "martial-artists-from-milwaukee", "1977-births", "mixed-martial-artists-from-wisconsin", "sportspeople-from-fond-du-lac,-wisconsin", "university-of-wisconsin–oshkosh-alumni", "ultimate-fighting-championship-male-fighters", "american-practitioners-of-brazilian-jiu-jitsu", "people-awarded-a-black-belt-in-brazilian-jiu-jitsu"] description: "American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Schafer" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox martial artist"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Eric Schafer |
| other_names | Red |
| image | Eric Schafer.jpg |
| image_size | 200px |
| birth_name | Eric John Schafer |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, United States |
| height | |
| weight | 185 lb |
| weight_class | Light Heavyweight |
| Middleweight | |
| reach | 76.0 in |
| fighting_out_of | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States |
| rank | Third degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Pedro Sauer |
| years_active | 1998–2016 (MMA) |
| mma_kowin | 3 |
| mma_subwin | 10 |
| mma_decwin | 1 |
| mma_otherwin | 1 |
| mma_koloss | 4 |
| mma_subloss | 1 |
| mma_decloss | 3 |
| mma_draw | 2 |
| university | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh |
| school | Fond Du Lac High School |
| url | https://www.redschafer.com/ |
| sherdog | 13275 |
| updated | October 22, 2009 |
| :: |
| name = Eric Schafer | other_names = Red | image = Eric Schafer.jpg | image_size = 200px | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Eric John Schafer | birth_date = | birth_place = Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, United States | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | residence = | height = | weight = 185 lb | weight_class = Light Heavyweight Middleweight | reach = 76.0 in | style = | stance = | fighting_out_of = Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | team = | rank = Third degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Pedro Sauer | years_active = 1998–2016 (MMA) | mma_kowin = 3 | mma_subwin = 10 | mma_decwin = 1 | mma_otherwin = 1 | mma_koloss = 4 | mma_subloss = 1 | mma_decloss = 3 | mma_draw = 2 | mma_nc = | occupation = | university = University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | spouse = | relatives = | students = | club = | school = Fond Du Lac High School | url = https://www.redschafer.com/ | sherdog = 13275 | footnotes = | updated = October 22, 2009
Eric John Schafer (born September 20, 1977) is a retired American mixed martial artist. A professional from 1997 until 2016, he competed for the UFC.
Background
Schafer attended the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh.
Schafer is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Pedro Sauer.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Schafer compiled an amateur record of 2–1 before making his professional MMA debut in 1998. He then amassed a record of 6-1-2 before being signed by the UFC.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
He made his UFC debut at UFC 62, defeating Rob MacDonald by arm-triangle choke, rendering him unconscious at the 2:26 mark of round one.
Schafer then lost his next 2 bouts consecutively via TKO to Michael Bisping at UFC 66 and Stephan Bonnar at UFC 77.
Schafer next defeated Houston Alexander by arm-triangle choke in the first round on September 17, 2008, at UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs Neer.
Schafer won via TKO over Antonio Mendes at UFC 93 on January 7, 2009.
He lost to Ryan Bader by unanimous decision (30–27, 29–26, and 30–27) on October 24, 2009, on the undercard of UFC 104.
Schafer was defeated by Jason Brilz via unanimous decision on March 21, 2010, at UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones. After this bout he was released from the promotion.
Post UFC
In his first fight since being released from the UFC and his first fight at Middleweight Schafer defeated Chris Albandia via submission (triangle choke) in the first round at XFO 41 - Outdoor War 7 on September 3, 2011.
Return to the UFC
Schafer returned to the UFC in a Middleweight bout against Aaron Simpson at UFC 136 on October 8, 2011, and lost a unanimous decision.
Schafer next faced Jorge Rivera on January 20, 2012, at UFC on FX 1. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round. He was released from the promotion for the third time following this loss.
Independent promotions
After being released from the UFC, Schafer faced John Poppie at Madtown Throwdown 29: Unstoppable on January 5, 2013. He won via second round TKO.
He then fought Eric Hammerich for Chosen Few FC 6, in Madison Wisconsin on 09/19/15. He would win by choke in 2:38 of the first round.
His next fight would be his retirement fight against James Austen Heidlage for Choose Few FC 8, in Madison Wisconsin on 04/16/16. Eric would lose by referee stoppage at 3:01 of the second round.
Championships and accomplishments
- Gladiators Fighting Series
- GFS Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
- Xtreme Fighting Organization
- XFO Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
| draws= 2 | nc= | ko-wins= 3 | ko-losses= 4 | sub-wins= 9 | sub-losses= 1 | dec-wins= 1 | dec-losses= 3 | dq-wins= | dq-losses= | other-wins= 1
| other-losses= |
|---|
| Loss |
| align=center |
| James Austen Heidlage |
| TKO (referee stoppage) |
| Chosen Few FC 8 |
| | align=center| 2 | align=center| 3:01 | Madison, Wisconsin, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 15–7–2 | Eric Hammerich | Submission (choke) | Chosen Few FC 6 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 4:07 | Madison, Wisconsin, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 14–7–2 | John Poppie | TKO (punches) | Madtown Throwdown 29: Unstoppable | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:38 | Madison, Wisconsin, United States | |- | Loss | align=center| 13–7–2 | Jorge Rivera | TKO (punches) | UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 1:31 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |- | Loss | align=center| 13–6–2 | Aaron Simpson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 136 | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 13–5–2 | Chris Albandia | Submission (triangle choke) | XFO 41: Outdoor War 7 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:41 | Island Lake, Illinois, United States
| Middleweight debut. |
|---|
| Loss |
| align=center |
| Jason Brilz |
| Decision (unanimous) |
| UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones |
| | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | |- | Loss | align=center| 12–4–2 | Ryan Bader | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 104 | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Los Angeles, California, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 12–3–2 | Antonio Mendes | TKO (punches) | UFC 93 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 3:35 | Dublin, Ireland | |- | Win | align=center| 11–3–2 | Houston Alexander | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs Neer | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 4:53 | Omaha, Nebraska, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 10–3–2 | William Hill | TKO (punches) | GFS: Thunderdome | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:52 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
| Won the GFS Light Heavyweight Championship. |
|---|
| Win |
| align=center |
| Ryan Antle |
| Submission (guillotine choke) |
| GFS: The Warriors |
| | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:41 | Wisconsin, United States | |- | Loss | align=center| 8–3–2 | Stephan Bonnar | TKO (punches) | UFC 77 | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 2:47 | Cincinnati, Ohio, United States | |- | Loss | align=center| 8–2–2 | Michael Bisping | TKO (punches) | UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 4:24 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 8–1–2 | Rob MacDonald | Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC 62: Liddell vs. Sobral | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:26 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 7–1–2 | William Hill | Submission (triangle choke) | Xtreme Fighting Organization 9 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:37 | Lakemoor, Illinois, United States
| Won the WFO Light Heavyweight Championship. |
|---|
| Win |
| align=center |
| Jason Veach |
| Submission (choke) |
| Duneland Classic 2 |
| | align=center| 1 | align=center| N/A | Portage, Indiana, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 5–1–2 | Jason Guida | Submission (triangle choke) | XFO 6: Judgement Day | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 3:49 | Lakemoor, Illinois, United States | |- | Loss | align=center| 4–1–2 | Dustin Denes | Submission (kimura) | HOOKnSHOOT: Overdrive | | align=center| 1 | align=center| N/A | Evansville, Indiana, United States | |- | Draw | align=center| 4–0–2 | Jim Desouza | Draw | HOOKnSHOOT: Kings 2 | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 5:00 | Evansville, Indiana, United States | |- | Draw | align=center| 4–0–1 | Paul Ivens | Draw | HOOKnSHOOT: Millennium | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 15:00 | Evansville, Indiana, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 4–0 | Steve Martin | Submission (strikes) | Cage Combat 4 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 4:13 | Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 3–0 | Duane Franzen | Decision | Midwest Shootfighting 1 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 10:00 | Clinton, Iowa, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 2–0 | John Lowey | N/A | Midwest Shootfighting 1 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 3:59 | Clinton, Iowa, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 1–0 | Ryan Apolonario | Submission (choke) | Fight Sheet Ultimate MMA | | align=center| 1 | align=center| N/A | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States |
References
References
- "Eric "Red" Schafer's Tapology Profile". tapology.com.
- Thomas, Luke. (2009-10-24). "UFC 104 Results: Ryan Bader Takes a Decision Over Eric Schafer". Bloody Elbow.
- (2010-01-21). "Brilz vs. Schafer official for UFC on Versus 1". mmajunkie.com.
- (2011-09-04). "Red' Schafer Wins Quickly in Middleweight Debut at XFO 41". sherdog.com.
- (2011-09-10). "Schafer Returns to UFC at Middleweight, Faces Simpson Oct. 8". sherdog.com.
- (November 29, 2011). "Jorge Rivera vs. Eric Schafer targeted for UFC on FX 1". mmajunkie.com.
- J. Yayo Hernandez. (February 9, 2012). "Eric 'Red' Schafer Released By UFC". cagejunkies.com.
- "GFS: Thunderdome Official Results". mixedmartialarts.com.
- "Fight Sheet Ultimate Official Results". mixedmartialarts.com.
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