Gian Villante

Gian Villante, left, throws an uppercut at Sean O'Connell during a light heavyweight bout at UFC FIght Night on June 28, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JUNE 28: Sean O'Connell of USA fights Gian Villante of USA during the UFC Light Heavyweight bout between Sean O'Connell of USA and Gian Villante of USA on June 28, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JUNE 28: Sean O'Connell of USA fights Gian Villante of USA during the UFC Light Heavyweight bout between Sean O'Connell of USA and Gian Villante of USA on June 28, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JUNE 28: Sean O'Connell of USA fights Gian Villante of USA during the UFC Light Heavyweight bout between Sean O'Connell of USA and Gian Villante of USA on June 28, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Gian Villante, at bottom, practices jiu-jitsu with William Bottone at the Serra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Levittown on March 11, 2014.

Gian Villante in action against Ovince St. Preux at UFC 159 in Newark, N.J., on Saturday, April 27,2013.

Gian Villante, on top, spars with Chris Mead as they practice jiu-jitsu on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at the Serra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Levittown.

Gian Villante, background, trains with Gabriel Toribio as they practice at Serra Brazilian Jit-Jitsu Academy in Levittown on March 11, 2014.

Sweat drips off Gian Villante after a jiu-jitsu training session. Gian Villante and other UFC fighters, including Chris Weidman, trained Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at the Serra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Levittown.

Thursday- December 26, 2013: UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman (left) and training partner Gian Villante unwind before a late-night workout in Las Vegas. Photo by Mario Gonzalez #newsdaysports

Gian Villante fights Ovince St. Preux at UFC 159 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. (April 27, 2013)

Gian Villante argues with the referee after a controversial stoppage to his fight against Ovince St. Preux because of an eye poke at UFC 159 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. (April 27, 2013)

Mixed martial artist Gian Villante works on his reflexes with his coach Jamal Hamid during a strength and conditioning workout at the Professional Athletic Performance Center in Garden City. (Sept. 14, 2012)

Mixed martial artist Gian Villante works with his coach Jamal Hamid during a strength and conditioning workout at the Professional Athletic Performance Center in Garden City. (Sept. 14, 2012)

Mixed martial artist Gian Villante lifts weights during a strength and conditioning workout at the Professional Athletic Performance Center in Garden City. (Sept. 14, 2012)

MMA fighter Gian Villante of Levittown throws a medicine ball with his coach Jamal Hamid during a strength and conditioning workout at the Professional Athletic Performance Center in Garden City. (Sept. 14, 2012)

MMA fighter Gian Villante of Levittown works on his reflexes with his coach Jamal Hamid during a strength and conditioning workout at the Professional Athletic Performance Center in Garden City. (September 14, 2012)

MMA fighter Gian Villante of Levittown lifts weights as his strength and conditioning coach Jamal Hamid looks on during a workout at the Professional Athletic Performance Center in Garden City. (Sept. 14, 2012)

Gian Villante of Levittown uses ropes during a strength and conditioning workout with his coach Jamal Hamid at the Professional Athletic Performance Center in Garden City. (Sept. 14, 2012)

Mixed martial artist Gian Villante uses ropes during a strength and conditioning workout with his coach Jamal Hamid at the Professional Athletic Performance Center in Garden City Friday. (September 14, 2012) Photo by Barry Sloan

Mixed martial artist Gian Villante poses for a portrait after a strength and conditioning workout at the Professional Athletic Performance Center in Garden City. (Sept. 14, 2012)

MMA fighter Gian Villante of Levittown uses a medicine ball during a strength and conditioning workout at the Professional Athletic Performance Center in Garden City. (September 14, 2012)

MMA fighter Gian Villante of Levittown exercises as his strength and conditioning coach Jamal Hamid looks on during a workout at the Professional Athletic Performance Center in Garden City. (Sept. 14, 2012)

MMA fighter Gian Villante of Levittown is stretched by his strength and conditioning coach Jamal Hamid during a workout at the Professional Athletic Performance Center in Garden City. (September 14, 2012)

MMA fighter Gian Villante of Levittown leaps over a series of hurdles as his strength and conditioning coach Jamal Hamid looks on at the Professional Athletic Performance Center in Garden City. (September 14, 2012)

MMA fighter Gian Villante of Levittown poses for a portrait after a strength and conditioning workout at the Professional Athletic Performance Center in Garden City. (Sept. 14, 2012)

MMA fighter Gian Villante of Levittown poses for a portrait after a strength and conditioning workout at the Professional Athletic Performance Center in Garden City. (Sept. 14, 2012)

MMA fighter Gian Villante of Levittown poses for a portrait after a strength and conditioning workout at the Professional Athletic Performance Center in Garden City. (Sept. 14, 2012)

Gian Villante trains at Bellmore Kickboxing Academy for his Strikeforce mixed martial arts debut on Feb. 12 against Chad Griggs at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. (Feb. 2, 2011)

Gian Villante trains at Bellmore Kickboxing Academy for his Strikeforce mixed martial arts debut on Feb. 12 against Chad Griggs at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. (Feb. 2, 2011)

Gian Villante trains at Bellmore Kickboxing Academy for his Strikeforce mixed martial arts debut on Feb. 12 against Chad Griggs at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. (Feb. 2, 2011)

Gian Villante trains at Bellmore Kickboxing Academy for his Strikeforce mixed martial arts debut on Feb. 12 against Chad Griggs at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. (Feb. 2, 2011)

Gian Villante trains at Bellmore Kickboxing Academy for his Strikeforce mixed martial arts debut on Feb. 12 against Chad Griggs at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. (Feb. 2, 2011)

Gian Villante trains at Bellmore Kickboxing Academy for his Strikeforce mixed martial arts debut on Feb. 12 against Chad Griggs at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. (Feb. 2, 2011)

Gian Villante trains at Bellmore Kickboxing Academy for his Strikeforce mixed martial arts debut on Feb. 12 against Chad Griggs at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. (Feb. 2, 2011)

Gian Villante trains at Bellmore Kickboxing Academy for his Strikeforce mixed martial arts debut on Feb. 12 against Chad Griggs at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. (Feb. 2, 2011)

Gian Villante trains at Bellmore Kickboxing Academy for his Strikeforce mixed martial arts debut on Feb. 12 against Chad Griggs at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. (Feb. 2, 2011)

Gian Villante trains at Bellmore Kickboxing Academy for his Strikeforce mixed martial arts debut on Feb. 12 against Chad Griggs at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. (Feb. 2, 2011)

Gian Villante, a light heavyweight MMA fighter from Levittown, awaits his opponent during a Strikeforce bout.

GIAN VILLANTE
Hometown: Levittown
Record: 10-4 || Current promotion: UFC
Next fight: TBD
Career highlights: A promising light heavyweight, he lost his first two fights in Strikeforce before winning three straight and moving to the UFC; a two-time champion in Ring of Combat; All-American wrestler for MacArthur High School and All-American linebacker for Hofstra.

Gian Villante trains at Bellmore Kickboxing Academy for his Strikeforce mixed martial arts debut. (Feb. 2, 2011)

Levittown's Gian Villante, left, exchanges punches with Chad Griggs in his Strikeforce debut at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. Villante lost by first-round TKO in a slugfest. (Feb. 12, 2011)

Levittown's Gian Villante, left, exchanges punches with Chad Griggs in his Strikeforce debut at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. Villante lost by first-round TKO in a slugfest. (Feb. 12, 2011)

Levittown's Gian Villante awaits the start of his fight against Chad Griggs in his Strikeforce debut at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. Villante lost by first-round TKO in a slugfest. (Feb. 12, 2011)

Levittown's Gian Villante, right, fights Chad Griggs in his Strikeforce debut at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. Villante lost by first-round TKO in a slugfest. (Feb. 12, 2011)

Levittown's Gian Villante, right, fights Chad Griggs in his Strikeforce debut at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. Villante lost by first-round TKO in a slugfest. (Feb. 12, 2011)

From left, Ryan LaFlare, trainer Keith Trimble and Gian Villante after Villante won the Ring of Combat heavyweight title. (Feb. 19, 2010)

11.17.07. Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, Hofstra University Football VS UMASS. Hoftra's #42 Gian Villante holds off UMASS's # 63 Sean Calicchi during Hoftra's 27 - 5 loss to UMASS. Photo by Bob Mitchell.

Hempstead, NY - Sept 8, 2007: Hofstra University linebacker #42 Gian Villante reacts after a yardage gain by Furman University during NCAA football competition at Shuart Stadium. (photo by James A. Escher)

11/03/07--HEMPSTEAD, NY-- Hofstra's Gian Villante (42) sits after an injury during the game against College of William and Mary at Hofstra University in Hempstead on Saturday, November 03, 2007(Newsday/ Ana P. Gutierrez) em

Action photo of linebacker Gian Villante during spring practice at Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, 4.21.06. ( Photo by Bob Mitchell ) nc

Uniondale, N.Y. - Tuesday, August 22, 2006. Hofstra University football team practice. Linebacker Gian Villante. (Newsday Photo / David L. Pokress)

MacArthur High School's Gian Villante (center) signs letter of intent to play football at Hofstra and is flanked by (left to right) brother-in-law Chris Bennet, mother Josephine, sister Venus and his father Sal. Wednesday February 5, 2003.

MacArthur High School's Gian Villante (center) signs letter of intent to play football at Hofstra and is flanked by (left to right) father Sal and mother Josephine Wednesday February 5, 2003. (photo by Joe Rogate)

MacArthur's #42, Gian Villante runs for yardage against North Babylon during the Class II Football Final held Saturday, November 30, 2002 at Stony Brook University. (Photo by Josseph D> Sullivan)

Undated photo of Gian Villante for the Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge. For article by Jason Molinet. (Handout Photo)

MacArthur's Gian Villante after the Class II Long Island championship at Stony Brook. (Nov. 30, 2002)

MacArthur's Gian Villante (in red on top) has a strong hold on Bethpage's Peter Manetta (bottom) during their match at Clarke High School in Westbury on February 8, 2003. (Photo by Richard Slattery)