Patrick Côté (French pronunciation:[patʁikkote]; born February 29, 1980) is a retired Canadian professional mixed martial artist. A professional from 2002 until 2017, Côté is perhaps best known for his 21-bout career in the UFC, and was a finalist on season four of The Ultimate Fighter.
Côté made his UFC debut at UFC 50, on October 22, 2004 against Tito Ortiz. Côté accepted the fight on just four days' notice when Lion's Den veteran Guy Mezger pulled out of the main event due to an injury. He said to Ortiz before the fight that, if he thought Chuck Liddell hit hard, he hit harder. Côté lost via unanimous decision; however, he impressed UFC officials by not being submitted or knocked out by Ortiz and displaying toughness and willingness to take the fight on short notice.
Three months later Côté earned his first win in the UFC at UFC 67, defeating TUF4 teammate Scott Smith by unanimous decision. In August 2007, he defeated TUF3 winner Kendall Grove at UFC 74 via TKO in the first round. Côté then fought Drew McFedries at UFC Fight Night, winning in the first round via TKO after catching McFedries with a counter punch. Côté extended his UFC win streak to four fights at UFC 86 by defeating Ricardo Almeida via split decision, also earning him a title shot.
Côté faced UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva on October 25, 2008 at UFC 90,[7] the UFC's first event in Illinois.[8] Silva won the first 2 rounds but Côté proved how good his chin was by taking a roundhouse kick and flying knee right on the button without getting rocked in the very first round. In the third round, Côté's movement inside the octagon caused too much pressure on the back of his right leg (which he was using to move forward) and an injury caused him to fall to the mat grasping his right knee in pain. Referee Herb Dean declared the fight over when Côté could not continue, ruling the bout a TKO victory for Silva. Côté, however, became the first of Silva's UFC opponents to make it into the third round.
On January 25, 2009, while taking time off for his surgically repaired knee, Patrick said during an interview with MMA Mania that if he gets a rematch with Anderson Silva he is confident that he will beat him.[9] He also indicated in a July 2009 interview with Rogers Sportsnet's MMA Connected television program that he would like to fight Michael Bisping, assuming that Bisping lost to Dan Henderson.[10]
Côté returned from his injury after nearly a year and a half off at UFC 113. In the second round Côté was submitted via rear naked choke by Alan Belcher after being slammed on his head.[11] Côté complained after the loss that he had been illegally spiked onto the canvas, but the referee ruled that Côté had landed on his face, not his head.
Côté faced Tom Lawlor on October 23, 2010 at UFC 121. Out-wrestled by his opponent for all three rounds, Côté lost the fight by unanimous decision with 30–27 scores on all three judges' cards.[12]
After the loss to Lawlor and with a record of 4-7 in the UFC, Côté was released from the promotion.[13]
Independent promotions
On January 18, 2011, Côté confirmed via Twitter that he had signed a contract with Montreal's Ringside MMA promotion to fight at an upcoming card to be held at Montreal's Bell Centre.[14] He faced fellow UFC veteran Kalib Starnes and won the fight via unanimous decision.
On June 4, 2011, Côté faced fellow UFC veteran Todd Brown. The day before, Brown and Côté were in a heated confrontation when Brown shoved Cote during the weigh-ins and Cote slapped Brown across the face afterwards. Côté won the fight by unanimous decision.
On October 7, 2011, Côté faced muay thai specialist Crafton Wallace at Instinct MMA 1 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. Côté won the fight via TKO after Wallace injured his leg by stuffing a takedown.[15][16]
Côté next fought on March 31, 2012 at AFC 2 against Gracie trained BJJ black belt Gustavo Machado in Brazil. Côté won via KO in the first round.[17]
Return to UFC
Côté returned to the UFC stepping in as a replacement for Rich Franklin against Cung Le on July 7, 2012 at UFC 148.[18] Côté was defeated via unanimous decision.
Côté next fought Alessio Sakara on November 17, 2012 at UFC 154.[19] He won the fight via disqualification after being punched in the back of the head multiple times.
A rematch was briefly linked with Sakara for March 16, 2013 at UFC 158. However, Sakara was forced out of the bout with a kidney illness.[20]
On December 18, 2012, it was announced that Côté was dropping down to the welterweight division.[21] Côté faced promotional newcomer Bobby Voelker on March 16, 2013 at UFC 158.[22] He was successful in his welterweight debut, winning the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision.
Côté faced Joe Riggs at UFC 186 on April 25, 2015.[30] He won the back-and-forth fight by unanimous decision.[31]
Côté faced Josh Burkman on August 23, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 74.[32] He won the back and forth fight via TKO in the third round and both participants were awarded Fight of the Night honors.[33][34] Côté became the first person to beat Burkman by TKO.
Côté faced Thiago Alves on April 8, 2017 at UFC 210.[39] He lost the fight via unanimous decision and subsequently announced his retirement from the sport.[40]
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