Karlos Vemola

Background

Karel Vémola (Jr.) began training in Greco-Roman wrestling at the age of 6 under the leadership of his father Karel Vémola and Vojtěch Smolák in Olomouc Sokol of which he is still a member.

Karlos Vémola is a four-time Czech Republic National Youth Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion, one-time Czech Republic Youth National Freestyle Wrestling Champion and also one-time winner of the Czech Republic Wrestling Team Championship as a youth team member of the Krnov wrestling team.

After his parents divorced he moved with his mother from Hanakia to the Bohemia. He resided in the Litice nad Orlicí and he started to train in the gym in Žamberk and he became a classic bodybuilder.

Early MMA and Bodybuilding career

Karlos Vemola moved to England to pursue bodybuilding.

There he became a bouncer in Tottenham. He worked as a bouncer in nightclub, which is next to the Tottenham police Station.

At a qualification tournament for British Championship of Bodybuilding he attempted to compete in the Junior Division but because he registered too late he had to compete in the Senior Division which he ended up winning. Because of this victory he was not allowed to compete at the Junior level of the championship so he refused to participate.

While working at his job as a bouncer he threw two men out of the nightclub who turned out to be MMA fighters. This led to his being asked by Alan Mortlock to fight in the Cage Fighters mixed martial arts organization. Karlos Vemola began unofficial and underground fighting at age of 21. Vemola made his professional MMA debut in 2008. Previously he fought in various street fights and underground fighting events.

Vemola won his first seven professional fights all via opening round stoppages in fights held in England by the Cage Fighters Championships and Ultimate Challenge MMA organizations. In the Cage Fighters Championship Karlos Vemola was the European Heavyweight Champion and World Heavyweight Champion.

He currently trains with the London Shootfighters team alongside MMA notables Alex Reid, John Hathaway and Michael Page.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In April 2010, Karlos Vemola signed with the UFC. Vemola made his debut at UFC 116 against Jon Madsen. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Following his first professional loss, Vemola decided to drop down to the Light Heavyweight division. He faced Seth Petruzelli on November 13, 2010 at UFC 122 and won the fight via TKO in the first round, picking up his first victory in the UFC, becoming the first man to defeat Petruzelli by strikes, and also earning Knockout of the Night Honors.

Vemola was expected to face Brazilian Luiz Cane on March 19, 2011, at UFC 128. However, Vemola was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Eliot Marshall.

Vemola was expected to face Stephan Bonnar on August 14, 2011 at UFC on Versus 5. However, an injury has forced Bonnar to withdraw from the bout. Newcomer Ronny Markes stepped in for the injured Bonnar to face Vemola. Vemola lost the fight via unanimous decision (30-27 on all cards).

Vemola was expected to face promotional newcomer Ryan Jimmo on January 20, 2012 at UFC on FX 1. However, Jimmo was forced from the bout with an injury and the bout was scrapped.

Vemola faced Mike Massenzio in his Middleweight debut on May 5, 2012 at UFC on Fox 3. Vemola won by second round submission via rear-naked choke.

Vemola quickly returned to face Francis Carmont at UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman. He lost the fight via submission in the second round.

Vemola was expected to face former WEC Middleweight Champion Chris Leben on December 29, 2012 at UFC 155. However, Vemola was forced out of the bout and replaced by promotional newcomer Derek Brunson.

Vemola faced Caio Magalhães on June 8, 2013 at UFC on Fuel TV 10. Despite a dominant first round, Vemola lost the fight via rear naked choke submission in the second round and was subsequently released from the promotion.

Ultimate Challenge MMA

In his first fight after being released by the UFC, Karlos Vemola won the UCMMA Middleweight Champion by defeating then-champion Denniston Sutherland via unanimous decision on August 3, 2013.

Vemola was to fight against Mahmoud "Steel Man" Salama on February 1, 2014 at UCMMA 38. However, Salama announced that he was withdrawing from his fight against Vemola and replaced by Marvin Campbell. But Campbell did not attend the official Weigh-In and he weighed shortly before the start of the event. It should be a light heavyweight bout but Campbell weighed 215 lb. Vemola defeated Campbell in the first round via submission.

Return to the Czech Republic

After he became UCMMA champion, Vemola decided he should fight in his homeland.

Karlos Vemola signed a contract for two fights with Czech MMA Association and for one fight with Gladiator Championship Fighting. One of the owners of GCF is famous Czech mixed martial artist Michal Hamršmíd.

Czech MMA artist and trainer Petr "Monster" Kníže insulted Karlos Vemola on social network and called him out. Some parts of Kníže martial arts career are unknown and his official MMA record by Sherdog is 3-0 (before fight with Karlos Vemola) but Czech MMA Association promoted his record as 21-0. Karlos Vemola accepted and both would face on November 10, 2013 at MMMA Arena 2 for middleweight title. Vemola won in third round by technical submission.

His next fight was in Prague. He fought longtime GCF Middleweight Champion Tomáš "Thor" Kužela for the GFC Middleweight Championship on December 7, 2013 at GCF 26: Fight Night. Vemola won in the first round by submission.

His next fight in Bohemia will be with Polish MMA artist, Sanda and Muay Thai kickboxer Piotr Strus at MMAA Arena 3.

Mixed martial arts

Personal life

Vémola and his wife have two children.

Media appearances

In 2010, he appeared as a fictionalised version of himself in the controversial movie Killer Bitch.