Cristiano Souza

{{Infobox martial artist

| name = Cristiano Souza

| other_names = Soldier Boy, Soldado

| image =

| image_size = 200px

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|08|02|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Brazil

| death_date =

| death_place =

| death_cause =

| residence =

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}

| weight = {{convert|170|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}

| weight_class = Welterweight

| reach_in = 72

| style =

| stance = Orthodox

| fighting_out_of = Boca Raton, Florida

| team = American Top Team

| rank = {{Color box|Black|border=darkgray}} Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
{{Color box|Black|border=darkgray}} Black belt in Capoeira

| years_active =

| mma_kowin = 3

| mma_subwin = 3

| mma_decwin = 1

| mma_koloss = 1

| mma_subloss = 1

| mma_decloss =

| mma_draw =

| mma_nc =

| url =

| sherdog = 54489

| footnotes =

| updated =

}}

Cristiano Souza (born August 2, 1982) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who currently competes for the Bellator Fighting Championships in the Welterweight Division. He was a fighter on the first season of Fight Master: Bellator MMA

Mixed martial arts career

=Bellator Fighting Championships=

On September 17, 2011, Souza made his Bellator debut defeating John Kelly at Bellator 50 via unanimous decision.

On November 9, 2012, Souza defeated Robert Otani at Bellator 80 via knockout due to punches in round one.

==Fight Master: Bellator MMA==

On May 6, 2013, it was announced that Souza would be featured as a participant on Bellator Fighting Championships reality TV show Fight Master: Bellator MMA, competing as a Welterweight.{{cite web |title='Fight Master: Bellator MMA' cast unveiled with Riggs, Lozano and 30 others |url=http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/05/fight-master-bellator-mma-cast-unveiled-with-riggs-lozano-and-30-others |publisher=MMA Junkie |accessdate=May 6, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510064412/http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/05/fight-master-bellator-mma-cast-unveiled-with-riggs-lozano-and-30-others |archivedate=May 10, 2013 }}

In his elimination fight to get on the show, Souza defeated Steve Montgomery via knockout in the first round. During the team selection, Souza chose Randy Couture to be his coach. In his preliminary fight, Souza faced Evan Cutts. Despite controlling a majority of the fight, Souza lost to Cutts via triangle choke submission in the second round.

==Bellator Return==

Souza came back at Bellator 106 and was scheduled to fight Karo Parisyan but Parisyan withdrew due to injury and was replaced with Alejandro Gracia. Souza controlled the first two rounds before taking down and submitting Gracia via rear naked choke in the third round.

In March 2014, Souza entered the Bellator Season 10 Welterweight tournament as a replacement.{{cite web |url=http://themmareport.com/2014/03/war-machine-joe-riggs-mark-scalon-out-paul-bradley-nathan-coy-cristiano-souza-in-bellator-welterweight-tournament/|title=War Machine, Riggs, Scanlon out; Bradley, Coy, Souza in Bellator welterweight tournament |publisher=themmareport.com |date=March 8, 2014 |accessdate=March 15, 2014}} He faced Sam Oropeza in the opening round at Bellator 112 and lost via TKO in the first round.