Eric Maurice Shelton (born February 2, 1991) is an American mixed martial arts fighter competed in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2013, he has also competed for the RFA and was a contestant on .
Shelton began his professional MMA career in July 2013, upon compiling an impressive 11âÂÂ2 record during his amateur career. Over the next three-and-a-half years he fought mainly in the mid-west, amassing a record of 10âÂÂ2.
In July 2016, it was announced that Shelton would be a cast member of . He was ranked #15 and selected by Team Benavidez.
In the first round, Shelton defeated Yoni Sherbatov via technical submission (rear-naked choke) in the second round. In the quarterfinals, he defeated Ronaldo Candido by unanimous decision. In the semifinals, Shelton lost to eventual winner Tim Elliott via unanimous decision after two rounds.
After The Ultimate Fighter, Shelton was signed to a UFC contract. He faced Alexandre Pantoja in his debut on January 28, 2017, at . He lost the fight via split decision.
In his second fight for the promotion, Shelton faced Jarred Brooks on July 29, 2017, at UFC 214. He again lost the fight via split decision.
In his third fight for the promotion, Shelton faced Jenel Lausa on November 19, 2017, at . He won the fight via unanimous decision to earn his first UFC victory.
Shelton faced Alex Perez on February 24, 2018, at . At the weigh-ins, Perez weighed in at 126.5 pounds, half a pound over the lightweight non title fight upper limit of 126 pounds. As a result, the bout proceeded at catchweight and Perez was fined 20% of his purse, which went to Shelton. Shelton lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Shelton faced Joseph Morales on November 10, 2018, at . He won the fight via split decision.
Shelton faced Jordan Espinosa on March 23, 2019, at . He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
On May 26, 2019, it was reported that Shelton was released by the UFC.
After being released from the UFC, Shelton signed with the WXC. He made his promotional debut against Jesse Bazzi at WXC 83 on October 30, 2019. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
With the win, Shelton earned a title shot against Juancamilo Ronderos at WXC 85 on December 18, 2019. He lost the fight via split decision.
On June 6, 2020, news surfaced that Shelton had signed with ARES FC.
Shelton faced Rilley Dutro for the vacant Caged Aggression Flyweight Championship on May 8, 2021. He claimed the championship after Dutro suffered an elbow injury in the fourth round.
Shelton faced Jacob Silva on December 19, 2021, at Fury FC 55. He won the bout via unanimous decision.
Shelton faced Peter Caballero at Fury FC 67 on August 14, 2022. He would lose the fight via unanimous decision marking his second loss since leaving the UFC.
Shelton next faced Dwight Joseph in the main event of Caged Aggression 35 for the vacant Caged Aggression Bantamweight championship on 25 March 2023. He would win fight via unanimous decision.
Shelton would then main event Unified MMA 51 against Teshay Gouthro for the Unified MMA Interim Bantamweight championship on 23 June 2023. He would win the fight via split decision.
Shelton faced highly touted MMA Lab prospect Abdul Kamara at Fury FC 92 on June 16, 2024. He would win the fight via second round knockout.
Shelton would next face off against Bellator veteran Jerrell Hodge in the main event of Caged Aggression 38: Retaliation on October 12, 2024 in a defence of his Caged Aggression Bantamweight championship. He would win the fight via first round knockout.
|- |Win |align=center|21âÂÂ9 |Eduardo Penha |Decision (unanimous) |Fury FC 116 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Houston, Texas, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|20âÂÂ9 |Shuya Kamikubo |Submission (rear-naked choke) | | |align=center|2 |align=center|1:46 |Ventura, California, United States | |- |Win |align=center|20âÂÂ8 |Alan Olivas |Submission (rear-naked choke) |Synergy FC 17 | |align=center|1 |align=center|4:11 |Springfield, Missouri, United States | |- |Win |align=center|19âÂÂ8 |Jerrell Hodge |KO (punch) |Caged Aggression 38 | |align=center|1 |align=center|4:21 |Davenport, Iowa, United States | |- |Win |align=center|18âÂÂ8 |Abdul Kamara |KO (punches) |Fury FC 92 | |align=center|2 |align=center|2:51 |Houston, Texas, United States | |- |Win |align=center|17âÂÂ8 |Teshay Gouthro |Decision (split) |Unified MMA 51 | |align=center|5 |align=center|5:00 |Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada | |- |Win |align=center|16âÂÂ8 |Dwight Joseph |Decision (unanimous) |Caged Aggression 35 | |align=center|5 |align=center|5:00 |Davenport, Iowa, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|15âÂÂ8 |Peter Caballero |Decision (unanimous) |Fury FC 67 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Houston, Texas, United States | |- |Win |align=center|15âÂÂ7 |Jacob Silva |Decision (unanimous) |Fury FC 55 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Houston, Texas, United States | |- |Win |align=center|14âÂÂ7 |Rilley Dutro |TKO (corner stoppage) |Caged Aggression 31 | |align=center|4 |align=center|4:10 |Davenport, Iowa, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|13âÂÂ7 |Juancamilo Ronderos |Decision (split) |WXC 85 | |align=center|5 |align=center|5:00 |Southgate, Michigan, United States | |- |Win |align=center|13âÂÂ6 |Jesse Bazzi |Decision (unanimous) |WXC 83 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Southgate, Michigan, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|12âÂÂ6 |Jordan Espinosa |Decision (unanimous) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |- |Win |align=center|12âÂÂ5 |Joseph Morales |Decision (split) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Denver, Colorado, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|11âÂÂ5 |Alex Perez |Decision (unanimous) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Orlando, Florida, United States | |- |Win |align=center|11âÂÂ4 |Jenel Lausa |Decision (unanimous) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Sydney, Australia | |- |Loss |align=center|10âÂÂ4 |Jarred Brooks |Decision (split) |UFC 214 |July 29, 2017 |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Anaheim, California, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|10âÂÂ3 |Alexandre Pantoja |Decision (split) | |January 28, 2017 |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Denver, Colorado, United States | |- |Win |align=center|10âÂÂ2 |Mark Sainci |Submission (triangle choke) |Caged Aggression 17 |April 2, 2016 |align=center|1 |align=center|1:08 |Davenport, Iowa, United States | |- |Win |align=center|9âÂÂ2 | Ryan Hollis | Decision (unanimous) |Cowboys Extreme Cagefighting 24 |January 30, 2016 |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |San Antonio, Texas, United States | |- |Win |align=center|8âÂÂ2 |Gino Escamilla |Decision (unanimous) |Rocks Xtreme MMA 19 |October 23, 2015 |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |San Antonio, Texas, United States | |- |Win |align=center|7âÂÂ2 |Brian Hall |TKO (punches) |V3 Fights: Hall vs. Shelton |September 26, 2015 |align=center|2 |align=center|3:38 |Memphis, Tennessee, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|6âÂÂ2 |Kevin Gray |Decision (split) |Caged Aggression 15: Day 2 |March 28, 2015 |align=center|5 |align=center|5:00 |Davenport, Iowa, United States | |- |Win |align=center|6âÂÂ1 |Erik Vo |Submission (rear-naked choke) |Pinnacle Combat 18 |January 24, 2015 |align=center|2 |align=center|1:09 |Dubuque, Iowa, United States | |- |Win |align=center|5âÂÂ1 |Jose Vega |Technical Submission (guillotine choke) |Caged Aggression 14 |October 10, 2014 |align=center|1 |align=center|0:00 |Davenport, Iowa, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|4âÂÂ1 |Sid Bice |Decision (unanimous) |RFA 16 |July 25, 2014 |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Broomfield, Colorado, United States | |- |Win |align=center|4âÂÂ0 |Chris Haney |Submission (rear-naked choke) |Xplode Fight Series: Anger |May 2, 2014 |align=center|1 |align=center|4:34 |Davenport, Iowa, United States | |- |Win |align=center|3âÂÂ0 |Zachary Harvey |TKO (punches) |Caged Aggression 12 |March 15, 2014 |align=center|1 |align=center|2:50 |Davenport, Iowa, United States | |- |Win |align=center|2âÂÂ0 |Marcel Tong Van |Submission (armbar) |Caged Aggression 11 |October 12, 2013 |align=center|1 |align=center|1:18 |Davenport, Iowa, United States | |- |Win |align=center|1âÂÂ0 |Stephen Gladhill |Decision (unanimous) |Caged Aggression 10 |July 20, 2013 |align=center|5 |align=center|5:00 |Davenport, Iowa, United States | |-
|- |Loss |align=center|2âÂÂ1 | Tim Elliott | Decision (majority) | rowspan=3| | |align=center|2 |align=center|5:00 | rowspan=3|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |align=center|2âÂÂ0 | Ronaldo Candido | Decision (unanimous) | |align=center|2 |align=center|5:00 | |- |Win |align=center|1âÂÂ0 | Yoni Sherbatov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | |align=center|2 |align=center|3:40 |