Adrian Yanez Record: 18-6-1

Octagon arrival and winning streak

Yanez made an immediate splash in the UFC. He debuted in October 2020 with a first-round head-kick knockout of Victor Rodriguez, then knocked out Gustavo Lopez in March 2021 and stopped Randy Costa with a second-round TKO that July. He out-struck British veteran Davey Grant for a split-decision win in November 2021, then opened 2022 with a first-round TKO of Tony Kelley, running his UFC record to a perfect 5-0 and establishing himself as a fast-rising contender and highlight-reel finisher.

Adversity and the road back

The competition stiffened in 2023. Yanez was stopped for the first time in the UFC, dropping a first-round TKO to former title challenger Rob Font in April, then suffered a second-round leg-kick TKO against Jonathan Martinez that October. He steadied himself in May 2024 with a vintage first-round TKO of Vinicius Salvador, before dropping a close split decision to unbeaten Daniel Marcos in December 2024. In March 2026 he fought to a majority draw with Ricky Simón, and he is next scheduled to face former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt at UFC 329.

Fighting style

Yanez is a pure boxing technician at heart, with arguably some of the best hands in the bantamweight division. His footwork, head movement, combination punching and finishing instinct have produced a striking-heavy résumé — 11 of his 17 wins have come by knockout, with two submissions and a 76% finish rate, among the highest in the division. He fights on the front foot and hunts the stoppage, which makes him appointment viewing but can leave him in firefights; his UFC losses have come to power punchers and to opponents who can drag him into grinding, takedown-heavy fights, where his lack of a heavy wrestling game is most exposed.

Career highlights

• Perfect 5-0 UFC start — opened his promotional run with knockouts and a flawless record, marking himself as one of the division's top prospects.
• Elite knockout rate — 11 of 17 career wins by KO/TKO and a 76% finish rate, built on boxing skill rather than raw power alone.
• Contender Series star — earned his UFC deal with a first-round finish of Brady Huang in 2020, then delivered highlight-reel knockouts inside the octagon.