AJ Cunningham Record: 11-5-0

UFC run

Cunningham's first crack at the big show came in September 2023 on the Contender Series, where he ran into power and was stopped by Steven Nguyen with second-round punches. He rebounded on the regional scene with a first-round finish that December and earned his UFC call-up regardless. His promotional debut in March 2024 was a tough one: he was caught by a front body kick from the polished, 20-fight veteran Ľudovít Klein and stopped in the first round. Stepping back into the Octagon in March 2025, Cunningham went the distance with Su Young You but came up short on the scorecards, dropping a unanimous decision. The results underscored the steep jump from regional standout to UFC-level competition.

Fighting style

Cunningham is a well-rounded finisher whose record – 4 KOs, 4 submissions and 3 decisions among his wins, a finish rate near 73% – reflects a fighter equally willing to bang on the feet or hunt for a choke. His amateur jiu-jitsu base and Muay Thai work make him dangerous in scrambles, and his regional run was built on his ability to end fights early. The step up in competition has exposed the gap against elite, high-volume opponents: his UFC losses have come to a sharp striker, a kicking specialist and a polished point-fighter, pointing to areas he must tighten to stick at the top level. When he can dictate the grappling exchanges, though, he remains a live finisher.

Career highlights

• UFC contract earned — reached the Octagon after a deep regional run across Arkansas and national promotions.
• Four-time amateur champion — built a decorated unpaid resume before turning professional in 2018.
• Finish-first resume — owns a finish rate around 73%, splitting his stoppages evenly between knockouts and submissions.