André Muniz Record: 24-8-0

The Jacaré statement

Muniz's UFC arc built toward a career-defining moment. After a strong start that included armbar finishes inside the octagon, he faced jiu-jitsu legend Ronaldo Souza at UFC 262 in May 2021 — and produced one of the most talked-about submissions in recent memory. Muniz locked up an inverted armbar in the first round and, with an audible snap, became the first fighter ever to submit the decorated “Jacaré” in MMA. The win was a sensation, earning widespread submission-of-the-year recognition and announcing Muniz as a legitimate force at 185 pounds.

Climbing the middleweight ladder

Muniz carried the momentum forward, submitting Eryk Anders with another first-round armbar at UFC 269 in December 2021, then outpointing former title challenger Uriah Hall by unanimous decision at UFC 276 in 2022 — a run that pushed him into the divisional rankings and extended one of the longer unbeaten stretches in the middleweight class.

Recent run

The level-up brought adversity. Muniz was submitted by Brendan Allen in early 2023 and stopped by ground-and-pound against Paul Craig, before steadying himself with a split-decision win over Jun Yong Park at the end of that year. His 2025 campaign was a difficult one: first-round TKO losses to Ikram Aliskerov and then Edmen Shahbazyan at UFC 320.

Fighting style

Muniz is a grappling-first fighter of the highest order, and his record shows it plainly: 15 of his 24 wins are submissions, anchored by a world-class armbar and a deep catalogue of chokes. His length, his patience, and his ability to find finishes from unusual positions make him a nightmare for anyone willing to engage on the mat. The honest weakness is on the feet — seven of his eight career losses have come by knockout or TKO, the cost of a style that must close distance to impose its strengths. When he gets the fight to the ground, though, he remains one of the most dangerous submission threats in the division.

Career highlights

• First to submit Jacaré — Muniz's first-round armbar of Ronaldo Souza at UFC 262 made him the first fighter ever to submit the legend, drawing submission-of-the-year acclaim.
• Win over a former title challenger — a unanimous decision over Uriah Hall at UFC 276 marked his arrival in the middleweight rankings.
• Submission specialist — a 79 percent finish rate with 15 submission wins makes him one of the most decorated grapplers in his division.