Brad Katona Record: 14-5-0

Two-time TUF winner

At the TUF 27 Finale in July 2018, Katona outpointed undefeated Jay Cucciniello over three rounds to claim the season's tournament title and a UFC contract. He made a strong first impression, edging Matthew Lopez by unanimous decision at UFC 231 in December 2018. Back-to-back decision losses to Merab Dvalishvili and undefeated Hunter Azure in 2019 cost him his roster spot, but Katona rebuilt overseas with a four-fight winning run in Brave CF. That resurgence earned a return to The Ultimate Fighter 31 in 2023, where he beat Carlos Vera and Timur Valiev en route to the final, then defeated Cody Gibson by unanimous decision at UFC 292 to become a two-time TUF champion.

Recent run

Katona's second UFC stint has been a tougher, more competitive grind. He dropped a unanimous decision to Garrett Armfield at UFC 297 in January 2024, bounced back with a unanimous-decision win over Jesse Butler that June, then ran into rising, undefeated prospects. He lost a decision to Jean Matsumoto in October 2024 and was stopped for the first time in his career when Bekzat Almakhan knocked him out in the opening round at UFC 315 in May 2025.

Fighting style

Katona is a high-IQ, well-rounded bantamweight whose record reflects a decision-heavy, grind-it-out approach – 10 of his 14 wins have come on the scorecards, with three submissions and a single knockout, and his 29% finish rate underscores a fighter who wins rounds rather than chasing highlight stoppages. His jiu-jitsu black belt anchors a control-oriented grappling game, while his cardio and pace let him bank exchanges over 15 minutes. The flip side is a lack of one-shot power, and the recent first-round knockout against Almakhan exposed defensive vulnerabilities he has had to address against the division's sharper strikers.

Career highlights

• Two-time Ultimate Fighter winner — the only fighter in UFC history to win TUF twice, capturing the Season 27 title in 2018 and the Season 31 bantamweight crown by beating Cody Gibson at UFC 292.
• Brave CF resurgence — rebuilt his career overseas with four straight wins, including a five-round split decision over Hamza Kooheji, to force his way back into the UFC.
• Dual black belt & SBG Ireland product — a black belt in both Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Shotokan karate who trains under John Kavanagh at the famed Dublin gym.