Bruno Lopes Record: 14-3-0

From the Contender Series to the Octagon

Rather than fade after that setback, Lopes regrouped, defended his LFA standing, and earned a second Contender Series shot in 2024 – this time converting it into a UFC contract. He carried that momentum into the Octagon with a polished performance against undefeated prospect Magomed Gadzhiyasulov, handing him his first professional loss by unanimous decision in January 2025 and showing he could win on the scorecards when the finish did not come. The UFC then tested him against established competition, and the result exposed the risk that comes with his aggressive style: a first-round knockout loss to veteran Dustin Jacoby in May 2025. He was stopped again in March 2026, dropping a second-round TKO to Navajo Stirling, leaving him with work to do to find his footing at the UFC level.

Fighting style

Lopes is a finisher first. With a 14-3 record and a finish rate around 79 percent, his wins break down as six knockouts and five submissions against just three decisions – and all five of his submission victories have come by arm-triangle choke, a clear and repeatable signature for the jiu-jitsu black belt. He pressures forward behind heavy hands and looks to drag opponents into deep water, where his grappling can take over. The flip side is that every one of his three career losses has come by knockout, a pattern that points to a defensive vulnerability when he is forced to trade with sharp, accurate strikers rather than impose his own grappling-heavy game.

Career highlights

• Regional champion turned UFC signee — captured LFA light heavyweight gold and earned his UFC contract on the 2024 Contender Series after rebuilding from an earlier setback.
• Spoiled an unbeaten prospect — handed Magomed Gadzhiyasulov the first loss of his career by unanimous decision in his Octagon debut.
• Arm-triangle specialist — all five of his professional submission wins have come by arm-triangle choke, a rare and telling consistency for a 79-percent finisher.