Carlos Vera Record: 12-4-0

The Ultimate Fighter and UFC arrival

Vera's UFC story began on The Ultimate Fighter 31 in 2023, where he dropped a unanimous-decision exhibition bout to eventual winner Brad Katona. He nonetheless earned a roster spot and made his official Octagon debut in February 2024 at UFC 298, losing a competitive decision to unbeaten Japanese prospect Rinya Nakamura — a tough first assignment against one of the division's hottest names.

First UFC win

Vera answered the early adversity in emphatic fashion. In March 2025 he submitted the previously undefeated Josias Musasa with a first-round rear-naked choke, claiming his first UFC victory and handing his opponent a first career loss. The finish underlined exactly what makes Vera dangerous: even as one of the older fighters in his division, his grappling can end a fight in moments once he gets to the back.

Fighting style

Vera is a submission-first bantamweight whose 12-4 record carries a 58 percent finish rate, with six of his wins coming by tap — including ankle locks, arm-triangles, rear-naked chokes and guillotines that showcase a well-rounded mat game. His decades across taekwondo, capoeira and jiu-jitsu give him unconventional movement and a knack for finding finishes from a range of positions. The honest limits are clear at the highest level: his two UFC losses both came by decision against younger, faster pressure fighters, and his striking is more a setup for grappling than a knockout threat in its own right.

Career highlights

• First UFC win over an unbeaten opponent — submitted Josias Musasa in March 2025, ending his foe's perfect record with a first-round rear-naked choke.
• Decorated multi-discipline base — a fourth-degree taekwondo black belt and Ryan Hall brown belt whose grappling has produced six career submission finishes.
• Late-career UFC breakthrough — earned his roster spot through The Ultimate Fighter and a strong regional run, reaching the sport's top promotion in his mid-thirties.