Chris Curtis Record: 32-13-0

UFC breakthrough

Curtis finally got his UFC call in late 2021, and he made it count immediately. On short notice at UFC 268 in November 2021, he knocked out Phil Hawes with a first-round counter, then followed weeks later in December with a second-round TKO of Brendan Allen — two finishes that announced him as a legitimate middleweight on a near 10-fight win streak. He outpointed grappling ace Rodolfo Vieira in June 2022 before a measured decision loss to Jack Hermansson in July. Curtis closed 2022 in style, separating Joaquin Buckley from his senses with a second-round knockout at UFC 282.

Veteran grind

The years since have shown both his level and the thin margins of the middleweight elite. Curtis dropped a decision to Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 287 in April 2023, then had a June 2023 bout with Nassourdine Imavov ruled a no contest after an accidental clash of heads. He edged Canada's Marc-André Barriault on the cards at UFC 297 in January 2024, but a five-round split-decision rematch loss to Brendan Allen that April and a 2025 head-kick TKO defeat to Roman Kopylov were hard reminders of the division's depth. He rebounded with a split-decision win over Max Griffin in July 2025 before dropping a decision to Myktybek Orolbai in March 2026.

Fighting style

Curtis is an old-school pressure boxer first and foremost — 17 of his 32 wins have come by knockout or TKO, with just a single submission on his ledger, and that power-punching identity defines how he fights. He cuts off the cage, leans on a sturdy chin and counters with heavy, compact hooks, often willing to eat one to land one. His takedown defense and Xtreme Couture-honed scrambling let him keep fights standing where he is most dangerous. The flip side is a heavy reliance on the judges when the finish doesn't come — 10 of his 13 losses are decisions — and he has occasionally been out-pointed or caught by rangier strikers, but few middleweights are tougher to discourage.

Career highlights

• Statement UFC debut — knocked out Phil Hawes on short notice at UFC 268, then finished Brendan Allen weeks later to arrive as a ready-made contender.
• Knockout power at the highest level — 17 of his 32 wins by KO/TKO, headlined by a thunderous second-round finish of Joaquin Buckley at UFC 282.
• Relentless regional grind — rode a long pre-UFC win streak and a Contender Series victory over Sean Lally to finally reach the Octagon after more than a decade as a pro.