Claudio Puelles Record: 12-5-0

Building a leg-lock reputation

Puelles's UFC arc became a showcase for his signature weapon. In 2018 he submitted Felipe Silva with a third-round kneebar, then returned in 2019 to outpoint Marcos Mariano over three rounds. His most productive stretch came in the early 2020s: a 2021 unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Jordan Leavitt, a third-round kneebar of Chris Gruetzemacher later that year, and a first-round kneebar of veteran Clay Guida in April 2022 that underlined just how dangerous his lower-body attacks had become.

Stepping up in class

The climb up the ladder brought tougher tests and a rougher patch. In November 2022 Puelles ran into Dan Hooker at UFC 281 and was stopped by a second-round body kick, his first finish loss in the promotion. He returned in February 2024 only to drop a razor-thin split decision to Fares Ziam, and in September 2025 fell by split decision again, this time to Joaquim Silva. The three-fight skid has tested his standing in a deep division, but the closeness of two of those defeats speaks to how competitive he remains against ranked opposition.

Fighting style

Puelles is one of the UFC's premier leg-lock hunters, a grappler who turns scrambles into kneebar attempts and forces opponents to fight uncomfortably from range. Seven of his 12 wins have come by submission and two by knockout, giving him a 75% finish rate that reflects a genuinely offensive style. His length helps him manage distance on the feet and set up entries to the mat, where his jiu-jitsu shines. The demonstrated weaknesses are durability against heavy strikers—both of his knockout losses came against power punchers and kickers—and a tendency to leave close rounds in the judges' hands, as his recent split-decision defeats show.

Career highlights

• Leg-lock finishes over established veterans — submitted Clay Guida and Chris Gruetzemacher by kneebar, cementing a reputation as one of the division's most feared leg-lock specialists.
• TUF Latin America 3 finalist — reached the final of the reality series in 2016, his springboard from the Peruvian regional scene onto the UFC roster.
• 75% career finish rate — seven submissions and two knockouts across 12 wins, the mark of an attacking lightweight who chases the finish rather than the scorecards.